Robust school shoes for Teenage girl.

[DeathMetalMum]

Dd2 13 seems to be very hard wearing on her school shoes. Last year we bought some from Schuh that she liked and they lasted about five/six weeks, the heel of the shoe completely collapsed. I returned them and they replaced them but the replacement lasted about a similar time. So I just decided they weren't suited to DD.

We then found some in Clarks that she liked, they lasted until the end the year - but only just so two terms and they went straight in the bin.

We haven't finished this term and DD has come home with broken shoes the heel is completely cracked. This time she found some she liked from New look. The style she likes is a chunky loafer style, so not little ballet flats. She have had lace up shoes in Y7 that also broke quickly.

She walks 5 minutes to and from the bus stop by our house and then another 5 minutes from the bus stop to school. In the afternoon she walks back to the town centre which is just over a mile - she gets the bus in the morning. So walks a reasonable amount but not lots. Dd1 has done the same trip since Y7 and not had any problems with shoes.

Shoes have to be black and polishable, any suggestions? I have thought DM''s but not sure DD likes they style. She's fashion conscious so wants something 'in'.

My dcs wound up with DMs because everything else broke.

Dd wore Nike airforce- they do a leather one that’s polishable and the tick is black so her school were fine with it but I know some aren’t so prob best to check. She’s currently got vans but they’re suede so I guess wouldn’t pass.

Also came here to recommend DM's - dd is almost 6ft and they have lasted her 2 years!

Start-rite Angry Angels.

My 20-something dd recently asked me to hang onto the pair of AA school shoes that I bought her at the start of y10 because she still occasionally wears them when she needs smart but functional black shoes (she had the brogues, but other styles are available).

DMs but far better quality Solovair . Check the Sale and Outlet parts of the site.

The amount of wear on her shoes seems abnormal. I'd be suggesting orthopaedic shoes to her. Some hideous ones.

Not going to pretend I know what is fashionable but Kickers were a good option in the 90s for not falling apart and had a heel?

That's what I wore and they were good because they had a wide toebox and arch support.
Kickers | Mens, Womens & Kids.

My DD is in year 8. She wore the Kickers ankle boot style shoes last year and they lasted the whole year - the sole finally cracked on one in the last week so wasn’t bothered. Brought the exact same ones for this year x

Same. I clomped about in mine from Y9 to Y11 and dainty I ainty.

One thing puzzling me is that I don't recall DC ever wearing school shoes for a whole year. Shoe sizes changed more than once a year right up to Yr 12

DD has had Hush Puppies for the last 3 years and they seem to be indestructible compared to anything else she’s ever had. She currently has these and there is barely a scratch on them after this first half term:
https://www.deichmann.com/en-gb/p/hush-puppies-low-shoe-black-141125

I think DD just walks super fast so puts a lot of pressure on her heels. Last year she was also taking part in the school performance and dancing for several hours after school twice a week in her shoes. I bought some ballet flats for her to change into after the first pair of shoes died, which helped. It's only school shoes she seems to have this issue with her trainers and anything else seems to last.

We will have a look at some DM's tomorrow online see if she likes any of the styles, we do live close to an outlet store so they are marginally cheaper, she hasn't finished growing either so I don't want to spend £££ and she grows out of them in a few months. I don't think she would wear the kickers boots so they would be a waste of money. I had looked at kickers but didn't see anything I that looked ok.

It’s also perfectly normal for feet to stop growing before leaving school. DD was 12, DS was 15.

DMs. My DD wore them from year 7 to now at uni - three pairs and she grew out of the first two before they were worn out. She’s had her current pair for about 4 years. You can often find almost new ones on Vinted as they work for some people but not others. Beware fakes though - only buy from people with reviews and avoid if they’re too cheap or a ‘funny’ price - e.g. £23.88. They’re usually the fakes. I go hunting from time to time and report them when I’m bored 😁

It's also perfectly normal for your shoe size to change in adulthood.
Weight gain or loss, pregnancy, taking up running etc can mean changes.

@Dandeloosha , DM quality is patchy and they don't generally wear well any more. The Solovair footwear is the same quality as the old 'AirWairs' from the 1970s and made in Northamptonshire not China.

My daughter is similar, she left school last year and had kickers every year. They lasted really well.

Something like this maybe?

But cheaper than DMs etc

Kickers like these

Not loafers or ballerinas. A 13-yr old needs shoes that fasten, not slip-ons.

Kickers. We always get kickers in this house.

DD is in Year 8 and we had the same issue you described with her last pair of school shoes from Schuh. They were brogue style ones.