School Shoes at Shoebuy.com - Retail Roundup Series

Shoebuy's tagline is the "world's largest site for shoes" and they offer a 100% price guarantee.  They offer free shipping and returns on US orders and also offer international shipping to many countries. They are owned by IAC, an American internet company with over 50 brands across 40 countries headquartered in New York City.  

Enrolling in the Shoebuy.com Rewards program allows you to earn points to use on future purchases. You have to earn 200 points to begin redeeming them. You can earn points by enrolling, making purchases, referring a friend, linking to Facebook or Twitter accounts, or by submitting a review.

Girls School Shoes

Primigi Andes - $53.45
Colors: Black, Brown Patent Leather, Pink, White, and Hot Pink Leather
Infant/Toddler Sizes: Euro 20-27

Primigi Azalea - $61.45
Colors: Black Leather, White, Silver, Gold, Fuschia Patent Synthetic and Pink Metallic Leather
Girls Sizes:

Kenneth Cole Reaction Book N Loop 2 - $35.95

Black Leather
Infant/Toddler and Girls Sizes

Stride Rite Carla - $44.95
Black Leather, Navy Leather, Dark Brown Leather

Girls Sizes

Boys School Shoes

Kenneth Cole Reaction T-Flex - 44.95
Black Leather
Boys Sizes

Hush Puppies Dylan - $34.95
Black Smooth and Dark Brown Nubuck
Infant/Toddler  and Boys Sizes

Stride Rite Jefferson - 42.95

Black Leather

Boys Sizes

Land's End School Uniform Girls' Kiki 3-strap Skimmer Shoes

(C) Rene Shonerd. All Rights Reserved.

I wasn't shopping for school shoes, but happened upon the Winter sale on Land's End items at Sears this past winter.  I spied the Girls' Kiki 3-strap Skimmer Shoes - Classic Navy, 13 which are cute navy slips-ons.  They were the last box on the shelf and happened to be in my daughter's size at something like 60% off!  At that great price, I thought they would be a great shoe to wear to Sunday school with her dresses on the weekend.  I tried to purchase clothes for Sunday school in pretty bright colors since it is really one of the only times she isn't in uniform.  But I did intentionally choose outfits that would coordinate with, or at least not clash with, her basic school shoes.

Because these shoes are solid navy, she can also wear them to school on occasion with a skirt or dress.  As a slip on style, they aren't as good running around at recess.  My daughter is also in the after school program which allows for additional playground time each day, weather permitting.  Once she got them quite dusty and dirty with mud from the playground.  After a simple dust off with a shoe brush, they still look fine. For an older girl that doesn't spend as much time on the playground, I think these shoes would be a great option for an occasional school shoe.

These flats have a suede upper and come in navy and black.  They have 3 elastic straps across the front of the foot with silver buckles. It regularly retails for $44.

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School Shoes at Lands' End

Lands' End has a great selection of children's school uniform clothing.  Their selection is one of the largest available.  So it was surprising when I reviewed their offering of school uniform shoes to find few items that I would consider a daily school shoe.




For girls, the best choice is the Girls' Party & Play Mary Jane Shoes - Classic Navy which are a classic Mary Jane with a Velco strap and a rubber sole. They come in a suede material in black, navy or brown, as well as a black patent. They were recently redesigned to look dresser and some comments indicate the shoe is now too narrow. It is offered in Regular and wide in toddler sizes starting at 5 through girls size 7.It retails for $39.

For boys, the best choice is the School Uniform Boys' Ryland Classic Buck Shoes which a made with a rubber sole.  The litter chestnut brown shoe is made from a canvas material and spice brown version is made from suede.  They are offered in boys sizes 9 through 7 in regular width and retail for $49.

If you have direct experience with either of these shoes, please let us know your opinion in the comments below.

