shoes, like, totally, AGAIN

[flea]

Casper's complaining she's got only two pairs of shoes that fit. Which is true. She has some Target sneakers with sparkles on the toes that were an Xmas gift and are size 2. She's got Lands' End mary jane trekkers from last summer that are a 1, I think. Maybe a 2.

How is this possible? A mere year ago she had no shoes and we bought her 2 pairs of sneakers right after Christmas. Both are now outgrown (one she barely wore, the other were worn out). We had shoe and fashion trauma like whoa over the summer.

She wants boots, I'm not sure what exactly, but I am pondering buying her some clearance boots in a 3 hoping they will still fit next year. Target still has some black fashion boots and Ugg knockoffs in the $20 range online. She could use another pair of sneakers - something in the punkier Keds, Converse, Vans universe. Unless I am lucky and catch a sale, these brands run $30-45 new!! And soon enough it will be summer. She needs and will get new flip-flops (thank you Old Navy for shoes I can afford). Will the Lands End still fit in 4 months? Doubtful. Should I spring for Keen sandals? Those at least have hand-me-down or resale value - assuming she doesn't wear them out AND outgrow them. She's hard on shoes.

In scouring ebay for boots in a size 3, I discovered that a girls' 3 is about the same as a women's 5. Yes, my 6 year old who stands 4'1" tall has feet nearly as big as some actual adult women. Heaven help her. I hope there are more styles available at sizes bigger than women's 10 than there used to be, because I am pretty sure that's where she's heading.

Comments

[lili-beth.livejournal.com]

She and I will soon be wearing the same size. I think I may have a pair of black boots that would work for her, actually. Round toe, flat heel, above the ankle but not far up the calf. They're labeled a size 5, but fit my 4.5 feet. I never wore them much, and they originally belonged to cousin Fran, but I can check on their condition if you're interested. Oh, and they're Cole Haan. (I hope she wouldn't know what that means.)

Have you tried Sierra Trading Post for Keen sandals? Last year's models, and you can almost always find a 20% off coupon surfing the web.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

Sure. I am the brand snob around here, luckily. And I did know of Sierra but always forget.

[gingerk.livejournal.com]

Have you looked at 6pm.com?

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

Ooh, good deals on Vans with skulls! She likes skulls.

[dxmachina.livejournal.com]

Light she was and like a fairy,
And her shoes were number nine,
Wearing boxes, without topses,
Sandals were for Clementine.

[loligo.livejournal.com]

Drugstore Crocs knockoffs -- the ultimate summer shoe for kids! Or winter shoe, if you're Chuckles: she hates shoes in general, and is not too keen on socks, either. As long as it's not raining and there's no snow on the ground, we let her wear her Crocs even in winter, and most days she comes home wearing them over bare feet. "I *had* to take my socks off. My feet got too hot."

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

She has knockoff crocs, but we've had trouble with them breaking (!) and not being tractive enough for sporty stuff.

Casper hates socks, but wears shoes, which means we frequently have STINKY FEET.

[burrell.livejournal.com]

Franny and I both have those Ugg knock-offs from Target (in black) (yes that means we have matching boots. shush! no mocking!). They are not so well made, but they are certainly comfy enough and warm enough for me. I try not to spend more than $20 on shoes for my kids because it doesn't seem worth it to me.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

Hee, you California girls!

I do want something that will hold up to her. At the rate she grows, I'd like them to be outgrown before worn out at least!

[burrell.livejournal.com]

I expect that Franny will outgrow them before she has the chance to trash them. Then again, mostly it's the tennis and running shoes that she wears out.

[forodwaith.livejournal.com]

You inspired me to count Nora's shoes: 2 pairs of waterproof winter boots (Sears & Nordstrom Rack, end-of-last-season sales); two pairs of slip-on sneakers one at school and one at daycare (our source for cheap kids' shoes, Superstore); rubber boots in a closet somewhere (Superstore); sandals which will be too small by summer (broke down & went to Walmart).

Add in Sean's enormous feet - I can slip into his new Sorels! - and it's no wonder our front hall is wall-to-wall shoes.

In good news for Casper, I have 9.5 to 10 feet now (they were 8.5 in my 20s) and manage to be decently shod.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

I wear a 10, and I do fine (although sometimes it is obvious a shoe style was designed for a dainty foot and it looks ridiculous blown up to fit me!) The danger is going over 10 - 11s are scarce on the ground.