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Hi Prima, First welcome. Cookie Monster isn't here all the time, so there might be some time between you posting and him see's it. I happened to me in the beginning. I think I might have seen the photo, but I really don't remember for sure. Now back to boots. I love boots and wear them often. Just yesterday I wore my knee high suede Jessica Simpson's stilettos to work. Wore them for 10 hours straight. You wont like them because they have 1" platforms (5" heels), but I love them. I have knee highs both with and without platforms in stiletto, near stiletto, and block heel styles. Always on the look out for more. Like you, I want my boots to have a full zipper. I have a thick toe box, so the zipper is important for fit. I have a few pointed toe heels, but I can only last 8 hours in them so they are only a tiny portion of my heels. And I love wearing my ankle boots as well. You need variety in your wardrobe. Again, welcome.

Hello and welcome. I do not believe you have been unfairly treated. If memory serves, nobody is allowed to post pictures until they have been a member for a while and made a number of posts.

Went to get a mani/ pedi the other day for the 4th of July holiday. I got my usual clear/pink gel on my fingers with an American Flag on my right pinkie and a firecracker on my left. What I was wearing to the salon brought out some attention as I passed a neighboring boutique on my way out. I was wearing an American Flag skort, white women's top and my red sandals with double bands and 3-1/2" stacked heels. The owner of the boutique and a customer were standing in the doorway, when I walked by. Both of them nodded approval on what I was wearing. The customer said I looked fab. Which I replied, " thanks for the compliment". I know the owner of the boutique as I have made purchases from her shop before. I remember one in particular was a pair of leggings that was on a manequin in the window, that I liked. I bought them that day and I came back to show her how they looked on me, another time, so you can see that I am feminizing the male wardrobe! Happy Heeling, bluejay

I had my regular mani/pedi on Sunday. Wore my new 3" shorts, size 8. I've been trying to get down to 163 lb/74 kg. Almost there.

Mlroseplant Fascinating and I believe I have an idea what initiated his question after all these years. Faced with increased age, mid 50’s I believe based on your age, and his current health issues his curiosity about your heels got the better of him and he reached out albeit without customary greetings. I believe he has always wanted to wear them and is clinging to his distant connection to you. It could’ve been been far more personal and fun to meet in person. He could’ve met you for coffee and seen you in heels and his questions would’ve been answered. His approach doomed it to failure. Honestly I’m surprised it hasn’t happened more often given how visible you’ve been in your small Des Moines suburb. Btw that outfit of red jeans, pink shirt, and red pumps looked spectacular. HinH

Yeah, that's the thing, we're not pretenders here. When we wear heels, we actually wear heels. I cannot and will not claim to wear 12 cm "all the time," because that would be a lie. However, I do feel comfortable in 10 cm (4 inch) pretty much indefinitely. I haven't had the opportunity for a heeling marathon for quite a while, but I'm pretty confident in that assertion.

I like wearing skorts with my heels especially in the summer time.I like the short versions of the skorts that show off my legs and I've had compliments over the years from mostly women but an occasional one, from a guy. I don't like maxi or midi skirts. Just my opinion. Happy Heeling, bluejay

I too have been harassed by teenagers, though not for a long time. What I find it that when you engage them in a friendly way, they tend to melt pretty quickly. It's also nice to know that people actually pay attention to outfits you have gone to a great deal of trouble to create.

Sounds like an interesting outing to say the least. I was never interested in skirts in the least, but a woman I know who’s into heels, and knows I like them too, convinced me to give one a try, suggesting I go for a pencil skirt - her own particular favourite. I really don’t care for mini skirts so that was never going to be an option, but I have always liked the look of longer skirts. I bought a midi pencil skirt and loved it. I was really surprised at how natural and comfortable it felt. i wore it while doing some landscape photography very early one morning a few weeks ago and encountered a woman photographer. She came up and started chatting, very naturally, and never mention the skirt or gave any sort of double take. We chatted for about twenty minutes about photography and the light - it was a great morning to be out there - and she went on her way. Completely natural encounter. There’s no way she couldn’t have noticed I was wearing a skirt. She was clearly open minded about such things, while I felt comfortable wearing the midi skirt and knew - or felt - I didn’t look bad in it.

I'll note that this was inspired by the New Gottega Punta Mules (which is a kitten heel, google it).

