Clarks Shoes | My Mills Baby

We simply love Clarks shoes for Dexter. I know firsthand how dangerous ill-fitting shoes can be for little people’s feet. Given Heidi was also born with positional talipes, we’re set to be just as careful with her first few pairs of shoes too.

It’s fair to say we’ve always been incredibly happy with Clarks - Dexter has never had a blister, never had his skin pinched by his shoes, and trust me, he’s walked a great many miles in his dinky trainers!

What makes them so brilliant is the knowledgeable staff, the huge range of width fittings available and their expertise in creating shoes that allow your child’s feet to breathe and grow whilst providing tons of support for inexperienced walkers.

Far from being “uncool”, there are some really fun colourful designs and we’ve always managed to go into store and find a pair that suit his style. We tend to dress Dex quite conservatively in hoodies, polo shirts, jeans or canvas shorts (he’s a mini version of his daddy) so we like shoes and trainers that are simple and understated. I’m always impressed how many shoes there are that I really like. Clarks just seem to get it right every time with high contrast laces, plenty of neon, but simple designs that compliment your child’s wardrobe.

When we were recently invited into store to check out the new AW14 collection for children, we jumped at the chance. We picked possibly the worst ever time to go into store given so many parents were there getting their children’s back-to-school shoes. There were crowds of people and we had to take a ticket to await our turn to get measured. Having said that, Clarks had provided extra staff to cope with demand and somehow the shelves remained fully stocked and clutter free (no mean feat with scores of throw-happy children around).

The most irritating and naughty child in Clarks that day, was definitely Dexter. As his current shoes are from Clarks, he soon found an identical set on display and couldn’t understand that they weren’t his own. All the rows of shoes were also too irresistible for him to not throw around the store, or indeed take up to other parents and try to pop them on their children’s feet. In fact, if Clarks are ever short of weekend staff, I’d be happy to send in Dexter..?

I was really looking forward to checking out the new iPad technology but it seems I had the wrong end of the stick about this. I mistakenly thought this was something parents could use themselves to measure their child’s feet, but it seems you need a shoe fitter to help you use them. This was a little disappointing as I liked the idea of speeding things up and doing it myself. Never mind.

Due to over demand for the iPad, Dexter ended up getting his feet measured the old fashioned way by a really lovely lady. She made Dexter feel incredibly at ease and was very thorough. When we knew his size, she showed us all the shoes that were available to us and stayed with us as we tried some on.

We choose the most adorable pair of brown leather shoes for Dex. I love the high contrast laces that add a bit of colour without being tacky. They’re also super comfortable with padded contrast collar and grippy rubber soles. As soon as they were strapped on his feet, he was rushing about the store once again and grabbing ladies handbags off the shelves… the perfect fit then…

Dex’s shoes are the Crazy Rock design in brown and orange. For £30 they’re priced in line with other shoes from the First Shoes Collection. From experience they’ll last him a good 6 months before he goes up a size. Personally I’m more than happy to pay this for shoes that are safe and supportive to his feet.

To check out the Clarks AW14 Kids Collection for yourself, head over to clarks.co.uk or visit them on Facebook or Twitter for daily inspiration and chances to win!

The best thing about the onset of autumn is being able to ditch the sandals, No more religiously painting your toe nails, buffing your heels or troweling Vaseline on your feet. Colder weather means thermal socks, skinny jeans and big boots! Trust me, I for one cannot wait to shove my foot spa to the back of the wardrobe until next year.

A few years back, I’d have been on the hunt for some knee-length stiletto heeled beauties - entirely inappropriate for my needs but pretty nonetheless. How things change when you have children! Now I’m a mummy, it’s all about flats and chunky heels that won’t see me topple over whilst I’m wearing the ultimate mother’s fashion accessory… a heavy toddler strapped to my hip. As I’m pregnant I’ll also need boots that are extra wide to accommodate my increasingly swollen ankles and calves.

Luckily I won’t have to ditch my inner vixen. There are some seriously sexy styles around this season without the skyscraper heels. Bells Shoes have hundreds of fabulous branded boots to choose from including Clarks, Ecco and Josef Seibel.

Leather is by far the best choice. Not only does it retain body heat and keep your feet nice and toasty, it also has a slight stretch to accommodate wooly socks and heat swollen ankles. When treated with wax or specialist sprays they’ll also withstand rain and snow. Finally, leather wears beautifully - scuffs and discolouration only adds to the look.

For ladies of a heavier disposition (myself included) aim for thigh-length or ankle boots. Ones that end mid-calf will draw attention where you’d rather not. Dark brown or black hues are also more slimming than light tan which will draw the eyes downwards. Finally, don’t forget to look for boots with elasticated side panels if you’re planning on wearing them over jeans and leggings.

Given I’ve managed to talk Craigy into joining me for a few walks this autumn, it’s handy that Bells Shoes also have a great range of boots for men too. I can already see the arguments and flat-out refusals to join me again if his whiter than white trainers see even the tiniest fleck of mud. Getting him a pair of leather boots might just offer the perfect solution as they look even better muddied. They’re also far more attractive than the suede / leather combos you see in specialist hiking shops.

But Bells Shoes are more than just boots. There are also plenty of eye-wateringly high heels for the braver mummy, and you can still get your paws on some sandals if you refuse to accept the summer is over. You’ll also find wellies for puddle jumping as they are stockists of the ever-popular Crocs., and loads of kids shoes for some back-to-school inspiration.

Whatever your perfect boot, team it with pashminas, scarves and gloves for the ultimate autumn look. By layering lots of different textures and fabrics you’ll still look every inch as desirable as you did in your summer wardrobe, without compromising on warmth.

Sound like I know what I’m talking about? Well the boots might be sorted but I’m no further forward on a maternity coat that doesn’t make me look like a walking sleeping bag. Please do drop me a comment if you find any nice ones.

Featured post