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I realize that I do not need to share the excruciating details of my everyday life on this forum, but I had an encounter this evening that made me wonder if, while out in a pair of heels, we do not notice others who may notice us? A bit of a backfill is needed. My employer mandates that all employees have to exhausted certain types of Acquired Benefit Time (i.e. personal days and/or vacation days) by the end of the calendar year or lose it. As Christmas and New Year's Day fall on Wednesdays this year, about 99% of the staff take extra days off throughout December. I am, unfortunately, that one percent that still has to make my way into the office. As we approached the end of 2024, my bosses began sending emails to their staff indicating on what days they would/would not be in the office over the last two weeks of December. Given that I was the only poor soul who was not taking any time off over the holidays, I decided to make the most of all others being away by designating the last two weeks of the year as "High-high heel days." I decided that I was going to wear those 4+" heels into the office with some outfit that, until very recently, I would never have otherwise considered doing so. I very much wanted to make sure that I was comfortable doing so now so that I could do so again in the future. This past Tuesday, for example, I wore an exquisite knee-length leather skirt with my 4.5" Jessica Simpson - Tulip (model) boots. Today I wore a delicious animal print, just above the knee skirt with 4" wedge boots and a black turtleneck. As a whole, the ensemble was quite haute couture if I do say so myself. After the end of the workday, I headed over to the local wine bar in town as the place has a Friday after work special. After sharing a drink with a friend and colleague from another department that is the monstrosity of my employer, I decided to engage in my favorite, least desirable activity - weekly grocery shopping. FWIW, my colleague raved about my outfit and I told that if she continued, she was going to make me blush, which was not that hard as I was already wearing a nice rose colored blush! As I made my way into the hair care products aisle, I encountered two younger aged women, who I would place in their early 20s. I took notice of one of them because she was wearing very casual, just over-the-knee, 2.5" block, black microfiber heel boots, with distressed jeans. I grabbed some hair conditioner and made my way to the end of the aisle where I encountered the two women. The woman wearing the boots then says to me words along the line of "I love your outfit - you look fabulous!!" "Oh, thank you ever so kindly!!" was my response, which is my standard response and I truly do mean it. The same woman told me that she loved the skirt and I find that making small talk when given a compliment has been received is a means by which to show sincere appreciation of such. I told the women that, in fact, I found it at the local second-hand store, and was amazed to find an item so cute and in my size. Seeing that it fit me so well, I "had" to buy it for the few dollars marked on the price tag. The woman continued to compliment my outfit and then told me that as soon as she noticed me turning into the aisle, she was "checkin' me out." I told her that I honestly did not notice her doing so and again, thanked them both for their kind and encouraging words before heading to the next aisle. In all, I would estimate that I was in the presence of the woman for ~15-20 seconds before she made any compliment to me. Needless to say, it is encounters such as this that I truly enjoy and reinforce my confidence. The fact that I did not notice the woman looking at my outfit made me wonder if, after a certain point of routinely being out in heels, do we drop our guard and not even realize it? Do/can "we" become so confident that over time, we no longer notice who notices us? I suppose one could argue that it is a defence mechanism for any of us to focus on what we are doing when out and about in a pair of heels so that we do not notice others reaction to our presence, if they actually should have one. There have been may posts on this forum regarding whether or not others actually notice "US" when were are out and about while wearing heels. I would venture a guess that the consensus is that no, many others do not notice us when we are wearing our heels and if they do, they care little about such. So, I have to ask if we become like "them" and after a while, take no notice of those who notice us? I can certainly say that I have reached the point where when I am out in heels, I do not notice what anyone's reactions may be as doing what I need to get done is the focus. Thus, if someone should notice me, my reaction is..."And?" The wedges were supremely comfortable but as I had been in them for 12 hours when I finally got home, although my feet and calves were not screaming "uncle" they were tired. I think @Tech will be awarding me "Best Dressed of 2024" any day now!

