Buster Brown Shoes: Keep a good thing going

When I was a kid, getting a new pair of Buster Browns was always a big deal.  And although much has changed in the world of children’s shoes, and the world at large, since then — in this house, a new pair of Buster Browns is still a big deal.  There’s a reason this children’s shoe maker has been servicing tiny feet for more than a century. Yes, a century! Buster Brown produces shoes that stand the test of time, and at a price you can afford.  We recently received some samples and I’m thrilled to see that the shoes I recall from my youth are more than just a memory. 

The Anna infant shoe (shown at intro of review; available in sizes 2-5) is sweet as cotton candy, a traditional suede and leather athletic upper with white, pale pink and hot pink accents.  The bungee laces are stretchy enough that pulling the tongue back far enough to fit chubby baby feet in the shoe isn’t a problem, but tight enough that the Anna won’t budge once it’s on.  The mesh interior lining (in pink) is soft and breathable, and also adorns the collar, which is very nicely padded. Anna’s non-marking pink outsole is nice and chunky but not overly-so; It’s got lots of grooves and bumps to ensure good traction for a new walker, but not so much that it could cause your little one to trip.  Anna is a great everyday athletic shoe and at a price ($17 on sale at Famous Footwear, down from $28 originally) that quite simply can’t be beat.  Alex is the boy equivalent of Anna (see photo at right), featuring navy suede, gray leather and lime green contrast stitching and accents and is also on sale ($20 at Famous Footwear, down from $28).

My absolute favorite thing about Buster Browns, however, is not what you see when you’re looking down at the shoe.  It’s what you see underneath.  Flip over a pair of Buster Browns and you’ll actually find the answer to my prayers — a shoe that takes the guesswork out of finding the right size.  It’s called Toe Zone®  technology, and it’s a fairly straightforward process:  Just hold your child’s foot up to the sole, making sure to line up the back of the heel with the ‘place heel here’ guide, and see which zone the foot falls into (see photo at left).  If the toes don’t line up in the ‘toe zone’ and are instead lined up in the ‘too small’ or ‘too big’ zones, you know that it’s a bad fit. 

Buster Brown has come a long way — both in terms of technology and style — from the shoes I used to covet as a young girl, but happily, some things remain the same:  Classic looks, good construction and at a price that won’t break the bank.

To shop the Buster Brown collection, click here.