Small shoes

[tryingtoimprove]

I have a 15 year old dd who is petite. She appears to have now finished growing and has size 1.5/2 feet.

She wants fashionable shoes that are appropriate for her age, but we struggle to find any shoes that fit, as not only are they small in length, she also has very dainty ankles.

We need school shoes and regular fashion shoes.

I don't mind spending a bit more than most on school shoes a) because she doesn't out grow them, and is gentle on them so they last a long time and b) because it is such a nightmare finding shoes.

Does anyone have any suggestions of shops where we could go - preferably chain stores, but if not places that are either in London or in the South. We can't buy off internet as her feet are so unique we cannot risk buying anything without trying them on.

Any tips gratefully received.

New look have a teen range starting from size 1- here

Thanks for that - our small new look only had from size 3. I will travel further for a larger store.

There's a large one next to Marble Arch station- and there used to be one near Oxford St but it had a big fire and I'm not sure if it's reopened...

If you go to a reputable independent shoe shop they can often order in non-standard sizes. My mum had to do this with me - normal length feet but stupidly narrow.

Otherwise try TK Maxx, they seem to have a lot of the less popular sizes in most types of product, and often things that have ended up there because they have been labelled as the wrong size. So even if the shelf signage starts at 3, some of the styles will probably be smaller.

There is a big New Look in Hastings, and quite a big one just north of Tunbridge Wells in the retail park, if that helps at all?

Anywhere stocking Japanese shoe brands is your friend. My feet are not as small as your DD's, but narrow and high-arched. Ages ago, I bought a lovely pair of platform t-bar type shoes from a Japanese shop off Leicester Square. I'm not sure what the make was, but women in Japan often have very small feet, and apparently tiny sizes are common there.

I have small feet, a size 2 but when I was measured after my last pregnancy one measured a size 1.5. I'm in my late 30's now and starting to find it more difficult to get shoes

On the high st M and S, Debenhams, Next, and John lewis are all quite good for shoes. I wear converse style plimsolls most of the time but have some more grown up styles.

What you may need to guide your daughter through is buying shoes when she sees them not waiting til she needs them, shopping in sales, outlets etc. this has been a long learned lesson for me.

My long time bug bear has always been sandals . The best pairs I have had have been bought abroad. In the UK childrens sandals are meant to be worn for a short period of time - summer hols and weekends but as an adult I would want to wear them for longer, at work etc. I also find heels hard to get. Childrens tend to be quite strappy and partyish and ones specially for small feet online very very expensive and not that nice.

For Christmas/ birthday next year I have toyed with the idea of getting a pair of boots from Duo (search for them, lots on here and a website) as they, I hope, would last me for the rest of my life.

I'd also recommend Next. Their 'older girls' shoes range from small size 9 up to big size 7, so there are a lot of relatively grown up styles available in small sizes.

And with Next Directory you can get shoes delivered to try on without having to pay anything upfront. If they don't fit you can return them with no quibbles; if they do fit then you pay the following month. So it's good for trying a range of sizes or styles.

Thank you for all the tips - we are off out today for a mother and daughter bonding day - wish us luck - this can turn into a very frustrating process

Barratts have a small adult shoes range too. Think they start at a size 1.

Forgot to mention La Redoute. They also have good shoes.

My other top tip is to regularly look at the kids shoes on websites just after the new season comes out this help get an idea of what's out there

We had a very successful shoe shopping day yesterday - 5 pairs of shoes and a much lighter bank balance -

Ended up buying pumps in children's section of Gap, black lace ups from New Look, gladiator sandles from Dune, converse trainers and DG trainers from Schuh.

Best shoe shopping trip ever.

Yay

Thats great!