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I’m mostly a lurker here anymore, but since I was one of the “first responders” to the original post (is the OP still around anymore?) I’ll comment. Similar to Cali’s experience, over 10 years ago, an ingrown toenail sent me to a podiatrist. The doctor, a woman, treated the problem, told me that I would likely loose the nail (happened), then examined my feet. She immediately advised, that due to rather severe “Morton’s toe”, that I should wear sandals or open toes as much as possible. She also advised that I start getting regular pedis, and told me that after the toe healed, a decent nail tech could fashion an artificial nail. Then she commented, almost casually, “and you can paint them. Men do that now, that’s a thing.” (In retrospect, I think she was a fan of the practice.) After a couple of visits to various “generic” everywhere nail places, I sought out a native English speaking nail tech. On about the third visit with her, my curiousity got the best of me and I asked her about men wearing color. Her response was an enthusiastic “Yes! Let’s do that!” So I tried color and was immediately hooked. Now, with the original tech moving away and then me not caring for the second tech, I’m on my third. This lady is friendly, kind, does great pedis including a foot/lower leg massage, and I’ve learned, is a VERY enthusiastic and outspoken proponent of men wearing color. We have sort of an unwritten color protocol. I kinda like changing up colors. So, during warmer months, I do wear openly, so I stick to blues, grays, occasionally black or dark red. This time of year I’m only wearing full shoes or boots out, so I generally give her “dealer’s choice”, and she comes up with a different color, or often a combo of colors, each time I see her. Right now I’m wearing a metallic fire-engine red with a small white heart for Valentine’s on one toe. For no particular reason, I just like the look and enjoy the treatments.

If I’m going to buy something, I just do it. I don’t try to cover my actions with any spurious conversation with the sales person. I just make the purchase and let them think whatever they please. its none of my business what they think.

Yes, the boots did look sloppy and indeed poorly made. Jean Gaborit makes thigh boots for men and they are far, far nicer I agree too that the boots did not suit the outfits with which they were paired. it just strikes me as a wasted opportunity.

There is nothing quite so painful as ingrown toenails for sure! Had them as a kid...Am now pretty careful about how I clip my nails, and force cotton under the edges of the nails if I feel them starting to dig into my toes...

That article was behind a paywall, but I found a short Reuters video of the fashion show. The boots appear to be very tall and very loose at the top, so that the tops of the boots flap against each other when you walk. The suits that went with them were slouchy and the models themselves were slouchy, keeping their hands in their pockets the entire time. Obviously they were told to do that, so nothing against the models themselves. Like you said, not really all that bad for a fashion show, but still just. . . WEIRD somehow. Can't quite put my finger on it. Here is the link to the Reuters video. https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idRW704229012025RP1/

We just had a rare earthquake earlier in the week. It was a 3.8, which was the 5th largest we have ever had. Sorry to hear about your termites though. That really sucks. We do not have termites here, or any poisonous snakes either, but as I type this it is snowing and -7 below zero (f) with high winds. Summers are nice here, it's just they only last from July 3rd to July 5th! 🙂

I saw this in the New York Times this morning - Yves Saint Laurent is showing off men’s thigh boots (not heeled) in their latest collection. The review - written by a guy - was what I would have expected: scoffing in tone, with references to “S&M dandies” and Robert Mapplethorp and an assertion that few, if any, people would actually wear them it was hard to tell from the images, but they did look a bit clompy but not absurdly so - not like some of the really weird stuff you see in catwalks. But it was dispiriting to see such a mocking review of what could have potentially opened up the idea of men in tall boots. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/29/style/saint-laurent-mens-wear-boots-paris.html

I currently have a under 1000 sq.ft. house that is held together by termites holding hands. BUT it's 4 blocks from the ocean. Since this is earthquake country, building codes are very important. If you ever saw a parking lot roll during an earthquake you would understand.

I have had both big toes operated on by podiatrists to fix my ingrown toenails. I’m missing my trapezium bone (destroyed 15+ years ago) so it is hard to do my own toenails. As a result, I have been getting pedicures ever since. After a few years, I got over ‘No Color” FEAR and now get whatever color I feel like (but no reds or pinks).I have had both big toes operated on by podiatrists to fix my ingrown toenails. I’m missing my trapezium bone (destroyed 15+ years ago) so it is hard to do my own toenails. As a result, I have been getting pedicures ever since. After a few years, I got over ‘No Color” FEAR and now get whatever color I feel like (but no reds or pinks).

So true, you really have to "own it". Most times, sales/counter personnel will offer a positive compliment. Appearing nervous, or trying to conceal items in the middle of a pile of other things, usually gets noticed.

This is something you have to get over. When you go to a shoe store and try on heels you have no choice.

Your post prompted me to go measure mine. They vary from 1.5” to 2 ⅜ “ and my slender, not quite stiletto heel, is ⅜ “

Well, I think we all deserve a little bit of credit for "influencing", even if it was just one person. I know that I have had a few conversations with guys while out and about, they complimented my boots, which meant a great deal to me. I can only hope that just one of these guys was able to develop the courage to explore his interest in wearing heels, and that seeing/talking with me helped push him in that direction.....

Zero offense taken and you are right, we do tend to be on the conservative side, but my wife's fear of the fashion police stems more from her mother (84 years old). She is a major influence in my wife's life and while that is normal to come extent, it is not always healthy. I have heard my MIL say over a dozen times, "My, your skirt is too short". Or "Your heels are way too high". If my wife gains any weight (my MIL is less than 100 pounds) she goes out and buys her diet pills. But it can be anything from the wrong color of her clothes, how tight it fits, to her choice of shoes... We were once at a restaurant and my MIL had just chided my wife on how her skirt length was too short and not thirty seconds later the waitress came over and said, "I love your outfit". That was nice to hear... So it is not so much me, or my wife, but constantly hearing it from her mother that makes my wife self-conscious and that is an influential person...

