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@mlroseplant To me they also look more like 10 cm. I think you might have to go more into like a 13,5 cm in actual heel height to have the same angle as a 12 cm heel. Apparently I'm a bit below the standard size of 38 with my size 37 and I can confirm that when I measured heel heights they were mostly a bit below the advertised height, which makes sense to keep the same angle. The italian heels chart is great!

Italian Heels has a chart on their website that gives the actual measured height for each size and style. Handy

You are sooo right, actual heel height varies so much from the advertised heel height. I wish there was some sort of standard for measuing "actual heel height"

I’ve also never tried a style like that - I’ve always worn boots. Some attempting 12cm in sandals seems like a great way to turn an ankle!

I would not gave guessed those were 11.5cm. At this angle I would have guessed they were 10cm. My 12cm heels look much more than 0.5cm higher. Then again, my 10 and 12cm stilettos are both scaled up for the larger size that I wear. The standard for the style is a 10 or 12cm heel based on a size 38 shoe - the actual measured heel height is scaled up (or down) as you move away in size from the standard 38. This keeps the lines and proportions consistent for that particular style throughout the size range. If the maker of your shoe does not do that it would explain why your 11.5cm heels look lower. My collection is much smaller than yours - I have two pair of stiletto knee boots (10 and 12cm) and one pair of suede OTK boots with 9 cm heels

Well said indeed. Love those boots and those camo pumps are a powerful statement indeed. Same here, my boots are always the intended focal point

Well, I think you look great in them, legs do not appear too short. Great outfit indeed, I am envious. I would think these heels must be tricky to walk in because of a lack of side support. Admittedly, I have never tried a style like this, so have no basis to "guess"

They look like the perfect height to me... Tall enough to look great while still being able to walk well in them and enjoy wearing them

I have a whole lot of just shy of 12 cm heels, but very few actual truly 12 cm heels. Here is one pair that measures in at 11.5 cm (or 4 1/2"). Now that we have the challenge going, why do these look slightly stumpy to me? Wish they had another 1-2 cm on the heel.

Releasing pictures of my church OOTW for August 17. I chose to be blue, with my Steve Madden single band ankle strap sandals. Which feel really weird to me. And by weird, I mean they feel weird when I walk in them by their design. I don't know why this should be so, but it's probably because I have so few ankle strap shoes. I tend to stay away from them since my legs are so short, and I've heard that I should stick to mules to have a visually uninterrupted leg. I don't know if I believe that or not, but it's how I justify having so many mules. With the pants I chose, you can't really see the ankle straps anyway, so what's the difference?

I always choose my shoes first, then choose the outfit to go along with them. Sometimes, this ends up being the opposite of what I intended. For example, I was looking through my collection yesterday morning, and I thought, "Hmm, I haven't worn my blue suede single band sandals in forever! Although I based the outfit around them, nobody said anything about my shoes. I got a number of comments on my shirt! Go figure.

I agree that heels are an accessory - a finishing touch, but the act of choosing heels is a statement. By the same token the heels I like are those in which the heels are part of a larger whole. They should contribute to the overall aesthetic, not dominate it. I love the aesthetic of 12cm heels but 14 and up just ruins the look for me. At that point it’s all about the heels

I have several statement pieces, a leopard print sherpa and cheetah print vest. These pieces must be worn with neutral pieces of clothing.

Hi @Shyheels! I will admit that the simplicity of your response made me think about heels themselves being statement of self expression. I agree with this in that, yes, heels are a statement of self-expression but I also see them as being an accent to another piece of an outfit that may be an expression on its own. I would argue that it comes down to what is the focal point of the outfit that the wearer of such intends - is it the heels or is it another part of it? The photograph I have attached is an outfit I wore last November and I wanted the skirt to be the focal point as it is a statement piece on its own. In general, (and in my opinion only) bright colors and prints (especially animal prints) can be a bold statement piece where they would outshine the footwear regardless of what is worn. If I would have worn the skirt with a similar patterned pair of heels (pumps or boots) I think it would have been "too much" and the pop of the skirt would have been lost. Hence, pared with a black outfit, the skirt makes the statement. The 4"/10cm wedge boots absolutely add a superb touch of elegance to the overall feel of the outfit but they do not overshadow it. Thanks for the response! Just to briefly add to my previous response, but I am waiting for the heels pictured here to go on end of season sale and you better believe I am going to be rockin' out these bad boys as soon as I get them! Why? Because I can!

Heels themselves are a statement - they’re about self expression

I agree. While I do not wear high heels, I do try to have a style and choose to match whatever shoes I am wearing to whatever I am wearing for a shirt. For me, this is within reasons, I do not tend to match purple shoes with a purple button up shirt, but for most other colors outside of pastels I do, like green shoes with a green shirt or a blue shirt with blue shoes. It really does not take such details to make a statement.

I don’t have any 11cm heels but it sounds like a great idea to buy some and use them to train for the 12cm height.

Shyheels, do you already have some 11 cm heels? If you've already practiced with the 12 cm heels inside, you'll probably do fine trying your 11 cm outside.

Absolutely! In places where I’ve moored the towpath is doable in heels and there I’ve certainly noticed the difference between that and walking on the hardwood floor in my boat! im not embarrassed by the fact that I like wearing heels - but I would be embarrassed to be seen fumbling around in them.

The problem with the park, and I have this problem also, is that it still doesn't solve the problem of having to learn a difficult skill right out there in front of the public. I suppose there is a case to be made that at our age we just shouldn't care at all, but in this case I certainly do. I'm already presenting myself in a way that is unusual and perhaps a bit shocking, I do not wish to look comical or foolish as well. Isn't that kind of the opposite of what we're going for? I am not sure what the answer is. There are only so many times I can walk back and forth in my garage, and that certainly does not prepare me for the real, uneven, hilly, broken-pavement world.

Whoa! Matching your shoes to the color of your top? That's close to blasphemy. It oughta be the other way round, innit? 😆😆😆

I am not usually a big fan of designer stuff in general, but Miu Miu brand seems to fit me very well. I have three pairs, all of which I managed to snag at a deep discount (used) on either Poshmark or ebay. I wish I could remember what I paid for them, but I'm sure it was well under 100 USD. Those sandals are actually pretty comfortable for what they are. I don't know that they'd be my first choice for wearing to Disney World, but they'd probably be ok to wear to the mall. A parting thought: The other problem with Miu Miu, besides the retail asking price, is that the vast majority of the designs are pretty ugly. Evidently, Miu Miu is Prada's sort of fun, wacky styled line. Also, as I'm sure people are resignedly used to by now, they don't make them above size 42 (which I'd consider a USW 11).

It's an amalgamation of the words "shoe" and "bootie." I don't think they necessarily have to have laces, but they are essentially a very short ankle boot. There may be some debate as to exactly what the definition is, but heck, we can get into an argument here about what the definition of a sandal is. I commandeered a pair of Swedish clogs from my ex-wife, which was my first sort of inkling that maybe I could wear something with a little more elevated heel in public and get away with it. This would have been around 2000 or so.

"Shooties" : lace up booties.