Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

if you don't buy kids shoes from clarks

93 replies

festiveface · 02/08/2006 21:14

where do you get them from?

i don't like clarks because they always seem to look far too big and ds1 is a size 6 now (big 6) as it is!

but they both have wide feet and i am never sure they fit properly otherwise.

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 28/08/2007 17:58

we got DS1s school shoes from SAinsbo for £9, compared them to a friends DSs shoes that were clarks and they were IDENTICAL!!!

If they fit it doesn't matter where they are from as long as they fit properly.

bundle · 28/08/2007 18:01

my girls have quite broad feet, with high insteps so i go to john lewis and buy whatever fits them (usually down to one or maybe two pairs if we're lucky)

frogs · 28/08/2007 18:05

Jimmy's are better, I find, bundle. And you have two other shoe shops within 2 mins walk if they don't have what you need. I did the JL experience one August, and after 30 mins wanted to disembowel myself.

yaddayah · 28/08/2007 18:06

Ds's school shoes last year were fron Next, they've lasted since January with barely a scuff, I did get him measured in Clarks, but was told every black shoe in his size was out of stock and I should have bought at the beginning of the school holidays rather than leave it this late

Ds will be has a new larger pair from Next again for September

handlemecarefully · 28/08/2007 18:07

From an independent shoe shop in Southampton that stocks Startrite, Ricosta etc

(jollyfolly - it's not about the money it's about Clarks not fitting broad feet)

yaddayah · 28/08/2007 18:07

"will be has" perhaps i'd better join him at school !

handlemecarefully · 28/08/2007 18:07

Oh yes the same store does Ecco too and dd's school sandals were Ecco

bundle · 28/08/2007 18:09

lol frogs

i can never park round jimmy's and when i do am so scared of traffic wardens i'll buy anything and they really didn't have as much variety as jl's lasat time, apart from birkies. there's a small shop opposite st joan of arc's but they only seem to do the most expensive slim-footed startrites

the key with jl's is to go v v early. or get a time from them and get a coffee

bundle · 28/08/2007 18:10

oh and frogs - my other norf london tip is the clarks factory shop on salubrious seven sisters road (£26 shoes for £18 makes a difference when you're buying for a few..)

frogs · 28/08/2007 18:12

The key to Jimmy's is the BUS, bundle. Now there's One SMall Step in Cross street and that Igloo shop on Upper street, you really can't beat it.

Btw, you can usually park in the side road between the Egyptian bingo hall and the Health Centre. Just for info, you understand, not condoning use of motorised vehicles...

bundle · 28/08/2007 18:13

lol! we walked to the clarks factory shop, talk about invisible carbon footprint!

NAB3 · 28/08/2007 18:14

We go to an independent shop which is fab. Always see the same lady and she is great with the kids.

frogs · 28/08/2007 18:15

Ah yes, have discovered the Clark's factory shop already, tightwad that I am. Can't quite stomach their boys' styles, though, and dd1 now has size 8 (42 --aaagh) so am slightly restricted.

bundle · 28/08/2007 18:16

42 what are you serving up, chez frogs?

Hulababy · 28/08/2007 18:18

We get most of DD's shoes, and especially her school shoes, from a small independent shoe shop locally. They sell a few different makes, but no Clarks at all. They now have their own make, espeically made somewhere in Western Europe for them. Have had too many bad experiences with Clarks.

MarsLady · 28/08/2007 18:21

I too have discovered the factory shop on Seven Sisters Road. Many a bargain to be had! And when I told them I got a TAMBA discount the man didn't bat an eyelid even though he hadn't heard of it. Result!

frogs · 28/08/2007 18:22

Gawd, I don't know, tho' I have 42 as well so am clearly not blameless. Not at 12 I didn't though, so who knows where it will end. The poor child is mortified but as I have pointed out, it's better than having a massive nose or boobs the size of Manchester.

She has some black slightly sporty ones from Rhino, which is Start-rite's streetwise elder sibling.

If you can walk to the Clark's factory shop, and we can walk to the Clark's shop too, we should meet up for coffee or lunch sometime. But possibly not in Seven Sisters Road...

bundle · 28/08/2007 18:23

lol mars...sounds like we should have a 7sisters coffee morning! do try the pound shop too, they had small stretched canvases (for darlings' works of art) for 99p last time i was in there.

bundle · 28/08/2007 18:24

lol!

there's a lovely organic cafe on blackstock rd

MarsLady · 28/08/2007 18:24

Perhaps we could just meet up for lunch sans les enfants???????

Lovely places for lunch in Upper Street, Muswell Hill, Crouch End............

After all......... it's term time soon

lovelymars at aol dot com (in case you didn't see it on the other thread)

MarsLady · 28/08/2007 18:25

What's the organic cafe called Bundle?

bundle · 28/08/2007 18:26

good for food. really nice salads and small garden at back

fuzzywuzzy · 28/08/2007 18:26

I think I may be the only one who has bought her childs school shoes from woolies, plain black sensible ones with velcro fastening for eight quid..... dd1 is 4 and will be going to reception, is incredibly excited, and the school uniform rules were very clear about what she can and cannot wear.

MarsLady · 28/08/2007 18:26

Liking that idea Bundle! Perhaps we could just go there anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peachy · 28/08/2007 18:48

I used to be able to walk to |clarks from work, possibly not the one everyone else can walk to though.

Did by ds2 shoes from Wollies but he outgrew them in a fortnight LOL, but at least they were cheap to replace.