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I suspect I’ll find it challenging to find the “right” pair of sandals as I too am very picky about appearance, comfort and quality. Boots I know and understand. I’ve always worn boots, going back to a childhood in the mountains where hiking boots came to be a kind of personal trademark - something that distinguished me from the other kids in my class, with their natty town shoes. I’ve had this bias ever since and been fortunate that my choice of career allowed me to avoid wearing both neckties and brogues!

As many of you know, I do like to wear shorts. Now is the time when it will soon be time to say goodbye until next year. These are perhaps my favorite jean shorts from l.e.i. I like the fact that they are pretty short, but not super tight in the legs, making them a little less racy than would otherwise be the case. They are size 5, which means they are juniors and not misses (which is the U.S. term for "women's"). One would think that juniors would fit my nonexistent hips better, and they probably do, but the downfall of that slimmer cut is that they are much better when standing up than when sitting down. Were it not for the fact that I have certain plumbing installed that was not really designed into these shorts, I would have no complaints. In other words, they are a bit tight in the crotch when the legs are not parallel with the torso. I have actually had compliments from strangers on these shorts in the past, with one gal even asking what brand they were. To be sure, I was in a standing position at the time. Paired with the shorts (and my 175th anniversary of our local church t-shirt) are my Bruno Magli Kira suede mules. Suede and summer might seem an odd combination, but somehow with these sandals, it works. They could probably use a good cleaning, though. For something casual and comfortable, they fit right in. One of the things I like about them is that they are a very narrow wedge, so they are not clompy at all, as many wedges can be. It is almost like walking in stilettos without the worry of putting your heel down a crack. *** A technical note: These sandals are size 38 1/2. I do not care what many size conversion charts say. 38 1/2 ≠ 8 1/2 U.S. Women's. I made them work, but they are just *this* close to being too small. I could have probably used a 39 or 39 1/2.

It certainly is! I’m back on my boat, unpacked and practicing!

Tease Hopeful coming to my feet this weekend. I do hope it fits. Jessica Simpson Mixtesa Slouch Bootie in Dark Cherry

Absolutely! And given your mileage you’re way ahead of me in any case! Im en route back to my boat at last! Freedom!

It would seem unlikely without an invite, but who knows? I believe that there are any number of people who might like to join our community if only they knew that we actually wear heels instead of just fantasizing about them. We've had our dress-up-in-front-of-the-mirror people also, but I think they tend to find us very boring (and vice versa).

Ah yes, but were we rich enough for such luxuries. I'm talking about Italian Heels as if I'm going to buy some. Not until I procure the Next Big Job. I will certainly be laid off from the one I'm on right now, it's only a question of whether it will be in a couple of weeks or a couple of months. So for now, I'll have to participate in the challenge with slightly low heels. I'm not THAT far off. 12 cm on size 40 still translates to what? 11.3 or 4? What's a few millimeters among friends?

Yes, quality makes such a difference in terms of walkability. I have a pair of Jean Gaborit OTK boots with 9cm near-stiletto heel and they are a dream to walk in. They are fully custom so the fit is perfect, and the leather is extremely high quality - a very luxurious Nubuck suede - and they are beautifully designed not such in looks but in the fundamentals. I wish I was rich enough to afford to buy boots from them in 10 and 12 cm heights. I feel certain I would find both of thos heights much easier to wear.

Yes, walking downhill for some time almost feels the same as wearing a higher heel than you actually are. That's definitely a progress! I feel that too. Quality and fit is very important, especially in these heights. I can understand that you don't really have motivation to wear these. Yes they're very well made, for sure can't complain about that. The downside is that they're very sturdy and take a long break-in period, and the toebox is very tight. So not a very comfortable shoe in general, and if you add the 130 mm heel even less 😉 But I'd always choose them over some lower quality ones with a looser, more comfortable fit. They might feel more comfortable on the first try-on, but definitely not while walking.

Italian Heels are nice, well made and of real leather. They come in a huge range of sizes and colours and have charts to help you pick out the correct size. I have two pair of their Tina knee boots - in 10cm and 12cm. I like them. They fit well and are comfortable even if the 12cm ones are a bit challenging. My Jean Gaborit boots are much nicer - buttery soft leather and fully custom fit - but then they cost four or five times as much.

I did manage to get a photo taken this week of my church outfit. I can tell you this: While I am caught up on the laundry, I am WAY behind on the ironing. I am to the point where I have to scroll through my camera and see whether I'm repeating an outfit from two weeks ago. I decided that it had been a while since I'd worn purple, and it had been a long while since I'd worn my Michael Kors black and tan sandals. One thing about doing this steep heel challenge, it makes shoes like these effectively 4 1/8" heels seem like a little bit of nothing (5 1/8" heel, 1" platform).

I have to admit to having a problem with this challenge. The problem is, I don't technically own any heels of the proper height for it. I do have several pair which are a measured 12 cm, but that's on size 40. Otherwise, I have two pair of what are bordering on extreme heels at 14 cm. I find those to be frustrating for two reasons: First, both of them are low quality, and they don't even feel nice to put on, much less try to walk in. Second, the jump to 14 cm is too much. Even with nobody watching, I feel very silly wearing these things. It seems like I need reminding every few weeks why I never wear these shoes. So I need to procure a nice pair of 12 cm that actually fit me.