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I had an interesting shoe wise day. I had 1.5 hours free in the afternoon today so I went to a large mall near work. First stop was the large Women's Macy's with a very large shoe department, saw nothing of real interest. Then over to an Aldo, nothing; then to the Steve Madden store. While I was looking over what they had, the manager told me he "could only last 3 hours at most in heels like yours." We chatted for a few minutes and I moved on. I looked at Norstrom's shoes, again nothing of interest. Walking back thru the mall, a young couple walk up to me and the guy said "i really like you heels." (I bet one day soon he will try a pair on.) Last stop was at Forever 21, I was looking for a small chain for a Halloween costume, but they didn't have it either. Exiting the store a young girl was filling out a job application, looked up and said "I just had to stop you and tell you how much I love your heels." Today I had a pair of Flexx straight leg jeans with over calf boots. So only a bit of the heel showed. It has been months since I had this much interest in my foot wear, especially in less than an hour and a half.

First off, I apologize for asking a question that I am sure has been discussed ad nauseum in specific threads or in response to other postings. My intention is simply to try and gather input from ALL male members of this forum, not just the half-dozen or so regulars whose responses, opinions, and discussions I have come to find very enlightening, highly value, respect, and admire. Allow me to ask the question and then explain why I am doing so. For those who wear heels into work, what is the highest heel height you have worn and if you do so on a regular/routine basis, what is the average heel height you wear? Lately, due to comments and opinions offered across many postings on this forum, as well as my recent public observations and interactions with others, I have been seriously rethinking my approach to wearing heels in public, all in a good way. I hold no doubt that my approach to wearing heels in public/to the office has been that of a very conservative style. By this, I felt heels should be no higher than 3” – 3.5” (~7.5cm – 9cm), no stilettos, and if worn with a skirt, the hemline should not be higher than just above the knee. Truth be told, all of this has started to “fall by the wayside” as my approach to wearing higher heels and shorter hemlines in public/at the office is radically transforming at an accelerated pace. I have been thinking of recent encounters I have had with women wearing either over-the-knee or tall stiletto boots with short hemlines of their skirt or dress. I was recently at Logan Airport (Boston) and observed a “middle-aged” woman who was “rockin’ out” a shorter (just above the knee) black leather pencil skirt but yet, it seemed appropriate for an office environment. As I strolled through Boston along the “Freedom Trail” I observed many women wearing at or above the knee boots with shorter skirts. This made me realize I am so very removed from any sense of contemporary fashion where I reside and I truly have no concept as to current heel/boot fashion or trends. Thus, that which I once thought was “taboo” in terms of office attire is completely misplaced because I do not know what is being worn elsewhere. A frequent contributor to this forum previously noted that he possessed more shoes/boots than he could possibly wear. This led me to consider my own wardrobe which, in turn, made me consider the question of, if I have heels that are “too high” to be comfortably worn out in public, why, then, do I even have them? I am no longer content in having “only at home” heels and have considered the question of, if I have heels that I realistically will not wear out-and-about for whatever reason, then why have them at all? As a result, I have currently "sidelined" a few pairs until I can figure out what to do with them. I am currently considering purchasing a pair of 9.5m/3.75” heeled leather boots and in time, a pair of thigh-high leather boots with a 2.5” heel. I have concluded that if each of these pairs of boots are worn “correctly,” then what would prevent me from wearing them in to the office, or even grocery shopping? I realize such may be subject to employer policy/restrictions, but if there is no expressly worded prohibition of heel height or hemline (within reason) then why in the heck not do it? Yes, I realize that if I am comfortable doing so, then that is all that matters, but again, provided that it is all within employer attire policy. Some of what I have observed about what others believe is appropriate office attire, such as distressed jeans with more missing material than actual material holding them together, leaves me shaking my head in disbelief. I do not know if I will ever be comfortable wearing stilettos of any height out-and-about as I think the heel would eventually break, but as I have 4” wedge heel boots, why should I rock those out with a leather skirt somewhere? I think much of this transformation is the direct result of no longer giving a d*** who sees me wearing heels/boots/skirt and what s/he may think of it. I think it is fair to state that if I feel comfortable in what I am wearing, them I have no problem in having others see me doing so. Truthfully, my head is now spinning!

This outfit seemed to call for boots.

I have come to start embracing this approach. My job is a "hybrid" meaning that I can work from either home or at the office as need dictates. Right now, I do a 2-3 schedule in that I am at home on Mondays & Fridays, and at the office Tuesdays - Thursday. I find that at home, I am more inclined to "throw on whatever" and go with it rather than take any time to put together a nice outfit - it's all done in laziness. My wife has long been a proponent of the "dress for work," even at home" because it does much to promote a professional mindset. She has, understandably complained about those who show up to video meetings in bathrobes. I could not agree with you more - live up to your footwear is my approach to every outfit I put together. That which I wear MUST coordinate with my footwear or else it just will not work for me.

