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Some great news here 🙂 @mlroseplant Great new heels! I'm sure you will manage them soon after a bit of practice. I'm totally with you that it's not that much about the shoe itself but the ability to walk properly. Here we all have our standards of how much skill we want to have before wearing them out. What I don't really have is that there are better and worse days, at least not for the heels up to 12 cm. Maybe that would happen if I'd take a few days or even weeks off. For the 13 cm heels however I could feel the difference when I was wearing them more or less. I wore my 13+ cm boots out 3 more times and can say that I'm finally done with practicing at home 🙂 It's really fun to wear them out and I'm glad I have some winter time left to do so. Afterwards I'm also looking forward for the Hot Chicks again, I wonder how easy they might feel then 😄

Fashions definitely come and go. Some stick, and some don't. And everything seems to come back at some point. What's old is new again, is what they usually say. I forgot that in the 70's men wore short shorts. When is that coming back?

I have a problem that I didn't have before. On the weeks that I actually get a photo taken of my church outfit, I am wont to post it on my usual thread "Ruminations, etc." Now that we've got this higher heel challenge going, sometimes these subjects overlap. After warming up in my training shoes in the snow, I wore these effectively 11.3 cm pumps to church. I'll post the whole outfit (or at least what you can see with my winter coat) on my other thread. Like we keep saying, take a cm or two off the height of our "training" heels, and it's actually pretty easy! Nobody but you folks believes me, though. Brand of these shoes is GenShuo, and I really cannot complain about the quality, for what they are. They seems every bit as sturdy as my usual Steve Maddens, and they offer just a smidge more height. They obviously are not expensive shoes, but they aren't ridiculously cheap, either.

@mlroseplant You did great! 1,6 km in these heels sure isn't for beginners, and the snow doesn't make it easier. @Shyheels A different approach to practicing in heels, sounds adventurous 😀 I reached a milestone on the weekend - I wore my 13+ cm boots out for the furthest distance so far, to a location where I also wore the Hot Chicks before. It was around 200 m one way, a bit more than my usual walk around the block. The walk there was fine, on the walk back it was a bit more uncomfortable. I feel like I can finally step back on the practice walks and wear them out more for the "real things" 🙂

I finally pulled the trigger and went for a walk in these shoes on this cold Sunday morning. The current temperature is -13º C, which is typical for mid January in Iowa, but I wanted to see if I could do it. I still haven't got a true measurement for the steepness of these shoes, but I am confident that the steepness is equal to or greater than 12 cm, de-rated and temperature corrected. Only electricians will get that last reference, I'm looking at you @CrushedVamp, although maybe you don't have a similar rule on the high voltage side of things, being as you don't try to stuff as many wires in a conduit as you can. Is it early on a Sunday morning here, and I didn't meet a single person on my walk. No dog walkers, no joggers. Only one car passed me in the street. That was my plan, because although in the end, I don't think I did too bad, I didn't want anyone to see me walking in these shoes. It was a vetting process, for sure. As usual, after about 1/4 mile, I began to find my feet. Really, a mile (1.6 km) was not too far. Maybe I'm beginning to get the hang of this. The attached photo shows circumstantial evidence that I actually did this. Also, I almost fell on my backside a couple of times, due to the dusting of snow that we got. It looks like somebody preceding me was wearing Birkenstocks, innit? How mundane.

I can remember very clearly the first time I experienced this phenomenon, albeit on a slightly lower scale. At the time, I was wearing around 9-10 cm pretty much all the time, and got to where I felt pretty good at that height. Then one day I wore those 7 cm sandals that I just got rid of, and I thought, "Man, I can really zoom around in these things!" I almost started running everywhere, because I could. I never much advanced beyond the 9-10 cm range until recently, thanks to this challenge. I don't want to say I can zoom around in 10 cm, but they feel much less like heels than they used to.

