where to get decent nice childrens shoes from...

[laughinglil]

this is a little bit of a moan... I am fed up of the disgusting shoes around for my ds. dd's shoes are fine they are always pretty and delicate. However my ds (20m) are disgusting. They are chunky and horrible colours. Where do you lot buy your children's shoes from because I am so fed up of trailing the shops and finding nothing! At the minute my ds is in a pair of kickers. HELP PLEASE!

Specialist traditional independent shoe shop rather than chain / department store? - we have one in Southampton - French and Sons

Specialist traditional independent shoe shop rather than chain / department store? - we have one in Southampton - French and Sons

verbal diarrhoea

Always get them from Clarks - may not be the very best in terms of style but at least they fit properly.

Poor dd1 has "difficult" feet - went to buy her boots last week and must have tried almost every pair they had before we found one that fitted her properly.

Where do you live laughinglil? we have a shop (I think it is a chain) called One Small Step One Giant Leap. They have some nice shoes for boys - a bit pricey though.

Ummm clarks....never been any good for my dd's broad fitting feet.

i live in essex. been everywhere lakeside,bluewater (and u would think i would find something) the only place i havent looked is john lewis !

I second that clarks are rubbish if you are a broader fit, they just recommend you go up sizes until the shoe fits
why dont they make broader shoes?

daisy & tom in bluewater have shoes upstairs?

have you tried blundstone boots? they are a bit like jodphur/chelsea boots that are easy to get on and off, plus you get a liner that allows for a half size growth so good value if you have more than one child as you can get away with them being unisex style. i bought mine via googling for a uk supplier or russell and bromley startrite do a cheaper version called herb i think. startrite have a website though ds3 is needing a feed so must dash.
I know what you mean about clarks. i think boys shoes and clothes are really tricky unless you want logos everywhere or surf/grunge look!

One small step, one giant leap

just saw age - i would just wellies at this stage.

here

Yes startrite have a better reputation

i might sound a right snob (sorry if i do) it isn't the fit that worries me ds is standard fitting in width. Its just they are all ugly it seems

I bowed down to pressure last week and bought ds1 (5) some Geox shoes which he loves. In fact he loves them so much he has stopped climbing things so that he doesn't mess them up . Hope you manage to find something soon - we have started going to an independant shop as they have a lot more choice than Clarks or John Lewis.

depending on whereabouts you are in Essex, you might want to venture over to Potters Bar or Barnet. Both have independent shoeshops that sell lovely shoes.
John Lewis I find sometimes have nice (and slightly different) boys shoes. Or have you tried Loughton? Must be something there surely.

JL do a good variety including brands like Timberland and Naturino, also Russell and Bromley and Jones.

The Oxford branch of Russell and Bromley has a good children's department and we tend to go for Startrite shoes there - good, solid shoes and attractive styles. Presumably other branches have children's shoes, too. They are meticulous about measuring and, twice in the last two months, have suggested that DD is not quite ready to go up to the next size and that I come back with her in a few weeks' time. That seems a responsible attitude on their part.