Likewise skinny jeans, which I favour as I like to wear my knee boots over my jeans. They too are controversial, especially in older males - these seem to be considered a women’s fashion, excusable in younger hipsters but off limits to older men (unless you’re Mick Jagger) I like skinny jeans and wear them as a matter of course, whether I’m wearing heels or hiking boots, and have long stopped noticing if I get funny looks for doing so - just as I’ve long stopped noticing if anyone notices that I’m wearing knee boots (which I nearly always am - heels or no)

I find it to be quite serendipitous that the topic of age and miniskirts should occur when today, I wore this delightfully cute outfit to the office. Whether or not the skirt would be considered a miniskirt or simply above-the-knee is a matter of debate and/or personal preference. I believe that there are two important considerations to wearing a miniskirt. The first is undoubtedly having the confidence to do so while the second is being able to style it for the settings in which is going to be worn. I am of the opinion that wearing a well-fitting miniskirt exudes a highly elevated sense of confidence and style. I understand that not everyone wants to wear a miniskirt for a variety of reasons. I do, however, strongly agree with some of the other opinions offered here that if one should feel good/comfortable/confident about doing so, then do it – age be damned! I have come to truly admire those individuals, regardless of age, gender, and whatever else, who are so confident in themselves that they will wear a miniskirt despite any conventional wisdom that says to the contrary. Please excuse my apparent brashness, but I believe that well a styled and fitting miniskirt is the epitome of confidence. Just a note/warning – this year I am upgrading some of my boots to higher heels and skirts with higher hemlines because they reflect the confidence I feel about myself in every aspect of my being. So, watch out! After I took the photo that is part of this post, I looked at it and feel is it a great example of exactly the point I am trying to make. I “know” that I “can” wear a skirt with the helm line hitting where it does and I am proud to do so even though yesterday was 54th half-birthday. I feel this way because of how I styled it (color and fit) and that I am supremely confident in myself to wear such an item. Perhaps it is a degree of a circular argument but wearing miniskirt and higher heels boosts my confidence. With such, I am more inclined to continue doing so because it builds my confidence. As my confidence increases, I will wear higher heels and shorter skirts. I have, in fact, recently started transitioning my skirts from being long and boring to shorter and a degree of flair to them. There is a time and place where a straight black, knee length skirt is best for the occasions, but I asked myself why not make that a leather pencil skirt? I do not know about anyone else, but when I finally retire, I fully plan on wearing a pair of five-inch heeled leather over-the-knee boots and a leather miniskirt (with some sort of top) to my retirement party. And I plan on looking Meryl Streep level fabulous, and yes, I will post pictures! What bothers me about this “debate” (not here, but by fashion “experts”) is that every such individual has his/her own opinion on the matter that is based solely on his/her own opinion. It is rather common to read of fashion advice that individuals over X age should not wear a miniskirt while others say, “if you’re comfortable doing so, do it.” As far as I am concerned, any advice about the appropriate age at which individuals should not wear a miniskirt is nonsense. I have miniskirts, knee-length skirts, and longer skirts that I find to be wonderful because they all express a sense of style - their length is unimportant. As has been said many times before on this forum, it is not so much what is worn, but more so, how it is worn. It should be well known that I am supremely disappointed as to what passes for acceptable attire nowadays. I so enjoy seeing old photographs of a time when going out anywhere meant presenting oneself at his/her best. I have seen old photographs of a crowd at a hockey game in the 1940s, and every man and woman is wearing a dress hat of some degree. One will never see that again! But I digress. Many years ago in these here United States of America, there was an advertisement (both on television and radio) for a more popular men’s chain clothing store. The advertisement ended with the owner of the store saying, “You’re going to love the way you look…I guarantee it.” That line has been such an inspiration to me as if I love the way I look when wearing a miniskirt, heels, or whatever, then gosh darn it, I am going to do so. When I exit my residence in the morning to head out to my car and off to the office, I see my reflection in the glass of the front door of the residents living across the way from me (I live in an apartment complex). It was so gratifying to see my reflection of wearing today’s skirt and with the sounds of my heels hitting the pavement as I headed out to my car. It is not just one day, but every day I see this that makes leaving my residence so worthwhile. Remember, it never goes out of style to have style! Today's outfit - Skirt by LC - Lauren Conrad; heels - NineWest. I must offer my most polite and respectful disagreement with some of what you have wrote here as well as my apologies if I misunderstand your point. It sounds to me that your wife has a very flattering figure and is completely comfortable with such as any sweater dress, regardless of length and/or style will easily accent the slight flaw of one’s bodily shape. Wearing a sweater dress, let alone a shorter one, to many events, especially a religious service, can been viewed as a bold decision (but one I would support). Generally speaking, attire for such is much more conservative, so kudos to your wife for doing so! The question is, however, if she can wear a short dress/skirt now, why should she stop doing so at 50? I think anyone who lets age dictate what they “should” or “should not” wear is blinded by a strict adherence to conventional wisdom. 50 is too old to wear a miniskirt or high heels? White should not be worn after Labor Day? Well, says who? I believe that wearing a mini-skirt after 50 (or even 60) gives a middle finger to “traditional” and perhaps “conservative” thinking, which so rightfully should be done.