School shoes - continental brands?

[FuckOffJeffrey]

Would you mind sharing your experiences of different continental school shoe brands with me please?

DD is 6 and in P2. So far we have tried Ricosta and Lelli Kelly.

The Ricosta shoes were great and lasted a full year. She had the full shoes similar to boys ones but with some flowers on them and some of the girls in her class made fun of her 'boy' shoes. She has begged me not to buy that style again. I would consider the Mary Jane style Ricosta but not sure if they would be as hard wearing.

The Lelli Kelly shoes were also nice and have worn well (we had the plain navy patent ones with no bling or changeable strap nonsense). They have now been out grown and she is in a cheap (but still leather) Tesco pair that have held up surprisingly well so far. I had initially bought them as stop gap until I could afford better ones but I think they might see the school year out as we only have 8 weeks left.

I am now planning my budget for next the school year and shoes are always the biggest expense so I would like to get some ideas on quality, fit and durability. DD is not a toe scuffer or particularly hard on her shoes.

I have been looking at Geox, Superfit, Noel, Petasil and Pediped. I am happy for recommendations of other brands but would like to avoid clarks as I find them quality poor for the price and startrite make her feet look like boats (long skinny feet that are disproportionally large in comparison to her petite little self).

I would prefer the shoes to be leather inside as well as out (another thing clarks don't do)

[iseenodust]

Agree Primigi. Stylish, colourful and proved really robust with DS.

[TrainBridge]

The Vivo Pallys are wide on the tow box but narrow on the heel, worked well for my older dd but if you have a really skinny foot all over they might have the Velcro problem you mentioned.

My younger dd has Bobux because they are narrow and deep, so if your dd has feet like that they're worth a try.

I measure and then email Happy Little Soles asking what they would recommend - they're really good and I've only needed to send back two pairs in the last five years or so.

[Twinkie1]

Kickers Mary Jane shoes are really nice, Velcro so easy for little ones and always lasted the school year.

[thestylethatdecadesforgot]

I'd second Pediped, they ship from America via FedEx for normal UK shipping prices and I've quite often had a free delivery code. They're lovely well made shoes and have all managed to be passed on, including a beautiful pair of suede purple winter boots, so in my experience very durable and my girls are hard on their shoes.

[Comiconce]

Sorry, should have read your OP a bit closer. These are not continental as such (made in SA) and are not leather inside. Still, worth considering in my opinion.

[Comiconce]

My two have worn Toughees this school year and they are ridiculously hard wearing and don't even scuff or need polishing.

[Enkopkaffetak]

I found the Lelli Kellie shoes wearing surprisingly well.

Loved Elefanten but they are hard to come by.

[Samantha0623]

Hi Mums,
On the subject of school shoes, I have found a great product that I wish I found earlier. My DD had been struggling to put her shoes on the right feet, and these cute little Learn Right shoe stickers have helped us develop her independence and get us to school on time! It comes with 6 sets, which are now in all her shoes.

Here is the link: www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-Right-Educational-stickers-Children/dp/B01B242FPK?ie=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Thank you, Good luck!
It worked for me!!!!

[Only1scoop]

I find Garvalin best for slim fit

[sirfredfredgeorge]

Interesting point on the vivo barefoot shoes. Looking into them it appears it is one of the Clarks that started the company.

Yes, although I think that was more related to him having the contacts and the money to take the design and concept to market that his partner had.

[FuckOffJeffrey]

I should have done that better, the link is to the article not the clarks shoe shop.

Is not the toe box width that concerns me but the rest of the shoe she has a slim foot and I don't want to have to pull the Velcro so tight it drags on the ground.

[FuckOffJeffrey]

Glad to see its not just me imip some of DD's uniform earmarked for next year was bought in sales 2 years ago . In fairness I thought she might have grown into it by now but age 6 1/2 she is still comfortably in her age 3/4 (smallest size) school logo poloshirts and I'm pretty confident they will still fit come Christmas (they are big made). They have only just stopped looking tunic length on her.

The shoe shop we used previously (that has now closed) would do a home visit service for ASD children who couldn't cope with the whole shop experience. Not sure if others do the same but it might be worth asking if you needed something like that.

Interesting point on the vivo barefoot shoes. Looking into them it appears it is one of the Clarks that started the company.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

vivo's are wide, they're barefoot shoes so designed to be wide in the toe box anyway than the crap that clarks churns out.

[imip]

Ha, ha!! I bought the girls shoes for winter 2016/17 in jan this year. Bisgaard boots on amazon bw £20-30 per pair! I hoard stuff like it's going out of fashion. Shoes are tricky but with 4 dds, someone will wear them, and we have lots if hand me downs!!! Due to one dc with ASD and another a regular visitor to podiatry (who do not recommend vivobarefoot!!), I get podiatrist to ck sizes and I guess with the rest

[FuckOffJeffrey]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am working my way through them and researching online. Quite a few brands mentioned I haven't heard of so that's good.

Our local independent shoe shop has closed down. I had a feeling it was heading that way last year when I got DD's school shoes as they only had two brands to choose from: Startrite and Lelli Kelly both in limited sizes. Hence why we had Lelli Kelly in navy as it was the only shoe that fit properly.

The nearest one is now awkward for me to get to (3 buses) so it will be that or I will need to go to clarks or John Lewis. I am contemplating ordering online. I am pretty confident on checking the fit but I hate having to do returns.

I am happy with suggestions such as vivo barefoot that are non continental brands, I just didn't want lots of posts suggesting clarks (as usually happens when you mention school shoes). I've actually had a pair of vivo barefoot shoes myself and loved them. They took a good 5 years of regular wear before they gave up so I am contemplating them for DD (I've found them online for £35) What is the width like? They look quite wide in the photos. DD is an generally and E but has occasionally been an F.

My budget would be between £40 -£60 so everything mentioned is within budget. I will also need decent indoor shoes for DD so that will be another £20 and I have promised her a smiggle backpack. Luckily we won't need to buy much actual uniform as I have quite a bit stashed away in bigger sizes.

Also thank you for not thinking I am mad to be planning back to school shopping in May.

[SunnySomer]

We just got Froddo ones which are very smart, well made and comfortable and so far very durable.

[imip]

Bisgaard. I don't use them as school shoes, but my 4 dds use their boots and Mary Janes got weekend wear. In nursery, I had a pair of gold boots all 4 DCs have worn throughout winter every day. They have now been handed to a friend, the goth child to wear them and still going strong. Only pair that has worn out is winter boots ( used in winter as school shoes also) they lasted 2 dc.

I've just picked up 2 pairs of camper dpiral comet for DCs for £28 each on sarenza.

[Supposedtobeworking1]

I get DS shoes from Cool Boys Shoes website after a friend recommended them to me (they have a Cool Girls site too!). You have to measure their feet at home though and order online and the shoes are all apparently made in Portugal. I've now used them for three years and they are a really good price for the quality, look beautiful and last until outgrown without fail. They are also leather lined.

[Only1scoop]

Pediped here and Garvalin.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

But Vivobarefoot are not a "continental shoe brand", they're a British company... Great shoes though, and it seemed an odd restriction, although DD wears Neo's not Pally's, but they've also lasted so far since reception start without a problem on some very hard use.

[TrainBridge]

I've had good (lasted the full year) experience with Vivo Pallys, Bibux black t-bars and vatiois Pediped Mary Janes apart from the patent one. The new Pediped with rubber toe bits is brilliant.

[Patry]

Campers? Not cheap though

[lavendersun]

Geox here - very good for a narrow foot. The last ones went on for a year.

[saltysquid]

Vivobarefoot pally, expensive but extremely comfortable shoes