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OK guys for a overdue update. When I arrived there, the day before it snowed and as I was told by the locals it was an unusually heavy snow for December and a lot colder, and then the second day an even more unusual snow storm was predicted for Wednesday. So any heeling was off the books, I barely saw any heels on the street if any and all were blocks and fairly low which makes sense. However it was not a total loss, I was close to 2 malls downtown and I walked there and started stalking the stores waiting until there were no people or few people inside, went straight for the high heels that I liked and started browsing, not the usual go to the men's side and side eye the beautiful shoes while holding the ugly, heavy, uninspired bricks we are supposed to wear as shoes , lol. After a few asks if they could help I gathered my courage and asked for one in my size. I was at a store for a brand I did not know before I was in Canada, l'Intervalle. I was holding the most gorgeous, sexy and amazing pumps, specially the stilleto heel was shaped so beautifully and sexy, and was the thinnest stilleto I had ever seen which I adore. I am not exaggerating when I say they were about 2.5X2.5 mm (in between 1/16" and 1/8") at the heel tip, so freaking cool and amazing. I fell in love instantly. So I saw a a beautiful pair in 9 camel patent and asked for back patent, they checked and had none, let me clarify they had none on clearance but hey had it regular price I was not going to spend 90$ for a pair of pumps just to wear at the hotel, but hoped maybe a pair on clearance +40% off was ok. So asked for the other shoe for the camel patent in a 9 and they did not fit, these run very small, I am usually 8.5 and sometimes 9 but these were tiny. There as just a guy and a girl tending to the store, tried to get the girl to help me but she was on other things (I know I know, but I felt safer asking to try to a girl not a guy bit the bullet and asked anyway), I asked to try and he did not flinch just brought them and tried a 9 and they did not fit, then asked for a 10 to try on the size and he brought normal black leather and I tried them on in the store in public. I put them on, the girl was looking casually at me and it seemed to me she was surprised I was able to put them on sitting down easily then getting up and walking around. They were a tiny bit higher than expected but I still managed to walk gracefully, check myself in the mirror. The guy was completely unfazed. I said hold in one sec and removed my heavy coat, my sweater so I was dressed business casual straight from the office dark pant suit formal striped light blue and white shirt and black heels, looked amazing (I was so in the moment that I did not think about taking pictures). I removed the shoes and asked what else they had on sale and my size on that model (Teeva for those curious), he told me none on that store and they we closing soon, but I could go to another store site 5 minutes away or if I came back tomorrow they could have them sent to try and see them. I thanked him and told him I might or try to go to the other store. They girl went a little out of her way to help me out s and say good bye since they closed the gate, I had not noticed. So the next day I went to the next mall, there were more stores, Aldo, Steve Madden, call it spring and the other l'Intervalle. These stores closed much later than the other so they were busier at that time, and once again I stalked the stores. I walked in to Steve madden, started browsing the high heel pumps, holding them looking at them, and a sales girl approached, looked at me my feet and asked if I were a 9, she knew, caught off guard just said yes, she then said that they had very few I that size on the models I was looking at, she showed me others with a lower heel and she noticed it was not what I was looking for, she the said let me check what we have on your size, she came back and told me they had 8.5 and 10 and if I wanted to try, I agreed she brought patent black pumps hey we're too small and too big, while I was trying them on she brought lower heeled patent black pumps in 9to try and they fit like a glove amazingly comfortable but lowish for what I like I guess around 3" and also too expensive for this trip if I was not able to wear them. I did walk around with them a little after removing all the warm clothes I was dressed similarly to the day before, she complimented me on my look and walking skills, but also admited that higher heels would look much much better and if I wanted she could call me when they had more stock in a week or 2, black Friday had emptied their stock. I declined since I was leaving in a few days and thanked her a lot. In the store a woman trying on kitten heel boots just smiled and nodded I did not notice anyone else noticing me, maybe they did but I was on cloud nine on an amazing high. I then went to Aldo, same story walked straight into the high heel pumps, asked what was on sale and nothing I liked then walked out, 2 pumps were beautiful but not on sale and the store was busy so clerks were all around the place and did not want bother if I was not purchasing anything. Next stop was call it spring they had a beautiful pair of d'Orsay pumps, asked for black patent in size 9 the girl checked and told me they only had a dark brown which I did not like at all although they were cheap and would have bought them for the hotel, too bad, she tried selling them to me that the color was beautiful. I argued the shoe was beautiful but did not like the color. Tried looking at other styles and nothing caught my attention. Maybe a pair stiletto booties until I looked at them closer and I saw the had the stitches all trough the point and middle of the show which I hate but common on boots but that is a rant for another time. Finally the last store again L'intervalle but a different store from the previous day. I saw this one had 40% off for the whole store, and I darted straight to the heels I loved, they were right next to the cashier, a young girl, I stated asking if they the 40% also applied to on sale items, she said yes and asked what they on sale on that model size 10, she looked on the computer and said only off white patent and then showed me other choices with lower heels and told me that women often found these more comfortable I just agreed but said I wanted the other one because they were prettier, and asked to try them, she looked puzzled at first and told her they were for me, and proceeded to look for them came back and told me they were at the other store, and she could run to get them. I said maybe to try any other color first to make sure they fit so as to not make her run for them. For patent usually is a lot stiffer than regular leather so I wanted to try them as well like I dkde yesterday, she looked and said she had none on that size, I asked what else was on that size on the other store and if the discount also applied, she said yes, checked and called, however they were starting to close I did not notice the time. I just said I might come back tomorrow. She let me check everything we have on your size so if you come back tomorrow you have a better idea, just being a good sales person. Not much just 2 more choices. I thanked her and she kinda eagerly said she said her shift starts at 4pm and she would gladly run to the other store to get me those. I smiled back and left. The next two days were a lot colder and did not want to leave the hotel room after work so there ends my adventure, not what I hoped for but still great. I have to admit that I used all of my almost non existent literary talents to recount as accurately as possible while making it fun. Now to be wait for my next trip in a few months to try again. Thanks for listening to my ramblings.