I wouldn’t say you love of high heeled boots is unique - plenty of people like stiletto boots. I’m glad to hear you are giving them another shot and by the sounds of things, enjoying it. I am quite fond of high heeled boots myself, although my collection is fairly modest - about seven pair or so, but very nice ones. At any rate, welcome to the forum

Hi! Haven't been here in ages. Been busy, and in general been pushing myself to wear heels more and more, but a lot of anxiety has gone away and have been enjoying a lot of my outings. My outings tend to be about once a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. Usually to a nearby caffee shop, restaurant, or mall. I try to wear heels whenever I possibly can, but family cannot know, so it takes planning. A few years ago I tried mini-skirts, and now have quite the collection of minis and (ladies)kilts, all of which I love. But it was minis only. One or the other, either a mini, or heels, not comfortable with both. Recently though, for whatever reason, I bought a maxi skirt, down to my ankles, a nice flowy-one, nothing tight. Went outside in it and just loved how the wind picked it up and fluttered it around my legs, and I didn't worry about it blowing up and showing something I didn't want shown. And it was cool, meaning in the hot weather! That outing, in a maxi flowy skirt made me realize I have been missing out and given the length, I would actually be comfortable wearing these with heels! So I did. The day in question, I ended up wearing an ankle-length maxi skirt, black, with some buttons on it. I also wore a 4" pair of leather pumps (oh so comfortable!) and a nice white t-shirt. It looked good! I loved it! So, I enter the mall, not anxious but a bit reserved as this is new territory for me. Went to a store, browsed around looking at skirts, trying on a few things. It was fun. Then I decided to go the other end of the mall, grab a coffee and do some work. As I'm walking along, I notice a loud group of teenage girls in a store, and as I walk beyond them, one yells out "Love the heels, girl!". I didn't know what to make of the "girl" part (as I have stubble on my face, and am clearly a guy). Smiled at them and kept walking, walked right into a washroom (nature called). Did my thing, and as I am starting to exit, I see the same teenage girl pop her head in (into the male washroom!), and go away giggling. Her friends were yelling at her that it's the male washroom. I didn't feel comfortable, so stalled a bit, and then exited, hearing that they went into the female washroom. Then I made my way to my destination, (on purpose) walking by some security guards, just in case. Did not feel comfortable at all, and was questioning my choices. It has never actually happened to me, and I have worn heels to these types of places now countless of times. So am somewhat at this point. I bought coffee, sat down in the food-court, pulled my laptop and went to work for an hour or so. People came and went, I'm pretty sure some people looked, intensely, but whatever. After I was done, I started to head back through the mall to my car, and popped into a store that I frequent, because I love the stuff they have (sort of gothy, a bit on the fringe of fashion). Was checking the sales, specifically hoping a skirt I have been eyeing has gone on sale (unfortunately not), when one of the sales-ladies walks up to me and starts talking: Her: "Excuse me, but every time you come into the store..." Me thinking: oh oh, what did I do to deserve scolding? Her: "the sales-people are always very curious what sort of heels you're wearing, and checking them out." Instead of talking about with the other sales-people, she told me. "You always seem to be gliding around the store in heels" I thanked her, took that as a massive compliment, especially while wearing a maxi skirt and heels for the first time. Before I could follow up, she was interrupted by another customer, and went away. I browsed around a bit more, and had to leave. So... Good and bad experience. I'll chalk up the bad experience to teenagers trying to show off to one another and sometimes behaving shamefully especially when in a group. On the other hand, seems like people do notice, and remember... Thanks for reading!

I had an old pair of (quite nice) Scarpa mountaineering boots do that - the Vibram sole came loose around the toe area. It was walkable, though irritating, flap-flap-flapping like that, and happily it was also easily fixable with contact cement once I got back to the boat

In neither case of forced shoe removal was it a broken heel. I suppose my hypothetical sign should have said, "MY SHOE BROKE." I've only had two heels actually break in 13 years, and neither of them were stilettos. I've had stilettos come loose before, but that's easily fixed. Usually what happens is that the shank breaks, allowing the heel to go all wonky. But these you can sort of deal with without removing your shoes. You might look a little funny, but you can deal with it. The reason I chose to remove my shoes in the two cases mentioned above is because if I didn't, it would have ruined the shoes. In one case, I lost a top lift (heel tip) on one of my sandals, and whatever wooden composite material the heels are made from does not resist abrasion very well. Once replaced (several times by now), those same sandals have lasted 268 miles and counting. I would have hated to lose that pair over a matter of pride. The other time I had to hoof it home shoeless was when the entire sole peeled off my pump, seemingly without warning. The only thing holding it on was the bit that's on the front part of the high heel. No amount of extreme high stepping would make this shoe wearable. Ripping the sole the rest of the way off seemed like a foolish option when the repair was so easy once I got home. The other sole had just started to come loose in the same way. I chose contact cement for the repair, and they seem to be doing just fine.

Yes! I think I hit even higher speeds but I didn’t dare look at my speedometer - it was a fast and curvy descent on a narrow mountain road without guardrails. High risk, high consequence. 57mph was the last reading I saw.

YIPES!!