I fully understand what your situation was @mlroseplant, especially in light of the photo being for an entirely different reason than showing the high heels you happened to be wearing. I must say, most of your photos of you in heels come out really, really well. Your pictures often show your great heels, but also your overall outfit well with quality photos most of the time on here. But photography is interesting… sometimes taking lots of time in setting up the perfect photo works really well and a stunning photo is made, and sometimes just turning around and snapping a quick picture captures the moment in time just perfectly. Of course, the opposite is true as well and especially so for candid photos, there are twenty poor ones taken for every great photo made. I tend to like candid photos. It can be fun to set up the camera for the perfect shot, but also fun when stunning pictures come from the spur of the moment. I have plenty of examples of quick shots being surprisingly stunning, but being a high heel site, my wife and I were doing a themed photoshoot, and while most of the pictures were taken with her painstaking posed, as she sat on a bridge for a break, I saw her seated, turned around and snapped a quick picture. It came out extremely well, really the best picture of the seventy or so we had set up that day. So, it just shows you never know, some of the best pictures cannot be planned. This is a photo of her on the bridge with some high heel knee boots.

Exactly! I don’t think in terms of numbers but in the aesthetic. What I see as stylish and wearable heels are probably going to be around 10cm and what I see as imperious and elegant are probably going to be around 12cm. Specific measurements don’t come into it. I want to learn to walk gracefully in 12cm boots because they’re imperious and elegant, not because they’re 12cm

That's a very detailed inventory you did! I never actually did an inventory of my heels. If I find that a pair is worn out or I don't like it anymore (which never really happens...) it has to go. And new pairs come by themselves anyways 😀

Here are my latest acquisition. I got these for less than $20 in a thrift store. The brand is Fashion Nova, And they go up to just above the knee. They are an almost half black, and half grey, suede like material. and they have a 4" block heel.

Wow congratulations! Mastering 13cm heels puts you in some pretty rarified company. Even among high heel aficionados very few can rock 13+cm boots or Hot Chicks! Well done!

Yes, doing this with @mlroseplant and @higherheels has really made a huge difference to me. They’ve become virtual colleagues and I think of them fondly whenever I am practicing, even if I am bringing up the rear in terms of my skill level. Their encouragement has been a great help

I finally got a chance to walk around in a photograph my new shoes from Highest Heel. The weather actually approaced 0º yesterday, so I didn't feel like I was totally freezing every time I stepped out the door. The verdict is, I think they're quite attractive, and they seem to fit well. I cannot say that with 100% confidence because I never actually left my driveway, nor do I think this will happen anytime soon. Let's put it this way: No one but the across the street neighbor can watch me walk in them just yet, I won't allow it. Over the last couple of days, I've spent several hours each day in 11 cm shoes, but these 12.5 cm are a whole different level. To be fair, I didn't feel like I had it together anyway yesterday. I was not walking well in the 11 cm, much less the higher ones. I guess it was just one of those days. I was walking just fine at the jazz festival on Saturday in the same shoe (same model, different color), and I walked just fine at the grocery store on Friday in the same exact 11 cm shoes, but I could not seem to find my feet yesterday. Here's the specs: Model name of this shoe is Hottie (I wonder if it's a nod to the Hot Chicks), they are not real leather, but appear to be of reasonable quality, with a similar look and feel to my Steve Madden patent pumps. The actual heel height measures 13.3 cm, and when I run it through my 0.94 formula, I get the 12.5 cm equivalent to size 38. These are labeled size 9 USW. The heel width is 8 mm. Pretty narrow, but not super freaky fetish narrow. Here are some photographs: 1) A closeup, 2) the shoes with an outfit, and then for comparison, 3) the 11 cm shoes I actually wore to church with the outfit. Except for the height difference, I think the shoes are almost a dead ringer for the shoes I've already got.

I broke one of my own rules yesterday--don't wear dressy shoes with a casual outfit. However, I was going through my shoe collection, trying to get it under control. This involved some vetting, or re-vetting, if that's even a thing. As a result, I wound up wearing black patent pumps to the grocery store to purchase some comestibles. They are 11 cm, and definitely keepers. I felt the need to re-vet because I actually had to wipe the dust and cobwebs off of them, so it's possible that I haven't actually worn them since Christmas 2024, the last time I distinctly remember wearing them. But is it too much for a non-dressy outfit?

Almost nobody believes me that any heels can be comfortable, not even speaking of 4 inch heels...

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day who said, "R. doesn't believe me when I say that four inch heels are comfortable." My response: "Yeah, I'm the only one who believes you."