Huh? That doesn't make sense...

Great Heels and Outfit….

I have several pairs of heels which would be no problem for 5.5 miles. I also have several pairs that would be an absolute disaster in that distance! What I would very much not like to do is carry a sousaphone that far. I used to think 2 mile parades were hell, much less three times that distance.

What you have said is absolutely correct, but the "context" of my original statement has a much simpler explanation: It was supposed to be, you know, funny. Or at least mildly amusing. Tongue-in-cheek, that sort of thing. I am hanging my head in despair, knowing that I have failed miserably in my attempt at humor. Wouldn't be the first time, and certainly won't be the last. What adds interest to this story is that you're not wrong! I rarely miss an opportunity to wear heels. Put another way, and perhaps closer to the way I actually feel, you will rarely catch me wearing flats unless there is a compelling reason to do so. I don't always wear high heels in the sense of our definition, but it's always in the back of my mind that I would love to be able to wear the highest heels well, and that definitely requires practice, preferably daily practice. In my case, the limitation doesn't really involve pain or lack of endurance, it is lack of ankle flexibility. Therefore, I do not have the effortless walk that is required to really pull of 12+ cm shoes.

That would be a tough day! I remember being at a local fair with the kids and as we were leaving I saw a young couple, 18-20 years old and she was wearing high heels. It was apparent she was already regretting her shoe choice. She had a grimace on her face and had not even made it out of the parking lot area yet. It is hard to describe, but I am sure everyone on here has seen the look, that grimace with every step with dread at making the next because she knew it was going to be painful. I felt bad for her because I knew she was probably wearing them for her boyfriend, and that is truly commendable. Not that someone should be in pain on account of someone else, but that she wanted to please her date. But considering how far she had to go, then the walking required at a fair over asphalt and grass grounds, it probably meant a trip back to the car early for her.

I might have taken @mlroseplant out of context too, at least in terms of motivation. I know he tracks his kilometers walking in heels and it is only natural when you do that, to want to increase the number. In that context, when looking at choosing between flats and high heels, it is only natural to see wearing flats as a missed opportunity to increase your overall kilometers in high heels per year. For others... like my wife... shoes are part of the outfit, and having the ability to make it formal, or informal, is part of the fun. I side with her in some sense on that because as a traditional man that dresses as such, as we talked about on another part of this forum about jazzing up the male wardrobe, I am a bit jealous of her because I think my choices of fashion and footwear are a little lackluster.

