Girls' shoes

[Adagoo]

Since having a DD I have been seeing sexism everywhere :(

The main thing to make me livid this week is girls shoes. My DS wears clarks shoes with a rubber toe part so they don't get scuffed to shit in 15 seconds.

I look at my niece's shoes and wonder why DSis buys such stupid impractical shoes. I mean without the rubber toe section, not that they're in heels

I was to discover that they don't make shoes designed for walking about rough play if you are a girl.

Am I right? I've looked on the Clarks site and got a bit excited, but then saw that the special toe section was shiny patent

Anyone know where you can buy girl's shoes designed for being a child and not just sitting on a cushion?

[dreamingofnextholiday]

Tell me about it! I am having the same nightmare.

DD (2yrs) needed new shoes a few weeks ago and the only pair I could find in her size were Startrite ones and are what I would class as party shoes! (love your 'sitting on a cushion' description!)

They're pale pink and got scuffed within minutes of her wearing them. Plus they aren't soft and flexible like all the boys shoes out there. Really regret buying them but after three days searching in different towns I had to get something.

I've been looking online ever since for something she can actually run around the garden in comfortably. Doodles sandals are ok but I do prefer her in closed shoes.

Hopefully someone who can help will come along soon!

[msbuggywinkle]

I buy all of the DDs shoes from //www.softstarshoes.com

I like that they have lots of different colours (and that they will make extra-super-narrow ones for DD1 who is a B width!), DD1's favourite colours is red and I can never find red shoes on the high street. They are also very comfortable and last really well.

[MollysChamber]

Watching with interest.

I have one "girly" girl who scuffed her school shoes to bits within the week. Had bought the patent toe ones as I was told they are harder wearing. Are they hell.

As for my other DD who plays football during break time - argh! She'd love more boyish shoes.

My daughters are very different!

I found it a bit easier when they were younger. The Clarks mocassin type are soft and flexible but last well. Bit heavy for summer maybe. here

[LoonyRationalist]

msbuggywinkle - if anything those look worse than the clarks fare for girls.

My dd's live in crocs/cheap doodles in the summer & wellies in the winter for just this reason.

[MavisEnderby]

dd has just graduated from wearing splints to not needing them.When she was in them all I could find was trainers.I have to say I was (sadly) a little excited at being able to buy her "normal" shoes.I found her a lovely pair of quite hardwearing ones in red in TKMaxx in the sale,result!(She was dead chuffed and keeps signing "Red shoes" at me:).

[Adagoo]

I clicked on those soft star shoes and thought every section was the baby section

[WoTmania]

I just put DD in the boys' old shoes althouhg at the mometn she is wearing converse trainers which seem to be wearing really well (my cousin got them cheap at a preview) they are rad check so not too 'girl girly' either.

[MoChan]

Huh, I did a post and didn't post. Grr. Well, what I was saying is that my DD wears a lot of boy shoes (we recently bought Doodle sandals in a boy style, and some boy trainers), and always has done. They don't have to be overtly masculine, though the less aggressively boy ones tend to be rare. Her boy shoes have always looked better for longer. My DD is a very rough and tumble type. Girl school type shoes end up scuffed in minutes. I have found a couple of vaguely sensible girls styles from Start-rite in the past. This last few months she had a pair that looked a bit like this - www.startriteshoes.com/boys/non-school-shoes/badge - but that were in greens. They looked fine with most of her clothes, and the green made them seem pretty neutral. She had a pair of the more sensible looking start-rite girls shoe to go with frocks...

[MoChan]

I like Converse too, they are v. neutral and come in bright colours...

[PippiLongBottom]

Those soft star shoes look like junior social worker shoes.

[Quinquagesima]

Yes, girls' shoes are fascinatingly awful. DS's Clarks school shoes last until he outgrows them. DD's Clarks school shoes last about six weeks; Startrite last about eight. Girls' shoes just aren't made for girls to be active, and it's a disgrace.

[SardineQueen]

Our DDs have had a mix of boys and girls shoes when small. My taste means that I prefer the boys colours and styles (esp browns) and to my eye the styles look nicer.

Now DD1 is bigger and making her own decisions obviously she wants "girls" stuff - and my current beef is sandals. (Clarks). The girls sandals all have a flat piece of leather at the bottom, while the boys all have shaped rubber which comes up a bit at the front. Result is the boys shoes look comfier, sturdier, and less likely to cause a trip when running. It just annoyed me so much. Why can't they make "girls" ones like that? Grrrrrrrrr.

[MoChan]

My DD said that the boys at pre-school had told her that she was a boy, not a girl, and I think it might have been on account of the shoes. It didn't stop her from wanting to wear them, though, as she doesn't yet see being called a boy as an insult. Well, I think that's why.

[MoChan]

Agree about the sandals, SardineQueen. And why do they make SO MANY of them in WHITE? They'll get grubby in SECONDS.

[earlyriser]

My dd's school have just implemented a policy where they get changed out of school shoes and into plimsolls as soon as they enter school (and change again at break and lunchtime) so basically their school shoes are only for walking to school and playing outside.

I really resent paying £30 for girls shoes which just don't have the same wear and tear potential as boys shoes.

I am so with you on this!

[Adagoo]

damn they're expensive

I've emailed clarks BTW.

[GrimmaTheNome]

This may not be applicable when they're very little, or for school wear - but do check the footwear in outdoors-type shops. DDs summer sandals are from (IIRC) Mountain Life - grey with fuschia trim, properly supportive, velcro all round so fit well (and last more than one year!) - sounds like what Sardines is wanting. Proper walking boots - exactly the same boots for boys and girls, just more choice of colours if you're a girl.

[SardineQueen]

Yes Grimma good call! I have just remembered that we looked at some shoes in an outdoorsy shop for DD about a year ago but her feet weren't big enough yet. Will definitely go for another look!

[pregnantpause]

I have this trouble- though i have bought dd a pair of boots from clarks with the illustrious rubber toe. But boots seem to be the ONLY appropriate footwear for her. in the ummer its all flimsy sandals. School shoes are always mary jane style, so her socks/feet get wet in the rain. boys get to wear school shoes that cover their socks entirely. Even girls trainers are flimsy and often have an open front to expose sock/foot.

[startail]

School shoes make me . They cost a fortune and last 5 minutes.
Please can we have nice looking shoes with Velcro straps, soft grippy soles and some support.
Not flimsy things with thin soles and such cut away uppers that they wear out instantly and your feet were wet anyway.
The girls want and more importantly need to run about as much as the boys.

[alexpolismum]

Can I just say how annoying Lelly Kelli is? My dd saw someone wearing them and now wants them instead of her practical trainers...

[munkiii]

I am watching this thread- as I have been getting angrier and angrier about 'pinkification' the older DD gets and any suggestions welcome!

[sunshineandbooks]

I have often resorted to buying boys shoes/trainers and 'feminising' them. DD fortunately quite likes bright primary colours and often prefers them to pink, so I am usually able to find something practical that she likes in a decent quality. I find trainers the hardest because girls only ever seem to come in white or pale pink with glittery bits or whatever. One time I compromised by buying a plain pair of plain navy ones (marketed as 'boys' even though they were just plain navy and unisex as far as I could see) and sticking on a few motifs on the straps. Result - happy mum and happy daughter.

I haven't bought from Clarks for ages, as I think the quality has fallen substantially and the gender stereotyping is terrible. I find local, independent stores tend to offer the best neutral shoes and value for money.