Secondary school SHOES

[Enchilada81]

I'm struggling with DS's stuff for september. He's not a "trendy" kid so hasn't got a clue what's in and what's out. We had a drama with the school bag (in the end we settled for a Nike messanger bag wth a tiny logo) and now we're debating about shoes.

I usually buy him Macadam ones (around £15) but DD says he'll get bullied with such 'cheapo' shoes. So I found some nice Ben Sherman slip on shoes for £35 but they look too grown up for him!

There's a lot of stuff about DS that bullies will love, I don't want his clothes to be one of them.

So what do 11 year old's wear on their feet?

Oh bless him.

I carted myself around all the shoe shops in Cheltenham when dd went up to senior school. Nothing ended up being right. Bought some shoes in Jones Bootmakers for a fortune in the end.

They really do fret about secondary transition so to be honest I would get him the shoes that he really likes. Ben Sherman ones sound fine imo.

Later on he probably won't care so much - dd has crappy loafers from Asda now (thank god).

Thanks for the reply he'll be the same, by christmas he won't care less what he wears! it's those first impressions though that count I suppose.

Here are the shoes I was looking at:

www.brantano.co.uk/Shop/brantano_uk/Kids/Children%20Senior%20Boys/Choose%20by%20Size/05/Closed%20Sho es/Slip-on/2521409411.aspx?category=030501050101

What do you reckon? do they look old fashioned?

Hi Enchilada. Those shoes look great. DS1 favours Ben Shermans and both my DS's would definitely wear the ones you are looking at. In their opinions, it's the metal bits on some of them that are a no-no, and they reckon definitely don't go for anything with velcro!

Good luck to your DS, hope he settles in & enjoys high school.

Funnily enough, I did pick some up with velcro and DD said to me "do you WANT him to get bullied???"

It's hard to get used to the fact that he's not little anymore.

I think I'll go for the ben shermans

... won't he have outgrown them by September?

Why are you buying things so early? Let him enjoy the rest of what is left of primary then start the uniform buying. thats what I did with DD and what I intend to do with DS. Shoes will definately be the last thing I buy . Sounds that by starting to buy so early you causing problems for yourself and worrying him about things like bullying because you dont conform.nother good idea is wait until the school has its induction day / week he will see what kids there are wearing on their feet what bags they have got etc

Agree with busymummy, it's too early to be doing this. He might change his mind when he visits the school for transfer day. If you are worried about the cost, then put the money aside gradually rather than actually buying the stuff, especially shoes. I also think you are overly worried about the 'fitting in' side of things.

my ds(16) has never been picked on because of his shoes and they're definitely not designer!

just get some nice plain black leather ones.

I'm not actually buying anything yet. I'm just 'planning' so to speak and putting the money aside each week so that it doesn't work out too expensive in September.

I worry about him fitting in because it's been a probem all through primary school. He's not actually that bothered though funnily enough, he says he doesn't care about being different to everyone else. Its just me!

I will try and relax on it though, you're right.

I'm wondering about shoes for DD too, though I don't intend to buy her any yet!

I see loads of teenagers with ballet pumps on, and they don't look substantial enough. But are Clarkes shoes too babyish?

DD is 13 and she wears the tiny ballet things. In winter her feet used to come back frozen and soaked but she wasn't prepared to wear any sensible shoes

Fashion over comfort, as always!

(She wouldn't wear clarks)

BTM- Welcome to the world of 12/13 year old girls and school shoes. They will absolutely not be seen DEAD with anything to do with Clarks let alone Clarks Kids shoes. I tried to persuade my DD last time to get a pair of Ballet style pump things from Clarks Ladies which to me looked exactly the same as the ones she wanted from New Look(albeit double the price but at least they were more robust)but she absolutely refused. it again comes down to what everyone else is wearing etc
In fact a lot of them are now wearing black lace up plimsoll things where we are- not DD her school doesnt allow them. Thank Goodness although at approx £8 from NEW LOOK /MATALAN I can see a lot of money saved.

Can I roll out my school shoes story?

The usual 'school shoes' row was taking place between me and my mum at the end of August in, I think, 1980.

