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Wow! Congratulations on a great find! I would like to get another pair of 12cm boots but am a little stuck. Italian Heels was a good bet but they seem to have gone under and anyway, like you, cost is a consideration - the magazine world is not all it could be these days. yes, I aspire to look like I belong in my 12cm stilettos, as though wearing them was second nature, but I am well short of that goal. I confess to a bit of awe at @higherheels abilities as demonstrated in how quickly she was able to move up from her “easy” 12cm heels to being able to go out confidently in 13+cm boots. I’ve got such a long way to go

Without a clearer (side) view of the sandals - which I assume to have fully open sides - it is difficult to suggest a true remedy, but if the shank is twisted, it should be possible to bend it back without stressing the heel (if that is still correctly attached to the shank). Place a piece of 2" x 1" timber about 12-15" long across the sole (probably at mid-shank) and another below, and then clamp both pieces at their ends, to make a tight 'wood/sandal sandwich'. Then apply force to one end of the sandwich whilst holding the front part of the sandal. That should allow the shank to be twisted without stressing the heel or upper. If that doesn't work, it might be possible to create a 'double sandwich' at opposite ends of the shank and twist the two pairs of timber in opposition to bend the shank back. (You might be able to get away with one timber at each end, held to the sole by a single clamp and with a little resilient packing on the other side to avoid damage.)

I do agree 100% on that point, it is really more about the attitude and carriage than it is about the shoes. Perhaps that is what makes it so intimidating for us. Almost anybody can get out there and stomp around in 12 cm heels, but to actually look like one belongs in them? Tricky business indeed. I trust that @Shyheels and I will know when we've got to the point when it's time to strut our stuff in the general public. @higherheels has a leg (or a foot) up on us, as she's already worn her 13 cm in public, just not for very long. Speaking of which, I have some exciting news. As you know, I was looking for a pair of 12 cm heels in order to meet this challenge. Actually, I have one pair, but I think they are fairly ugly. I was debating about maybe getting something from Fuss, but being unemployed at the moment, I figure now is not really the time to be spending what amounts to over 200 USD by the time you get them to my door. The Highest Heels look interesting, but they are even more expensive, and I think they're not even leather, at least not all of them. So I went on ebay and typed in "The Highest Heels." I found some black patent pumps, new in the box, for 50 bucks, delivered to my door. I believe them to be a non-current model. I had hoped that they were in fact the full 12 cm, de-rated and temperature corrected for my size 9. As it turns out, they are and then some, at 12.5 cm. And they actually fit. I have not yet really had time to mess with them yet, other than a few steps around the house, but I have a good feeling about these. I'll try to get some pictures taken in the next couple of days. I might wait a couple of days anyway, because the current temperature is -18º according to my thermometer, and by Monday it's supposed to rise above zero.

Yes, and yes, to both of you. Now you've got me curious @Puffer. Trash day isn't until Monday, so I could dig the shoes out of the bin and see if it's even possible to straighten up the heel without breaking it. However, that would be nothing more than an experiment, because after that, as @Cali says, I would never wear them out again (meaning I would never wear them again at all). They would indeed break, probably at an inconvenient time. Part of that calculus is metal fatigue, but the other part is that they are Michael Kors brand. They will break eventually anyway. I'm lucky they gave me some warning to begin with! According to my records, I have owned those sandals approximately 10 years, so they really don't owe me anything. They have been all over the country (quite literally) with me, but they were sort of a default dressy sandal for me. I have never found them to be terribly exciting. I shall report my findings, should I decide to experiment, at a later date.

Yes, you are indeed right, but it is far more than that. A person in high heels has an air of sophistication about them, and when worn well, they look confident, brazen and dominant. But look at any high school prom where the ones wearing high heels often look uncomfortable, unsteady and vulnerable, and the same pair of shoes can give an entirely different look. It is all about how well the shoes are worn and not so much about the shoes (although I do understand quality has a lot to do with high heel wearing confidence). It is why I have so much respect for everyone on here that wears high heels so often, as well as my wife who embraces them. There is a huge commitment to wearing them well. Everyone on here should take pride… in their pride… on that!

But that would put additional stress on it and it would be more prone to fail (at the most inopportunity time).