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Related Posts:

Land's End School Uniform Girls' Kiki 3-strap Skimmer Shoes, a review

Lands' End School Uniforms in the Retail Round Up Series

Stride Rite Carla, a quality shoe for school

Regular readers of Uniform Mom already know how I feel about shoes made from "Man Made Materials". In case you've missed my rants, I'm not a fan. So when it come to basic, everyday shoes, I definitely prefer quality and comfort for my daughter.

After some initial missteps with uniform shoe shopping, I end up going back to Stride Rite to order quality school shoes for my daughter. I ordered the Carla, the classic Mary Jane, in navy.  I was lucky  to happen on a BOGO sale in early fall. My daughter has worn these shoes at least 3 days a week since September.  They have survived the normal wear and tear, as well as the daily abuse on the playground.  She hasn't yet outgrown them.


The Carla shoe is available in black, brown and navy in sizes from a Toddler 8.5 though a Girls 5 in regular, wide and extra wide. They are made with a leather upper.  The sole is flexible lightweight, rubber. The heel has padded collar for comfort. The Mary Jane style has an adjustable Velcro closure that is easy for little kids to do themselves.


What do I love about this shoe for my daughter?

• It has held up to daily use and abuse.  The sole is still in good shape, the strap does not have any signs of tearing or unusual wear. The leather is holding up with no spots that have worn through or discolored.  
• They don't stink.  Lets just say my daughter's socks come off her feet stinky and sweaty at the end of the day, but the shoes themselves aren't stinking up the place.
• My daughter thinks they are comfortable and doesn't complain when I ask her to put on her school shoes.  
• With the Velcro closure, my daughter can put these on herself and quickly get out the door for school. 

What don't I love about these shoes for my daughter?

The wear's impact on the color of the shoe.  I ordered the navy to match her navy pants and skirts.  When new, the navy color of the leather was never a deep navy blue, it was closer in color to a a mid blue.  And at this point, the wear is taking a toll on the color. Even though they are structurally in decent shape, they now appear dull and lifeless.

So I bought another pair of these in the next size up and put them away so we have them when we need them.  But now that I pulled them out of the closet to compare them with the ones she's been wearing all year, I realized that the extra pair I have is the Molly, not the Carla.  The Molly is another classic Mary Jane offered by Stride Rite.  When I compare them side by side, there is a subtle difference is the stitching pattern on the side of the shoe.  The leather appears different.  The Molly has a subtle shine to it.  The Carla that we bought in the fall of 2012 look almost suede.  I kind of wonder if  the Molly is the Outlet version of the Carla. I  dug through my receipts and found that I only paid $12.85 for them on sale at the Outlet store. Wow, If they hold up half as well as the Carla, I'll  brag about the great deal I got on these.

So would I buy the Carla again, yes.  The pros definitely outweigh the cons.   However, I am happy that we have a subtly different version for my daughter to try next.  I'll report back if these hold up any better or worse.  

So you tell me.  I know this is a very popular girls uniform shoe.  Please let me know how either shoe, the Carla or the Molly, has held up for your daughter.

The Carla is available directly from Stride Rite (online or in their stores and outlets), as well as other retailers including Amazon. They retail for $46.  Yea, I agree its kind of pricey, but it is worth it.  If you're on a tight budget, sign up for the Stride Rite Rewards program and look for the 30% off coupons or a BOGO sale.

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Below is a video from the Tootsies Stride Rite which highlights the features of the shoe.

Related Posts:

•          School Shoes with Man Made Materials
•          Stride Rite for School Uniform Shoes - Retail Round Up Series
•          School Shoes at Shoebuy.com - Retail Roundup Series

Stride Rite for School Uniform Shoes - Retail Round Up Series

Stride Rite began in 1919 and has been known under the Stride Rite brand name since 1933.  They are known for quality children's shoes.  They carry several brands including Stride Rite, Robeez, Saucony, Keds, Speery Top-Sider, Jessica Simpson, and Kamik.  When you shop in one of their retail stores or their outlets, a Certified Fit Specialist will help you measure your child's foot and recommend which size and width to purchase.  Through the My Rewards loyalty program, you earn $10 for every $75 you spend.  You also get free shipping on orders over $35.  It is free to register.

