Whatever happened to sweet Mary Jane?
Today I ventured out as I have several times now to search for some simple and cute white sandals for my two little eight and six year old girls. This type of shopping is getting more and more disheartening as I see the style of shoes that manufacturers expect to don our little girls’ feet. Why must little girls shoes look like they just fell out of Britney Spears’ closet? Do I want my six year old to wear shoes intended for a grown woman? You already know the answer to that. It’s getting very hard to find any shoes suitable for a little girl… that is, assuming you want your little girl to look like a little girl. From the looks of what is flying off of shoe store shelves, most mothers don’t.
Take this little beauty. Isn’t it every mother’s dream to see her six year old walk into church on Sunday morning sporting crystal heels?
This sandal is plain ugly. I just had to say that.
Oh. my. no. Six year olds? In wedge heels? Gold and silver metallic? Somebody help me.
If we don’t look like harlots, we go for the manly look. Every eight year old girl needs a pair of combat boots. NOT.
Again with the metallic and cork wedge. Do these sandals belong to a first grader or a college sorority girl? You decide.
As you can see, the wedge is in for our little girls. Where are the mothers? That’s what I want to know. By the way, this shoe is from the Hannah Montana collection. I’m just saying.
Then we have this modest and attractive shoe… IF YOU’RE FORTY! Why do we want our little girls to look all grown up? Won’t that happen fast enough on its own? I want my little girls to look like little girls. Am I the only one?
This hot little number will be all the rage as you swing your sequined self around the dance floor doing the mambo. Or climb the monkey bars on the playground? Hmmmm.
OK, I’m no rocket scientist, but who thought this was a cute shoe for a little girl? Madonna? This is from the ‘Cheetah Girl’ collection. Cheetah Girls and Hannah Montana will have to remain a topic for another post. You don’t want to get me started.
I’m sorry. This is just hideous.
Again with the college girl fashions.
Help me.
I think I wore this shoe on my wedding day.
The pop princess look again. With Hannah Montana and Libby Lou all the rage, I guess this is what the average mom is putting on her baby girls? I just don’t get it. Someone enlighten me please.
And, last but not least, I had to add this one because it is so doggone ugly. Yikes!
I hope you have enjoyed this fashion critique of little girls’ footwear, or lack thereof. Join us next time when we discuss suitable dresses in sizes over 6X. Please tell me I’m not the only one that runs screaming from the Size 7 through 16 department!
Hmmm.. what if I tell you I own at least two pairs of shoes that look similar to the ones you listed =) Some of these are cute. But I never claimed to be a fashion statement =) (beat to a different drum…)
I would say that a lot of those shoes are adorable… if you’re all grown up! I love the white sandals on the ‘twine’ wedge. In fact, I have a pair I wear all the time. I’m also a big fan of metallics! My 18 year old daughter owns about four pairs of metallic sandals and they are beautiful on her… but, she’s 18 and not 6. That’s the problem. I want sweet ‘little girl’ shoes for my little girls. And, I love ‘big girl’ shoes for my big girls (and for me!)
Now, those combat boots and cheetah skin platforms… I say BLECK no matter what age you are!!!! ~wink~
Oh, I am SO THERE WITH YOU!!! I can’t believe the shoes that are being sold for little girls. What part of LITTLE don’t they get?
My problems with shoe shopping started so early - when my youngest was in kindergarten. Platform sneakers were all the rage. Platform. Unbelievable.
We manage to find Mary Jane style shoes at Payless, but it’s not always easy and sometimes I need to go online instead.
My little girl will soon be in this department and I agree with you. And don’t they tell us women that those kinds of shoes do damage to our feet? And a young girl’s feet are still growing.
We call shoes like the lovely crystal heals on the top of your picture list Cha Cha shoes. Cha Cha shoes, anything with a slight heel or wedge, is strictly forbidden to wear outside. They are only play shoes.
I often wonder if little girls actually wear them out. I have a three year old so there is no way she is going in public in her Cha Cha’s.
It can be difficult to find classic, good quality children’s shoes. I have become very fond of Pediped footwear. My daughter wore them as a baby until she was two and they have since introduced children’s sizes and we love them.
Thanks to the internet with sites like Zappos it’s easier to find appropriate shoes that are cute, good for the feet and comfortable for the child. If you are willing to spend a little bit of money, European made shoes are usually the best. But we have found affordable, sweet little girl shoes at Payless and Target too. You just have to look beyond the Cha Cha’s, dig deep and somewhere in the stack of shoes you’ll find the adorable child-like Mary Jane smiling back at you. They do exist, my daughter has several pairs, none with any trace of a heal. Happy shoe hunting!
Wow! That was an eye opener! I didn’t realize it was so difficult to find cute little girls shoes! Haven’t gone girly shopping lately. I hope you find the right spot for the perfect little girly shoes!
Shera
I am totally with you on this one. Once they get out of the toddler shoe sizes, which my daughter did fairly young, you can not find anything appropriate! Not only do they look old, but my girl is running, jumping, and climbing..wedges don’t cut it. So frustrating. Don’t get me started on the skirts and swimsuits! Just let them be little!
Love your wedding shoes though.:)
I have been to Target 3 times to get dress shoes for my 5 year old. I have not found a pair that is acceptable in my eyes. I will have to go to a more pricey store I guess.