That’s a good age to stop. I’ve never seen a 111 year old who could convincingly carry off short shorts. They try, but there’s just something missing …

I only know them because of their height chart that we already discussed. Of the two I only know Fuss-Schuhe, I have a few heels from them. I can recommend them, they're good quality at a fair price.

I still like to wear short-shorts in the summer with my heels. I feel very comfortable wearing those ensembles. Happy Heeling, bluejay

Bikinis and weight do not correspond so well because women do not wear bikinis just because of what they reveal. Being guys, most of us have never tried to take off a wet, single piece bathing suit while in a rush to go to the bathroom, but watching any lady over 50, or with some weight issues try it, and it will quickly be ascertained why the bikini is so common to see. But drunk people, young children and leggings: those are the three things that always tell the truth! PS: I think my mom made me wear short-shorts during a summer in the late 70's-early 80's when she decided my sister and I should do track. Don't ask me about the year she decided my sister and I should do gymnastics. I am still traumatized by that.

I'll raise my hand on that one. I was too young to do it back then. But I'm making up for lost time now. You think people are too fat in general for that to come back? I challenge you to go to any popular beach in the summer, and check out some of the women that wear bikinis. If we are fat, then they must be morbidly obese. Anything seems possible these days.

If you remember one of our members Steve, from Ohio sold men's panty hose as a business. I have several pairs of his panty hose. I really like them very much with the built in fly. I don't know whatever happened to him as I have not heard from him in over a year. Happy Heeling, bluejay

Always loved go go boots, and remember being mesmorized by them as a kid. Would really love a good quality pair today for sure.

Church OOTW for 01/18/26. I chose red, mainly because I wanted to wear my fire engine red pumps. I suppose it would be interesting to choose black and pair it with red shoes, but I didn't think of it in time. I'm typically ironing my shirt 30 minutes before I have to show up. I got a number of comments on my outfit, but none specifically about my shoes. Like I said in the "Aiming High" thread, what once was the outer limit of my skill now seems almost easy to negotiate.

Algorithms can either be good or bad, but for some reason on youtube I must have touched off one in the wrong way because I am constantly being bombarded by a trend I see starting. Or at least it seems that way. Men in pantyhose, or tights for those in other countries. Talk about changing up a mans typical drab wardrobe. I have no real opinion on the topic. When I first started transmission line work, I was in Montana in the winter of 1998 and it was cold. My foreman’s first words were, “buy pantyhose and wear them as it will keep you warm”. Like me, he was married and a mans-man in every way but openly wore pantyhose when it was cold out. I tried wearing them, and I think they do keep a person warmer, but it was too self-conscious for me. I worried about getting hurt and having to explain to medical professionals why I am wearing pantyhose under my work clothes. I do wear leggings though. They are often called “a base layer” but they are really leggings. My wife hates it, but I am not a front flap kind of guy, just downing the waistband when I need to go to the bathroom, so in order to look like I am wearing pants and not underwear with a flap, I buy the women’s style of base-layer, or leggings really. They are comfortable lounging at home, and keep me warm, although I think pantyhose did a better job of it. Without the flap, they look like black pants and so I can move in and out of the house with some neighbor wondering what I am wearing in semi-public! But it is all over youtube now, a drive to get men to wear pantyhose openly. I have no opinion on the matter except to point it out to people on here for discussion on whether its a new fashion trend they would embrace or detest. https://youtu.be/I1m0yWzI-jI?si=VJKkHfslddHSdGDG

I know you’re right. It’s just that I’ve become quite proud of my new abilities and can’t resist showing off to myself! Tomorrow morning it’s back to the 12cm stilettos! I’ve a goal here!

It can be tempting to stay with the lower ones because they've become so easy 😉 But it really pays off to keep practicing. Shorter walks in my 13+ cm boots already feel like second nature, I only have to gain some more endurance.

I couldn't "carry a tune in a bucket"...

