Shyheels

Go-go boots certainly evoke an era - one that was bright, colourful and optimistic. For those of us who love fashion boots they were also a major cultural stepping stone. When Andre Courreges came out with the go-go boots in 1964 he very neatly tapped into the mod Sixties zeitgeist - the space age was one of his influences - and his sassy white boots became one of the defining looks of the decade. Boots were also given a basic boost by Roger Vivier who reimagined a 17th century musketeers cuissardes as the modern thigh boot in 1963, and by Nancy Sinatra whose hit These Boots Were Made for Walking in 1965 boosted boot sales dramatically on both sides of the Atlantic. By the end of the decade boots were a fashion staple for empowered women and they've remained so ever since. And yes go-go boots typically had lower heels - about twi inches and some even lower. I think Correges original go-go boots had pretty much standard heels of an inch or so. My attraction to them is not for their heels but for their styling and their evocation of an era and because when I was a kid and saw them being worn I really, really wanted a pair. I've never bought myself any because I can't find nice ones, alas - I'd be happy to do so if I could, but the only ones I find are in costume shops. There is too, as you point out, a difficulty in figuring out what to pair them with. Back in the 60s it tended to be mini skirts but I wear jeans and have not figured how I can make that work with shiny white patent go go boots!

I think that were a kind of special group - in terms of interest, passion and knowledge when it comes to heels. We’re far more likely to notice nuance and subtle differences than the average heel wearer

People should really mind their own business.

I agree as well - nothing about them appeals to me

Exactly! I don’t think in terms of numbers but in the aesthetic. What I see as stylish and wearable heels are probably going to be around 10cm and what I see as imperious and elegant are probably going to be around 12cm. Specific measurements don’t come into it. I want to learn to walk gracefully in 12cm boots because they’re imperious and elegant, not because they’re 12cm

I like to cook too and tend to do it in my 12cm boots. I’m up and standing and moving around the galley so it feels more productive than simply pacing back and forth. Standing for an hour though, while working at my laptop, was challenging. I could really feel it in my calves. I felt like I’d been hill walking all afternoon! I think of it like taking up ice skating - new athletic challenges. As to why, well we all wear something in our feet and high heels are elegant. I love the aesthetics of a 12cm stiletto boot and would like to be able to wear them with the kind of panache one needs to carry off heels that high. It’s one thing to admire the aesthetics but if you can’t walk in them well you might as well stay in the sidelines. To walk in them well requires a lot of practice and dedication - and if you’re as lucky as we are, friends to help and encourage you along the way. I feel very fortunate to be sharing this challenge with such experienced heel wearers as you and @higherheels

I definitely want to buy a pair. I've wanted go go boots since I was a child.

I put in an hour of working standing up in my 12cm stiletto boots. It was a challenge in a couple ways, not least of which was the extra height it gave me, which made my kitchen counter feel awfully low and so rather awkward to write at my laptop. on the brighter side, standing in them for an hour was a great way to become used to the height, steeper angle and to develop the balance needed to walk gracefully in them. It’s not putting in the miles like @mlroseplant but I think it will be useful. I certainly felt it in my calves after an hour of standing in those boots!

As a child I was a huge fan of go-go boots! I wished I could have a pair of those shiny white boots - it’s what set me on the course to liking women’s boots snd heels! I still fancy a pair of go-go boots if only I could find nice ones …

I’m quite certain one’s ideal heel height can be increased - I think we are all proof of that! While I’ve not mastered 12cm stilettos, practicing in them has made walking in 10cm stilettos feel easy and natural. The difference is noticeable. Likewise @higherheels is now able to get around in her Hot Chicks and her new 13+cm boots through practice. Speaking of practice my walk into town for groceries was an adventure - one I took in low/standard heel knee boots because of all the ice. The towpath and sidewalks were like skating rinks. And so I tottered feebly in my low heeled knee boots and pretended to myself I was in 12cm stilettos. I’m not so sure it’s going to help in terms of actual practice in them, but it made the mental journey into town more fun and engaging

My best effort for walking in heels is just under 20k steps while I was wearing a pair of grey suede OTK boots with 7 to 8cm heels. The boots are very well made, fit beautifully and logging that number of steps was easy. I pretty much forgot I was in heels

I found the same with the first equation. Kind of nonsensical. For the second I can see some logic. I have very flexible ankles and so my ideal heel height for that formula was something over 12cm, but I won’t be ordering any Hot Chicks anytime soon. I would love to master 12cm heels and hopefully will eventually do so, but I would have to say my ideal heel height in terms of intuitive use and ease would be nearer 10cms - even if I prefer the aesthetics of a 12cm stiletto

The tips on my stiletto booths - both 10cm and 12cm are plastic. The tips on my 9cm black suede OTK boots (beautiful custom made boots) - are much better, rubber I think. They are beautiful to walk in.

They look very nice! And well done for walking a mile in them! But I think that’s the drawback with lofty stilettos - the quick wear! Bitter cold and snow has been making my suede chunky heeled OTK boots a much more attractive option than my 12cm stilettos these days. Getting up in the cold and dark - sunrise here is at 8:30 - and building a fire with frost on the inside of the windows calls for warm boots rather than lofty ones!

That’s really nice. Fun to have a friend with whom you can chat about heels