Can I just do a quick poll of those of you who have boys

[katierocket]

Are you generally happy with the choice in boys shoes? Whenever I go shoe shopping for DS I am so disappointed at the lack of choice/range of different designs / colours etc. Everything seems to be black or brown or navy. Does anyone know anywhere that does more stylish boys shoes?
These are my favourite make but not that many places seem to stock them naturino
reckon there might be a gap in the market but would be interested to hear what everyone thinks.

ds was GUTTED the other day cos now he is a size 10 they only do black 'school' shoes
He is 3!

Can't say I am bothered at all usually just get navy ones as the match everything and I only buy them one pair at a time. When they outgrow them they get another pair. Think colourful shoes would be a waste of money for me as I don't like colourful clothes either.

I would definetely go all out of my way to get funky shoes for DS!

But...

...price is the thing here...

Right now, out of my way is into ebay to get the existing funky shoes for reasonable prices.

I think there are alternatives at the moment. They are just too pricey! So, if you are going to get in the business, think cheap!

I wonder if the problem is market size though... i.e. funky shoes for boys have to be pricey because market is small. I'm afraid the MN does not represent the average buyer out there...

Ds has always had Kickers. The red lace up boots when he was small and now he's at school he wears navy boots with velcro straps from them too. At the weekend he wears Boden suede baseball boots (£5 in town hall sale) or Celtic Sheepskin brown ugg style boots.

We have the most wonderful children's shoe shop here which sells Aster, Geox, Buckle My Shoe, Kickers etc. As stated earlier they are wildly expensive but worth it if you can afford it. Putting on a pair of purple suede boots makes the day start so much more pleasantly

I'm another who's happy with black/brown/navy for boys - most of the year we don't need anything other than black school shoes & plain school trainers - then we get nice surfery sandals (in brown ) for the summer.

Clodhopping moulded plastic soles are another matter, but venom re those is reserved for them on girls' shoes.

There are cute suede desert-boot-style lace-ups for boys on Vertbaudet website, ni a range of nice colours

my ds' feet too narrow for those though, I reckon

DS can't wear high st shoes. I used to feel a real pang when looking at cute toddlers shos, and longed to be able to buy them for him. But looking at the Clarks and Start Rite choice now, I am horrified. Happy enough with the dark colours, but they are so ugly!
I think Kicker Style or Timberland-ish boots are quite nice for boys. DS's friend has some highly stylish biker-style zip-up boots with a red flash - bought in America.

But at least boys shoes look as if the are built for the outdoors. Girls shoes are clearly made for people who step in drier, shallower puddles than boys, or who barely step off the shag-pile.

oo, I like the sound og sheepskin boots cupcakes! might try and find some in the sales for my ds!

by the way, does anyone know the UK shoe size equivalent of 22?

I'm bothered by it for everyday shoes - school shoes I don't care and go for Clarks cos all they need are sensible black ones and the ones ds1 has a perfect.

For out of school I wish there was something more trendy. I do see some about - kickers and some in Next even but I'm always wary of buying these as they aren't going to be fitted properly. I'd feel uncomfortable about buying shoes mail order tbh.

lol Blu, perhaps they think girls have coats laid over the puddles before they step onto them.

I know that school shoes obviously need to be plain/dark but outside of school I just think black or navy is so dull. I'm not talking about over the top clown shoes or anything, just something with a bit of style.

like the Xmas name blu!

like ranges available but my eldest are after sporty ones

Think girls and boys shoes get boring after a certain size!

I think there is a gap in the market for boys between 3 and 6 ish - ie when the cute shoes in Clarks/ startrite run out (IMO the boys shoes in Clarks are Ok until around 2.5) and just before they develop their own taste. My ds is 6 in March and he has strong views now about what he wants to wear - he wants a shoe that looks as much like a trainer as possible and so we compromise on Geox. If he had his choice totally he would go for the trainers with flashing lights (he can't wear trainers all the time as his feet need more support).

The problem with the age 3-5ish market is it's hard to justify naturino prices because shoes last for three months-ish, once they get to 6 ish it's more like 6 months.

butting in here - there's certainly a gap in the girl's market - what I call "covered" shoes - the style that all boy's winter shoes are but for some reason they don't seem to think girls need them. ie not Mary-Janes, not T-bars and not boots. just SHOES, nice winter shoes, with one or two flowers on and no sequins. thank you.

so it's not just me then Blu?

totally agree puddle. At 3 with big feet my ds has his own taste - its NOT clumpy black school type shoes he's after! plenty of time for uniformity later on ...

I don't think the choice of shoes or clothes for boys is good enough.

didn't see this thread!
I hate boys shoes and clothes. I can't remember who it was but somebody said they spend less on little boys stuff because they can wear what ever. I find myself spending more on my ds then my dd. Boys clothes are hideous. Especially shoes. Clarks shoes for boys well where do I start most of them are horrible! I find myself constantly buying my ds kickers because they are the only shoes I like. I do like buckle my shoe and some naturino too.
Why o why are all boys shoes black brown and navy?
Why oh why are boys clothes made to look like our babies are 18year old teenagers on the pull?
I think there is a big gap in the market for decent boys clothes at reasonable prices!

yes I should have said, I meant boys shoes below around age 7 or 8.

Interesting point about girls shoes hativity.
(great name)

My two ds's aged 6 and 7 had Esprit shoes this year, bought in Germany. Pale sort of khaki, sounds weird but very stylish, easy to put on, total satisfaction actually.

Well my problem has always been that out of the narrow range of shoes available there is an even narrower range available for DS because most of them don't fit his H width, high feet, eg kickers don't and Clarks generally don't. ATM he has Startrite school shoes and Cico trainers. I am wondering whether to buy him a pair of smart casual shoes to wear over the Christmas holiday but am not sure that I can justify the cost or that he'd wear them much because he likes his trainers.