I think I can say that I'm making progress toward getting to 12 cm. Although I am not there yet, I have decided to take a different tack towards getting there. Instead of going for long distance in lower shoes, I have found that wearing higher shoes for shorter distances has gotten me somewhere. I put on a pair of 10.5 cm pumps yesterday morning and walked a mere 1.6 km, same as I did last week. After about 400 m, I found that I got into a rhythm and they felt much more natural. After that, I put on these mauve patent 10.5 cm pumps for church, and I wound up wearing them the entire day with no problems. I didn't get a chance to snap my usual picture with the tripod and the remote, so I had my son take this photo in the garage after we came back from grocery shopping. Now I know why I keep the tripod about half a meter tall for taking these shoe photos. You can't really see my shoes when he's standing up full height, can you?

These are smoking hot heels….. You look great in them…. Would have loved to see you walk in them!!

Ok, let's talk about more pleasant things, then. I ran across a picture I took over four years ago depicting a "setback" heel vs. one that curves to the front somewhat. Shown in the front of this photo is a true setback heel, which comes straight down to the floor from the back of the shoe. At the back of the photo is a curved, traditional shaped heel. I don't know if it has a special name. This is the style that I believe @luvmaryjanez likes the most. In the middle of the photo is something in between, which is what 90% of the stilettos I own are. Some say that setback heel is simply there to make the heel appear taller than it actually is, and I suppose it's true. Our favorite Christian Louboutin certainly took advantage of this illusion, to his great success. CL makes very few shoes where the heel doesn't come straight down from the back of the shoe, and most makers have followed suit. I prefer a little curvature, but do not necessarily prefer the 1960s style of more extreme curvature. Steve Madden lets you have it either way. My favorite Daisie pumps have a slight curve to the heel, whereas the Vala model has a straight, setback heel. Otherwise, the two models are identical. There are those who claim that the setback heel is much harder to walk in, and that you should always choose a heel that comes down more toward the center of your heel. I have personally never found this to be a factor at all, but then again, I've never had a lower heeled shoe with a setback heel. Perhaps it really does make a difference in the 2-3" range, but once you get above 4" I cannot tell the difference, other than looks. I will say it is somewhat easier to accidentally catch your heel walking down the stairs in setback heels, particularly if the stairs have those plastic edge protectors on them. Those are the worst!

I think you sum things up very well, especially given that 12cm (or any other 'desirable' height) will vary with one's shoe size, as has been discussed. I would only add that some wearers will enjoy the challenge of a particular heel height because (a) it is physically demanding; and/or (b) it is 'daring' or stimulating, if a male, to wear what would normally be female footwear. All in all, it is rather like considering why people would want to climb Everest - the exact measured height of which is of little importance compared with the effort and achievement of even an incomplete ascent.

@mlroseplant Sometimes it's hard to believe that what is the most normal thing for us, is something that other people don't know anything about. The one thing most people know (or think to know) about heels is: They're painful! I get looks of disbelief everytime I tell someone that they're not painful if you do some things right. Believe it or not, I'm actually also the type to who heel height (the number) doesn't matter that much 😉 For me it's just about the look and aesthetic, but over time with wearing, shopping and looking for heels you simply get an idea of the look a certain heel height has. And of course here on hhplace you need some numbers to make clear what you're speaking of as it's all about heels, but a 5 cm heel just isn't the same as a 13 cm heel 😉 @Shyheels A little bit of movement really helps. It's funny how long standing time affects us differently: I feel it in the balls of my feet. I feel it in my calves when walking in my 13+ cm boots. It's great to share the experiences with others who are just as "crazy" 😀

I reckon that you're probably right. In fact, as part of my basement cleaning out exercise, mentioned elsewhere, I made the decision to let some old favorites go--my Sofft Calvados sandals--because they are too low. I had already gotten rid of a silver pair last year because of deterioration, but these two pair were perfectly wearable. It's just that I never wear them anymore, and I can't foresee a time when I will wear them again. It's hard to tell from this photograph, but they are covered in a fairly thick layer of dust, and that influenced my decision to donate them. They are effectively less than 3 inch heels, or 7 cm, and that is just too low for my taste these days, at least in that style of heel. The combination of narrow heels with less than towering height makes them pretty much the last choice for everything. I used to wear them to things like farmer's markets where I was afraid that anything taller might result in my discomfort or worse. Now I don't worry about that, so I guess one can increase one's ideal heel height eventually.