As we all know, there is a “first time” for all events in life that are certainly worth remembering for one reason or another. Over this past Halloween, I had one such event that covered two firsts for me – traveling in heels and being “out and about” in heels with my wife, both of which were delightful. This is just a short recap of both as I believe that they are worth celebrating and/or remembering. On the day before Halloween, I was to meet my wife in Boston for a long weekend to celebrate our wedding anniversary and tour a city that, despite our worldly travels over the years, we had not yet visited. I was to depart from St. Louis while she was to depart from Amsterdam and we would meet each other at Logan Airport in Boston. For this leg of the journey, I sported a simple Anne Klein - 3” heel, black ankle boot. Admittedly, I was feeling a few nerves as I entered the terminal as I reasoned that this was the most crowded place to date in which I wore heels. Regardless, all went smoothly from entry to departure. As the flight neared Boston, I noticed that I was starting to become a bit anxious because of the fact that when my wife would actually see me, it would be the first time she would do so in “real-life,” not just from a picture. Thus, I was unsure if her reaction would be different or not. Nonetheless, we were happy to be reunited and headed to our hotel. There, I eventually changed into jeans and my trainers as we headed out to dinner. The next day (Halloween) we spent walking parts of Boston’s 2.5 mile long Freedom Trail and I am glad I did so in my trainers! For the evening, we headed to Salem, Massachusetts (site of the infamous witch trials in the late 17th century) but as we were heading there via public transportation, we both decided to start the trek in our trainers and change footwear while en route. I had selected my 4” Giaro, pointed-toe, black wedge boots as the choice for the event. Just before arrival at the town's train station, I switched footwear and then we headed out to join the festive environment that it was (think Mardi Gras). After our celebratory dinner, we strolled the town’s streets and as we stopped to speak with a local craft vender, a young Asian woman noticed me. Although I do not remember her specific words, they were along the lines of “You’re a fashion icon” and insisted that I pose for a picture with her. Not a problem as I am always happy to do so. About an hour later, however, the boots had to come off not because of my feet hurting but due to the fact that my thighs and calves were aching from the afternoon walk around Boston and walking in heels was not doing them any favors. Friday did not see me in boots/heels at all and Saturday, I was wearing flat heeled, black microfiber just over-the-knee boots as we visited a friend for dinner outside of Boston. As Saturday’s boots were flat, I will not go into details of those, although the outfit was rather attractive! Sunday morning saw us visiting one last historical sight and a final shopping excursion before heading to the airport for our flight to St. Louis. The plan was to spend the morning activities in my trainers and then switch into a pair of Naturalizer, black leather, 2.5” knee high boots for the trip back to my part of the world. Unfortunately, we arrived back at our hotel later that expected and due to some “issues” of another pushy tour group, departed for the airport a bit later than we hoped. So, once we arrived at Logan Airport, I quickly changed into my boots and made our way to the gate. The “problem” with the boots I was wearing was that this was their initial outing and they were rather tight, especially the left foot. I have a great leather softening spray I use (purchased on Amazon) to help with the breaking in process but as I left this back at my place, I just had to deal with it. I decided to see if walking around the airport would help loosen them up a bit, so I took a stroll around to other gates and as I did so, a young woman with body piercing just about everywhere possible commented that my outfit was “sensational!” I profusely thanked her for comments and headed back towards my departure gate, taking the long way back so that I could “strut my stuff” and everyone in the terminal could see me – boy did that feel great! Overall, the new boots were not “too” bad but by the time I actually was enroute back to my place, the left boot had to come off as it was very much pushing against my swollen foot. As I write this, I have sprayed the boot with the leather softener and I am wearing it with multiple pairs of thick socks to help stretch it out a bit. At St. Louis - In Salem (MA - no "real" witches found!) At Logan (Boston) Airport

I have two things to report. Number One, I talked with a college friend of mine and told her that I was wearing my giant Prada mules for my morning constitutional on account of the fact that it was raining. I know I shouldn't abuse such expensive shoes in this way, but hey, they keep my feet out of the puddles. I didn't pay anywhere near the grand that this brand normally goes for brand new. For one thing, they're slightly damaged, and that was before I started using them for rain shoes. This particular friend is not in my true inner circle, so she said the usual "I want to see pictures, or it didn't happen." Number Two, the other picture you see here is my church OOTW. I got my new pants to go with my new shoes. This is one of the few times, maybe the ONLY time I've ever worn the same pair of shoes to church two weeks in a row. To refresh present recollection, they are Steve Madden Daisie pumps in mauve. They're just a tad under 4 1/2", which puts them more in the 11 cm range, but hey, I can walk in them!

Which reminds me that Whitby (on coast of North Yorkshire, for those unfamiliar) is known for its 'Goth' atmosphere, mainly due to the Dracula legend. And there are Goth weekend events on 1 - 3 November, doubtless following-in from Halloween. Even when these events are not on, Whitby is a popular place for people in Goth clothing, which will surely include some extreme heeled footwear, with long points, buckles etc.

Here I am with another church OOTW. The only notable thing here is my new shoes is the color, which I cannot define. The camera actually captured the color fairly accurately, it's a sort of purple, but it's not really purple. Anyway, like most of my Steve Madden pumps, I can wear these things just fine. They're not really all that high, coming in at 4 3/8 inches.