Well, I guess I feel that not as many folks notice our heels and boots are we once might have feared did notice! Again, I always notice footwear, so mistakenly made the assumption that most others do too. But, on the other hand, I feel that more folks notice than we are aware of. Most folks might notice but don't want to be rude or stare, and they are way too busy to deviate from their immediate missions while out and about. I might not notice folks checking out my boots intentionally, mainly because I want to give them the opportunity to look (hopefully admire) without "being caught looking/staring" by me. Generally, I can usually sense when someone is taking a second look though. For me, I know I am relaxed when out and about, when I almost forget I'm wearing boots.

Here we are at the end of another year. I wonder what 2025 will bring? I am not one to make New Year resolutions, but I have been thinking loosely about things I would like to accomplish in the coming year. For one thing, once the weather improves, there are some repairs/improvements I need to make to my house that I've already put off at least a year longer than I should have. Another goal that I've had in the back of my mind for a while is to make a "how to walk in high heels" video. There are two main reasons why I haven't made one yet: First, it's very unclear that I currently have the production resources to make the sort of video I would like. Second, I don't think I've mastered the art to the level where I feel I could instruct others competently. Part of the problem is that, even if I am doing everything what I would call "right," I still don't like the way I look, and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it, because I am physically bowlegged. I can try to compensate for it, but the fact is, my legs will never be long and straight. My knees can be physically touching, but my calves will always have a gap between them that is disproportionate to the rest of my legs. So, the video will probably never happen. The other high heeled goal, mentioned elsewhere, is what do I make my walking goal for next year? I did 350 miles this year, and I feel pretty good about that. It may seem silly to some to make an artificial athletic goal for something that is essentially an aesthetic fashion accessory, but I can tell you that if I simply walked in athletic shoes, I wouldn't walk nearly as much. I just like walking in heels. I am hesitant to up the ante and say that I'm going to do 400 miles next year, because so much of it is dependent upon my work situation, which is far from stable at the moment. I had planned 300 miles for this year, and the only reason I was able to make it to 350 is because for a good while my work schedule allowed me to go 1 - 1.5 miles every day before work. After a while, that adds up. To finish this post, here is last Sunday's church OOTW. I decided to go with a sort of monochromatic look, as I often do. I did not wear matching shoes because I just didn't feel like it. And besides, I hadn't worn these Coach Cammy pumps in a little while, and I was not feeling energetic. The Cammys are a mere 4 inches, and they are super light. As long as I remember to put a Bandaid or some tape on my right third toe (the right shoe rubs me there for some reason), they are all day shoes without thinking about it. I got a couple of compliments about my outfit, but nobody specifically mentioned the shoes. I guess there is no real reason to, as they are styled very conservatively. Happy New Year!

Oh I agree with you on that front! I love silence too and do not go around with earbuds stuck in my ears. I can never understand cyclists who have to listen to music when they ride - aside from the safety implications how nice it is to hear birdsong and the rustling in the hedgerows. On my boat I listen to birds each morning. I play music at a time of my choosing and when I’m don’t am happy to enjoy silence and my own company

Pretty much all music. There are a few songs I like, but very few. I guess my detest of it is because most of it is forced on me. Walmart Radio... Really? But in other stores, or in being in an elevator, or even putting gas in the car, there it is, some noise that someone somehow thinks I will like, or actually think I need as I stand there and pump a few gallons in? Really? What are people so scared of? The thoughts running through their heads? What is wrong with silence? Music Pollution is just so prolific that people do not realize how much they are subjected too. I just don't need it. Give me silence so I can think about the content of my novel. How I am going to renovate the upstairs bathroom. What I am going to post on a forum about high heels. I got better things to do with my mind then uselessly scroll over some words that someone else has created and other people have sung or played instruments too. Now that I have said this, you will realize it too. Music is EVERYWHERE and most of it is garbage we don't even like. More to the point, the next time you are in a place where music is forced on you, ask yourself, who would die if there was silence at this moment? What would it really hurt (and how much money in totality would it save) if music was not being played? We are inundated with music pollution.

