Leaderboard

Hi all, After a long time of meaning to post but never executing, I thought I'd just start a new threat to document my adventures in heels. Nothing complicated, so dont expect wonders, but just sharing pictures and this and that. Our neighborhood is pretty progressive, and over the years, they've gotten to know me in heels. This past week, we had some cooler weather at first, so my wife and I were at the local brewery in booties: That said, boot season is pretty much over in this part of Texas, and towards the middle of the week it was already sandals weather again, so we wore these beauties from Jessica Simpson. Clearly, I need to work on a better angle, but I don't like making a scene taking pictures, so under the table / bar snapshots are mostly what happens... Case in point, this was yesterday's choice.

Having a backup pair of shoes is probably not a bad idea. I did this for years, and what I discovered is that I went to the backup shoes exactly once, and that was when a sole completely detached from one of my main pair of shoes. The backups, however, were never flats but rather lowish mid heels that I know will never bite me back. My test used to be could I work a farmer's market in a give pair of shoes, a venue in which I was required to stand pretty much continuously for five hours, and that's pretty much the maximum that I'm in heels at one shot these days. If I'm in any sort of pain, it will almost always be because of pinched toes, not because of the high heel position. That pretty much only happens with pumps, which I have to wear pretty tight, or I'll walk right out of them. I always wondered how women can slip their shoes off easily and yet still walk normally. That doesn't happen for me. The real secret to my success is how much I walk in heels. Almost every morning, I'm out there pounding the pavement in heels. I feel it really makes a difference. Standing in one spot is much harder than walking in heels (and I would argue in any sort of shoe), but walking gains you a lot of endurance as well as a sense of fluidity and grace if you give it long enough, and do it purposefully enough. Besides that, it's fun! To actually address the original question, I do not believe it's possible to "work through the pain" and gain much endurance doing incidental activities. Therefore, I don't hold it against anybody if they want to bring a pair of backup shoes just in case.

I didn't realise that 'white spirit' was not recognised by that name in the US. I believe you call it 'mineral spirits' (a name not used in the UK!) or turpentine substitute. Some cellulose paint thinners may work, but there are so many different blends and experimentation (and possible disappointment) should be allowed for. I wasn't originally advocating any alcohol (potable or not), as water is a component and tends not to mix with or dissolve anything oily. However, iso-propyl alcohol (propanol; US rubbing alcohol), as used for switch/contact cleaning (and, usefully, leather stretching!) would possibly work on small spots, although not too easy to buy here.

When I was younger and my jeans started to tear, my mother would put a patch in them. When they go a big tear, they became shorts. Just wore my Skyscraper jeans for the first time last week. Got to wear them with high high heels.

Yeah, I don't get it either... I know I usually get rid of my jeans when they start to rip, very annoying.... This is just another fad that people pay alot for, that will fade with time..

I don’t understand the torn jeans thing. The holes in them would just annoy me constantly. Living in a canal boat one dresses more for practicality than style. There is also a very definite boho vibe among water dwellers, which suits me fine.

Having worn my skinny jeans with my JS knee yesterday and skyscraper jeans with mules today, yes, we should have the same freedom; and I'm taking it.

I will take a pair of running shoes on days that I wear a new pair. I start by buying heels that don't hurt to wear them. Then I will wear heels for 16 or 18+ hours without a backup plan. But you got to start with heels that don't fit correctly.