I bought yet another pair of Steve Madden pumps, model Daisie. I bought them because they were purple. Only once I got them, they were only purple-ish. I don't know what color you would call this, but I wore them for the first time today, with pink and salmon attire. I don't really have anything purple to wear with these shoes. As you can see from the picture, they are tall, but not super tall, coming in at 4 3/8". The heels are super skinny, though.

Earlier today I had an encounter with a woman in heeled boots that was so unexpected and amazing that I felt the need to regale all members of such. So, if you are interested in reading about it, then continue on but if not….well, too bad. Today was the quintessential autumn day in central Illinois as the high temperature was ever so slightly above normal. It was brilliantly sunny with not a single cloud in the sky and at this latitude, it is the peak of Autumn colors. Given such, it was not a day to spend indoors in any capacity and it was my desire to be outdoors that led to an inspiring encounter that will be long remembered. The dialog of the conversation is presented as the best as I remember it. After completing a few errands in the morning, I returned home to drop off my purchases and have a light lunch. The day was simply too beautiful not to enjoy the autumn colors and thus, I decided to head to the Lincoln Memorial Gardens located on the east side of town. The Memorial Gardens is a 125 acre large nature preserve and probably the best place to stroll along marked trails on this marvelous day; the entrance is about a 20 minute drive from residence. En route, I came upon a non-descript intersection controlled by a traffic light and as I had the green, I approached without much caution. There is a small petrol station on the northeast corner of such and as I neared it, I could not believe what I observed – a woman wearing five-inch, black stiletto knee high boots stepping out of her vehicle. As soon as I saw her, I thought to myself, “Did I just see that?!” I immediately turned into the gas station and pulled my car to the pump behind and on the other side of her car. I could easily see that yes, she WAS wearing the boots I thought she was wearing! Although I could have used a bit of petrol, I was not going to purchase it there as the station only offered the lowest octane regular or diesel. Sorry, but neither one of those are going to work for me. Upon stepping out of my car, I reached for the window washing brush and cleaned up the rear window (it was actually rather dirty) and then grabbed a few paper towels the clean the edges and wipe away the streaking. As I went to place the paper towels in the trash, I cautiously approached her. “Excuse me, ma’am” I stated. She looked at me and then I said, “Those are killer boots!” A bright smile came across her face and she responded, “Oh, Thank you!!” I then professed that her boots were those which I would love to have in my closet. As she seemed to be delighted with the compliments, I asked her about the brand she was wearing. She leaned against her car and raised her left foot so that the sole and heel were facing upwards. I could see that the boots fit her calves like a glove. “I don’t remember where I got them…Oh, they’re Nine West. So it’s a decent brand” she stated. “Yes, Nine West has great designs – I have a few pairs in my wardrobe” I replied. “I do not mean to be forward” I continued, “but you look sensational! Are you attending an event?" I asked. The woman, probably in her mid-40s, and an “average” physique, was wearing a black dress with a hemline that hit about mid thigh, with a slightly below the waist length black jacket. She had long, straight brunette hair coming to about her mid-back, and a tongue, nose, and just below the lower lip piercings. Based on her appearance, I though she may be heading to a Halloween party. Her outfit is hardly that worn around my part of the world. “I just left a funeral” she replied. Talk about awkward – complimenting a woman on what she is wearing to a funeral… “Oh, I am sorry to hear that” was the best I could do. “Regardless, your outfit is stunning” I said. “I don’t mean to be rude by complimenting you, but your outfit is incredible!” I continued. I do not remember her exact response, but she mentioned that she loved the compliments and never tires of hearing such when directed her way. Not wanting to make her feel that I was wanting to do more than simply express my appreciation for what she was wearing, I started moving back towards my car. “Have a wonderful afternoon” I said. “Thank you darling! You’re beautiful!” she said as got back into my vehicle. From there, I left the premises with someone needing to pour cold water on me! As I drove to my destination, my mind was racing. Wearing five inch stiletto boots in a funeral? That is extreme confidence in my eyes and has so inspired me to step up “my game.” During my lovely stroll around the Gardens, I made a vow to do something that I have wanted to do for years. I will reveal such, however, when it comes to fruition. The picture of the boots were not the exact model she was wearing, but were fairly close. When I should pass away, I want those in attendance at my funeral to wear the same outfit.

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!

It is purely coincidental that we should be discussing heels breaking away/off the sole when a year and one day ago, one of the most publicized heel failures in recent memory occurred when one of the Taylor Swift's Louboutins gave out during a concert in Rio. IIRC (I'm not a "Swiftee" by any stretch of the imagination!) she pulled the heel off of the sole and tossed it into the crowd. I am sure her Louboutins cost her well into the five figures which goes to show that price is no guarantee against heel failures. You would think that if one should spend such money on heels/boots, especially Louboutins, heel breakage would not happen. But as pointed out, price is no assurance against product failure - even Ferraris breakdown.

Got a couple of pictures this week. One is the church OOTW, featuring a gray color palette, which may be an oxymoron. The second is Casual Saturday, when I decided to wear my new boots, which are rather on the chunky side.

