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People get "use to" you looking a certain way. I get questioned at times why I'm not in heels on those rare instance when I'm not in heels. People notice.

I had an interesting encounter today. Now let me start by saying I was not on a planned outing today. And I was not dressed in any form of female attire, including heels. Today, we had some unseasonably warm weather for September. So I was dressed in shorts, T-shirt, and sandals, very casual. I was out just running a few errands and hitting some of my favorite stores for some window shopping. I was at one of my usual thrift stores that I hit. And that's where the encounter happened. I usually don't have much luck there. But today, I actually found something worth purchasing. As the lady was ringing up my purchase, she said, "i'm surprised you actually found something today. Usually, you come in here, and you don't buy anything." Then she said, "And I barely recognized you today. You're usually in tight jeans and heels. You're dressed so casual today." I told her the weather was really nice today. And she said, "Yeah, we need to enjoy it while we can." Then I finished paying for my purchase and left. Now I have seen her in the store before, and she may have even rang me up a time or two. But as far as I can remember, this is the first time we have had any meaningful interaction. So as much as we say on here that most people don't seem to care or take notice of us. In some cases, I guess the opposite is true. Food for thought.

That’s an interesting idea. My own efforts have been pretty tame this past week but I hope to do better next week. I’ve been really pleased though by how working with my 12cm heels has really made me comfortable in my 10cm ones. They feel more like extensions of my feet now instead of something I’m wearing. The 12cm stilettos are still a challenge

Yesterday, I did my longest loop, which involves some hills. I was wearing 10 cm heels (not stilettos). It occurred to me that instead of being slightly irritated at having to walk downhill in heels as I usually am, I should look at it as good training for steeper heels. It's a slightly different physical dynamic, but the effect is basically the same.

Seems like a very nice encounter - the casualness of it is what is most pleasing.

I am about to set some durability records, which I will write about elsewhere as soon as they actually happen. However, with one pair, it's going to be a nail-biter. I've owned four pairs of this particular type of shoe, and the same thing always happens at about 100 miles--the shank breaks, and they're done. On pair number 4, I've currently got 105 miles, 10 miles short of the record for this particular shoe model. However, I noticed yesterday that one of my top lifts (heel tips) has started to wear kind of funny. You know what THAT means--impending doom! We'll see if they last another 10 miles in the days to come.

Snap! I’m doing the same in my hotel room! It’s so nice to have virtual company in this. I’m finding the hotel room a good place to practice - I can get seven or eight steps, enough to count and it’s a nice activity after a day of being on a tour bus!

I've been practicing out in the garage with my 11.5 cm stiletto mules. It sounds strange, but it's the only place I've got where I can walk more than 6 steps in a row, so I can try to perfect my walk the best I can before I take it to the streets.

@mlroseplant Absolutely understandable that you felt a big difference. 1,6 km is not that less and I would also feel the difference between a 8 cm and 11 cm heel. Good job! I'm done with my mid-heels week, my feet are recovered and I'll get the Hot Chicks out again this week 🙂

I’m off to lead another tour, my 12cm stiletto boots packed in my suitcase for after hours practice. I’ve been very slack the past few days, sticking to my 8cm chunky heeled ankle boots. I’ll see how much I’ve regressed when I try them on in my hotel this evening.

In my usual walk routine, I have short days and long days. Yesterday was a short day, meaning my walk was but a single mile (1.6 km). I chose to wear "real" high heels, just to up my game a little bit. Not all the way up to 12 cm, but close. Maybe 10.5 or 11, once you discount a little bit for my size 40. There is a big difference between that and my typical 8 to 10 cm walking shoes. If I ever get to the point where the high ones feel completely natural to walk in, that will be something. They weren't bad at all, I just never felt super at ease with them. The entire mile felt like, "Yes, you are wearing high heels."

Very well. I did not get a photo taken of my church Outfit Of The Week, but I did manage to fall asleep in the afternoon, so that I was forced to go out to dinner, being as I woke up too late to begin cooking supper. It was nice enough weather to eat outside, and I was forced to look at our reflection in the storefront windows the whole time. It's all I got. Oh, by the way, somebody I know walked past and said, "Beautiful shoes, as always!" I didn't get turned around in time to see who it was. That sort of comment drives my wife crazy, though she keeps it well hid these days.

I have reached the "mile"stone last week of having walked 2,500 documented miles (around 4,000 km) in heels. To be clear, it's taken me over 12 years to do it, but needless to say, I've worn out and broken a lot of shoes in that time. Sometime within this month I will break some records concerning shoe durability. I may make it a special new topic to announce such, as no one seems to respond to this thread anymore. It may be getting a little bit long in the tooth.