Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

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.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

school shoes

41 replies

BlossomHill · 16/08/2004 20:56

Just out of interest do you buy your school shoes fitted (clarkes, startright) or choose your own size etc (Mothercare, Asda, Matalan etc)?

OP posts:

suedonim · 17/08/2004 00:22

Shoes = nightmares in this house. Dd2 is a D/E fitting and we finally found shoes for her at the seventh or eighth shop we tried. I occasionally bought shoes for dd1 from M&S. Sometimes I think 'What's the point?' as 17yo dd1 now insists on buying her own shoes and has ruined her feet with the cr*p she wears.

KateandtheGirls · 17/08/2004 00:32

So tell me something. Are your kids allowed to wear trainers at school? I remember that we never were as kids but I wondered if that had changed. From the sounds of what you're saying - specific shoes for school - it sounds like not. Here in the US they can wear trainers which makes life a lot easier. Much more comfortable for them too I think.

JanH · 17/08/2004 00:49

DS2 (11) has just left primary school - he wore trainers for the last couple of years - best thing really as he just played football all the time in the playground. State primaries in the UK can't impose uniform standards. (I think!)

He starts at secondary in Sept though, and they can, so he has to get used to that.

roisin · 17/08/2004 08:13

Last year for the first time ever I bought ds2 unfitted school shoes ... he had blisters at the end of the first day I felt awful.

lavender1 · 17/08/2004 08:24

I always buy fitted shoes, but sandals are sometimes cheap ones, KTG is right they're not cheap but worth it as don't squash feet and are comfy for children (about £30 a pair..Clarks are)

Original poster

Blossomhill · 17/08/2004 16:14

I have ALWAYS bought from Clarkes/startright but just on the off chance found a pair in Asda that I like. There is no comparison and for the sake of £15-20 dd's comfort must come first!

OP posts:

Original poster

Blossomhill · 17/08/2004 16:15

Roisin - I know I would fell exactly the same. It's not worth the hassle or worry is it?

OP posts:

lou33 · 17/08/2004 17:15

Whenever I have bought fitted shoes my kids have had blisters. I hate Clarks with a passion.

Tinker · 17/08/2004 17:22

Just bought some now - Startrite. Virtually impossible to get shoes without a heel after size 2 . Was mildly pestered for some, fortunately they mostly have laces and she can't do hers yet

hercules · 17/08/2004 17:28

My mum never allowed me to have pointy or heeled shoes and I hated her for it at the time. When I was old enough to choose doc martins were the fashion. My feet are therefore brillian, no funny bits etc and I am now very grateful to my mum.

Remember pixie boots? God, how I wanted a pair!

Yorkiegirl · 17/08/2004 17:36

Message withdrawn

tallulah · 17/08/2004 17:39

Mine have very wide H fitting feet, together with narrow ankles & a high instep. No way could I buy off the peg! (I have enough trouble finding 1 pair the right size in Clarks or startrite!)

Every time I see my niece she is in clodhoppers or pointy stilettos. Her mother doesn't care.

(I'm a size 5, DH is a 6, & 14 yo DS2 has just had a pair of size 9 trainers!!!)

mwnci · 16/09/2004 17:04

I have always bought from Clarks but never again!! My 4 year old was measured for shoes in Clarks but refused to walk in the shoes in the shop. The assistant did feel around the shoes as she wore them and I bought them. She wore them to school on her first day but when I collected her at the end of the day she could barely walk as her feet were blistered. I had to carry her home. Clarks refused a refund or replacement as the shoes were "not fitted" because she had not walked in them. I am now stuck with a useless pair of very expensive shoes and am appalled at the poor customer service offered by Clarks, This organisation doesn't give a damn about it's customers!

hercules · 16/09/2004 17:10

I can kind of see their point as part of the fitting process is looking at them walking around with them on. How could they have known they wouldnt fit properly otherwise?

hercules · 16/09/2004 17:14

Ds had a pair from clarkes once which despite being fitted properly still hurt him and they exchanged it no problems.

Slinky · 16/09/2004 17:37

I have to buy properly fitted shoes for my lot. They all have VERY narrow feet, and like Tallulahs children, have narrow heels and very high insteps.

With DD1 (9) we found a lovely pair of slip-ons but she couldn't have them as the style didn't fit properly (they fitted the length of her foot but not over the top). She can only have lace-ups (so she can adjust her shoe to fit her foot) or Velcros. Neither style would be my choice personally but she chose the lace-ups and they fit her perfectly.

DS1 (7) and DD2 (5) both have Velcro-style because of similar problems but also for ease of doing them up in school.

I have tried "off-the-peg" shoes in other stores for DD1 but they just don't fit her properly - they either slip at the back or have far too much room on the top.

Usually go to Clarks - never had a problem with them in the 8 years I've been shopping there. I don't use my local shop after an argument with the woman there who complained about my DD1's awkward feet!!! so I travel about 5 miles up the road to the next one - the ladies in there are lovely

Flip

1 2