I am sorry to hear you have had a cold. I know I am quite the canoe paddle away from you westerly, but colds and flues have been going around here a lot. My wife was terribly sick with the flu just before Christmas and I have been threatening to get it. Others in the area have not been so lucky and knocked out by this year’s strain. Hopefully you will get over it quickly. I judge no one in terms of fashion from the 1970’s because my take has always been, that was an era of rebellion. Not in a bad way, just that it came on the heels of a generation that were quite strict, at least here in the United States. The 1950’s certainly seemed to be an era where conformity was expected. I say that with everyone having the same kind of haircuts to shoes. In the 1960’s, yeah, they loosened up a little bit with the miniskirt and bikini, but I think it was more out of guilt for being so uptight in the 1950’s. They had aged a bit by then and might have realized the error of their ways. But the 1970’s… that fashion era belonged to the next generation and they were not having the mandatory flattop haircuts for men, and the tea length dresses, beige pantyhose and 8 cm heels for the ladies. My take on 1970’s fashion? They were just rebelling on everything. Pants that tapered consistently? Nope: not having it! Vertical stripes top and bottom? Why not throw in horizontal stripes topside, or plaid… in a contrasting color, bottom side, or with vertical stripes? To me it seemed, my parents just did not care what was worn as long as it roasted what my grandparents had worn. My case in point? Flattop haircuts were out but bowl haircuts came in like a rogue wave! Talk about opposites! But Mary Jane style shoes? My wife has hundreds of high heels, and of Mary Jane’s, she only has one pair, which is pathetic I know, but she has them for some of the vintage photoshoots she does. I think hers are in the 9 cm range and has not complained while wearing them. I do not wear high heels myself, but if I did, I MIGHT find the strap across the metatarsal area of my foot to be annoying, but only because I got some safety shoes that hurts in that particular spot. But I still see Mary Janes occasionally in public and know a member on this forum is infatuated with them, so they certainly have endured the test of time. But the ads you speak of? I am not sure. I do not get those on this site on my computer. I am not even sure what you are referring too?

The school doesn't mind what we wear but to avoid too much attention I wear slightly flared trousers to cover the 3.5inch heels. It helps me go under radar and avoid too much scrutiny from teachers.

I’ll third the motion. I love knee boots, with or without heels and those are very nice

Same here!

Giege , I would wear those flat heel boots as I did wear a pair of mine on New Year's Eve on a shopping trip with my wife. We were having heavy snow falling at the time so my heeled boots were definitely out of the question. Mine were just a plain riding boot with 1" heels and no ornamentation like yours, however I would wear a pair like yours in a heartbeat! Happy New Year Happy Heeling, bluejay

exactly

No, not at all. Wearing heels, at least for me, and I think for @mlroseplant and @higherheels as well, it’s a matter of style and fashion and I think it’s fair to say that we like stiletto heels in the 10 to 13cm range. And to be able to walk well in lofty stilettos you need a lot of practice. In my case I had a pair of 12cm stiletto knee boots I bought for their aesthetics but had never learned to walk well in them. @higherheels has a pair of imperious Louboutin Hot Chicks with 13cm heels which very few people can wear with panache, while @mlroseplant walks marathon distances in lower heels but also likes the aesthetics of higher ones. But other people will have entirely different aesthetics and personal styles. It’s by no means a given that everybody wants to move up into ever higher heels.

But does a person always have to be trying to get better at wearing 12-13 cm heels? I ask because its not that my wife only wears Keds; she wears high heels a lot as well and is quite comfortable in them. But I do remember a funny incident right after we found out she was pregnant. We were going to go out on a dinner-date, and she surprised me when she wore a short dress, high heels and SEAMED STALKINGS? Nothing against those who wear such stalking's, but one has to agree that in society it is generally considered quite suggestive to wear them. it I had to ask her about her last choice in any case, and she told me that she figured she was soon going to start showing so she could no longer dress like that, so she was going all out on that night. I will say, in the conservative area where we live, she did get some questioning looks. She did get a maternity dress that was nice and wore high heels with it a few times, but as she drew closer to her due date reverted to flats even with that dress.

Thank you! I felt pretty chuffed! And yes, 10cm is like a magic border! 8cm chunky heels are fun but proper high heels start at 10cm - and (for me) the perfect aesthetic is 12cm stiletto boots

@Shyheels oh, you wore your 12 cm boots too, not bad either 🙂 10 cm really is like a magic border where it gets interesting. I mean I also like lower ones, but the asthetics are just perfect and cannot be beat. @mlroseplant Yes, sometimes it can be difficult to put it in the right words. I don't know yet who you're talking about but I may find out 😉

Deep freeze along the canal - the frozen lumpy towpaths not at all inviting for anyone in heels, but a good day to be puttering about inside, putting extra lumps of coal on the fire and click-click-clicking about the galley making coffee and a hot breakfast! So the year seems off to a good start

These boots are amazing. A great combination of all the styles I like. Nice tall shafts, pointed toes, great tall rugged heels, and reasonable to walk in...

