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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 😄

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 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."

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!

There is a shape difference in shoes. Men's shoes are like boxes, very little difference in width between the toes and heels. Women's show have more of a pear shape, wider at the front and narrower at the heel. For me it means in men's I am a 9-9.5 EEE just to get my toes in, but then I have 1/2 inch on both sides of my heel and at the toes, 'clown shoes'. Lead to numerous ankle and knee issues (operations ad sprains). In women's I'm a regular size 10 and size 11 in some narrower heels. I can't get my feet into pumps, but that's alright, there is plenty of others I can.

Oh, I don't know if you can say with conviction that you're bringing up the rear. After all, you have only my word as evidence. I say that my standards are high, but you've never actually seen me walk. I might be terrible! My main concern in real life is to avoid looking like a complete idiot. I do not feel like I succeeded in that on Sunday. Yesterday (Monday) was an incrementally better day.

English shoe sizes are unisex.

I was look at a shoe company's website, can't remember which one, but they advertised an ankle boot as unisex. First time I've seen that.

As with mastering any new skill practice is the best conduit to success. Success is constructed with confidence gleaned through self-esteem and positive input from those around you. That practice can take the form of walking around the house/yard then doing tasks. Drive somewhere in your heels and practice in the real world. Once you can prove to yourself that you can do it better things are inevitable. HinH

Good topic. As to go-go boots I don’t have ant but understand their allure as some retailers have tried to cater to the cd/tg crowd or just guys looking for alternatives in bigger sizes. I really enjoy knee high boots with either stiletto or chunky heels. As to recessed heels I may have a single pair of pumps. High wedge sandals or platform sandals, 5” or higher, are my favorite buys. Once in a while a killer pump with a 5 or 6” heels might make its way into my wardrobe. HinH

Might be a contest in name only since I can’t remember any winner nor how many entries there were. Believe it’s probably best intended to be a communal fashion show. Our own interpretations and style of regular people. Besides that your reputation is already solid. You’ve already won us over.

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 had a look at Fuss-Schuhe. I liked what I saw! Thanks for the tip. When I get a bit of money together - the magazine world is not great at the moment! - I think I shall buy some boots from them

I feel quite confident - even a bit cocky! - in my 10cm heels but at 12cm, although I’m improving, I’m still tottery and looking like a beginner in heels.

Yes! I’ve noticed this! I come back from a long walk into town in my mid heel boots and put in my 12cm stilettos and they feel more manageable than when I just put them in at the start of the day.

That's also a good way of practice, to get higher throughout the day 😉

Joined in 2006. Don't visit as often as I should.

Not at all. The shoes are obviously classy but in an understated way that allows you to dress up a casual outfit - it’s a good look

I also went with mid-heel boots - warm suede OTK boots whose 8cm heels are easy to walk in. It was warmth more than heel height that was driving my choice. Our temperatures are not as cold as yours, but we have an insidious dampness that has a serious magnifier effect as far as discomfort goes. Once back in the boat with the fire going I was back into my 12cm boots - and yes, like you, I’m still not very good at them

Since I have the time on my hands at the moment, I finally dove in and attacked my shoe problem. As a result, I now have a little bit of shelf space where I had none before. I am prepared to do a new shoe inventory, the first in two years. There are significant changes since then. For now, I want to share with you a pair of sandals that I actually threw away. You would think I'd have noticed this defect before, and I guarantee they weren't always like this, but how did the heel of this shoe become so badly bent? I cranked on it pretty good trying to figure it out, and the heel is quite securely attached. The only thing I can think of is that the shank has become twisted somehow without actually breaking, which wouldn't surprise me a bit, because they are (or were) Michael Kors, a brand I've had long experience with, and they all have weak shanks. What do you think?

Although I started off the day yesterday with a whimper, I am happy to report that I ended with a bang! Yesterday morning, I decided I was too tired and too cold to bother with my "high" shoes, so I walked in my mid heeled boots instead (9 cm block heels). By mid morning, the sun had come out, and the temperature rose to almost -5º, so I put on 10 cm clogs and walked to take care of some business with our county government. Before I went to sleep last night, I got a notion to keep the momentum going and walk in my 12 cm oxfords. As of this writing, my calves are not screaming too badly, just feeling a little tired. I'm still not very good at the 12 cm.