Excerpts from the Stride Rite History:

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) grant of its Seal of Acceptance to several styles of Stride Rite's baby shoes, the first baby shoes in the industry to carry the Seal.

The entire collection, every single shoe, is created from an in-depth knowledge and understanding of how children walk and grow. Stride Rite studies have led to important breakthroughs and new technologies in children's footwear.

Returns can be made on items in their original condition in the original packaging with a receipt within 45 days of the original purchase.  Online orders must be returned by mail and shipping is at your expense.  They have simplified shipping charges for online orders:

• $4.99 shipping on orders below $35
• $6.99 shipping on orders below $75
• free shipping on orders over $75

Saucony Radar LT LTT Sneakers, a Review

I have been buying my daughter's shoes at Stride Rite since her first pair of white leather baby shoes. I've become a big fan of the quality of their products.  We've had many pairs of sneakers from their stores over the past few years. She typically outgrows them before she wears them out. My daughter has wide feet, and I love that their inventory includes a good number of items in a wide width.

My daughter's school dress code requires that she wear navy, black or plain white sneakers on PE days. I normally shop at my local Stride Rite outlet store, but in this case I bought her school sneakers online for convenience.

The Saucony Radar LT LTT is available in solid white or black.  It comes in children's sizes in regular and wide widths.  It has a leather upper and a lace up closure. This model of sneaker does not seems to be available through Stride Rite anymore, however, they are still available through ShoeBuy.com and the similar style with a Velcro closure is still available through Amazon in toddler and children's sizes.

The kids at her school have PE class twice a week, so she has worn these shoes at least 2 weekdays and normally on the weekends since September. I just had her foot measured to make sure, but her foot hasn't grown a measurable amount since the school year started.

How have they held up? Beautifully. Because they are leather, you can simply brush off the dirt and wipe them off every once in a while. While they are no longer "new" white, they are still recognizable as a white sneaker. The sole is still in tack showing normal wear on the bottom. The lining inside the shoe is worn, but not ripped up.

I'm now thinking ahead to summer camp where she is allowed to wear colorful sneakers and I have my eye on a pair in her favorite color. But the practical side of me thinks, Why? These sneakers still fit, they are still in great shape and she's not complaining about them.  We'll see if they make it through the spring and summer too.

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Related Posts:

School Shoes with Man Made Materials

Stride Rite Carla, a quality shoe for school

Payless Shoes for School Uniform

Stride Rite for School Uniform Shoes - Retail Round Up Series

Payless Shoes for School Uniform

The corporate goal at Payless shoe stores is to be the first choice for budget conscious consumers. They were founded in 1956 in Topeka Kansas and were the first to sell shoes in a self serve environment. Their return policy allows you to buy online and make returns to the local store. You can also take advantage of shipping free to a local store. They have a loyalty program called Payless Rewards which sends coupons and offers free shipping on orders over $50.
They offer a decent selection of basic school shoes. Many of them are made from Man Made Materials, of which I have already declared I am not a fan.   However, they do carry a few selections with a genuine leather upper which I'll highlight below.

Spotlight on School Shoes

April is National Foot Care Health Month, as designated by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).  Oops, I just about missed it. So on this last day of April, I 'll take this opportunity to announce that I'll be featuring posts related to shoes and shoe shopping during the month of May. I'll be adding post to the Retail Round Up Series on Payless and Stride Rite.  I also plan to share reviews of some of our favorite school shoes.   

"A child's foot grows nearly 1 cm each year, according to Leonard R. Janis, D.P.M. Between birth and 4 years of age, a child's foot doubles in length. By the age of 10, most girls have completed 90 percent of foot growth. A boy completes about 80 percent of his foot growth by the time he is 10 years old. The feet have stopped growing for most girls 14 years of age. Foot growth stops for boys when they reach 16 years of age."