Just finished watching the Rose Parade on TV (only saw two in-person) and watch several women in heels, some high. Wonder how will they look at the end of the 5.5 mile (8.85 km) parade?

Those boots are perfect for most any occasion. They look great, feel great, and easy to walk in. I would also agree that 4" heels are optimum for me as well in terms of actually walking around doing things..

First - has anyone seemed to notice that the pop-up adds, as well as those coming up from the bottom of the screen, have increased and make writing more difficult and annoying? Anyways... Recently, I have been battling a slight cold that, at the end of the work day, has left me feeling drained of energy and wanting to do no more than spend the evening sitting in front of the television (nothing serious - I'm fine). So, I have (including New Year's Eve) been binge watching my favorite childhood television show, Emergency! For UK/EU members, this was (most likely) the first American drama series that revolved around a medical/fire-rescue environment and aired from 1972 to 1977. While watching the old episodes, I made some observations about the state of fashion and how certain items worn then are still being worn today, even if slightly different. First, with respect to the men's fashion du jour, all I can say is YIKES! It was bad and there is little redemption to it. With respect to the women's fashion, however, one can clearly see how certain trends worn during the time period of the show can be and are actually still worn today. In one episode, a woman was wearing an outfit that consisted of a maroon top, khaki colored wide-leg pants/trousers, and a brownish colored jacket (I do not recall the footwear beyond them being a pair of matching pumps). It was an outfit that if worn today, it would have no obvious signs that it was actually worn in the mid-70's. A later episode featured the beautiful Mariette Hartley wearing a brown striped, matching top/cardigan sweater combo, with black, wide-leg (non bell-bottom) pants/trousers and simple black flats (or low heeled pumps). Again, an outfit that could not be easily dated if viewed without any reference to the time period in which it was actually worn. The most recent episode I watched featured a young woman wearing a pair of double strapped, black patient Mary Janes, with a blue, just above the knee, slightly pleated skirt. What was most interesting about her shoes was that I have a contemporary pair that is very similar to that episode which first aired in 1975. The photo I have attached is of my pair of double strapped Mary Janes and if the heel on those were about 1/2 the height they are, one would essentially have the same shoe as seen on the TV show. Not to get off topic, but I recently wore my Mary Janes to the office with a pair of black, subtle patterned tights and a just above the knee black skirt. One of my female colleagues commented about the cuteness of the shoes and I replied that they, as well as the outfit, definitely had a 1960s mod flavor to it. Turns out, my description was rather accurate. So, I guess the two points I am trying to make here is that, first, timeless will always be timeless; certain styles will always outlive trends and fads. Second, what may separate time periods (in a fashion sense) from one another may be no more than putting a new twist on an old idea/item. Sure, the show features are many examples of mostly individual late teens/early 20s) dressing as if they were living in Haight-Ashbury and older people dressing is styles that made the 70's an awful time for fashion (just a note - wearing non-matching stripes and patterns as part of the same outfit is often a fashion disaster). There are examples, however, of the fact that, as just noted, simple pieces can be timeless. It is very much this approach has governed and influence my approach to my clothing choices. I say this with a serious degree of cynicism but I rather see clothing styles focus more on timeless pieces rather than new styles being introduced with every season. I guess if such were the case, then there is little money to be made in the fashion industry.