Trying to wick it up this morning, can I walk a mile (1.6 km) in these pumps? Evidently, I can. They are the size 38 equivalent of 11.3 cm. However, I won't be able to walk a second mile in them until and unless I get them reheeled. Look at the wear after only one mile!

Here is my high heeled (actually mid-heeled) buddy from church. Our children almost, but not quite, overlap in age.

After a little thought, I think these sorts of informative signs are part of the overall larger disturbing picture of society today. Not just in the wearing of high heels, but in almost everything, and that is there is some sort of secret handshake, some sort of “hack” where all things difficult to do suddenly becomes easy if you just have the right information. These signs or “hacks” like the images I posted about determining ideal high heel height, lets a person know the easy, secret, missing information that enables people to do something hard… like wearing high heels… become suddenly easy. And it is just with high heels. Goodness knows there is a video on Youtube somewhere stating I have been hand-washing my stemware wrong for the last forty years. And wiping my own bottom, yeah there are six videos on how to do that properly. Yes... look it up. Now that is something I have been doing fine since I was a toddler, but yep... there is a video telling how we are all doing that wrong. After reflection I don't think it is not some sort of magical measurement… wait for it… it is in the practicing of wearing high heels that makes a pair of shoes more comfortable. I am not saying adding in heel cushions, or heel grips, or having larger blocky heels cannot help. Of course they can, as those are tools available, but its this overall thought that some magic physical measurement is going to lead to the Holy Grail of High Heels that is misunderstood, but also what so many people want. (Not members on here)

I put in an hour of working standing up in my 12cm stiletto boots. It was a challenge in a couple ways, not least of which was the extra height it gave me, which made my kitchen counter feel awfully low and so rather awkward to write at my laptop. on the brighter side, standing in them for an hour was a great way to become used to the height, steeper angle and to develop the balance needed to walk gracefully in them. It’s not putting in the miles like @mlroseplant but I think it will be useful. I certainly felt it in my calves after an hour of standing in those boots!

As a child I was a huge fan of go-go boots! I wished I could have a pair of those shiny white boots - it’s what set me on the course to liking women’s boots snd heels! I still fancy a pair of go-go boots if only I could find nice ones …

I’m quite certain one’s ideal heel height can be increased - I think we are all proof of that! While I’ve not mastered 12cm stilettos, practicing in them has made walking in 10cm stilettos feel easy and natural. The difference is noticeable. Likewise @higherheels is now able to get around in her Hot Chicks and her new 13+cm boots through practice. Speaking of practice my walk into town for groceries was an adventure - one I took in low/standard heel knee boots because of all the ice. The towpath and sidewalks were like skating rinks. And so I tottered feebly in my low heeled knee boots and pretended to myself I was in 12cm stilettos. I’m not so sure it’s going to help in terms of actual practice in them, but it made the mental journey into town more fun and engaging

Yes, I agree. The more and more I look at it, I'm not convinced about the second method, either. At least not as exactly stated in this chart. First of all, you about need an assistant to really do it correctly. I think I used a Stanley tape measure extended out and just kind of eyeballed it from afar. But secondly, I'm looking at the marks on the diagram of the foot, and it doesn't make any sense to me. I think the first measurement is too far up on the toes and the second is too far back on the heel, giving an artificially high number. Thirdly, it doesn't take into account toe flexibility, which is kind of important once you reach towering heights. I'm hoping, as are the rest of the participants in this thread, that your actual ideal heel height can be increased with practice and the force of will.

That's how you know when a pair of boots fits well, and are engineered for actually walking in...Best feeling ever

My best effort for walking in heels is just under 20k steps while I was wearing a pair of grey suede OTK boots with 7 to 8cm heels. The boots are very well made, fit beautifully and logging that number of steps was easy. I pretty much forgot I was in heels

I found the same with the first equation. Kind of nonsensical. For the second I can see some logic. I have very flexible ankles and so my ideal heel height for that formula was something over 12cm, but I won’t be ordering any Hot Chicks anytime soon. I would love to master 12cm heels and hopefully will eventually do so, but I would have to say my ideal heel height in terms of intuitive use and ease would be nearer 10cms - even if I prefer the aesthetics of a 12cm stiletto

