Girls school shoes

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

Am I looking in the wrong place? I want to buy dd (5) a decent, warm pair of shoes that she can run, climb and kick a ball in. Easy to do for ds but the only thing in the shops for dd appear to be mary janes, which are basically ballet flats with a strap. They aren't robust or particularly warm. Do shoe makers think 5 year old girls only want to simper around the playground playing fairies?

I tried to get a pair of boys shoes for dd but she doesn't want something that others will tell her is for boys. I get that but I am SO angry that shoemakers can't make strong shoes for girls that will keep her feet warm and allow her to kick a ball without falling apart. She's five for goodness sake.

Has anyone managed to solve this?

When DD started reception last year I sent her to school in a pair of shoes from the 'boys' section (just plain black leather, covered the whole foot). She was really excited about her shoes, they were so smart, just like her big brother, etc.

Came home in tears at the end of the of the first week because the other children were teasing her about her boys shoes , mostly the girls I think.

She has maryjanes now, but they are just not as solid, don't keep feet as warm.

Thanks for the heads up about Toughees....I had just bought dd1 new clarks shoes a size up in the sales, but even marked down they cost more than the Toughees, so now I'm really tempted to try them instead. They arent as 'pretty' as she would like, but I think she'll appreciate the heel (she's 7, so impressed by these things!) and they look like they'll last way better than anything she's had before.

I bored the entire office silly (mostly childless men in that day) woth my ranting the last time I had to replace dd1's school shoes. I started off with a quick rant about being made to pay a fortune for fucking mary janes in winter when we have to walk muddy paths and got semi incredulous 'why don't you get better ones instead?' And then forced them to go through all the shoe websites with me to see that there are no bloody better shoes.

She did start September with brogues but wore a massive hole in the sole. I just wishshe would wear boys shoes. My dm would only take my to clarkes and think on a couple of occasions I had boys shoes because my feet were so massive those were the only ones that would fit. Because girls are dainty, dontchya know.

Seriously where's the equivalent of the black almost trainer?

Ive got dd these. Yes they are a Mary Jane style but very very robust, good sole and she can run fast in them and kick balls around.

Shame they have to be black, I saw a small girl yesterday in leggings and bright red patent DM boots.

Dd alternates Mary janes and black trainers. She prefers the Mary janes. School are quite relaxed about footwear which is good. It's the quality of the Mary janes (clarks again ) that really pisses me off. They cost the same as the more robust boys school shoes but have thinner soles and a massive hole on the top!

My DD aged 8 alternates between the usual Clarks flimsy shoes and lace up ds martens. Apparently Dr martens are trendy again these days.

Sassh I managed to persuade her that a pair of black DM type boots was acceptably okay for her, as a girl, to wear. But she can only really wear them when she wears trousers and I'm not sure if the school rules permit them

I used to wear doc marten Mary janes in primary and the boots and Mary janes in secondary.

My grandad was thrilled with the boots as they were just like the ones he had in the army and I was in no danger of slipping when it snowed.

Sadly, I think the boots have now been banned as they are 'fashion' shoes .

this topic comes up every couple of weeks on MN, and Clarks claims there is no market? Have they actually done any research?

I think schools are to blame. Some are just too strict about uniform. There are plenty of school type shoes out there in lots of different styles.

Start rite Mary Janes are sturdy! My little girls ones last until Easter from September and she is very busy in them! What about kickers, Dr marten?

Similar problem as grey here, as well being impractical they don't bloody fit DD. Just about to take this weeks purchase (startrite t bars) back because they have rubbed her feet so badly.

At 5, she's not going to be happy when I insist she tries on some of the 'boys' ones.

I don't really like the 'just buy the boys one' answer. It doesn't solve anything does it?

I'd second Startrite. DD always used to have this type of style when she was in primary, comfy and easy to get on and off.

Dead easy when you get to secondary, as they all wear brogues, practical and waterproof (though why fashion requires untied laces straggling and getting trodden on I don't know . . .)

Clarks always used to do the two strap velcro closed style girls' shoe when we were buying, so not sure why they stopped. They always fell apart quicker than Startrite & cost more, though, so we gave up on them, perhaps everyone came to the same conclusion and that's why!

froddo do a good closed school shoe for girls. No toe bumpers though, dd's shoes are looking rather tired. ds1's hush puppies are still fine but dd is at age 6 rather wise to boy and girl sections and styles and likes her stuff feminine (but covered in dinosaurs and good for the mud). She has some kickers boots for out of school which are brilliant.

Normal Dr marten "boys ones", not boots or Mary janes are high fashion and toughies make shoes that look similar and cheaper. At least my 8 year old wears dms happily and she has a very traditional approach towards femininity and always suspects me of undermining her beauty aspirations.

Try Hush Puppies kids shoes.

My DD has boys shoes too. Ones with a strap (is that what Mary Jane means?) even sturdy ones, are not as warm, harder to run in and impractical in rain and snow. I won't accept that my DD should be colder and less active because of her gender.

(I would go off on a rant about fleece lined trousers and chunky aran jumpers for boys as opposed to thin nylon leggings and two ply cardies for girls, but that would be Off Topic).

[elisaveta] Gap do lined trousers for girls and H&M do fleece lined leggings. Uniqlo do chunky Arran jumpers for girls and heat tech stuff for kids.

I've just emailed Clarkes as I have thought the exact same thing as the OP previously. Perhaps if they realise there is a market for them, they will start selling them. I've bought DD boys shoes before now, as I thought everything that fit in Clarkes was hideously girly & impractical. She's too young to care at present, thankfully.

DD started reception with a pair from Clarks. They were awful. I wanted something more firmly strapped to her feet. In the Spring we bought Kickers, they are still going strong. I'm never buying Clarks again! Her pair has got pink stitching, but is otherwise identical to this:
www.kickers.co.uk/kids-c155/kick-t-bar-infant-black-p5447

I saw these m.marksandspencer.com/mt/www.marksandspencer.com/leather-scuff-resistant-patent-ankle-boots/p/p22318256 in M&S recently, but I'm not sure how long lasting their shoes are.

Vertbaudet usually do a couple of styles that can be worn as school shoes - more if your school allows ankle boots, or doesn't stipulate shoes have to be black. They are good quality, but you have to order online and fit them yourself, which is a bit of a hassle when you have children like mine with narrow, high feet.

This is one of the reasons I am glad DD goes to a non uniform school, it's hard enough finding shoes that are practical and that fit her without them having to be a specific colour too.

I just bought dd2 5 a pair of boys clarks shoes for school, they are a navy ankle boot because the last pair of startrite girls shoes she had went into holes within 3 months. I asked the shop assistant why there were no girls shoes with anti scuff toes like the boys and she didn't know.