Help please ! Struggling to find acceptable shoes for DD to wear with a skirt to VI form!?

[NoMoreFluffsToGive]

Hello…

Please help a completely unfashionable & unstylish mum who lives in trainers here… my daughter has just started sixth form and the dress code is “business wear”… we’re ok for suit/jackets etc. but where on earth can you buy nice shoes to wear with a skirt these days? She’s usually mooching around barefoot or in wellies or trainers and possibly the result is she has biggish and quite wide feet (7-7.5) so the current pointy styles look a bit huge . She’s also very self conscious of having “strong” calves so wants heels not flats (flats would be so much easier ).

Also she will be travelling by bus and train so they need to be fairly practical…and comfy!

Can anyone please help us find the shoe that fits magical combination of requirements?!

They'd want to be chunky heels for comfort so I guess like a platform?

It's daft really this bizarre category of dress that only applies to sixth form students 'business wear'. No actual business has had this as a dress code since the 90s! In reality it should just translate to normal clothes.

Would these work? My University daughter loves them.

www.camper.com/en_GB/women/shoes/mlh/camper-milah-K201681-001?size=39&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=en_UK_Performance-Max_Bestsellers_Sale&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17488921628&gbraid=0AAAAADmwPQ8TG7bN95Da7Y02BcExwsua3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2OnUBhC2ARIsACKyfaHup8ghVYiAkbcLQTQO_NciK0EtgRtkAhIy7FLulnELZbEzbv0ySq8aAj6kEALw_wcB

@ClockSure I like those… so madam probably won’t unfortunately Probably a bit “heavy” for her

What about a chunky heeled brogue type shoe? Like these

https://www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-351201341.aspx

What about a Dr Marten loafer?

www.drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/adrian-arcadia-leather-tassel-loafers-cherry-red/p/14573601

Moshulu do good flats

I’m trying to imagine what kind of heels she wants for School. They really need to be comfy. And comfy heels are not usually fashionable unless there are thick platforms involved which are heavy.

@ClockSure it’s a conundrum isn’t it?! She’s also autistic, so has very fixed ideas… she did once accept wearing plain court shoes, with a block heel, but I can’t find anything like that in the limited range of shops near us

Would a less bulky Mary Jane work? Or does she hate them full stop?

www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/2,33/5520800000

why is she wearing skirts and jackets if the dress code is business casual? I really don't udnerstand why schools are in this weird zone where they tell the children to wear business attire but have clearly never been into an office in the last 10 years. I mean, do the teachers were skirt suits? Of course not.

Smart tailored trousers and good tops. Or even wide legged trousers in cotton/linen or similar fabrics with good tops. Possibly a jacket, but not always essential.

Which also makes the show issue 100% easier. Brogues, low heeled boots etc.

These are wide fit if that helps

www.jonesbootmaker.com/products/zoeywide-leather-court-shoes-zoeywide-325-774-black-leather/Black%20Leather/4.5?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22004087436&gbraid=0AAAAAC_brxle_CxsHporv7H0yNNtGuCqa&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2OnUBhC2ARIsACKyfaHT7WeAMJ1VZRPrqvfNXHIlpJVNFp3RCWwMcM13VvspZ8cV8VytvXgaAun2EALw_wcB

www.jonesbootmaker.com/products/sunstone-wide-leather-court-shoes-sunstonewide-325-775-black

Thank-you, there are some really good options there!

I think she probably could get away with the nice tops and trousers approach, and after this morning’s footwear panic I will be encouraging that as a default…practical and safe. I think she’s just terrified of not being smart enough or standing out for the wrong reasons after being at a (brilliant) SEN secondary. That had a trousers /skirt & polo shirt uniform so she’s not used to having to put outfits together… I tend to default to company polo & trousers myself so I’m not much help unfortunately!

Anything I suggest gets a reaction suggesting my taste is somewhere between “granny in the 1980s” and the worst of the outfits in your average sitcom… shopping with her is getting traumatic!

Anything I suggest gets a reaction suggesting my taste is somewhere between “granny in the 1980s” and the worst of the outfits in your average sitcom… shopping with her is getting traumatic!\

No danger of any if this with Camper! They are very comfortable too.

Is she used to wearing slip on heels all day while navigating trains and buses and moving around a college? It seems a lot.

PPs have posted some very nice shoes and I know fashion does vary from college to college, but I would worry full on court shoes are quite a "brave" choice at some/many sixth forms. Maybe try to sell her on flat loafers for now as a half way house from trainers. Practice wearing slip ons for now, and say she can have court shoes for Christmas if she wants. Then at least she has a more comfortable pair to revert to if the heels are a bit much.

Although we are also struggling to find much for DD in a 3.5W too. You can have a wide or a half size, but not both in small sizes, it seems.

Have you looked at gabor shoes. They're quite comfortable and look smart. I have wide big feet and don't wear shoes much since having kids

My daughter has gone wide legged trousers, shirt and jumper with mid size lace up platform DMs (the 1461s). It looks pretty good together and is comfortable.

My DD (also ND) wore smart trousers from next with an m&s shirt (they do polyester ones that don't need ironing). Clarks originals shoes, the suede lace up.

Discourage heels, it's not practical for all the walking around the building they have to do.

My daughter's solution to this problem is to just adopt her favourite pair of mine 😂

The Clark’s web site has several block and wedge heels that would work.

Scandi shoes:

https://uk.flattered.com/collections/heels

I have always liked Vagabond, generallt comfy and good for bigger feet
https://www.vagabond.com/gb/women/footwear/heels/

Having thought about it, 'business attire' should basically mean any clothing that wouldn't be worn to a nightclub, bed, the gym, a fancy dress party or the beach/pool should be perfectly acceptable!

Have you checked out out what the kids there actually wear, our college says smart casual, but they are all in micro mini skirts/shorts, jeans of any variety and tracksuit bottoms.
I know my ASD girl panics over wearing the 'right' thing so would hate to stand out being over or under dressed.

If you're working at home, business attire could be pyjamas...

My DD has these for Sixth Form
https://www.gaborshoes.co.uk/womens-c1/shoes-c2/gabor-brambling-womens-court-shoes-p19175#attribute%5B1%5D=1283