WJ French & Son | Blog

14/08/2026

Gabor Shoes: Why We Recommend Them to Almost Every Customer

Over a century of German shoemaking expertise, a fit system that actually works, and styles you’ll want to wear every day. Here’s why Gabor is one of our most recommended brands. If there’s one brand that comes up again and again when customers visit us in store and tell us they struggle to find shoes that are comfortable, stylish and built to last, it’s Gabor. We recommend them constantly. And there’s a reason for that. A bit of background Gabor has been making shoes since 1919, growing from a small... Read More

14/08/2026

Our Team’s 5 Favourite Gabor Shoes

For a brand like Gabor, comfort and fit are never an afterthought, they’re the whole point. What really sets Gabor apart is the sheer range of widths and lasts on offer, from the standard F fitting to the wider G width, meaning women who’ve struggled to find shoes that actually fit properly often find their answer here. At W. J. French & Son, Gabor has built a loyal following with both customers and staff thanks to its combination of genuine fit engineering, European styling and dependable quality. So we asked... Read More

11/08/2026

A Parent’s Guide to Proper School Shoe Fitting — for Winchester Families

Every August, the same scene plays out in shoe shops across the country: a queue of parents, a pile of boxes, and a child wriggling their toes trying to decide if a shoe feels “fine” or just feels new. It’s an easy trap to fall into but a school shoe that isn’t fitted properly can cause real problems for growing feet over a full school year. At W.J. French & Son, we’ve been fitting children’s feet since 1803. Nine generations in, we’ve learned that a proper fitting isn’t a nice... Read More

24/06/2026

Our Team’s Top Geox School Shoe Picks for Back to School 2026

Ask any parent who’s bought Geox before and they’ll likely tell you the same thing: the feet come home drier. It sounds like a small thing and perhaps it is, but when you’re sending a child into school for six or seven hours at a stretch, a shoe that actively helps keep feet fresh and comfortable makes a genuine difference to how they feel by the end of the day. Geox built their reputation on their patented Respira breathable technology, which allows heat and moisture to escape through a perforated... Read More

22/06/2026

Our Team’s Top Petasil School Shoe Picks for Back to School 2026

If Start-Rite is the brand parents often come in asking for by name, Petasil is the one they tend to leave having discovered. It’s a quieter label, less heavily marketed than some , but among our team it’s held in genuinely high regard. Petasil shoes are built from quality leather, designed with serious attention to fit and foot health, and they have a classic, grown-up aesthetic that makes them particularly popular for older primary and secondary school children. We asked our team to pick their favourite Petasil school shoes for... Read More

10/06/2026

Our Team’s Top School Start-rite Picks for Back to School 2026

Our team has over a century of combined fitting experience. Here are the four Start-Rite school shoes they’ve chosen for 2026 and why they love them. When it comes to school shoes, nobody knows them quite like the people who fit them every day. Between our team at W.J. French & Son, we have well over a hundred years of fitting experience — some of our staff have been helping families find the right shoes for 20, 30, even 60 years. So when we asked them to put together their... Read More

20/05/2026

Our Team’s 5 Favourite Mephisto Shoes

For a brand like Mephisto, comfort is only part of the story. What really makes people loyal to Mephisto is how the shoes continue to feel after hours on your feet, whether you’re walking around a city on holiday, spending the day sightseeing, or simply wanting everyday shoes that still feel good at the end of a busy day. At W. J. French & Son, Mephisto has built a strong following with both customers and staff thanks to its combination of premium materials, supportive comfort and long-lasting quality. So we... Read More

13/05/2026

How Often Should Children’s Feet Be Measured?

Children’s feet grow quickly, often faster than parents realise. A shoe that fitted perfectly just a few weeks ago can suddenly become too tight, causing discomfort and affecting healthy foot development. At W. J. French & Son, we often see children wearing shoes that are already too small simply because growth happens in bursts and can be hard to spot. Regular measuring helps ensure children have the comfort, support and space they need as they grow. Why Regular Shoe Fitting Matters Children rarely complain when shoes become too small because... Read More

13/05/2026

First School Shoes: What Parents Need to Know

Starting school is a huge milestone, for both children and parents. New uniform, new routines and of course… the all-important first pair of school shoes. Choosing first school shoes can feel like a big decision, because these shoes need to do a lot. They need to be smart enough for school, strong enough for everyday wear and, most importantly, comfortable and supportive for growing feet. At W. J. French & Son, helping families find the right first school shoes is one of the most important things we do. Here’s what... Read More

13/05/2026

Supportive Shoes That Look Good: Discover Strive at French & Son

If you’ve ever kicked your shoes off at the end of the day in relief, you’re certainly not alone. For many people, foot discomfort becomes part of daily life, whether it’s aching arches, tired legs, or ongoing conditions like plantar fasciitis. At French & Son, we’ve spent over 200 years helping customers find the right shoes, and one thing has always remained true: comfort should never come at the expense of style. That’s exactly why we’re so pleased to introduce Strive footwear to our collection. What Makes Strive Different? Strive... Read More