Clark's was set up in 1825 by a pair of brothers in Somerset - their surname of course was "Clark"!  Clarks is now a worldwide known brand, especially so in China, everyone goes mad for them there where they are especially expensive to buy.  In the UK Clarks is probably the most well known shoe shop, with one on just about every high street.
 
I have only been wearing Clarks shoes as an adult and didn't really get into them until I was in my late twenties.  As a child I always wore Startrite shoes and I also buy Startrite for my own children.  The women's selection of shoes has greatly improved over more recent years, I can remember them being the shoes one's teacher or granny wore in the past!  Clarks has expanded its collections substantially and now does the Clarks original collection which I guess are a bit hippy alongside its new "Mary and Clark" section which is quite sexy for Clarks shows and has a full selection of high heels, which I would almost certainly trip over in, as well as its normal collection.
 
Currently I have two pairs of Clarks shoes, both are pump style, one is burgundy patent with a small strap across the front and a brogue-style pattern with a soft rubber sole, the other is a smart court shoe type pump, black with white stitching, a small bow and a hard re-heelable sole.  Both have lasted extremely well, although I don't wear them hugely often and only in the summer.  The black ones polish up well with black shoe polish and have had to be re-heeled once, however the sole is still going strong.  The burgundy patent ones I clean with furniture polish - I discovered a long time ago this works best for patent shoes, and are very easily wiped clean.  The have stayed in really good condition and the leather has never got scratched or marked.  The sole of these have slightly worn at the heel, but then all my shoes do as I seem to walk really heavily on them.  Both pairs are really comfortable, although the burgundy pair have now started to stretch and sometimes flip-flop off, which is annoying.  I think both pairs of these shoes were around £40, although both are now over three years old.
 
I also have three pairs of Clarks sandals, a boring black pair which I use for going to the park etc. with the kids, a dark brown leather pair and a tan pair, both which I really love.  The black pair are basic with a rubbery sole, t-bar and strap across the heel of the foot, good simple sandals which are comfortable and have worn well.  The dark brown pair and great, they are super comfortable with a soft suede insole that feels nice on the sole of my foot.  These also have a rubber sole so are comfortable to do a lot of walking in and are a great design.  The have a full back, like a shoe, with a t-bar at the front.  There is a big flower in the same leather as the rest of the shoe on the front and they look really nice, sort of casual but quite fashionable at the same time - I do wear them to work.  My third pair is the oldest at around 6 years and are really at the point of dying, however I can't bring myself to throw them out.  They are smart with a little, quite think kitten heel.  They are quite strappy, with a t-bar and I always feel really smart wearing them - they also look good with a cinnamon coloured nail polish I have.  These are my "skirt" sandals and unfortunately I haven't been able to find any new ones to replace them.  They are starting to wear badly, they need re-heeling, they have a hard sole, the insole has worn and the leather is starting to become scratched.  I do clean them with a neutral colour polish, as I couldn't find a tan polish which matched, however they are now starting to lose their colour a little.  These sandals are my favourite Clarks shoes ever.
 
I have also had Clarks boots in the past, at least two pairs and also the odd pair of shoes.  They are at the cheaper end of the good quality high-street shoe shops and on my "list" of shoe shops to check out if I am on a shoe hunt.  One reason I don't get more of my shoes there is because their shoes often aren't leather on the inside, but a synthetic fabric which I find makes my feet hot, and even worse smell, yuck!  I like my shoes to be leather inside too.
 
Clarks(women's) shoes deserve a 5/5 for much improved and still improving styles, comfort, quality and durability.  Price is also good, most shoes are available for under £50.  Worth checking out!