School shoes

[Nocluescoobydoo]

Daughter is changing school. She's not usually one for fashion trends but would like a new backpack, coat and shoes. I'm embracing the change but I've no idea what kids these days wear. I'm guessing I avoid Clarks...she's not a trainer gal. Tips welcome for age 14

This is going to really vary school to school

My dd wore brogues bought from Clarks

My daughter has just started a new secondary and asked the same question. She ended up with some ballet flats from M&S which are fully leather and lovely, but then she decided they weren’t the best for walking around all day and swapped to her old Mary Jane type shoes she had last year in Y7. She said all the girls at school wear ballet flats and they always fall off when they are walking up and down the stairs 😄

My DD had Doc Ms for sixth form and it was a popular choice for KS4 in the school I worked in, tho this is a few years ago; DD's Docs still going strong tho!

But you need to find out if the school has rules on this. Some will not allow trainers, some say no to boots, some will not allow ballet flats actually.

I remember having the same problem 🤣

Check the school website for rules about footwear and then do a drive-by at the beginning or end of the day to get an idea of what most kids are wearing. Trends vary hugely between schools.

They just say black, but she's adamant not the Nike force ones. Bag wise are nikes ok or is it more totes?

DD(14 for a few more days) wears black DMs, the ubiquitous TNF black puffer and and has a JanSport rucsac.

It really is school specific. And within a school, it can be friendship group specific. Can DD manage with her existing shoes, bag and coat (most kids around us are still not in coats anyway), and after a week or so make decisions?

My DD wore Docs (you can get ones without the yellow stitching if the school don’t allow it) from Year 6 and still wears them now at uni. We only ever had to buy her new ones when she grew out of the old ones so she’s had great wear from about 3 pairs over the last 9 years of almost daily wear, COVID years excepted. So they cost a bit more but they last, they look good, and they’re safe and comfortable.

Your best bet is to try and look at the actual children coming and going from the school because these trends vary so much from school to school, even in the same area. If she wants air force ones and it just says black shoes I’d get them.