Would your year 7 dd wear these school shoes?

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www.startriteshoes.com/girls-shoes/school-shoes/stone-black-leather

Dd and I are having second thoughts. They fit perfectly & are acceptable to the school but the hearts look little girly.

Dd is a size 1 G and is almost 12.

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Well we went to pick up the plain Samba start rites today. When she got home the first thing dd did was to attach the little floppet toy to the shoe! She will bectskingvit off before school next week though!

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I've pm'd you goinginsane

[MadeOfStarDust]

My girls have the startright plain ones - one Y7 one Y8 - both have extremely long, extremely narrow feet, so cannot fit most styles - ballet flats just slip off, brogues are like buckets as the laces can be tightened only soooo far... they know they fit, they know it's all that they can have.. they say there's no teasing - their school it's the bags that get the attention...

[GraduallyGoingInsane]

The FT dance schools do seem more keen to preserve the kids' feet - it's their tool so they must take care of them. Because of this, I think a style which may be seen as a bit naff and babyish in a mainstream school won't even be noticed at a ballet school.

I'm not sure which one your DD is headed to, but if its Hammond, my DDs friends who go there spend far more time in the track suits and dance wear than in traditional uniform, so I wouldn't be surprised if she barely wears them.

I have dancing DDs (although the 3 eldest are on CAT schemes/outreach) so I understand its hard to find shoes to fit odd feet and give adequate support. My DDs have had success over the years with Step2wo shoes, which have the added benefit of coming with arch support that is so beneficial to banana feet! Theyre pricey, but may be worth a try if she really feels badly about the hearts?

On a side note, I'm considering vocational school for my DD2 (who would go for 6th form, shes going into Y11) and my DD4 (Year 6) - would you mind if I messaged you for some advice?

[Supertrooper88]

I have 2 DDs. Youngest going into yr8.

Those shoes are perfectly acceptable as a school shoe in the practical sense. However, imo they are too little girl (sad we/I think like that when we are talking about an 11yo) and will only set your DD uo to be a pisstake target.

I hate myself for saying it I really do. I am the first one to preach on about not giving into peer pressure etc etc but I personally hand on heart can say I would not send my DD now or last year to school in those shoes, and I do feel your pain with the high instep. (shoe shopping for us is hell on earth with little or no choice).

My DD who although going into Yr8 has literally just turned 12 wanted these www.startriteshoes.com/girls-shoes/angry-angels/impulsive-black-hi-shine-leather from Angry Angels and delighted that they actually fitted. She HAS to have lace ups mind and chose these over creepers as thats not a trend she is following. I dont think they do them any smaller which is a shame. This is DD2s first year of fitting into "teen" shoes.
The nearest similar style is the Burford on the Startrite website. I am not sure id lace ups are cool in schools where lace ups are not specified but have to say I usually have more success with lace ups and a high instep compared to other shoes because the lace up is adjustable.

A more grown up style of shoe with a strap in your DDs size is the celestial on the Startrite website.

You could check their returns policy (also look on Amazon) and order some in to see. I have in desperation in the past ordered shoes from Amazon. Somtimes there are other (old) startrite/clarks styles on there at cheaper prices. Its a hassle but you can return them if they dont fit.

Failing that I would suggest you try other shoe outfitters. I go to John Lewis because they have a range - although this year had nothing in my DDs size. And I also go to 3 independent shoe shops. I have to drive boody miles but I usually get success with one of them as they have old stock and vary styles.

Good luck - I hate the hell that is school shoe shopping.

[pixelchick10]

yup they won't want hearts or flowers too primary schoolish!

[chicaguapa]

DD is going into Y7 and has got the Startrite Samba ones. These will be her 3rd pair as they are very hard wearing and fit her feet very well. DH (who teaches at the school) says they will be fine for Y7. She wears them with trousers and they look so battered after a couple of weeks anyway so look less 'Startrite' then. With black socks they look fine.