As I’ve mentioned before I think I must be the only person living on the canals who owns a pair (three pair in my case) of stilettos. I saw a thread on a canal boat forum listing things boaters never own. Top of the list? Stilettos. And a chorus of snorting joking agreements followed. To be sure only an idiot would try working the locks or doing any of the physical work of moving a boat down the canal in stilettos or any sort of high heel, and they wouldn’t be practical on muddy towpaths. And there is not much room for extraneous possessions on a narrowboat. So I may we’ll be unique. at least a couple of boaters now know I wear stilettos, as I was wearing my OTK black suede stiletto boots this morning while writing. I looked out just before dawn and noticed the light was beautiful so I grabbed my camera and went out on the bow - while I was shooting several went past walking their dogs. I could tell that a couple of them noticed, but nobody said anything. People here may not own stilettos but they are a bohemian lot - were all a bit odd and that’s more or less understood

I, like CAT, do not have the opportunity to wear heels at work, as it would not be advisable or even desirable. However, just for the record, there was a time when I thought I would never wear stilettos, either. I'm going to make a prediction that it will only be a matter of time before you're comfortable with stilettos.

I wear heels to work almost everyday (maybe not once a year). I like 3.5 to 4.25 inch rise for my hip. I had a pair of lace up Sodas today with a 4.3 inch heel and .7 inch platform. I don't wear skirts (except at Halloween) but I do wear stilettos, both in booties and knee highs form. But then I might also wear my pleather pants with knee high boots (like I did to a busness party this pass weekend).

I have no ability to wear heels or the clothes I want to work,,,,, I am in construction. I will tell you that for almost 13 years I have been wearing heels out, now I wear complete outfits that I put together. I traveled again to and from Tampa and wore LULU skirts, shirts and jackets with gym shoes to run around and a dress with heels and skirt outfits with heels for going out and traveling. In fact, I did not pack 1 piece of men's clothing for the trip. It was a perfect get away!

I am convinced that I am probably the only narrowboat dweller who even owns a pair of heels - no big surprise I suppose given how life is lived along the canals, the easy bohemian style of most boaters, and how little space there is aboard a narrowboat for anything non essential. My boot collection takes up an inordinate amount of space. I wear heels all the time indoors but walking along towpaths is an impossibility and wearing heels around locks would be dangerous in the extreme. I am known though for always wearing nice knee boots - low heels - everywhere so that’s something. I’m the only one though

I totally agree with you, at about 12 cm, it's the classic look. Higher than that, it so much depends upon the design of the heel. There are some 15 cm heels that I absolutely adore, and there are others that look just plain odd, and I am unable to qualify exactly what makes something "odd." Unfortunately, I can't walk in any of them. I think a reasonable goal is to be able to walk in the 12 cm someday. And by 12 cm, what I mean is probably about 13 cm in my size.

Couple of things to report on the young women's fashion front. Number One, when asked (or ordered) to dress up, high school girls still often wear heels. They may not be to my exact liking, but they're better than the alternative. I witnessed this when I went to drop off my son for his All State Band audition. Number Two, which is related to Number One, our neighbor down the street just posted her daughter's senior photos on social media. Nothing really remarkable about them except for one thing: Her choice of footwear. I haven't seen anything like this on a teenager in at least ten years. I cropped out most of the picture for privacy and discretion reasons. To tell you the truth, until this social media post, I didn't know my neighbor had a senior in high school. Unlike my kid, all of her kids are very standoffish with adults. I only know the twins that are in my son's class (sophomore). This, of course, begs the question, "Are these for real, or just for a photo shoot?" The answer to which I will probably never know, and really don't care.

Right which makes the he manager a heels wearer if he knows he'd only last 3 hrs. I wouldn't have resisted the temptation to discuss why only 3 hrs with him. Running into fellow male heel wearers while wearing your own is uncommon, putting it mildly, even if at that moment he wasn't wearing heels. Great day, I get multiple good comments days from time to time and it is fun

Sounds like you’re getting some very positive feedback. I did have one question - and it may just be a matter of a typo. You wrote that while st Steve Madden the manager said HE could manage only three hours in heels like yours. Is that correct? If so that’s kind of intriguing

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

Ever since I got my scooter, I decided I needed some sh*tkicker motorcycle boots. I got these Steve Madden Laurie boots last summer that fit the bill. In fact, perhaps they fit the bill a little too much. I bought these on Poshmark for $25, and you know how sometimes things look different when you see them in person. It's my own fault, of course, for failing to notice that these boots sport HUGE, HONKING TWO INCH THICK HEELS! I mean, I do have some chunky heels in my collection, but these take the cake by quite a bit. I think the heels on my second chunkiest pair are a mere 1 1/4" wide. I did not wear these boots on my motorbike trip last summer because I received them only one week before the trip, and as y'all know, that would be just plain foolishness to wear them on a long trip, unvetted. I did not really get around to vetting them until a few days ago. Specs on the boots are: 4 3/8 inch heel height, 2 inch heel width, 3/4 inch platform. Here's where the math lies a bit: The math says that the boots are 3 5/8" effective heel height. The first time I wore them, I thought, "These feel quite a bit higher than 3 5/8. More like 4." Upon closer investigation, they are more like 4 inches because of the way the footbed is designed. At the front, the footbed is pretty much even with the top of the platform. In other words, there is no hidden platform at all. At the back, the inner footbed is substantially higher than the top of the heel. Almost like there's a little mini lift in an already high heeled shoe. Weird. Mystery solved. They really are 4 inch heels. Before last week, I had worn them a couple of times to ride, but hadn't really done any substantial walking in them. I found them to be rather on the tight side, so I thought that I needed to actually do some walking in them, just so I know what I have. What I found was rather surprising. I took a route such that if something was badly wrong, I could cut the walk short without having to struggle too much. What actually happened was that I wound up walking a full 2.2 miles in full comfort. It seems the boots had already stretched out quite a little bit withing the 2 miles. The other surprising thing is that they don't feel all that clunky when walking, as many shoes with giant heels do. They are almost graceful. Almost. I figured I'd look and feel like Frankenstein's monster, but I did not. Hopefully, they hold together for a while. I have found that tough-looking, clunky shoes often fall apart quickly. 'Cause you know that super big heel is nothing but a thin plastic shell. We'll see.