I am not off to a great start with the walking, distance-wise, but I'm glad I did not attempt a second mile in those high pumps. I think I probably would have ruined them. It's very early days, though. As long as I don't make laziness a habit. And now for something completely different. . . I was attempting to clean up a portion of my basement yesterday, and I ran across some photos from my university, specifically a couple different graduating classes. Flipping through, I noticed that more than half of the girls were wearing heels, which is kind of what I remember for dressy occasions, but exactly zero of them were what we would consider "high" heels. The one girl I knew who might have been wearing shoes that approached four inch, well naturally you can't see her shoes in my old photo. Another girl that I remember who wore heels a lot (several times a week, and even for more casual dressing) was dressed smartly in black patent pumps which had a whopping heel height of maybe 2 1/2 inches. What I used to think was excitingly attractive is a big yawn now. I'm ruined for life.

I definitely don't get the first heel height formula. It seems like a bunch of random numbers that sound like they mean something, but in fact have nothing to do with anything. I also find it amusing that the number they come up with for this model is 5.2 cm, but she is depicted wearing shoes likely twice that tall, even if you discount for the platform. The second formula, on the other hand, I have actually tried myself, and the last time I did it, probably two years ago, I came up with 4 inches or 10 cm, which seems about right to me. It would be interesting to try it on somebody who says they can't wear heels, and see if there's any actual science in it. It would also be interesting to go back in time and try this test before I ever started wearing heels vs. what it is now to see if the resting angle of my feet to my ankles has changed because of wearing heels rather than any natural tendency I might have.

Your getting bolder in your shopping. Next time go straight in look and ask. Don't wait until there are less customers. I wear heels all the time so when I go into a shop they know I'm looking for myself. Many times I get better service because they view me as a higher chance of a 'sale' than women just looking.

Yes, that's absolutely true for me 🙂

Men's fashions tend to be puritanical - sombre tones in office wear, plain blocky colours in anything else, and absolutely devoid of any sort of personal theatre. Conformity is the overriding theme, not self expression. And certainly not 'fun'. And as far as footwear goes, sensible shoes only. We're supposed to admire heels on the feet of women while scorning such frippery for ourselves as somehow beneath our masculine dignity. There is so much wrong with that thinking I scarcely know where to begin ...