I haven't run into this situation in quite some time, but it never feels good. I can certainly empathize, and as others have said, you must move on if you want to keep your sanity. This fellow was obviously somewhat less than sane.

I agree with you 4” heels are comfortable and great for wearing all day.

I read this as if "Person X" is generally a person who's out for confrontation. If he wouldn't have confronted you for your outfit or whatever he probably would have for something else. I can imagine that you get attention for dressing more feminine, but that shouldn't keep you from doing it if it's what you want. I also get attention for my outfits although they're actually normal in my view, but I guess it's the heels that drag the most attention - which is also my intention. I vary my outfits mostly by the shoes. But what seems different is that I don't get confronted. People like your "Person X" are the ones who discretely but noticabely roll their eyes and make comments about me behind my back. I learned to ignore them as I don't want to have anything to do with them anyway.

You're brave wearing pumps in these weather conditions! Right now we have temperatures above 0 again where pumps could work but I still rather go for boots 😉

And they are comfortable - as long as you buy decently made, decently fitting heels there is no reason to be uncomfortable. My 12cm heels may be a challenge for me to walk in gracefully, but they are not uncomfortable, at least not in a painful sort of way.

It’s too bad. I have a few pairs of pumps and a pair of boots from them. They seemed to be good quality, and even the 15cm boots are as comfortable as the height could be.

Yay! I did it! I definitely should have worn my balaclava, though. It is still not anything approaching warm out, especially with a 20 km/hr wind that has kicked up in the last 30 minutes. Part of my problem is that I do not own a pair of boots that exceed mid-height (to us, anyway), so I am forced to wear pumps if I want to go truly high. In this case, with an effective steepness of 10.7 cm. I can definitely tell that it's been over a week since I've really walked in anything actually high. Keep on keepin' on, my friends.

I know what you mean! I’m tottering in my 12cm boots this morning, feeling very unpracticed. Utterly vile weather outside - horizontal rain, 80kmh (50mph) gusts, a temperature of 1°C (34°F) and a windchill of -13°C (8°F). Just had to go out - not in heels! - for a half mile walk up the flooded towpath with a dolly to a boatyard where I could buy a couple bags of coal. I was getting low and this was no day to run out. Now back aboard by the fire and feeling much more civilised in my heels - even if I totter about the galley as I make my coffee …

Well, for starters my pyjamas are basically warm track suit bottoms and a T-shirt and I’m just not going to wear those with stiletto boots. My stilettos are for dressing smartly. That’s just part of the deal. Indeed wearing heels has boosted my game in terms of dressing well for the home office. It’s just that one these chilly mornings, until I get the fire built, I’ve lingered in my already warm clothes and then get too focussed on work and forget. i don't need hand warmers. Once the stove gets going I’m plenty warm enough! I just need to take the time to go get dressed in my jeans and boots and return to work I'm somewhat relieved to hear that @mlroseplant has been slack in his heel wearing too, but I’m clearly losing ground big time to @higherheels whose now rocking her 13+ cm boots!

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.

The only reason that I sort of care is because, well, I'm going to need some higher heels. As you know, I have quite a number of heels in the 11 cm range, but only one pair that is really wearable in public that is 12 cm, and I think that pair is kind of ugly, mainly because of the design of the toe. Also, if I wear anything but skinny jeans, it looks like I have no feet. At any rate, it looks like I have two remaining options: Fuss Schuhe and this outfit called the Highest Heels that keeps showing up on my Instagram feed. Or the designer route, but I don't really want to pay that kind of money. I'm willing to pay a couple hundred bucks for the right shoes, but not a thousand. For that kind of money, I'll buy another obscure musical instrument. Did I ever show you my early 20th century Conn cornet?

Ive worn thin wool base layers for cycling for ages and they look absolutely no different then feminine leggings or heavier denier pantyhose - it’s just the name. They’re indispensable when you’re out cycling for hours in the cold. By the same token, since I started wearing knee and OTK boots I’ve really come to appreciate warm ankles and calves on cold winter days. guys really need to put aside all this nonsense and just wear what is comfortable and what they personally feel looks nice - and forget about these made up fashion rules

I think, but I am not sure, that after 13+ years, that just maybe I am finally beginning to get the hang of this whole high heel thing.