First - has anyone seemed to notice that the pop-up adds, as well as those coming up from the bottom of the screen, have increased and make writing more difficult and annoying? Anyways... Recently, I have been battling a slight cold that, at the end of the work day, has left me feeling drained of energy and wanting to do no more than spend the evening sitting in front of the television (nothing serious - I'm fine). So, I have (including New Year's Eve) been binge watching my favorite childhood television show, Emergency! For UK/EU members, this was (most likely) the first American drama series that revolved around a medical/fire-rescue environment and aired from 1972 to 1977. While watching the old episodes, I made some observations about the state of fashion and how certain items worn then are still being worn today, even if slightly different. First, with respect to the men's fashion du jour, all I can say is YIKES! It was bad and there is little redemption to it. With respect to the women's fashion, however, one can clearly see how certain trends worn during the time period of the show can be and are actually still worn today. In one episode, a woman was wearing an outfit that consisted of a maroon top, khaki colored wide-leg pants/trousers, and a brownish colored jacket (I do not recall the footwear beyond them being a pair of matching pumps). It was an outfit that if worn today, it would have no obvious signs that it was actually worn in the mid-70's. A later episode featured the beautiful Mariette Hartley wearing a brown striped, matching top/cardigan sweater combo, with black, wide-leg (non bell-bottom) pants/trousers and simple black flats (or low heeled pumps). Again, an outfit that could not be easily dated if viewed without any reference to the time period in which it was actually worn. The most recent episode I watched featured a young woman wearing a pair of double strapped, black patient Mary Janes, with a blue, just above the knee, slightly pleated skirt. What was most interesting about her shoes was that I have a contemporary pair that is very similar to that episode which first aired in 1975. The photo I have attached is of my pair of double strapped Mary Janes and if the heel on those were about 1/2 the height they are, one would essentially have the same shoe as seen on the TV show. Not to get off topic, but I recently wore my Mary Janes to the office with a pair of black, subtle patterned tights and a just above the knee black skirt. One of my female colleagues commented about the cuteness of the shoes and I replied that they, as well as the outfit, definitely had a 1960s mod flavor to it. Turns out, my description was rather accurate. So, I guess the two points I am trying to make here is that, first, timeless will always be timeless; certain styles will always outlive trends and fads. Second, what may separate time periods (in a fashion sense) from one another may be no more than putting a new twist on an old idea/item. Sure, the show features are many examples of mostly individual late teens/early 20s) dressing as if they were living in Haight-Ashbury and older people dressing is styles that made the 70's an awful time for fashion (just a note - wearing non-matching stripes and patterns as part of the same outfit is often a fashion disaster). There are examples, however, of the fact that, as just noted, simple pieces can be timeless. It is very much this approach has governed and influence my approach to my clothing choices. I say this with a serious degree of cynicism but I rather see clothing styles focus more on timeless pieces rather than new styles being introduced with every season. I guess if such were the case, then there is little money to be made in the fashion industry.

@mlroseplant Thanks for the compliment! Indeed, the boots are fabulous and for the most part, rather comfortable in both wearing and walking. I was recently doing some "experimenting" with different looks with these boots and realized that they can be "dressed up," as seen in the photo, or "dressed down" with a pair of skinny jeans. The "issue" I face is that I have very little real life reference as to the current state of contemporary fashion. As I have noted, probably ad nauseum, my employer has no dress code of which to speak other than "jeans are permissible." Beyond that, just about "anything goes" provided that one could make a case that the item covering one's body is somehow clothing. The only mandate that has been expressed is that when I or some of my colleagues are out in the field for a meeting, we present ourselves in a professional capacity. For some (mostly my male counterparts) it means simply changing from a t-shirt to a polo style shirt and that is as far as it goes. Likewise, with the exception of the "Goth Chic," I could count the number of times I have seen any woman in my building wearing a skirt on two fingers, and I have never observed a man wearing a necktie or so much as a dress shirt. This, sadly, pertains to all individuals within my building across all five floors of it. Thus, trying to determine what is/is not appropriate office fashion is really left to my own discretion. So, with no real point of reference as to what others are wearing, I tend to lean towards conservative pieces so as to be safe. Some time ago, I purchased a pair of black, flat heeled riding boots that, for me, were more embellished than I would normally wear (with exactly what, however, is hard to describe - see the photo). Perhaps interesting to some degree, I am much more comfortable wearing these that a pair of towering heels. I guess that I am stuck on the notion that the taller the heel, the closer it is to being unacceptable for office attire. With respect to the second point, I find it to be interesting that above 4," each measurable increment (e.g. 1/2," 1/4," etc.) truly make a difference in how easy it may be to walk in whatever heels are being worn. Thinking about the boots that are the topic of this point, I recall that the first time I wore them they felt incredibly tall and perhaps, even "too tall" for me at the time. Without a doubt, I needed to practice walking in them prior to first wearing them out. Now, however, they are very manageable but probably at the maximum limit of what I realistic can wear. Sure, I can walk in 5" heels, but not for very long or very far. At 5," however, I can feel that my stride is much shorter and my cadence feels choppy as if I am taking half-steps. I just do not feel that I have the grace in 5" heels that is needed to make them a normal item to wear as much as I would love to do so.

Indeed! A nice bit of recognition and acceptance