Oh I’ve descended quickly in the past - my record being 57mph down a steep pass in the Vosges. And that on a loaded touring bike. But I’m not a fan of such descents

First I have had my heel (either foot bed) break twice. Once I just had to take them off and go barefoot. Shyheels where's you need for speed? I had several trilling down hill rides, several where you had to get into the fast lane to exit, and you have a car on your tail, at about 45 mph. Forgot: on sew up bike tires, my 15 speed touring bike.

That would not be much fun at all. One of the reasons I am hesitant about going out in stilettos is the fear of just such a thing happening. The heels look so precarious - so easy to imagine breakage and the aforementioned barefoot walk home. That's one of the drawbacks to being a creative - a vivid imagination. It's why I am not a great downhiller on my bicycle. I can envision all too easily the consequences of missing my line or a loose piece of gravel

I've had it happen to me twice where I basically didn't have any choice but to walk home barefoot. It's funny you should mention being more mature and not caring what others think, but carrying a pair of heels while walking barefoot adds a whole new layer of self-consciousness for some reason. I felt like I wanted to hang a big flashing sign around my neck that said, "MY HEEL BROKE."

Teenage girls are the worst, especially to one another! Just the nature of their age and competitiveness. My worst experience was going up an escalator at a mall with teenage girls behind me, they were all giggling. "Never let em see you sweat". Like MLP says, engaging young girls usually disarms them pretty quickly, making it obvious you are not intimidated. For me, one geniune compliment usually cancels ten unpleasant encounters. I have reached the age where I don't care much about what others think, I like the way I look in boots, even if I am older. That being said, I do enjoy and appreciate compliments, it is nice to have my choices in boots validated. The only other lousy situation I had was when the heel gave out on my Zodiac boots! I had to walk back to the hotel dragging one foot to keep the heel/sole from flopping around!

Please don't give it a second thought, we all have "our own slant" on styles we prefer for sure! I, like yourself, prefer regular boots with no platforms, but that is just me. I really like many different styles, but am extremely particular at the same time! We all "love what we love"! Great way to relax for sure, great boots, some wine and a smoke.. All the best Don

Hi pebblesf. I envy folks as yourself that can still enjoy aging better rather than aging older 😪. Thank you for such a pleasant greeting. My sincerest apologies if my view on ankle boots came off as a bit harsh. Sometimes my self-imposed OCD'ish fever for my unique love of stiletto boots gets the better of me and sets my tone. So please allow me to explain my rare form of retardation in detail 😜 I am petite with really skinny legs, short shins, and long slender coconut tree climbing feet due to my Pacific Islander genetics. And so as a young girly-girl in the '80s loooooong before the joy of customized online purchases came about, I was limited to choosing whatever was on the shelves at the local boutiques and malls. Unfortunately, it was standard sizing for boots everywhere, even in Chinatown. Long feet = big feet = wider diameters @ ankles and calves which made me look like I was receiving poorly fitted hand-me-downs from a portly aunt 😭. My young ungrateful mind was screaming, "Why oh why was I born with mutant feet and legs?" I quickly developed a frustrating habit of avoiding skirts which was weird for a girly-girl, and found myself preferring to wear pants tucked into boots since there was a whole lot of room for tucking + the thrill I get when hearing that unmistakable sound from the long slowly zippery ziiiiiiiiiip when securing the shafts. Overtime, I fell in love with that particular style thanks to Penelope Pitstop and Chrissy Snow. Mmmmmm.... Just seeing these again puts me into a state of dopamine 🥰. Sooooooo whenever I see a pair of beautiful stiletto ankle boots, I immediately ask myself, "Where's the rest of the boots? Where did the zippered shafts go?" Then came the '90s with everything flats 😡. But we'll save that story for another thread. In all honesty, I often wonder why I make things so difficult for myself with all these hang ups that prevent me from having simple pleasures? But the crazy truth is, I've grown to love what I love, and it kinda makes me feel special. Even if it's specially retarded ( <-- Yup, I still use this classic term if I am only referring to myself) 😊 I do enjoy watching others having a good time with expressing themselves through wardrobe regardless of similar preferences or not. It's the art of the delivery/presentation and passion that matters most 👍 Thanks for taking me on a thrilling adventure back in time pebblesf. I'm gonna relish this moment with a smoke and a glass of wine now ✌️ 'Sweetest regards, Prima

Hi mlroseplant. I wish your belief were true, but I clearly remember posting my greeting pic and refreshed the page to see how it appeared, and it looked sooooo good that I also remember being excited in anticipation of receiving feedback from my new found friends. Instead, I received a nasty warning hours later from Cookie Monster claiming that I posted something that promoted fetishism and sexual content and smugly advised me to review the rules. But I totally get how some men are conditioned to dominate over women's liberties with their assumptions without really considering the big picture. It is obvious that non-sexual pleasures such as ASMR and visual dopamine are foreign concepts to them and that Pretty = Sex. Both Sad and disappointing at the same time if you ask me 😪. But anyhooooo, thank YOU for welcoming 'lil ole me to the scene mlroseplant. I appreciate it ✌️ Prima