I think my fear of breaking off a heel, especially for a stiletto, has been the greatest concern that "prevents" me from wearing them. I understand that it is the quality, and thus, strength of the shank and not necessarily how well the actual heel is attached to the shoe that may result in breakage. One of the "issues" I have noticed about stilettos is that of what I call "heel flex." I have and had stiletto heels in which, when the bottom of heel makes contact with the ground, it firmly sticks in place but as the foot bed comes in contact with the ground, there is a slight bend of the sole, pushing the top of the heel slightly backwards while the bottom does not move. When the foot is rolled on to the ball of the foot, the heel "flexes" backwards. My concern that the repeated flexing/bending, ever so slight, will eventually lead to a fatigue failure and the heel becoming detached from the sole. This flexing/bending, however, is not limited to stilettos as I have noticed it happening to other heels, even block heels. I am not sure if this is "normal" or is a reflection of the quality of construction of the shoe/boot. I have learned that heel breakage is not limited to stilettos or other taller height heels. Some time ago, I was shopping at a larger retail store while wearing a pair of "flat - heeled" riding boots. Shortly after I entered the store, I noticed that the 1" heel on the right boot was making a strange sound. As I looked at the right heel, I noticed that it was barely attached to the sole as the glue holding it in place was minimally applied. I removed it, placed it in my pocket, and hobbled around the store quite embarrassed by the situation. When I returned to my car, the boots came off and I tossed them into the back seat. When I actually returned to my residence, I noticed that the left heel was starting to come loose from its sole and what followed was a sting of profanity that, last I checked, is still hanging above Springfield, Illinois, and has been known to cause some degree of turbulence for air traffic in the area. What made this situation infuriating is that the boots were a designer brand from which this type of nonsense should not be expected. I glued both heels back to the sole and sank three small screws into each heel to help secure them in place; I had no issues with the heels when I last wore them. The point to this is, what has been echoed in previous replies, materials used and craftsmanship of the product may be the ultimate factor when/if a heel should become detached from its sole, is right on point.

Having myself often been crew on a UK narrowboat, I would consider that a cowboy boot or similar with a heel that can 'dig in' a little would often be an advantage when working lock gates. It can be difficult to get a grip on the ground when literally putting one's back into moving a gate beam and (as cowboys found when roping steers etc), a boot with a heel gives a better anchor. I agree however that 'high' heels would be a hazard in most other canal pursuits.

That was/is exactly my plan, should the opportunity ever arise. Obviously, this plan does not work very well if I'm wearing work boots. But who knows? I've been around for 12+ years.* She may already know who I am. Many of the bank tellers there do. *As a heel wearer. I hate to think about how long I've actually lived in this town. More than quadruple that number.

I have definitely created a two-tiered system with my shoes. First class is for walking, and second class is for showing. Actually, that should probably be the other way around, as I wouldn't wear most of my walking shoes in any but the most casual situations. What this mean is that 80% of my collection is worn very little, and I should probably be more ruthless about getting rid of pairs I haven't worn for a couple of years. Most of the time, but not all, the trouble is caused by a combination of leather upper with a man made lining. That combination does not seem to age well when exposed to oxygen. My all leather shoes do not seem to have this problem, and my plastic shoes seem to have it less. Sandals seem to suffer worse than fully enclosed shoes. Maybe this is a false perception on my part, as once this problem starts happening on a sandal, you might as well throw that pair away, because the flaking is usually quite visible as they're being worn, whereas with a fully enclosed shoe, such as a pump, you can't really tell until the shoes are removed. The latest example of this was when I wore my red Steve Madden open toed mules to church a few weeks ago, and by the time I came home, I noticed I had red flakes all over my toes. Not a good look, and there is nothing to be done about it. They're just gone. I used to have a rule that if I couldn't walk at least two miles in reasonable comfort, I didn't keep the shoes. Nowadays, I do not maintain any such hard and fast rule. I think that I probably could walk two miles in a lot of my "dress" shoes, but I don't want to for a number of reasons.

She sounds like an interesting and dedicated wearer of high heels. If you were wearing heels yourself you could probably get away with a reference - perhaps something along the lines of how nice it is to see another person in heels these days, thereby making the conversation about society and fashion trends at large rather than an observation about her personally.

