Girls’ Dress Shoes – Finding the Perfect Pair to Wear Everyday
Are you looking for a pair of supportive, comfortable, and durable dress shoes for your child? Do you have a fashionista at home who loves sparkly and dressy shoes? The more glitter the better, right?Parents need to know that not all kids’ dress shoes are the same. Certain styles are more comfortable, supportive, and durable. I have put together a selection of the best dress shoes for girls that are also available in different widths such as narrow (N), medium (W), and wide (W).
As soon as little girls start getting older, they become more expressive every time you take them to the shoe store, and they will start asking for the shoes that they want! Not the ones mommy wants! So parents: enjoy choosing your girl’s shoes while you can, because soon they will be choosing their own.
Finding a pair of girls’ dress shoes for a child is not an easy task, it might be one of the hardest pieces of footwear to fit kids’ feet into, especially if they like wearing flats.
Do Dress Shoes Provide Good Support?
Certain dress shoes provide better support than others. For example, Mary Jane dress shoes always provide better support than flats or high heels. I always recommend parents choose Mary Jane dress shoes over any other type of dress shoes since the Mary Jane styles are more versatile.
In this article, I will provide you with a selection of the 3 most common and popular dress shoe styles which include Mary Jane’s, flats, and high heels.
Before I show you a selection of the best girls’ dress shoes, let me first show you what the different types of dress shoes are and the advantages/disadvantages that each one provides, so you can choose the most appropriate one for your daughter.
The Different Types of Dress Shoes – Choose Them Wisely!
➡️ Flats: They tend to look great for fancier occasions. The downside to flats is that you are limited to the number of hours that your child can wear them — no more than 4 hours a day. These type of dress shoes doesn’t provide any type of support whatsoever. Another disadvantage of flats is how it’s very hard to leave much, if any, growing room. For a flat to stay on your kids’ feet, it has to have an elastic holding on your child’s foot, or it has to be fitted heel to toe (no growing room).
➡️ High Heels: These types of dress shoes are only meant to be worn for a special occasion and no more than 4 hours a day. High heels can make your daughter more prone to developing foot issues if worn for longer periods of time.
➡️ Mary Jane: This is the most versatile type of dress shoe since it can be worn for longer periods of time. Most Mary Jane’s come with a rubber outsole to support and protect your kids’ feet and a firm heel counter that provides ankle support.
What Are Mary Jane Shoes? – Stylish and Versatile!
Mary Jane shoes feature a heel counter, and a harder, more structured rubber outsole that allows children to run and play for longer periods of time without their feet or legs feeling tired. They tend to hold up much better than any other type of dress shoe. The Mary Jane shoe styles tend to be the most popular choice for elementary students.
Ballet flats and high heel shoes do not have any structure or support, and they are only meant to be worn for special occasions. I want to clarify that we do sell a lot of flats and high heel shoes at the shoe store that I work for, and some parents are okay with their kids wearing dress shoes for a short period of time and every once in a while.
I wanted to describe a shoe that offers more versatility, so your child can get the most out of it. Below you can find a picture of how a Mary Jane shoe style looks like. I am sure you have seen these types of shoes before!
I only write reviews of shoe styles that I have fitted before, otherwise, I wouldn’t know how well-made they are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best girls’ dress shoes. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.
The Best Girls’ Dress Shoes
Toddler Sizes (0 to 10)
- Shoe style Makayla Mary Jane by Stride Rite
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Ideal for toddlers who are learning how to walk
- APMA approved and built for toddlers
- Easy on-and-off with an oversized opening hook and loop closure
- Rounded, slip-resistant soles encourage natural motion and help improve balance
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Emma by FootMates
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Flex Fit system includes additional insole that can be removed as your child grows
- Oversized opening
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Mary Jane Flat by See Kai Run
- Fits toddlers with medium and wide feet
- Oversized openings
- 100% leather
- Soft leather uppers with a black patent finish and scalloped topline edging
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Allie Leather Mary Jane by Footmates
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Holly by Stride Rite
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Oversized openings
- Antimicrobial linings for odor prevention
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Harper by FootMates
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Removable, dual insoles in medium and wide are provided to allow customized fitting
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Adjustable buckle closure with hidden elastic
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Allie by FootMates
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Ankle strap with hook-and-loop closure
- Leather lining for a soft feel
- Lightly padded leather insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Bonnett Mary Jane by Nina
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Adjustable buckle secures the perfect fit every time
- Lightly padded leather insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style SR Holly by Stride Rite
- Fits toddlers with medium or wide feet
- Leather lining for a soft feel
- Lightly padded leather insoles
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
- Shoe style Mary Jane Flat by Stride Rite
- Fits toddlers with wide and extra wide feet
- Oversized openings
- Antimicrobial linings for odor prevention
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your toddler’s current foot size
Little/Big Kid Sizes (10.5 to 7)
- Shoe style Pavia by Naturino
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Leather upper
- Supportive outsole with firm heel counter
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Reese by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Cushioned memory foam footbed for all-day comfort
- Mesh lining for added comfort and breathability
- Oversized opening
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Mary Jane Flat by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 100% leather
- Breathable leather lining and cushioned leather-lined footbed cradles children’s feet
- Ideal for formal occasions and casual wear
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Josie Flat by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Slip-on design for easy on and off
- Elasticized top line for a no-slip fit
- Breathable textile lining and a cushioned textile insole
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Marissa by Nina
- Fits narrow and medium feet
- Genuine leather
- Padded insole
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Pegasus-T by Nina
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Slip-on design for easy on and off
- Man-made lining and footbed
- Breathable textile lining and a cushioned textile insole
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Bonnett Mary Jane by Nina
- Fits narrow, medium, and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Cushioned insole
- Buckle closure
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
- Shoe style Sport Mary Jane Flat by Hush Puppies
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Mesh linings for breathability & odor prevention
- Cushy memory foam footbed for all day comfort and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Always make sure that your child tries the dress shoes with the same type of socks that they will be wearing them with. If you didn’t bring the right type of sock to the store, ask your fitter for a try-on sock or a pair of footies.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If you want to be 100% sure about what shoe size to order online, I suggest that you follow the instructions in a different resource I created.
