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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Where do you get school shoes?

27 replies

admylin · 06/05/2009 07:57

My 2 dc are coming back to UK to primary school with uniform (they can't wait) and they will need balck shoes - no further specifications so I guess they just have to be all black. Where should I go to get them? I'll have one weekend before they start so have to get them then. Is Marks and Spencer a good place to start? I'll be getting the trousers there.

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BonsoirAnna · 06/05/2009 07:58

Start Rite.

gscrym · 06/05/2009 08:01

Clarks. Anywhere that'll measure their feet so you can get an idea what UK size they are. There are some little shoe shops that do continental sizes but these are usually a lot more expensive though shoes are often good for narrow feet.

Original poster

admylin · 06/05/2009 08:06

Oh of course, Clarks, good idea as I'll need to get them fitted . Dd is 9 and in European size 34 to 35, she really seems to be inbetween sizes so very hard to get the right fit. Ds is 10 and in size 38 which is a 5 I think.
Never heard of Start Rite but the website looks nice.

OP posts:

BonsoirAnna · 06/05/2009 08:07

Ooh Admylin it is definitely time for you to get back to the UK if you have never heard of Start Rite

Original poster

admylin · 06/05/2009 08:09

I can't wait Anna! The dc ar eso excited about geting a uniform at last. Strange isn't it, alot of British dc dream of the freedom of not having to wear uniform like in Germany but my 2 just can't wait.

OP posts:

Hulababy · 06/05/2009 08:10

We g to small independent shoe shoe that specialises in children's shoes. DD tends to have shoes such as Start Rite and urrently has Hush Puppies.

I find Clarks very hit and miss in terms of customer service, ability to measure feet and quality of shoes. They don;t seem to fit DD well perhaps.

savoycabbage · 06/05/2009 08:13

John Lewis are best for measuring I think. The independent shops are good too. You can get a foot measure gadget from the startrite website now. You can get black school shoes in lots and lots of places though.

Original poster

admylin · 06/05/2009 08:14

Looks as if we're going to have a fun first weekend back in UK, shoe shopping. Trouble is my dc have a pain threshold of about 3 shoe shops maximum so I have to hope that I find some thing in the first 3 shops I go in otherwise by the 4th they start to make strange groan-whine-noises.

OP posts:

BonsoirAnna · 06/05/2009 08:15

Browse the web sites first and see if you can identify some shoes your DCs like. You can always order on-line if you have had your children's feet measured in a shop.

sarah293 · 06/05/2009 08:18

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster

admylin · 06/05/2009 08:25

Sigh, how long until they are old enough to send them alone to get their own school shoes? Probably come back with the wrong ones wouldn't they?

OP posts:

dancingbear · 06/05/2009 09:56

Independent shops - I always go for Ricosta, very well made, with thick, soft leather and often lined with a waterproof, breathable sock and after a year of constant wear 'n' tear they still look smart.

TwoScrambled · 06/05/2009 17:44

John Lewis

squilly · 06/05/2009 17:49

I'm a fan of Ricosta whilst their feet are small. They're tough little shoes, very good for schoolwear.

GrimmaTheNome · 06/05/2009 18:07

does anyone really take their child to more than one shoe shop for school shoes? You're not supposed to like school shoes, so long as theres something that fits in the correct colour (which Clarks always seems to have). Tried StartRite once - fitter was not very good and they cost 50% more than clarks but DDs shoe shop tolerance is one at most.

GossipMonger · 06/05/2009 18:09

No Grimma! If they are black and they fit and they are under £35 then that is fine by us!!

Why trail round shop after shop looking at boring black school shoes?

TheFallenMadonna · 06/05/2009 18:11

DD has very awkward feet - very high - and fitting, rather than just measuring, is essential. We used to travel quite a way to an independent, but it's now closed . John Lewis at least won't sell a pair of shoes that don't fit, but dont have the range of the independent, and it is really difficult to find things for her now.

muggglewump · 06/05/2009 18:12

Shoezone.
I get all our shoes there unless they come from a charity shop.
DD did have Clarks last year but they came from an MNetter. (they lasted well considering they were secind hand and DD was over the moon with the dolls in the heels!)

I do make sure they fit of course and the very odd time that Shoezone haven't, I've gone to Asda and/or Priceless Shoes.

Surfermum · 06/05/2009 18:20

We go to a Startrite independent. DD gets a choice of the ones he says fits her properly and that's it!

paddingtonbear1 · 06/05/2009 22:58

I often get dd's feet measured at John Lewis or Clarks. I don't always get shoes from there though - her last 3 pairs came from TKMaxx. They were good Clarks-like shoes (black) which fit fine. You need to be lucky though, often when I go in they don't have the right sizes.

paddingtonbear1 · 06/05/2009 23:00

ah yes, the dolls in the heels. dd saw those last time we were in Clarks. Her feet hadn't grown so I managed to put her off, but I need another excuse for next time!

ChasingSquirrels · 06/05/2009 23:02

we also go to Shoe Zone, after a Clarkes saleswoman measured ds1's feet and said "there is nothing in our range (not the shop - the entire range) that will fit him" I gave up. There is a style in ShoeZone that fits perfectly. They are crap and he trashes them in a term, but then they only cost £7.99 or something.

QueenFee · 06/05/2009 23:08

Deichman are great. They also do european sizing as a european company. Will help with fitting. I won't be going to Clarks again as I have had major problems with both the service and the shoes. [wrong size, holes in 2 weeks)

brimfull · 06/05/2009 23:15

Brantano do various makes of school shoes including clarks and hush puppies.

muggglewump · 07/05/2009 00:22

I read a thread on here a while back saying that we are conned here thinking that we have to get our kids shoes from money grabbers Clarks and in other Countries they use common sense and fit the shoes themselves.
I've always done that anyway.
DD had brand new Clarks once, they were so big she tripped over her feet and they gave her blisters, the only pair of shoes that ever have.
She did love the Clarks she had last year, but they fit, and perhaps they would have if I'd bought new but they wouldn't have fit any better than I can fit a shoe I bet and of course they have created great pester power with the toys in the heel. (that's why DD loved them. Of course I'm very grateful to have been given them)

I wouldn't trust Clarks as far as I could throw them and I will also say that DD has normal feet, perfectly fine and she has worn "Mum" fitted shoes forever.

It's just another thing to worry about and for Mums to judge each other on.

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