Here are my thoughts on the question based on my own personal journey. When I first started my journey into high heels, "I" was definitely more aware of "them." I think it has to do with the fact that when I first started venturing out in heels, I was purposely aware of my surroundings. I wanted to see the onlookers and the people that were noticing my heels. And I was trying to get compliments on my outfit or the high heels I chose to wear that day. These days, "I" am definitely less aware of "them." And it is mostly due to a lack of trying like before. I still enjoy it when people notice what I'm wearing. And I still enjoy when I get compliments on my outfit or the high heels I'm wearing, but I'm just not specifically seeking them out like I use to.

My latest purchase, yesterday from DSW I got them at a great price. $18.65. There was a 50% off on all the clearance prices and I had a $10.00 reward. Happy Heeling, bluejay I've added better pic of my new booties: bluejay

I had a similar experience to Giege yesterday, while shopping at DSW shoe store. I was wearing a sweat shirt dress with a hemline above my knee, with winter white knee boots, when I encountered a woman maybe in her 40's who said that I looked great. I was also wearing leggings too. As always, I thanked her for the compliment. Upon check out, with two finds from the clearance rack, I told the cashier that I loved her mani, which was very appropriate for the Christmas season. Each one of her nails was done with a different Christmas decoration. I had to show her mine with the Christmas Tree on one pinkie and the candy cane on my other pinkie. She replied " I love them". Makes you feel great when you get those kind of compliments! Happy Heeling, bluejay

Do you dislike all music or just some types? It is certainly odd to dislike all music. I certainly don’t care for much that was written after 1985 or so, but before that my tastes are varied and eclectic - blues, jazz, rock, swing, musicals, classical, Charleston-era, ragtime etc… I must say though that hymns leave me rather glassy eyed. If I went to church at all I’d probably try to avoid any and all hymn singing …

I am not sure what to say here; certainly feeling sympathy and empathy for you on your feet and calf health issues, but also impressed with how you chose non-traditional ways of improving your situation for the best. It is inspiring to hear that high heels alleviated pain rather than hearing about so many people who claim to have been crippled by the wearing of them. I have not had the issues you have had of course, but once worked at a factory where we had to stand on concrete for 10 hours per day, 5 days a week in mandatory footwear where you could not fully lift your heel. EVERYONE suffered, but I got an acute case of placiar fasciitis. IT HURT. That is why I said I sympathize and empathize with you both. Not quite the situation you had I know, but do know debilitating foot pain. Thank you for setting me straight, and taking my question as I truly meant it. I love discussion where my views are challenged by well spoken people who can explain a differing view. What you and @Shyheels said makes perfect sense. The music analogy makes a lot of sense and was a great way to convey your thoughts. Not that it is the best for me. 🙂 One strange thing about my wife and I is that we both greatly dislike music. We even skip the first part of church so we are not subjected to that, or ever listen to it in the car, and never at home.

I had my monthly manicure today, I had 3 compliments in the first 2 hours afterwards. Now do I notice others noticing me? Yes; for example from this afternoon: I notice the woman at Costco whose eyes dove straight to my feet as we past each other (I have great peripheral vision). I may not notice every one, but I do see many double takes or stares when they occur in front of me. And for those that know me, I know many will look just to see what I am wearing that day.

And now for a different reason. After multiple ankles reconstructions, I finally determined it was the shoes that were a major cause of my problems. Simply put, my foot shape meant that I could never get a solid footing in men's shoes. I switched to women's shoes and have had an ankle issue since. Then I had a large tear in a calf. They should have operated on it, but they didn't. You must raise your heel to heal (it never comes back, but just calms down) the calf. Because of the metal that holds me together, I had to raise both heels. That instantly put me in high heels (at least 3.5 inch net difference). During that period, the pain in my hip greatly reduced and quickly returned when I tried to go back to flat ( < 4 cm) shoes. Since I have this dislike of pain, I wear high heels. And now I have fun with it, frequently during the colder months in knee high boots, including stilettos. Even though I have been in heels for at least 10 years, I frequently encounter challenging surfaces. It’s amazing how a slight slant is magnified in heels. Old asphalt, uneven tiles, wet tiles, … There are places and situations where I don’t wear high heels, but I try to limit those.

I’d like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. And a happy and prosperous new year!