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So true

I have come to the conclusion that certain brands, or at least certain styles within those brands are suspect just because they are that brand. You probably know that I am not a big fan of Michael Kors or Vera Wang, both well respected mid-priced shoe manufacturers. And by mid-priced, I mean like 300 bucks retail. Not cheap, but not Gucci. Neither of those companies seem to be able to make a shoe which will actually last when worn regularly. I have finally broken myself of thinking I'll give them one more try. I hate to admit it, but I've eventually come to the same conclusion about BCBGeneration/BCBGirls. They eventually crap out under what to me is normal use. This is why I bought 6 pairs of my favorite Bonny sandals. I'm on Number 4, and none have lasted the way I think they ought to. And now to address the part I bolded in the quote. I'm sure I've told this story before, but there is a certain model of True Religion wooden mules that I like, and I've owned 5 pairs of them over the years. The first pair I bought probably 10 years ago, and I wound up selling or donating them because a) they were too high for me at the time, and b) they were orange, and I only wore black back then. Could not possibly imagine myself wearing orange high heels in public. The second pair I bought, years later, was dark brown, and they were waaaaay better after a few years of practice. I loved them a lot. The problem was, within less than 10 miles, I lost a top lift (or heel tip) somewhere along the way, and by the time I noticed it, I had ground down about 3/4 of an inch off the bare wood/composite material. Not really fixable. In the trash they went. The third pair, which was in black, lost its top lift in about the same number of miles, only this time I noticed pretty much right away. I slipped off the shoes and walked barefoot the rest of the way home. Had the sandals reheeled, and they have turned out to be my most durable shoes to date, having racked up nearly 250 miles so far with no problems. Then I had a fourth pair where I lost the OEM top lift within a few miles, but knew to look for it. With the fifth pair, I told the cobbler, "I know these top lifts look brand new. . .because they are, but replace them anyhow." Lesson learned on what amounts to the third time. A very long-winded story to say that if you love the boots, I would take them somewhere and see if there is anything to be done with them before putting a bunch of miles on them worrying that they're going to fall apart at any minute. That kind of ruins the whole experience, doesn't it?

I remember my last pair of Zodiac boots that I really loved, well the heel and sole came loose from one of the boots when I was a few blocks away from the hotel. I couldn't pick my foot up off the ground or the heel/sole would just flop over to one side or the other. Had to more or less drag that foot while walking in an attempt to keep the heel in place. Pretty embarrassing for sure, attracted attention for all the wrong reasons. I recently got another pair of Zodiac boots, you can feel the heels/soles flex while walking in those as well. Will take shorter walks and be more careful.

I've had the entire sole separate from the upper shoe. My skyhigh Speedlimit 98 lace-up wedges did that. One step was fine the next step was without the sole. Looked back and there the sole sat all by itself. Lucky I was just a few steps from my car, so I picked up the sole and hobbled to my car.

Was it the entire sole or just the heel? I can see a heel coming off in a performance but not the entire air.

I'm not a conspiracy guy, but among all of us, we've had similar things happen to us many times. A heel came loose, or a shank broke, or some other catastrophic failure. So let me ask you this: In any case, when you were hobbling around, trying not to look like an idiot, would you have been able to take your shoe, especially while still wearing it, and rip the entire sole off with your bare hand, such that it was a separate piece, suitable for throwing?

I agree. Not much interesting in todays music. It’s all pre-packaged and derivative. Nothing original, just created by committee with predictable results.

The vast majority of today's music, rock or country is all pre fab crap. There are no actual musical people in the mass market anymore. Have to attend grassroots type live concerts to listen to creative music these days. All the hip hop, country and rock are the same beats over and over. Electric beats and simple chords.

She has done a number of things that I like in the past decade, but unfortunately none of them are musical. She was all right when she was sort of country, but now she ain't no differ'nt than any other pop schmo with 6 songwriters on every song, and 10 producers. I like the fact that she grabbed her own material back from her record label in a sneaky yet bold way.

Iowa is kind of famous for its winters, but the reality is that it's either mud or ice. Yeah, we'll get some snow in there sometimes, but for the farmer and the construction worker, there are only two conditions: Mud or ice.

The soles are smooth, but not slippery. I have not experienced any potential for losing traction or footing when wearing my identical pair in wet or dry conditions. But I would not advocate walking on ice in anything like these.