OK guys for a overdue update. When I arrived there, the day before it snowed and as I was told by the locals it was an unusually heavy snow for December and a lot colder, and then the second day an even more unusual snow storm was predicted for Wednesday. So any heeling was off the books, I barely saw any heels on the street if any and all were blocks and fairly low which makes sense. However it was not a total loss, I was close to 2 malls downtown and I walked there and started stalking the stores waiting until there were no people or few people inside, went straight for the high heels that I liked and started browsing, not the usual go to the men's side and side eye the beautiful shoes while holding the ugly, heavy, uninspired bricks we are supposed to wear as shoes , lol. After a few asks if they could help I gathered my courage and asked for one in my size. I was at a store for a brand I did not know before I was in Canada, l'Intervalle. I was holding the most gorgeous, sexy and amazing pumps, specially the stilleto heel was shaped so beautifully and sexy, and was the thinnest stilleto I had ever seen which I adore. I am not exaggerating when I say they were about 2.5X2.5 mm (in between 1/16" and 1/8") at the heel tip, so freaking cool and amazing. I fell in love instantly. So I saw a a beautiful pair in 9 camel patent and asked for back patent, they checked and had none, let me clarify they had none on clearance but hey had it regular price I was not going to spend 90$ for a pair of pumps just to wear at the hotel, but hoped maybe a pair on clearance +40% off was ok. So asked for the other shoe for the camel patent in a 9 and they did not fit, these run very small, I am usually 8.5 and sometimes 9 but these were tiny. There as just a guy and a girl tending to the store, tried to get the girl to help me but she was on other things (I know I know, but I felt safer asking to try to a girl not a guy bit the bullet and asked anyway), I asked to try and he did not flinch just brought them and tried a 9 and they did not fit, then asked for a 10 to try on the size and he brought normal black leather and I tried them on in the store in public. I put them on, the girl was looking casually at me and it seemed to me she was surprised I was able to put them on sitting down easily then getting up and walking around. They were a tiny bit higher than expected but I still managed to walk gracefully, check myself in the mirror. The guy was completely unfazed. I said hold in one sec and removed my heavy coat, my sweater so I was dressed business casual straight from the office dark pant suit formal striped light blue and white shirt and black heels, looked amazing (I was so in the moment that I did not think about taking pictures). I removed the shoes and asked what else they had on sale and my size on that model (Teeva for those curious), he told me none on that store and they we closing soon, but I could go to another store site 5 minutes away or if I came back tomorrow they could have them sent to try and see them. I thanked him and told him I might or try to go to the other store. They girl went a little out of her way to help me out s and say good bye since they closed the gate, I had not noticed. So the next day I went to the next mall, there were more stores, Aldo, Steve Madden, call it spring and the other l'Intervalle. These stores closed much later than the other so they were busier at that time, and once again I stalked the stores. I walked in to Steve madden, started browsing the high heel pumps, holding them looking at them, and a sales girl approached, looked at me my feet and asked if I were a 9, she knew, caught off guard just said yes, she then said that they had very few I that size on the models I was looking at, she showed me others with a lower heel and she noticed it was not what I was looking for, she the said let me check what we have on your size, she came back and told me they had 8.5 and 10 and if I wanted to try, I agreed she brought patent black pumps hey we're too small and too big, while I was trying them on she brought lower heeled patent black pumps in 9to try and they fit like a glove amazingly comfortable but lowish for what I like I guess around 3" and also too expensive for this trip if I was not able to wear them. I did walk around with them a little after removing all the warm clothes I was dressed similarly to the day before, she complimented me on my look and walking skills, but also admited that higher heels would look much much better and if I wanted she could call me when they had more stock in a week or 2, black Friday had emptied their stock. I declined since I was leaving in a few days and thanked her a lot. In the store a woman trying on kitten heel boots just smiled and nodded I did not notice anyone else noticing me, maybe they did but I was on cloud nine on an amazing high. I then went to Aldo, same story walked straight into the high heel pumps, asked what was on sale and nothing I liked then walked out, 2 pumps were beautiful but not on sale and the store was busy so clerks were all around the place and did not want bother if I was not purchasing anything. Next stop was call it spring they had a beautiful pair of d'Orsay pumps, asked for black patent in size 9 the girl checked and told me they only had a dark brown which I did not like at all although they were cheap and would have bought them for the hotel, too bad, she tried selling them to me that the color was beautiful. I argued the shoe was beautiful but did not like the color. Tried looking at other styles and nothing caught my attention. Maybe a pair stiletto booties until I looked at them closer and I saw the had the stitches all trough the point and middle of the show which I hate but common on boots but that is a rant for another time. Finally the last store again L'intervalle but a different store from the previous day. I saw this one had 40% off for the whole store, and I darted straight to the heels I loved, they were right next to the cashier, a young girl, I stated asking if they the 40% also applied to on sale items, she said yes and asked what they on sale on that model size 10, she looked on the computer and said only off white patent and then showed me other choices with lower heels and told me that women often found these more comfortable I just agreed but said I wanted the other one because they were prettier, and asked to try them, she looked puzzled at first and told her they were for me, and proceeded to look for them came back and told me they were at the other store, and she could run to get them. I said maybe to try any other color first to make sure they fit so as to not make her run for them. For patent usually is a lot stiffer than regular leather so I wanted to try them as well like I dkde yesterday, she looked and said she had none on that size, I asked what else was on that size on the other store and if the discount also applied, she said yes, checked and called, however they were starting to close I did not notice the time. I just said I might come back tomorrow. She let me check everything we have on your size so if you come back tomorrow you have a better idea, just being a good sales person. Not much just 2 more choices. I thanked her and she kinda eagerly said she said her shift starts at 4pm and she would gladly run to the other store to get me those. I smiled back and left. The next two days were a lot colder and did not want to leave the hotel room after work so there ends my adventure, not what I hoped for but still great. I have to admit that I used all of my almost non existent literary talents to recount as accurately as possible while making it fun. Now to be wait for my next trip in a few months to try again. Thanks for listening to my ramblings.