Autumn is kinda/officially here. The pumpkin spiced latte’s are being drunk, the winter pj’s are being stocked up on and the C word is being flung about already.
I guess that means it’s time to start getting that winter wardrobe sorted. Your kids one of course, not yours silly.
When it comes to shoes for Ted, I am admittedly, a bit of a stinge.
Ted’s had the grand total of six pairs of shoes in his lil life (including a pair of wellies and some jelly sandals). Mainly because I’d rather spend a bit more dolla on one really nice, well-fitting pair then have a couple of pairs hanging round the shoe rack that I’m not that in to. Also, kids shoes can be pretty expensive, and you have no control over how quickly those beautiful teeny feet are going to grow and how long those shoes will last for. It could be one month, it could be five! Those tiny toes could grow overnight and you could be left with four pairs of slightly worn shoes that no longer fit.
For me, Ted’s shoes are a big decision, especially for the colder months. They need to go with pretty much every outfit, be hard wearing for the general abuse they’ll receive from toddler life, and of course comfy.
Oh yeah, and cute.
So, with Autumn right here, right now it’s time for me to start thinking what boots to buy.
Ted in his first pair of shoes, the Kickers Kick Hi Classic Baby. Available to buy at www.kickers.co.uk
If you’ve seen any of my Insta pics from last year, you would know that I had a massive obsession with Kickers and in particular the little, bright red boot variety.
In all honesty, they are expensive, and I was definitely shocked when the shoe fitter (shoe assistant?) told me how much they were. BUT they do last. Ted had his first pair for about three months, and they survived snow, gravel and all the muddy puddles. They would have lasted longer, but I somehow lost one of them when bringing all our stuff in from the car after Christmas (I really don’t know how I did it). The second pair lasted until Ted’s feet fit them no more, which luckily coincided with warmer weather, meaning I could swap them for a pair of trainers.
The Kickers Kick Hi Classic Infant, Available to buy at www.kickers.co.uk
They’re chunky, hard wearing, look adorable and come in various colours to suit pretty much all tastes. I loved dressing Ted in his with skinny jeans, a tartan shirt, parka and bobble hat. They pack a kick though, so watch out for those shins when your little one is wearing them.
Joules have recently teamed up with Kickers for a super cute collab. They have a limited edition range that involves a shark print, floral and a whole load of pink. Definitely worth checking out.
The Kickers x Joules collab (currently on sale). Available to buy at www.kickers.co.uk
Another mega boot to consider is the mighty Dr Marten. These bad boys not only look badass, but you just have to read the reviews on their website to see how much parents rate them.
My fav choice at the mo is the cherry red lace up. Don’t be scared though guys, the laces aren’t the only way to put the boots on. Dr Martens have cleverly put a zip on the inside, so you won’t spend half your morning putting your kids shoes on.
They also come in camo, pink, glitter, patent and of course classic black.
The Dr Marten Toddler 1460. Available to buy at www.drmartens.com
One main issue I had with the Dr Martens was would they take a while to wear in. Something that you definitely don’t want or need when you have a kid. I visited the Bristol store to ask this very question, and in short, no. The kids boots have a squidgy lining which means they can be worn straight outta the shop with no dramas. The stand alone stores also measure and fit the kids shoes or boots, so you can be completely happy knowing that your kids stompers fit them properly and are super comfy.
Clarks isn’t somewhere that I’d automatically shop for shoes for Ted, mainly due to the insane queues and ticket system that I’ve faced when I attempted to get his feet measured, and the fact that they didn’t sell the Kickers that I 99% knew I wanted. They have some fun styles online though and are of course known for their quality and customer service.
The Clarks City Vine Hi and City Vine Jungle. Available to buy at www.clarks.co.uk
A style in particular that I think looks great is the City Vine Hi Top – more of a trainer style boot I guess, but it comes in a variety of colour ways and patterns, including, dare I say, a grey leopard print. How practical suede is on a kids winter boot, I’m not entirely sure, but the website assures me that they’re both easy to clean and machine washable. They also come in half sizes and have two choices of width to make sure they’re the best fit.
Next is my go to shop for pretty much everything regarding Ted’s wardrobe. Saying that, I’ve never bought shoes from there, so the next couple of sentences are purely based on aesthetics.
Next has a great selection of boots, including these blue rainbow ones that are just cute as cupcake sprinkles. The detail is lovely with the rainbow stitching and star eyelet. They also sit higher on the ankle than most other boots I’ve seen, so would keep little legs warm (and would look lovely with leggings/tights too). They also come in snake print, which is very on trend, gold, and red (which I think make them look like a lil pair of faux Kickers for half the price).
Lace up boots from Next. Available to buy at www.next.co.uk
So, what am I buying for Ted?
My hearts kinda been set on the red Dr M’s ever since I bought him a pair of dungarees. You just can’t beat that stripey top/dungaree/Dr Martens combo. Or as my little bro calls it the ‘Chucky look’.
Hmmm…
Luckily, Ted’s a Halloween baby so this look is pretty much perfect for him. Also, Chucky is hella scary, but he totally nailed the dungarees.
Lucy x
P.S Have I missed anyone out? Let me know where you shop for your little one’s shoes. The more shoe knowledge, the better!