[Schmedz]

My Dd in very similar boat with size 1E fitting feet! Very limited choices for her size foot, she absolutely LOATHES brogues and would not wear them if I paid her to. She chose www.clarks.co.uk/p/20354826 despite not really liking the tiny little heart cut outs, they seemed the least offensive to her that actually fit her foot.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Yes she does. I guess I shouldn't be surprised as I am only a size 4 and my mum is a size 2!

[Clary]

OP reading the thread it sounds as if it is a school where the rules wrt shoes are a bit stricter than most so I imagine if that is the case (eg shoes Lizs linked to not being OK) then lots of students will have shoes similar to the ones you have bought.

Yr DD has very petite feet for her age as I am sure you know so I imagine that limits yr choice anyway.

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I've had messages from several parents of girls at the school some of who are older who all say they will be fine there thoughbthevpkainer ones are preferred if possible.

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The style Lizs linked to are not allowed.

[Clary]

DD says no, never.

She is size 5 anyway tho not particularly tall! Her friend who wears 2-2.5 wears similar style (ie velcro and strap) but would not have the "stupid heart".

DD last year (she is in yr 8 now) wore Clarks brogue style; other girls wore those or similar or ballet flats.

[LIZS]

No way ! dd has had www.startriteshoes.com/girls-shoes/school-shoes/nova-black-leather for past year (just about to go into Year8, almost 12) although the sole at the toe has n't lasted as well the chunkier ones as she will dance about in them ! She has tiny narrow feet but they are quite supportive still.

[teacherandguideleader]

I know many people do not like Clarks shoes, and most of the girls in my class don't wear them - they are just the 3 styles that seem most popular (in a range of brands).

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No Clarks shoes fit dds feet

[Elsiequadrille]

No.

[teacherandguideleader]

Not a single child in my year 7 form last year would have worn those! Kickers are the way to go - even if they have a flower on they are somehow cool. Failing that brogues or something similar to what you have chosen but plain fronted seem popular. Check out the bootleg range in Clarks - I know they don't go down to a 1G but pretty much anything in that range will be seen as 'acceptable', especially the t bar style so might give you an idea of what to look for.

Something like these would be a good design www.clarks.co.uk/p/20350530
www.clarks.co.uk/p/20352733
www.clarks.co.uk/p/20350526

Most of the girls in my class who didn't have kickers had something styled like the 3 above.

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Yes it is a specialist dance school. However the school she would have gone to otherwise was also skirt suit only. Well I guess the girls could wear the boys trouser suit if they insisted but I doubt they would want to (specific suit only available from school)

[HmmAnOxfordComma]

Oh, in the interests of gender equality - our uniform policy changes this Sept to outlaw open-necked blouses in the summer term for girls (all must wear ties all year through) and boys are now allowed one set of pierced ears, to be equal with the girls. They have not said anything about boys being allowed skirts, yet, though...

[HmmAnOxfordComma]

I work in a state school and I would say 90% of the girls choose to wear a skirt over trousers - aren't they more cool than the sorts of trousers allowed in schools (and not because they get away with wearing them really short, they don't!)?

[pointythings]

Is it a specialist dance school then, OP? Most of the girls in DD1's normal state school would not be seen dead in skirts. And if the school were to bring in a skirts only rule (which they won't, they're sensible) I would be in the courts fighting for gender equality - I mean, this is the 21st century, isn't it?

Predictive text is always strange. That is its purpose. There are probably aliens studying our reactions to predictive text out there somewhere

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My phone predictive text is strange - that's devastated not debased

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I do know a couple if the boys were debased they had to get their hair cut (no fringes or long hair for boys allowed!)

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Someone with a child at the school says they do regular shoe checks. She reckons they won't look too out of place though the plainer ones may be better if the shop will exchange them

Don't think not being able to wear trousers will bother any if the girls. They do have track suits to wear over their leotards when moving between dance classes too.