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Original poster

What are your teenage girls wearing for school shoes?

33 replies

AndiPandi · 30/06/2014 23:13

Uniform states they have to be plain black, no white soles (converse etc) and I would prefer them to be leather. DD is 13 and we are already falling out over this, she wants canvas vans, because that's what EVERYBODY wears. Please can someone tell me what I can suggest for her that would be a fashionable alternative she might agree to.
She's turning on the tears and using the guilt trip that she just wants to fit in and making out I know absolutely nothing about fashion (possibly true?!)

OP posts:
Helpys · 30/06/2014 23:14

Canvas Van's
Sorry Grin

dot91 · 30/06/2014 23:17

My 17 year old wore black dessert boots last year from Clarks they have a black sole.

Notso · 30/06/2014 23:17

DD 14 wears these Clark's reluctantly. Most of her mates have similar.
The new head had a crackdown this time last year and DD was told her all black converse would not be acceptable this year.
Looking at other pupils the old ways are creeping back in and we will have a battle in the holidays.

todayisnottheday · 30/06/2014 23:21

All our teens are wearing vans, sorry. Actually a few of them wear dr martins!

Original poster
AndiPandi · 30/06/2014 23:23

That's the sort of thing I want her to have Notso. We had a battle last year because the guidance the school gave wasn't clear enough. It just said 'dark shoes'. Then Head decided he meant all black, none trainers. I argued that I had already bought them but he is def cracking down and I'm not going through that again!

Will look at the desert boots, although I think the mere mention of Clarkes is going to start a sulk!

OP posts:
steppemum · 30/06/2014 23:25

my friend's dd wears kickers or Docs

CointreauVersial · 30/06/2014 23:29

I refused to contemplate canvas Vans for DS - they wouldn't have lasted five minutes.

DD1 (13) has brogue style lace-ups which she's fine with. Clarks' finest.

Notso · 30/06/2014 23:33

Ours went from the vague 'black footwear' to 'all black shoes'.

The uniform policy is ridiculous anyway. It says bell bottom flares and side split trousers are banned as if many will be breaking that rule, god knows when it was written Hmm

You have my sympathies.

Picturesinthefirelight · 30/06/2014 23:53

The rules for shoes are very strict at dds school. They must be a full black polish able shoe, no ballet flats or canvas.

Dd is in start rite Mary Janes.

BackforGood · 01/07/2014 00:06

dd2 (12) in Yr 7 wears those linked to by Notso and dd1 (15) in Yr 10 wears shoes like this but without the pleat and heart detail - just plain.

Vans aren't allowed, nor are kickers or doc martins, and ballet pupms do seem to be worn by some (although I suspect they aren't supposed to) but they just wouldn't last 2 mins with the walk by dds have to school.

IME, you wear "school shoes" to school - it's just not an option to do otherwise, although I guess is must depend on the school from threads on here although not from what I see around the City I live in

Earlybird · 01/07/2014 00:15

OP - hope you don't mind me asking: why are you so opposed to the vans? i understand you may prefer leather, but if the school allow vans, why won't you?

It doesn't seem the sort of thing that is worth having a big upset over, imo.

Chumhum · 01/07/2014 06:54

Brogues.

If mine were allowed Vans and that what they wanted then I'd allow it. Teens are hard enough without feeling like a misfit.

wellnowthenmardybum · 01/07/2014 06:59

14 year old dd and most other girls are wearing thess m.newlook.com/shop/shoe-gallery/view-all-shoes/black-creepers_253188301 or anyother shoe with a massive platform thing. I think they are horrible but hey ho got to pick your battles

Fairylea · 01/07/2014 07:03

Get her the vans. They are surprisingly hard wearing and it won't be wet enough to worry about the canvas for a while yet - they also do a proper leather version if she'd wear those.

VeryDullNameChange · 01/07/2014 07:03

Brogues, loafers or Kickers. It's great that the first two styles are so widely available in the women's department at the moment - it gives you much more choice and gets round the "my friends will think I'm a kid if I have Clarks shoes" factor.

antimatter · 01/07/2014 07:11

canvas vans wouldn't be allowed in my dd's school

Ihatemytoes · 01/07/2014 07:33

Mine is wearing black patent loafers. Like these www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_050010202160_-1

fluffycow · 01/07/2014 07:37

Mine wears black leather vans. Her school is full of girls wearing leather vans and converse, the school have given up on trying to get anyone in year 10+ wearing proper school shoes because they've only really got 2 terms left of school.

RavenRose · 01/07/2014 08:25

Dd (13) is in docs at the moment. Shoes though as boots aren't allowed. I'd be happy for her to wear Vans if allowed. She has had a few pairs over the years and they wear well. Sadly Vans are also on the banned list- no canvas shoes allowed and even the leather ones are a no go. I'm really starting to hate this uniform policy.

BadRoly · 01/07/2014 08:29

Dd1 is wearing 8 hole Dr Martens. Our school is plain black shoes - they don't care what make or style as long as they are completely black.

Any logos (eg Nike tick) have to be coloured in! Dd has to tuck the yellow tag inside her boots when she wears a skirt but so far so good. 8 holes are the maximum height though with a skirt...

Takver · 01/07/2014 08:34

DD is only 12, but 90% of the girls in her school seem to wear lace up brogues like the one linked to by a pp. AFAIK shoes have to be proper leather.

I did suggest DMs to DD given her rate of wear, but got that look, so I'm guessing round here they are the choice of 40something ex-punks & hippies, not teen girls!

Original poster
AndiPandi · 01/07/2014 08:35

I don't want to buy the Vans because they are not allowed. Last year I bought her Adidas high top things because uniform list just said 'dark footwear'. First day there she comes home with a letter stating her footwear was not appropriate and had been removed from class. I had to argue my case with the Head that she would be wearing them until they wore out as his instructions hadn't been clear. I'm not going through all that again. The problem is she keeps saying that's what everyone is wearing.

OP posts:
antimatter · 01/07/2014 08:57

she will be telling you that to force you to give in!
a rule is a rule and she should be well aware of that

17leftfeet · 01/07/2014 09:09

50/50 split between brogues and ballet flats here

Shoes have to be polishable and mustn't come above the ankle bone

Anything vaguely resembling a sports or casual shoe is not allowed which rules out vans

Swanhildapirouetting · 01/07/2014 09:11

Black leather laceup Kickers. Everyone is wearing them at her school.