Many school dress codes are now more lenient, allowing students to express themselves more and more through their choice of footwear. Whilst it’s still expected that each child wears black or dark shoes, the range of accepted styles is growing. This sparks the debate, should you choose smart or casual school shoes?
Smart school shoe styles and materials
Smart school shoes include brogue school shoes and leather school shoes. Brogue school shoes are a timeless classic style which complete a more formal school look. Despite being a smarter style, there are still plenty of brogue options, such as the Kickers Kelland Lace Lo shoes, which allow all children to express themselves and find the aesthetic they’re aiming for, whilst maintaining that classic smart look.
Smart school shoes are often made from leather, because it is durable, breathable and classy. Leather is a versatile material which can be used to create a number of different school shoe styles, so when combined with a brogue-type shoe, it’s a traditional and timeless look.
Casual school shoe styles and materials
For more casual school shoes, we’d recommend school trainers, thanks to their cross between classic and modern. School trainers are as durable and supportive as traditional school shoes, with the added bonus of being more versatile, and often more comfortable too!
School trainers also tend to be made from leather, which again points to the versatility of the material. One such shoe we’d recommend are the Hush Puppies Daxton School Trainers. These trainer style school shoes offer the perfect blend of smart school shoes inspired by a trainer design, so they should be perfect to complete the look of your child's uniform.
Should your child be wearing more formal footwear to school?
Whether or not your child should be wearing more formal footwear to school depends on the specific school uniform policy your school has. In recent years, we’ve noticed that many schools have become more lenient when it comes to school uniforms, often allowing black school trainers.
We’d suggest that in terms of what your child wears to school, the best policy is to allow them to express themselves and wear shoes that they are confident in. Of course, take practicalities such as durability and comfort into account, as well as considering the dress code of your child’s school.
Our top smart school shoes
One of our favourite smart school shoe options are the Hush Puppies Oliver Snr Black Leather School Shoes. These leather school shoes feature classic lace-up fastenings and are designed to be sleek and smart.
A thick cushioned collar is combined with a textile lining for ultimate comfort all day long, and durable rubber soles ensure adequate shock absorption too. These smart school shoes also come with 3 pairs of footbeds.
A particularly smart pair of girls' school shoes are the Lelli Kelly Miss Maeve Black Pattern Double Strap School Shoes. Made from black patent leather, these school shoes are particularly suitable for primary school aged girls who want to be wearing a stylish premium pair of shoes, whilst still adhering to even the smartest dress codes.
Our top casual school shoes
If you’re looking for more casual boys' school shoes, check out the Skechers Kids Dynamatic Black Adjustable Hook and Loop trainers. Perfect for everyday comfort, these school trainers are made from monochromatic mesh and synthetic uppers, which are breathable and flexible.
They boast a stylish trainer design which is bang on trend at the moment, and being all black means they’ll be permitted under many school uniform policies. Don’t forget that they’re also machine washable, so these are perfectly versatile for all conditions, thanks to their easy-washing.
Finally, the top choice when it comes to casual school shoes for girls are the Lelli Kelly Annie Heart Charm School Shoes. An excellent mix of classy and casual, these school shoes feature a large material bow on top of the hook and loop fastening units, as well as a cute shiny removable charm bracelet.
Made from black patent uppers, you can rest assured that these casual classy school shoes will provide long term comfort and support.