My mum is championing "Cordelia" (the official school shoe - bleeuurrggh). I want something more trendy.

The heated argument escalates and I... hit my mum over the head with a shoe and knock her out !!!!!

I won the day and got the shoes I wanted. September 3rd rolls round and I prance off in my shoes. I get sent home with a note that I am not to come to school in unsuitable shoes again

I don't know what the moral of this tale is, but I certainly felt guilty at my stupidity and teenage awfulness afterwards. Luckily my mum saw the funny side afterwards and it became a famous family anecdote.

Lucky DD is way way smaller than me - I don't fancy getting knocked out! Anyway, I don't want her to look geeky - my mother never had a clue and I would hate to put DD through that!

Ben Sherman is very popular with the Secondary School age boys, however they no longer make their junior range and their shoes are quite high fashion now rather than being practical.

Try IKON (I know one name), Pods or Timberland if you want to go for the hardwearing but trendy shoes.

If you do want a slip on but are more concerned with comfort rather than style then Hush Puppies and Garvalin are a good bet. Both make excellent slip on shoes in plain black leather with no outward branding so there is no teasing to be done.

Other manufacturers Like Ricosta and Primigi do make school shoes in larger sizes but they tend to be velcro fastening rather than slip on or lace up.

Children at Secondary school will be walking at least 3-4 times as far each day as they did at primary school. It is worth choosing a shoe that has a good sole unit as well as being comfortable.

I know that sometimes the cost of these shoes can seem astronomical but you should expect at least one to one and a half terms use from each pair of school shoes.
If you spend £55 on them and break it down into a daily cost it will work out to about the same price as a pint of milk. £35 - £45 though is an average price range for early secondary school children. It does depend on size though as anything under a size 7 will be on the cheaper side as it will be classed as youth not adult.

I'm afraid my DS just got his at Clarks. All my kids have narrow feet so need shoes that come in width fittings & lace-ups, not slip ons.

Never had any problems with comments from the other kids

I had a letter this morning about ordering some of ds's school PE kit, I have to fill the form in and cough up by the end of April, time's going to pass quickly!! I wouldn't do shoes yet though, his feet will grow.

Never even considered anything other than plain black Clarks lace-ups or velcro. As far as I'm aware, most other boys wear the same. Be careful about getting anything to fashionable in case the school don't allow them.

Clarks are quite trendy now and go up to large sizes which is great for my DS who is size 9 already. It's best to get feet measured properly and the Clarks don't wear out like "fashion" shoes so they can wear till they grow out of them.

Tried getting shoes for dd (year 9) in Clarks. It was practically impossible because she has small feet and they all had dollies in them, fairies on the soles etc Grr!. I'm not prepared to let her walk about all winter in stupid ballet shoes but she is happy enough with the Hush Puppies that we ended up with.

Now we just have to try and find some trainers for PE that aren't covered in Logos and pink sparkly stuff. When the school specifies 'plain' trainers I wish they'd give us a clue where we can actually buy the things!

Ah yes, the dollies!
My poor DD who is not at all girlie, ended up with thoes a couple of years back when we left it quite late. And they had run out in her sisters size ( then 5) who actually wanted them. So best not to leave it till the last minute if you want a choice.
DD1 still wearing clarkes or similar in year 8. Like to get feet measured while still growing, and finding the width changing too. Usually get the sturdier ballet pump type in the young adults, often with a bar. but she has never wanted to be one of the designer/ fashion crowd.

sorry to hijack the thread but seems to be sort of connected as all to do with what peers are wearing to fit in we have moved on from shoes to underwired bras- DD is 13 I do not want to back down on this one - but again facing the old chestnut of 'everyone else is wearing them' with Me to You bears on Tatty Teddy , Betty Boop etc her latest parting shot 'well I'll definitly have one when I'm in year 9' accompanied with the defiant stare we all know and love so well. What do I do - am I being unreasonable?

My DD didn't get wired bras until yr 11 (when needed a strapless one for prom dress).
However, M&S do 'soft-wire' models in their Angel range, which is supposed to be OK for growing girls & looks like underwired.

Just got DD (13) some underwired bras. Are they not supposed to have them at that age?