Leaderboard

Even small shoe and boot making companies struggle. I know the people at Jean Gaborit, a French custom boot maker, and while they make absolutely beautiful boots at quite decent prices given they are entirely custom made in their workshop in France, they struggle mightily in a world dominated by huge corporations churning out cheaply made stuff in China and the Far East. It’s not right.

I last wore a tie three or four years ago when I had lunch at The Ritz. It was obligatory. Men must wear coat and ties. No exceptions. I bought a tie for the occasion. The lunch was worth it. Before that it would have been decades since I wore a tie. I don’t remember any specific occasion. I still own my Ritz tie - it’s at the bottom of my sock drawer, still knotted. I wear shorts only when I’m cycling or to the gym and even then I prefer standard or ¾ length shorts, never short shorts. If I was ever to try a skirt, it would have to be along those same lines - a knee length pencil skirt or midi. I admit it’s tempting for the experience sake. As to feminisation, the femininity of my boots is certainly part of the appeal. Cowboy boots with heels (or without for that matter) do not appeal to me. I very much like the feminine styling of my boots. Whether it’s because it adds a touch of the forbidden, or is provocative, or I like the idea of stepping out of myself - I’m not really sure. Probably a mix of all these things and more. But it’s there. I like their femininity.

I understand fully what you are saying for sure. I do understand the outrageousness of fashion shows though, but only because there really needs to be a way for creators to just use their imagination. I mean look at the polar opposite of that... cars. Cars today, no matter the brand all look the same. A Honda CRV looks like a Toyota Rav4, etc. They all look the same because they all have to adhere to the same rigorous crash test designs. Because they are all must meet the same standard, they end up looking so much alike. They have too when the designers are making a car with the same crash test ratings, fuel mileage, range, emissions controls, etc. So if you take that away, and let anything go; sure 99 out of 100 times the design looks outrageously silly, but that one time a design might be new and different, actually works. Or... an element of the radical shoe design works whereas the other 80% of it doesn't. So I see fashion shows as a viable venue to get creativity out for the world to see without limits. My frustration is; I wish it was not dominated by big bucks. I firmly believe there are excellent Cordwainers and Cobblers doing it as a hobby making amazing high heeled shoes out there that are both unique yet wearable, but there is just no practical way to get their designs for people to see. Youtube and Social platforms help which was never an option 40 years ago, but I think high end designers get caught up in their own success and notoriety.

I don’t own a suit and can’t see myself ever owning one. I certainly would not wish to be buried in one. That would be so false. Like scumbag burglars wearing suits for their trial. It just wouldn’t ring true.

That is the worst thing about having a single suit. Don't get me wrong, every man should have a good fitting suit for just-in-case occasions, but if they only have one... well... every time you see it hanging in the closet you think, "that's what I'll be wearing in my coffin"! 🙂 I did see a guy yesterday wearing shorts. He kind of stood out. It was 3 degrees (F) with 30 mph winds in blowing snow! I am kind of over the top on matching colors with articles of clothing that I wear. I know this is a high heel site but a lot of times I wear a men's type of canvas shoe that is hard to describe, but there is a lot more color variation with them. That helps me because I almost always match my shoe color to my pants. So if I wear an olive green twill pants I will wear olive green shoes for instance. I am not judgmental of others because I do understand why they do not care, but at the same time I see a lot of men who do not color coordinate. Its not that I get upset at them or anything, but do know that just a few details like matching colors can make a guy look sharp... or not. I mean tan pants with an olive green shirt? Sure it technically works, but I don't think they realize they also look like a tree.

Hmmm…. Interesting. Skirt and jacket and tie? As long as you had the jacket and tie I think you’d be in with a chance. Winder how they would treat a well dressed Scot in a kilt? Although Scots don’t usually wear them except at weddings

I too have a very colorful wardrobe, and very short shortsl. I even have several warm and cousy fuzzy animal print sherpas and vests that women always want to come up and touch. I haven't worn a suit in over 15 years and can't remember the last time I wore a tie.

I don't worry about wearing any color of clothing or footwear. I wear pinks, purples, yellows and reds. You name it I wear it. I like wearing a lot of color. that's why I wear a lot of feminine styles as men's colors are too boring for me. Even my 97 year old father-in-law wears any color shirt with his suits but he doesn't wear heels. LOL Happy Heeling, bluejay