As a freelance who works from home I can dress as I please - and could if I wanted to sit around all day in my pyjamas, as a lot if people did during the pandemic. I always try to make an effort if for no other reason than to remind myself I am at work, and so create an at work vibe. I have found that wearing heels is really helpful in this regard. It’s like the foundation. You feel you need to live up to your footwear - at least in a smart casual sense. I have my faucet dress code as it were - nothing flashy at all, just nice heels, jeans, shirt or jumper.

That’s a nice height range. Like you I am more interested in overall style than a numbers game. I tend to wear chunky heeled boots in the 3 to 3.5” range but I have three pair of stilettos - two 10cm and one 12cm - whose styling I like very much. I love the lines on the 12cm one. I think that is optimum stiletto - any higher and to my eyes they start looking hunched up, too much about the heel and losing touch with elegance.

Heel height used to be a focal point for me in female shoes in my early days of heel wearing. In recent years its become more focal on style, with height becomming less considered. Having said that all my shoes range between 4" & 5" heel height (which is still high for size 5uk feet :). I have a combination of stilletto, slim block, and block heels and boots in my collection all within the 4-5" height range, but thats what im most comfortable in, and feel more naturalised in when walking

Just spent the weekend in York - no shortage of heels at all! Plenty of high-heeled knee boots, blocky heels rather than stilettos. On the cobbled and irregularly paved mediaeval streets stilettos would be a singularly bad idea. But plenty of heels, and almost all of them on knee boots.

Great story. I can't recall an encounter like that yet for me.

I have to admit to having done that in my life--that is, stop at a gas station when I didn't need gas just to check out someone's shoes. However, I have never engaged anybody without some other intervening factor. I think the subject's age would be a big factor also. Mid 40s, not a problem. Hey Nineteen, Big Problem. Hey Nineteen is probably not going to be wearing decent shoes anyway.

I have finally reached the point where I go out of my way to compliment another person that I see wearing great boots. A few years back, I was having a drink in a bar watching folks go by on the sidewalk. Suddenly I saw a tall young fellow strolling by with his friends wearing some nice tall heeled ankle boots. I decided to step outside quickly to compliment him. Like I said, the fellow was tall so his stride was much greater than mine, really had to book it if I had any hope of catching up to him. I turned the corner on the next block to find him waiting in line to another bar. I stopped briefly to compliment him. Being older, I am very aware of my possible "creep factor", so want to avoid that with young people. The young man thanked me and I moved on. Even though the encounter was brief, I was happy I made the effort.

Can someone helpme find these heels.

Speaking of for real, there is yet more evidence that the lady at the bank is for real. I went in there again (of course in work clothes), and she was there, wearing a different pair of heels than what I'd ever seen before. It would appear that not only is she a heel wearer on the regular, but she's also a shoe junkie. I have now seen her five times, and she's worn five different pairs of heels. What is also notable is that the styles I have seen her wear overlap with the styles I wear. This means that she must not be buying new shoes either, but rather keeping old ones or buying them used.

Yes, your eyesight is correct, it was a HE. That' part of what makes this a little different. It was a male manager and it was a male in the couple that made the remarks.

Only a couple of pair of OTK boots surprisingly. Almost all knee boots, with 2-4” block heels. I saw a few pair of slender heels (not stiletto, but more like standard high heels) , also in knee boots. It was quite nice to see. It was half term week, and “Ghost week” in York so the town was quite full of tourists so it was not purely locals wearing heels. Judging by what I saw, I’d say heels - at least in winter boots - are far from dead

The further north one goes in the UK, the more heels are seen. And I would expect OTK boots to be popular in York as it tends to get flooded frequently!

Here are my latest. I got these in a thrift store for less than twenty dollars in mint condition. Gray ankle boots and the brand is Sam and Libby, and they really look great with the 3 buckle detailing on the side. These probably won't take long to get used as I already have an outfit planned for them.

