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Higherheels wears size 37. I am the one who wears size 40.

That would be extremely unusual. I can only think that the bar to success in 14cm was set quite low - simply being able to walk without falling - or that there was a platform involved somewhere. Or that she is or was a ballet dancer. Hot Chicks at 13cm are famously difficult to master even by very experienced high heel wearers - so much so that Louboutin stopped making them. @higherheels is the only person with whom I’ve had any contact who feels confident walking in them, at least to go out for dinner. And I have a sense that she sets the bar pretty high and even then she finds the need to work hard and practice. i have a couple of friends who are serious high heel aficionados and their limit is 12cm, and one of them has quite a collection of Louboutins too. But nothing over 12cm. So I’m just finding it hard to picture someone slipping on a pair of 14cm court shoes and striding out of the shop unless there is some very unusual circumstance

Some interesting discussion about these different heel heights and wearability. But I'm confused - mlroseplant says that Hot Chicks in size 40 have a measured 13.7cm heel, but higherheels says that hers (apparently also size 40) measure 12.7cm, which sounds a little low. Which is right, please? Nearly 30 years ago, I had a GF who had not been a regular wearer of significantly high heels and had probably not gone above about 3.5" (9cm). She was not a particularly nimble or athletic person either. But she was perfectly willing to go higher and was soon wearing 4 - 4.5" stiletto heels (UK 7 = Eu40) regularly - and when she acquired a pair of 5.5" (14cm) courts she had little difficulty in wearing them from the outset (unless on very slippery/uneven ground, understandably). Alas, the relationship did not last but the memory of her high stilettos did!

What I really need is to find a place where I can go for meaningful walks in my boots. I know I could improve quickly. I’m pretty good at sports. But honestly you guys should see the towpath - chalky muddy clays, puddles, rocks etc. very frustrating.

@mlroseplant that's a good description of what I meant with fluid heel to toe motion. As I thought about it more, I think I also have this issue a little bit in my new boots. In my case while walking it feels like they flex my ankles to an angle they can hardly achieve, so the muscles have to work harder to make them achieve this angle. I had the same issue when I first started with my Hot Chicks, but it got away with practice. I'll try some additional stretching this time, maybe this helps to gain flexibility quicker and makes the start easier. Your mules in this height must be even more of a challenge! I definitely want to master my boots this winter, at least so far that I can wear them to a restaurant or so. @Shyheels You can definitely compare it to some sports. You say you're on the beginner's slope but that's always relative. Now with my new boots I also feel like on the beginner's slope again 😉

Yes that seems very familiar. I think you put it well - a lack of controlled heel to toe motion, which leads to this sense of clomping around. So much of learning to walk well in heels reminds me of learning to ski or skate, acquired skills that are deeply enviable to those who are just learning. @higherheels mentions walking easily in her 12cm heels and even going out in her Hot Chicks and it just seems like a huge hill to climb as I clomp around on the beginners slope

There are a couple of different things to reply to: @Shyheels, I would like to put forth a hypothesis, and perhaps check on this myself when I get a chance. When we are saying, "fluid heel-to-toe motion" (or lack thereof), what springs to my mind from my own experience is lack of controlled heel-to-toe motion. Or not very much control, anyway. So that what you get, as best as I can put it without video or sound, is a ka-thunk, ka-thunk, ka-thunk. Does this seem familiar? I have another separate issue when I get up that steep, which I will save for later, as I have to work again this Saturday. @higherheels Thank you for the measurements on the heels. I have actually seen a tape measure put to Hot Chicks in my size 40, and they are 13,7 cm. So I guess your boots in size 40 would be something on the order of 14,6 cm, which happens to be the exact height of my Pleaser mules, which I can barely make it across the room in. If you manage to master the boots before winter's end, mad props to you! This month, incidentally, I'm going more for mileage than height, while the weather is still relatively nice. But I'm trying not to wear less than 10 cm on my walks.

Doing 20k steps on a day like today would be hard work - at least if your weather was anything like what we’ve had in the Pennines today. A thoroughly miserable day with single digit temperatures, winds and cold hard rain. I wore heels today - my 12cm stilettos, sitting at my desk with a nice wood fire going! Like you, when I’ve been out and about I’ve noticed quite a strong bias towards blocky heeled boots

Well. I’m just home from a day in Edinburgh. Heels for days. Lots of women in low to mid heels. However high, say 85mm plus, there was a good amount. There was a mostly blocky heel bias, there was a few stiletto heels, the most common hybrid of say was the blade heel. Looks like a stiletto from the side but from the rear it’s wider for stability. I didn’t do heels, if I did my legs would be done, it was close to 20k steps. It was quite cold so everyone, for the most part was wrapped up well.