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/514495-foot-growth-in-children/#ixzz2RxIQRjJz



Your Homework Assignment:  In the comments below, please share the name of store or brand that is your 'go-to' for school shoes? Not athletic shoes, think everyday school shoes like mary janes and oxfords.  Is it Stride Rite, Payless, Cherokee, French Toast, Lands End,  LL Bean, etc?  This is your one question survey.  Go!

(photo credit)

Related Posts:

School Shoes with Man Made Materials

Stride Rite for School Uniform Shoes - Retail Round Up Series

Payless Shoes for School Uniform

Stride Rite Carla, a quality shoe for school

Saucony Radar LT LTT Sneakers, a Review

The Spend - our actual cost for School Uniforms

So after reflecting on the school uniform items we purchased for our daughter's first year at public school, I wondered how much it all cost.  I tend save my shopping receipts in a box during the year, so I dug through the box to find the receipts for all of the items I mentioned in our Kindergarten Wardrobe post.

According to Statistics Brain, the average annual cost to parents for school uniforms is $249.  Unfortunately, this source doesn't provide any background on what they include as school uniforms.  If I don't include items such as shoes, coat, backpack and lunchbox that we'd need regardless of dress code, I come in right under the average at $234.  If those big ticket items are included, my spend is way above average adding an additional $146 to my annual spend.  So here's how it breaks down:

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Tops:
Izod short sleeve polo $7, Old Navy short sleeve polo $6, George Girls' Long Sleeve Polo Shirt 2/$11, H&M short sleeve t-shirts (2) $6, H&M long sleeve t-shirt (2) $10

Bottoms:
Lands End skort $20, Izod skirt $7.50, Cherokee Uniform Pants (2) $12, Children's Place Yoga Pants $5, Circo leggings $5, Izod shorts (2) $7

Dresses and Sweaters:
Lands End dress $22.50, Lands End sweater $22.50, Cherokee sweater $10, French Toast sweater $10

Accessories:
French Toast Tights (2pk) $11, French Toast socks $7, French Toast bike shorts $8, French Toast belt $9

Other necessities:
Lands End lunch box $14, Lands End Backpack $26, Oshkosh jacket $30, Stride Rite sneakers $30, Stride Rite shoes $46

All items are rounded to the nearest twenty five cents.  In some cases, I could not locate my actual receipt, so I then substituted the retail cost of the item that I could verify online.  In most cases, I purchased items on sale, used a coupon code and/or received free shipping.

(photo used with permission from Microsoft)

Related Posts:

Our Kindergarten Wardrobe
Modesty on the Playground
Building a Boys School Uniform Wardrobe

School Shoes with Man Made Materials

During my Back to School shopping last fall, I bought a paid of navy school shoes for my daughter.  They were the very cute French Toast's Navy T strap which I got at my local JCPenney store in late July at the beginning of the Back to School season. 

We learned while on the way out the door on the first day of school that they no longer fit.  Instead she wore the old sneakers that were very broken in after months of use in preschool.  After just having met the Kindergarten teacher, I respectfully requested she give my daughter a hall pass on dress code on the first day.  I quickly explained why she wasn't in proper shoes and promised that she would be on following day.

That evening after work, I went off to the mall to see if I could exchange the shoes for the next size.  By that point in the school shopping season, my local JCPenney did not have that shoe or any uniform shoes in her size.  JCPenney has a wonderful return policy and gave me no problems with the return.  With about 2 hours left to find proper school shoes for the next day, I headed to the local Target store.  There I found the last pair of  Cherokee uniform shoes (Falda Ballet) in her size.  I am not a fan of shoes made from "Man Made Materials".  It has been my experience that they don't hold up well, but with one hour to go, I didn't have much of a choice.  I put them in my cart, checked out, and headed home for the night.