Here are my new boots, Light brown suede leather

Probably to most likely...yes! I apologize as this post will either make me look indecisive or like a politician trying to backtrack on earlier comments. A few situations have occurred, however, that are worth exploring and has me reconsidering my previous positions on topics covered in this forum. I think it was in mid-July when I was at SLAM (St. Louis Art Museum) wondering one of the exhibition halls when I encountered a young woman wearing a black sweater, a midi length black and white patterned skirt, and a pair of black, 4" "funky" heeled boots. I casually approached her and as I always do, explained that I did not mean to be forward, rude, or aggressive, but simply wanted to let her know that her outfit was beautiful and as a boot lover, I greatly appreciated her wearing such high heeled boots, especially on a summer day in St. Louis. In short, she explained that the boots were Vince Camuto and were supremely comfortable to the point that she frequently wore them to her office. We spoke for a few minutes about wearing heels before heading in our separate directions. Next, a few weeks ago, I had to physically go to a branch of my bank to conduct some business that I could not complete online. I was dressed rather "mildly" in that I was wearing blue, just above the ankle jeans, blue vans, and some top - nothing fancy and rather casual. The banker with whom I met that Saturday was wearing an incredible outfit the likes of which have not left my mind. The woman was probably in her early 50's and had a very lean figure proportional to her height. Her outfit, however, was insanely gorgeous. She was wearing a black or very dark blue, long sleeve-mid thigh dress which buttoned all-the-way down the front. The sleeve cuffs, collar, the tops of the pockets on the mid chest area were white - it fit her like a glove. Her footwear was a pair of either creme or very light beige over-the-knee boots with a ~3" heel. When she asked me how she could be of assistance, I responded to the effect of that the first order of business was to make it known that her overall outfit was "stunning!" My actual banking business took no more than three minutes but as there were no other customers in the waiting area, we spoke for about 15 minutes about her boots, brands of footwear we like (e.g. Jessica SImpson, Steve Madden, and Vince Camuto) and where we shop. All the way home, some 90 miles, I could not stop thinking of that outfit. I had come to the conclusion that if she (and the woman from the first encounter at SLAM) could and do wear such beautiful outfits, why can't I do the same? Then, today on a much needed break following a horribly stupid morning, I read a short article about "appropropriate" heels for work/office. The writer (a woman) noted that, as has been mentioned here (ad nauseum, I am sure) what is appropriate footwear/heel height for a professional environment is truly up to the wearer of such to decide. She (the author) noted that, generally speaking, 3-3.5" is usually "the limit" of heel height for professional settings but again, the idea of what is "appropriate" may be a confluence of multiple factors such as personal tastes, company policy, etc. The writer seemingly cautioned against wearing heels higher than 3.5" because of issue of practicality, lack of grace when walking, and other similar concerns. All of this started me thinking about what heels do I actually wear to work and what heels do I WANT to wear to work. I have a few pairs of the "Taken" model boots from Giaro I purchased via Shoebidoo in Utrecht, Netherlands. They feature a 12.5cm/5" block heel and I have always wanted to wear them out somewhere. I have worn my black pair out once albeit to a drag show, so they really fit the mood of the event. Despite the tall heel, they are easy in which to walk and they give me a sensation unlike that of any of my other heels. I began thinking of ways I could possibly wear them out or to work. I have some concerns about wearing them to work only because my employer likes to write utterly ambiguous employee policy so that management has absolute discretion in enforcing as it sees fit. Likewise, as I have a knack for pointing out gaping holes in company policy, much to the chagrin of my bosses, wearing an item that even remotely approaches the realm of "inappropriate" will potentially cause problems for me. This is why I have yet to wear a mini-skirt to the office although I absolutely have the legs for it! Then I thought, what if a cover my boots? I have a pair of long, wide legs pants that are perfect and would only expose the very bottom of the heel and toe. I personally do not care if anyone sees them as the sensation of wearing something that tall is strictly for me. So, the question is, based on the photograph, would you do it? The photo with the skirt is just to show what the boots look like but the one with the black pants is an actual outfit I might wear. I have several pair of 4"+ boots/heels that I am now reconsidering wear to work when the bosses are not around, such as the friday before long/holiday weekends. I am really inspired by the banker with whom I spoke because until now, wearing over-the-knee boots in a professional seemed so taboo and verboten, especially if one was over 25 years old.

October Entry! Let's go boys! 2024 is nearing and end! 😁 Second October Entry! Outfit recently worn to the dentist!

Thank you ever so kindly! Thank you ever so kindly! I may not have the elegance of such wordsmiths as Ray Bradbury or the like, but I do enjoy writing essays when I get the chance. First off - a huge thank you to all who responded! Your comments, thoughts, and critiques are always greatly appreciated. It always seems to be the case that I wake long before my morning alarm and begin mulling the most important question of the day, "What the heck am I wearing to the office?" Most times that which I wear is largely dependent on how my feet feel - somedays certain shoes are just not going to work for me. So, when I find a pair that do, I will put together an outfit around those that will work. After I rolled my old bones out of my cozy bed this morning, I quickly checked to see if there were any responses to this thread. Upon reading those that had been posted and the encouragement within them, I decided that today was going to be the day I took my style of dress to a new level. I recently purchased a pair of beige-ish just-over-the-knee boots and decided the time to wear them out and about had come. I matched them with a khaki knee length skirt, brown sweater, halloween themed accessories, and off I went. Admittedly, I was a bit unsure of the outfit as the boots, in particular, were outside of my comfort zone in terms of what I usually wear to the office. After reading the first responses to this thread, however, I recognized that if those who commented on this topic can wear stilettos, OTK boots, etc. to work, so can I. As I got to the main entrance of my building, I held the door for a woman who has a bad knee and has trouble walking up the three stairs from the parking lot to the level of that entrance. "Good morning!" I said to her as I see her often and always hold the door for her, to which she replied, "Good Morning beautiful! Love those boots!" What a way to start the day! I told her that this was the first wearing of them so they were a bit tight around the toe box, which they were, but loosened up a bit by the end of the day. Over the course of the work day, many colleagues observed what I was wearing, even my "big boss." It was honestly a thrill to be seen in this outfit and a tremendous confidence builder. I was dancing on "Cloud 10" at the end of the day as my outfit had passed muster for being acceptable. Then again, compared to what others wear in my office on my days, I could waltz in in a bathrobe and still look more put together than many of them. I will admit that I felt incredibly alluring. I left the office today knowing that OTK boots and slightly above the knee skirts can be worn while still retaining a high degree of professionalism. It is my intent to push the boundaries just a bit to incorporate a bit of pizzazz into my outfits when I can. The heels and hemlines will be slightly higher, and clothes and accessories will have a bit more "spice" to them. All within reason of course. So, to those who have already been down this road, my sincerest thanks for setting out a trail for me and others to follow. It is my intent that when I am next in St. Louis, to go back to my bank and personally thank that banker for inspiring me to follow suit. Eye catching/head turning outfits can be professional. Thus, the answer is yes, I was wrong!

