I love a good PSA. Especially when it involves helping y’all save money or get a great deal. So, I definitely wanted to share this one.
One of my favorite places to shop for shoes for shoes for my kiddos is the Nordstrom kids shoe department. They have a big selection of the styles I like (and no, they’re not paying me to tell you that!).
But, we’re not talking about buying shoes for our kids today. We’re talking about buying kids’ shoes for OURSELVES!
About a year ago I was looking at a pair of pretty pink flats for Hazel and wished out loud that they carried this pretty shoe upstairs in my shoe department (because it was way cheaper than anything that was happening upstairs, too!). The salesperson (ever funky and enthusiastic) said, “Girl – you know you can get those down here! Don’t you EVER buy your Toms or your Hunters or your Minetonkas upstairs!”
She felt strongly. Sure, she was working on commission. But she was definitely on to something. (apparently all of the gals that work on the kids floor at Nordstrom do this!)
Turns out, there’s a really happy, generous overlap between kids’ shoes and adult sizes. And kids’ shoes are definitely cheaper. I typically wear a 7 1/2 in adult women’s shoes, but evidently that translates into a size 5 in big girl shoes in the kids’ department. SCORE!
It doesn’t work with every brand, and sometimes you’re limited in colors and styles, but for fall, my favorite cheat is Hunter Boots. The bonus for me (because I’m *ahem* vertically challenged) is that they’re a little shorter, too, so they don’t swallow my legs.
I’ve broken it all down for y’all below:
Hunter is a little funny size-number-wise because they’re European. My US7.5 still translates to a US5M in their adult boots. So definitely try them on before buying. Also, with kids’ Hunters, there are reflective bits on the back of most colors. I’m so okay with that. Especially if it means I’m paying SIXTY DOLLARS less. (hm… you could almost get two pairs!!)
And this concludes my happy boot-buying PSA. It seems only natural to close with a photo of my little family as displayed in rain boots.
So how far up do the kids’ sizes go? You know my feet are just so big. I don’t know if I can get away with this subterfuge…but good on ya for figuring it out!
Looks like it only goes up to a 6M in kids. So yes, I hadn’t thought about that. Bum. Probably only works up to size 8.5 adult.
So close for me too! 9 or 9.5. I am jealous of you average-footed people.
Wow, I totally didn’t know kids sizes went up that high. I’ve always told my tiny-footed friends to shop in the kids shoe department, but 7.5? Awesome!
I’m with Christine, though – my feet are size 9. Do kids sizes go up that high?
My daughter is a wome’s size 8. When she bought her school shoes this year she purchased a pair of Nike tennis shoes in a youth 7; in hindsight, she says she could have went with the 6.5. Saved her $45!
Aww, sooo close!
Dang my size 9 feet. I’m wearing my glossy blacks today! :)
yay!!
I’ve been buying kids shoes and clothes for forever, but I always thought I was just being smug and annoying because I’ve got size 5/5.5 feet, and am roughly around 4 inches tall (possible exaggeration). My mother will be extremely excited to know that she can do this too!
WOO HOOOOOO!!! Seriously fit so much better than the big’ole adult size!!
Score! I worked in children’s shoes at Nordstrom through college, I scored many a pair of Dr. Martens back in the day for way cheap! I’m an 8, so a kids 6 was perfect!
I’ve known this trick for a while! You really can find some cute shoes a LOT cheaper than women’s sizes! I have small feet anyway, which makes it harder to find women’s shoes that fit. And a bonus for me is that my daughter now wears the same size as me, so I get to borrow her shoes!!
Such a great tip! Thank you for sharing :) I will certainly be checking this one out. I have been dreaming of owning Hunter Boots for years!
Buying some NOW! I have had my eyes on them for awhile :)
I think this will change my life. Yay shoes!