How to Make Sure Your Girls’ Mary Janes are Fitting Properly?
There are 2 steps you can follow to make sure that your girls’ Mary Jane shoes are fitting correctly:
1️⃣ Make sure there is no extra space around your child’s heels.
2️⃣ Slide your finger around the instep of the foot, and make sure there is enough room for your finger to slide around it. If there is no room to fit around that area of the shoe then it means that the Mary Jane is too narrow.
These are the 4 most important features that your daughter will get from the dress shoes I recommended:
1️⃣ Support: The Mary Janes shoes come with a substantial outsole that minimizes the impact that your child’s feet take every time they come in contact with the ground.
2️⃣ Heel counter: They all come with a firm heel counter to provide ankle and heel support and protect your child’s heels.
3️⃣ Good traction: This feature prevents your child from slipping and falling.
4️⃣ Extra Depth: This feature prevents the top part of your kids’ feet from rubbing against the top part of the shoe.
Is Your Girl Supposed to Wear Socks with her Mary Jane Shoes?
I strongly advise you to have your child wear socks with her Mary Jane shoes. Socks act as a barrier between the child’s feet and the shoes, preventing the buildup of bacteria inside the shoes as well as irritation and infection.
The other reason why your daughter should wear socks with these types of shoes is that children tend to complain about the velcro strap rubbing against the top of their feet. The correct types of socks provide cushion and comfort.
Some parents prefer the “no show socks” since they say it doesn’t spoil the look of their kids’ fabulous shoes. These tend to fit over the top of the foot and mainly cover the heel, bottom of the foot, and the toes. It is important that the sock covers the heel part since that is a place where children tend to get the most blisters.
Dress Shoes for Narrow Feet – They do Exist!
After all these years of fitting children’s shoes, I can tell you that narrow feet are the hardest to fit. Primarily because shoe manufacturers don’t make a lot of narrow width shoes. Parents of children with narrow feet have the hardest time finding dress shoe that fits the shape of their girls’ feet, especially when it comes to Mary Jane shoes or other types of dress shoes.
I hope you found valuable information that can translate to your girl’s feet feeling comfortable and stylish. No matter the shape of her foot, there is a perfect pair of dress shoes waiting for her. Do not compromise when it comes to her feet and use this information to make the most informed decision.
Are Any Other Shoe Choices Available?
Do not hesitate to contact me directly at my e-mail if you have any further questions or if you need a different pair of shoes for your child. My e-mail address is:
Have you found a particular Mary Jane shoe style that has worked well for her feet Please share your thoughts and experiences below so other parents can benefit from them.
Juan!
This article is exactly what I’ve been looking for… I have 3 daughters, ages 5, 8, and 13. And finding shoes for them is by far the most difficult thing to shop for. Each one of them have a pair of favorite shoes that they will wear no matter what the occasion if we let them. I never realized that it could be because of the way the shoes feel instead of how they look. I will certainly have to bookmark this website for my wife to read as it provides some great in depth information shopping for little feet.
Thanks!
Mark,
It sounds to me that you either have three fashionistas, or that particular shoe they keep wearing must feel better than the other ones. I think this website is going to come handy for your wife and your three princesses! I am glad that you found the information useful!
Thank you so much for this information! It is so hard to know which shoes to get for a child…especially when they aren’t yet big enough to tell you how the shoes feel. With all the styles and types of shoes out there and prices bordering on criminal, it’s great to be armed with this very necessary information.
Valerie,
I am glad that you found the information useful! Keep in mind that a good quality shoe doesn’t have to be expensive to provide good support!
Juan! I ordered a pair of shoes for my daughter from Amazon after reading your post. It answered all the questions I had about dress shoes, and I was able to find a pair that it was wide enough for her thank you t your advise! She always refused to wear dress shoes, but I found the perfect mary jean for her that comes in a wide width!
I am glad you were able to find it! I understand how hard it can be to find a pair of dress shoes that fits your child’s foot comfortably. If you ever have any other particular questions about girls dress or any shoes in general, let me know!
It excites me to find this information!
It seems that all practical concerns for the proper growth and health of children’s feet have been lost.
Big retail stores that place all their priority on sales have taken the place of small neighborhood shoe stores where quality, fit and function were part of their craft.
Parents seem to pay a lot of attention to their child’s athletic shoes when they are old enough for sports, but don’t seem to worry as much about their child’s growing feet when they are just starting to walk.
I commend you for providing this information to parents with growing children and hope that your web site will be seen by every parent.
Keep up the good work!
The purpose of the website is to inform parents about children shoes and everything that relates to their feet, that way they can make the most informative decision. I agree 100% with you that big retail stores have been taking down independent shoe stores, where you can find experienced shoe fitters to take care of your children feet!
Hi Juan! Thank you for all the information you provide through your website.I love Mary Jane shoes; it reminds me of my little girl days. I felt like a star wearing those shoes to nursery school.
I was looking to get a pair for my daughter for Sunday’s and special school days and after reading your post I was able to find it!Mary Jane shoes are generally very comfortable as I remember and look really good on almost everyone’s feet.
Denise,
Great! I am glad you found it! Fitting girl shoes can be very tricky, next time you have a question don’t hesitate to reach out!