I do not know the exact date of when it occurred but it has been about a year since I first ventured out publicly in a pair of heels. As I reflect on that first instance and all that has happened since then, I needlessly can offer the following observations/realizations. First, I consider myself as “out” and the most difficult part of this journey has been just heading out in a pair of heels and telling my family and friends. For the most part, the responses have been supportive and encouraging, but my siblings have indicated that like any “shocking” news, it will take time to process. I believe that the hardest part of this experience is overcoming the fear of it and I realize that I was my worst enemy. By that, I mean I had dreamt up fears that never existed. In reality, no one has made a direct comment to me about my “en femme” attire but there have been some muttered under one’s breath comments, and strange looks and double takes. Now, however, as so many people have seen me in heels, I do not pay attention to whether or not others notice and what their reaction may be if they do. Truthfully, I do not care and in fact, I wonder if men (and women) look at me with a sense of jealousy. I’ve worked hard to trim down and have a figure worthy of showing off a bit. Second, what is most important to me is not only what I wear but how I wear it. Yes, I love a pair of towering heels with a short skirt but I do not need to wear those on a daily basis to feel good about myself. When I look at myself in the mirror before heading out somewhere, all that matters is that I love what I see, even if that is in a pair of kitten heels or in flats. To me, style, elegance, and sophistication come from knowing what to wear at the appropriate time. A pair of loafers can make an outfit as much as a five-inch heels. Third, excess is not needed. With regard to ‘Excess,’ I refer to having more heels (shoes & boots) than I would possibly wear. I, like probably all everyone (both male and female), have fallen in love with a pair of heels that I absolutely had to have only later have buyer’s remorse. I have had “too many” heels that I have only worn once because either they do not fit very well, are highly impractical, or I just do not have an appropriate place to wear them. I do, however, have several pair of heels of the same brand/model in different colors but if they fit will and are comfortable, then they are keepers. Fourth, simplicity is always best. A well-thought out and put together outfit says so much more than all else. Simple items and simple colors schemes will always be more appealing than items that carry a major designer's name. Finally, I love how I feel when I head out and I am in a pair of heels. The sound of the heel hitting the ground/pavement quickly followed by the footbed is delightful, and knowing that the sound is coming from shoes/boots that are on my feet is exhilarating. Walking past a person who can see my heels makes it intoxicating. The worst part of my day is when the heels have to come off for whatever reason. I can only speak for myself in saying that wearing heels is more than just putting “something” on my feet. Any outfit I wear, as a whole, projects confidence in the way I walk (as I walk straight up vs. slouching) and my movements. It goes beyond just how I walk, however, as I feel that I am more graceful in my movement and actions – I’ll now cross my legs and stand with my feet together vs. “man-spreading.” When I first ventured out in heels, I did so with almost all of the footwear covered as I did not want anyone to know. Now, I want to world to see what I am wearing and almost want to ask others if they see my heels. I was nervous during those first instances but now, have all the confidence in the world. It has been a journey but so one worth taking! The photo of me sitting is a recent favorite as I wore this to the dentist office a few weeks ago (teeth cleaning in style!) whereas that of me standing is that which I showed to others when I starting coming "out." Sadly, I do not have the skirt any longer as I slimmed out of it! And let me ask if anyone does/does not believe the black/gray outfit is appropriate for work.

A very simple, but true story. Attending a conference with my coworkers, I wanted to make a statement with my professional attire. I decided to wear my prized Christian Louboutin Hot Wave heels, the iconic peep-toe Hot Chick. Knowing the allure these shoes hold, I aimed to turn heads. As I sat in the lobby of the Marriott Marquis, I dangled my foot, arching it just right to create an enticing display. Many men glanced my way (dozens), but one in particular stood out. In a rush, he excitedly pointed at my shoes and exclaimed, “I have them too!” He quickly flashed his own red-bottom dress shoes, also by Louboutin, before tripping over himself and hurrying off. Later that evening, during the inevitable happy hour, I was still rocking my 130mm Hot Waves. Seated at the bar, enjoying a bourbon, I crossed my legs to showcase the heels. Off to the side, a man was staring intently, clearly captivated. I continued to flaunt the shoes, emphasizing the arch and silhouette of the 130mm heel. He was so distracted that he barely paid attention to his colleagues. Before leaving with his group, he approached me and said, “Nice Hot Chicks.” Though he got the name slightly wrong, it was clear he was enamored with the shoes. Unfortunately, it was a missed connection. I never saw him again and have no idea who he might be. Yet, with his evident interest in these rare heels, I suspect he frequents the same communities and forums as I do (HHPlace, Reddit, etc.).

As Shyheels suggests, boots are more durable. Maybe these would be a good compromise: On second thoughts ...