The Best Dress Shoes for Kids – The 6 Most Stylish, Supportive, Comfortable, and Affordable Styles!

It can be overwhelming for parents to choose what dress shoes to provide to their children. There are several different choices out there, and most of the time parents find themselves staring at a wall of shoes that look very similar, but in reality, they are very different. I am going to provide you with a list of the best dress shoes for kids based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

If you are looking to provide your child with a pair of stylish dress shoes without compromising your child’s foot comfort and foot health, you came to the right place. The dress shoes I am going to recommend in this article are going to provide your children with a formal look, without leaving your child’s feet sore or feeling uncomfortable.

The Dress Shoes that I Recommend Can Accommodate Different Foot Shapes

One of the most common mistakes that I see parents make is to not put a lot of thought into the type of dress shoes that they provide to their children, as they might wear them once in a while and for only a couple of hours. You might want to rethink this. It only takes a couple of wears in the wrong shoe size for your child to develop a foot issue.

All of the dress shoes that I recommend in this article are capable of fitting different foot shapes such as narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. Some of the styles can also accommodate high insteps.

Children’s feet are constantly growing, and to get the most out of your child’s dress shoes, the shoes need to look appropriate for formal events, but also for school uniforms.

I take children’s foot health very seriously, and I only recommend shoes that I have fitted before, as that is the only way for me to tell how well-made the shoes are, the amount of support that they provide, and how they fit.

The shoe store where I work specializes in helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well.

Do You Know If Your Child has Narrow, Medium, Wide, or Extra Wide Feet?

One factor that you need to keep in consideration is that not all children’s feet are the same. Children’s feet come in all shapes and sizes, and while most children have a medium width foot, some others might have a more “complicated foot shape” such as narrow or extra wide feet. Some children have high insteps — top part of the foot — which makes it a lot more complicated to find shoes that fit. Take a look at the image below to identify where the instep of the foot is located:

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

If you are unsure of your child’s foot size or foot shape, start by taking a look at a different article I wrote where I describe the simplest, yet most effective way to figure out your child’s exact foot size from home. In that article I help parents determine their child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.

I also don’t want you to fall under the assumption that if your child’s dress shoes don’t feel comfortable, it’s because they need a “breaking in” period. I strongly believe this is a sales tactic that most shoe stores use to close the sale. It is a fact that dress shoes tend to be stiffer than sneakers, but whenever someone tells you that your child needs to “break in” the shoes to feel better, they are basically telling you that the shoes are not designed or fitted for your child’s feet.

What Makes the Dress Shoes that I Recommend the Best Choice for Kids?

The dress shoes I will describe shortly provide the following features:

1️⃣ 100% Leather Made: This feature is going to give your child a sleek look and allow your child’s feet to breathe. This is going to prevent bacteria from forming inside the shoes. Leather shoes also happen to be the most durable ones.

2️⃣ Extra Cushion and Padding: The dress shoes that I recommend provide extra padding around the heel area to increase comfort and prevent the formation of blisters. This is an area where children develop most blisters, so it’s important that there is enough cushion and padding to prevent friction between your toddler’s heels and the back of the shoes.

3️⃣ Non-Marking Outsoles: If your child is running around on tiles floor on formal occasions the shoes won’t leave a trace.

4️⃣ Round Toe-Boxes: You will notice that the dress shoes will have rounded instead of pointier toe-boxes, which is a key feature that helps prevent your toddler’s toes from overlapping one another or rubbing against the side of the shoes.

5️⃣ Extra Depth for Easy On and Off: This feature is ideal for toddlers with wide feet and high insteps.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the best dress shoes for kids. 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 dress shoes I describe below are available in different widths, meaning that they are capable of fitting different foot shapes, so please choose the shoe width accordingly.

The Best Dress Shoes for Kids

These are the most stylish, supportive, comfortable, and affordable children’s dress shoes that I have fitted before.

If your child has a “complicated” foot shape such as narrow or extra wide feet and you can’t seem to find any dress shoes that fit I suggest that you take a look at other resources I created.

Are Any Other More Affordable Choices?

It is a fact that you will be able to find cheaper dress shoes than the ones I recommend, but considering the quality and support that the shoes provide, they are very reasonably priced. The shoes I recommended are also capable of fitting different foot shapes such as narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide feet, as well as high insteps.

Please keep in mind that poorly made dress shoes are one of the most common reasons why children develop foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.

What Are Some Good Dress Socks for Kids?

Here you can find a list of the best dress socks for kids that are seamless, comfortable, and durable.

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:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

Is there a different dress shoe that has worked well for your child and that you want to recommend? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.