Exactly! And when I do stand up the angle feels familiar. Those boots of yours will be really good practice for the Hot Chicks. Aside from looking quite smart in their own

I measured them now. The Hot Chicks have a 12,7 cm heel and the boots 13,3 cm. So if you upscale this to a standard size, they'd be probably like a 13,6 cm heel. @Shyheels I also feel that sitting helps, it's like stretching

I can certainly feel it in my calves when I walk in my 12cm heels. Like you I’ve been wearing them mainly while sitting or puttering about making lunch. I have found that even just wearing them while seated at my desk is helpful in getting myself used to the height and assertive angle of wearing 12cm stilettos

Probably it's just a matter of practice as always. Better flexibility and more muscle strength to make a fluid motion possible. I have worn my new boots mostly for sitting and only a bit walking around so far. Feels like I also have to gain some more flexibilty and strength for these.

I think that is probably it - no fluid heel to toe motion. I have to work on that, overcome my lack of familiarity with 12cm heels and be a little more deliberate in walking heel to toe. i too am interested to hear more about these new boots of yours

I don't really have experience with clomping issues, but maybe it's the same as I meant before - not a fluid heel to toe-motion which causes clomping? @mlroseplant No I haven't measured them, but I really have to do this! I'll let you know.

@Shyheels Clomping. Yes, I totally get that. I feel very much the same once I get beyond the 11 cm range, but it is something that is very difficult to qualify--what is causing this? I can look down at my legs, and see that my knees are not doing what I think they should be doing, kind of like I'm marching, but I feel powerless to stop it. I will do my best in the near future to try and narrow down the exact problem, as it sounds like we have the same complaint about our own performance. @higherheels Congratulations on your new purchase! I have had about a 75-80% success rate with online purchases actually fitting correctly, I'm glad that yours fit well. I'm curious, have you put a tape measure to the heels yet? How much do they exceed the Hot Chicks?

Yes, they could have altered shape slightly in the interim, or your feet grew accustomed to other heels, heights and styles. Hopefully you’ll settle in

I hope so. My clog situation this year is kind of strange. Due to some shoe failures that occurred last winter, every clog I have left save two pairs is effectively a 4 1/4 inch heel, which is pretty steep for things like snow and ice. It's not really the height that bothers me so much, it's the general fit. It seems like my toes don't automatic slide in to the correct position or something. It's very strange that I can't really explain it well. Perhaps you are right, and they just need some (re) break-in time. After all, I did ride them hard and put them up wet, and they have remained on the shelf for the last 7-8 months.

Yes I like their pumps a lot and they are a block away from Aldo. I mentioned Steve Madden mostly because of the shoes on the link, they are my current obsession, lol. So darn pretty and sexy

I would guess it’s just a matter of reacquainting yourself with them.

I might give that a try although in a narrowboat it’s a bit tricky. Given the length of the boat I can take anything up to 20 short steps each way. I think I am taking steps that are too short and clomping.

I love sweater dresses as a whole. My favorite dress of my wife's is one. You would have to know us, but we banter back and forth a lot and often make these silly bets. Well, we were at the local mall and eating at the food court and beside us was a small woman's boutique. Way up high they had this sweater and so it began. I said it was a sweaterdress, and the wife said it was way too short to be a dress and was just a long sweater. So after eating we asked the clerk and sure enough I was right, it was a sweaterdress. A good clerk, her next words were, "would you like to buy it?" Sure enough, one in her size went home with us. I actually see it in several pictures now. We buy and sell a lot of property and on one such purchase, we are pictured with her wearing it. She likes it because she can tame its truncated hemline with leggings for a demure look, or go sassy and leave it short pairing it with pantyhose/tights.

My advice is to take video of yourself. It may be painful to watch, but it will show you exactly what you're doing (or not doing). Your limitation is that you can only do a few steps at a time, but I think that even so, it might be rather enlightening. I have a difficult time believing that it's simply a matter of walking heel-to-toe, because unless you have ankles made out of elastic, it's impossible to walk any other way in 12 cm heels with straight knees.

Good luck to you, I have many pairs of Steve Madden, from traditional looking pumps to platform sandals. I have found them to be pretty good for what they are. Like every other affordable shoe manufacturer, they've gotten away from using leather like they used to. At least their synthetic pumps, of which I have quite a few, are actually decent.

I think you might be right. I shall work on that. I really, really want to master these!