Great outfits indeed

Exactly!!! And you walk home with boots that weigh five pounds each and then gave to spend twenty minutes getting rid of all that mud. Parts of the towpaths can be like that . And with the miserable weather we’re having at the moment mud will be ubiquitous. It’s pouring, with sleet added in, and freezing. A good day to be in by the fire with the added warmth of some nice OTK boots and a jumper

Some of you will be happy to learn that I have increased the size of my boot collection by 100% in 2024. I now have four pairs of knee boots, two high heel, one low heel, and one flat. I had all of those by the end of last winter, but I was down to one pair of ankle boots. I now have four pairs of ankle boots, all high heeled. However, I am still looking for another pair of tall, slim heeled (not stiletto) boots, because the pair I bought that fits that description has already started disintegrating, and may be unwearable already, from an aesthetic standpoint. Specifically, I would like to find some Simply Vera Wang ankle boots, model Velma or Svellie in size 9. My Svellies I just got are just as good as I remember, but the color layer on the outside of the faux leather boots has started peeling off in sheets already. How disappointing. Basically, I want something similar looking. I have found a couple of pairs, but they want way too much money for something that is over 10 years old, and may have the same problem as the pair I've already got.

It kind of looks like the soles of those boots are completely smooth, as well, which is not great for mud. Having said that, that there is a fine line (for me anyway) between having a completely smooth sole and way too much tread pattern when it comes to mud. The Steve Madden boots I bought have an almost logger boot tread pattern on them. What a complete mess in the mud! I once bought a pair of actual logging boots for my job. I will never do so again. They are extremely good at collecting mud, making your boots much heavier than they need to be, and then they nicely distribute this mud everyplace where it wasn't before.

Good point

They look good but I think the faux suede would get ruined pretty quickly. For sections of the canal they’d be great though

These would do the job, and fit you too! https://hhplace.org/topic/25705-brand-new-asos-recite-boots-uk1112/

Dr Suess was a wise man indeed

Actually, you were wise to buy two pairs, especially a pair that you really like and wear frequently. There is nothing more frustrating than wearing out/wrecking a favorite pair and trying to replace them, only to learn they were long since discontinued.

Nice! It just so happens that I have two pairs of this style of ankle boots, both from Schutz, and why I have two pairs is beyond me (can you say "impulse buy" on the second pair?). Both are ~4" in height and I wear them with long boot-cut jeans for an rough but elegant look. Oh and forgot to add, yes, I will be wearing these to work in the next few days!

Thank you to all for the wonderful responses - I truly appreciate the support and kind words! As I have made known in several previous responses to other threads, had I not found this forum and read the stories of other men venturing out in heels for the first time, I do not know that I would have ever found the courage to do so myself. Given how far I have come in just about a year, it seems somewhat foolish that I did not do so earlier in my life. As I was driving home from the office in a ridiculously cute outfit I wore today, I was thinking that it is almost a year to the day when I first wore heels (boots, actually) to the office. Although ~95% of the shaft and heel were covered by long pants, I was still so nervous about doing so, and that someone would "see" my footwear and take note of what I was wearing. Then, after my work day was done, I headed out for a quick haircut and as I was waiting in the salon/barbershop, store, I was so nervous my hands were sweating. When my name was called, it was a "here goes nothing...!" moment. I was not ready to have anyone see me wearing heels at that time but, admittedly, it was a thrill knowing that I was "secretly" doing so. Now, a year later, I could not possibly care less what anyone may think as so many people, at the office and in public settings have seen me in heels, that it has become routine. I do not consider myself to be "Superman" or the like when comes to wearing heels out in public but I realize that if someone has an issue with it, oh well...not my problem. I truly do not know why I have so quickly overcome my fears of wearing heels in public. I think that once the first few times were "under my belt," so to speak, it just became easier and easier to do. Not to sound like a broken record but the words of Dr. Seuss have truly taken on a new meaning for me..."Those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." Well, enough of my rambling...Thanks again to everyone! Richard Photo - the aforementioned "ridiculously cute" outfit for work today!

November's entries - I think I wore the orange turtleneck outfit to work...definitely wore the red/maroon dress to the office!

Boy o boy, they look amazing with the jeans, so happy they fit OK and are comfortable... Great pair for almost any activity

Great look Rockpup. You look good wearing a skirt and the knee boots. That's a look that I like to wear out too. Happy Heeling, bluejay