I think the thing that makes the most difference is that we all genuinely love to wear heels and want to wear them well, so we experiment with different methods of training and practicing and get the most out of them. We care. We want to do well.

Is it not possible to twist the heel/shank back into the correct alignment? You have little or nothing to lose.

Aaaaaannndd. . . we're back to -15º again. However, it looks to be actually warm starting on Sunday. Well, warm as in above zero. For whatever reason, that method never occurred to me before. It makes good sense, though. I'll have to try it again. If I bothered to warm up in the past (I usually don't have time), I'd wear slightly higher heels than what I was planning on wearing to whatever event. The problem with that method is that you've got to have a chunk of time to wear the higher heels beforehand.

The last time I wore the sandals, back in September, I remember not walking well. I figured I was just having an off day, as one will from time to time. I have no idea why I noticed the state of this heel only yesterday, but it does account for a good deal.

Yes! I’ve noticed this! I come back from a long walk into town in my mid heel boots and put in my 12cm stilettos and they feel more manageable than when I just put them in at the start of the day.

That's also a good way of practice, to get higher throughout the day 😉

They look great from here.

Been a while. Still kicking

Yes I would say it sounds as though the shank itself twisted. That’s a pity, they look like nice sandals. I'm actually starting to wonder if the left heel on my 12cm boots isn’t slightly off vertical - it just doesn’t feel quite right, yet it is fixed firmly to the boot. I hope it’s not off because these are my only 12cm heels

Not at all. The shoes are obviously classy but in an understated way that allows you to dress up a casual outfit - it’s a good look

I also went with mid-heel boots - warm suede OTK boots whose 8cm heels are easy to walk in. It was warmth more than heel height that was driving my choice. Our temperatures are not as cold as yours, but we have an insidious dampness that has a serious magnifier effect as far as discomfort goes. Once back in the boat with the fire going I was back into my 12cm boots - and yes, like you, I’m still not very good at them

I broke one of my own rules yesterday--don't wear dressy shoes with a casual outfit. However, I was going through my shoe collection, trying to get it under control. This involved some vetting, or re-vetting, if that's even a thing. As a result, I wound up wearing black patent pumps to the grocery store to purchase some comestibles. They are 11 cm, and definitely keepers. I felt the need to re-vet because I actually had to wipe the dust and cobwebs off of them, so it's possible that I haven't actually worn them since Christmas 2024, the last time I distinctly remember wearing them. But is it too much for a non-dressy outfit?

Since I have the time on my hands at the moment, I finally dove in and attacked my shoe problem. As a result, I now have a little bit of shelf space where I had none before. I am prepared to do a new shoe inventory, the first in two years. There are significant changes since then. For now, I want to share with you a pair of sandals that I actually threw away. You would think I'd have noticed this defect before, and I guarantee they weren't always like this, but how did the heel of this shoe become so badly bent? I cranked on it pretty good trying to figure it out, and the heel is quite securely attached. The only thing I can think of is that the shank has become twisted somehow without actually breaking, which wouldn't surprise me a bit, because they are (or were) Michael Kors, a brand I've had long experience with, and they all have weak shanks. What do you think?

Although I started off the day yesterday with a whimper, I am happy to report that I ended with a bang! Yesterday morning, I decided I was too tired and too cold to bother with my "high" shoes, so I walked in my mid heeled boots instead (9 cm block heels). By mid morning, the sun had come out, and the temperature rose to almost -5º, so I put on 10 cm clogs and walked to take care of some business with our county government. Before I went to sleep last night, I got a notion to keep the momentum going and walk in my 12 cm oxfords. As of this writing, my calves are not screaming too badly, just feeling a little tired. I'm still not very good at the 12 cm.

Giege, I've had starring looks when I'm in heels and a skirt but never a confrontation like you had. I would just ignore his comments and go about my business as usual. I never heard the phrase "smoked my behind". There are a lot of crazies out there. Happy Heeling, bluejay

I’ve never run into a situation like this where someone went off their rocker about my wearing boots or heels, but as a cyclist I have encountered a few crazies. It’s best just to keep going and ignore them

I haven't run into this situation in quite some time, but it never feels good. I can certainly empathize, and as others have said, you must move on if you want to keep your sanity. This fellow was obviously somewhat less than sane.

I agree with you 4” heels are comfortable and great for wearing all day.