Au contraire mon frère 🙃 Hi Shyheels. Thank you for the warm greeting. Sorry, I initially didn't have the time to elaborate on my very unique preferences concerning my love of stiletto heeled boots. But yes, unique unlike anyone else that I've ever encountered. I swear it has developed into an incurable self-imposed condition. But as Diana Ross sang, "If there's a cure for this, I don't want it' I don't need it." I prefer style over fashion, as style is timeless and can create expressions of unconventional individuality whereas fashion has an expiry date and is often dictated by marketing fashists ( <-- I coined this one) that capitalize solely on popularity. Listed below are just a few style preferences that I obsess over: Platforms with Stiletto heels: I never liked them. It's like attaching a block of concrete to a Ferrari. Why compromise the femininity and sleekness of the stiletto? But I get that not everyone can put in the effort of conditioning their feet and ankles and opt for shortcuts and illusions which are apparently fashionable 😜. Chunky heels are a better match for platforms which look great on Gene Simmons, Rick James, Elton John, and Ziggy Stardust. Actually because of his feminine features, Bowie would have been awesome in single-sole stilettos if Ziggy came out 10 years later; Just ask Gary ✌️ Long Pointed Toes: A designer friend of mine explained that long pointed toes make your legs appear longer. Agreed, if we were nothing more than a front facing fashion sketch. But sooo very Broomhilda for any person at a side angle. WannaBe High Heel Boots: lacking any visible toebox trim, lacking any visible heel counter trim, heel breast colour does not match the sole, salvaged high heel shoes with shafts so obviously stitched on to pass for a pair of boots, one shared knee-boot zipper length between OTK and thigh-boots, only 2 pieces of leather to make each boot, unimpressive arches, pencil heels, metal spike heels... 'Pretty much a combination of designer fails and cutting costs. Stiletto Ankle Boots: What is the point? Full Length Lace-Ups: I never liked them. Am I wearing ice-skates? How far back in ye olden tymes do we want to go? Give me the sound of a full length zip-up any day to complete the proper stiletto boot ASMR experience 👍 Accessories: Every lady (and a few effeminate males) knows that a gorgeous pair of stiletto boots are nothing without the correct accessories to compliment their boost in confidence and feminine appeal. Knee-boots paired with elbow length gloves / Thigh-boots paired with opera length gloves / Any high-waisted bottoms with a belt and choker ( <-- As a lady, I have an issue with this naming convention; count on me to coin another ♀️💪) that matches the colour of the boots. Like many OG lovers of high heels, I too spent many decades and $$$$ at the fotomat in adoring my high heels (specifically single-sole stiletto boots) but got bored of posing and strutting around doing the same things that are limited to the reality of physics and social norms. I also grew weary of all the negative stigmas from the short-sighted majority that cannot keep up with those that live on the bleeding edge of imagination when they see a pair of anything higher than 5 inch stilettos (Especially stiletto boots; Pretty Woman and Kinky Boots are partially to blame). It was terribly frustrating to have always been very selective with where and with whom I chose to wear my boots with. I was raised and still live in the large city = increased encounters with idiots, but fortunately I discovered a new revolutionary way to enjoy my stiletto booted outfits in private as I grow older; Mostly in bed on plain white sheets while critiquing action and horror movies. Mmmmm, nothing else can deliver me that ASMR nostalgic youthful tingly sensation behind my belly button like my own personalized bootiful escapes 🥰. I'm not sure where the fellas feel it, but hopefully you know what I mean. I'm glad to have shared my personal insight with you and hope to contribute a fresh perspective with this community which is in dire need of some defibrillation from the ladies. However, I don't think this forum's administrator is keen on separating himself from his biased assumptions which prompted him to delete my 1st photo posting of my boot collection showcasing my fully clothed accessorized styles. I found his actions to be downright judgmental, insulting, and offensive as a woman just wanting to be pretty; Like Dolly Parton or Marie Osmond. 'Heaven forbid they were championship figure skaters, right? Anyhow, part of me accepts the probability that this response to you may also be deleted by Cookie Monster, which will prove my theories correct. But if you get a chance to read my response before it is Reaganized again, you'll sense my appreciation to your warm welcome through my lengthy efforts to detail a response worth giving. Thank you again Shyheels. I'm glad that you also have a bootiful heart 💝 'Sweetest regards Prima

12 cm heels ain't that common. But I also think they look great and that explains why you often see them in your photoshoots. I can imagine that many of them will only put them on for the photoshoot. Like mlroseplant and Cali I'm also either wearing heels or not. I wear them because I like the feeling and the look, so there's no reason for me to only slip them on for a photoshoot. If I have to walk a lot or the whole day I simply don't choose as high ones. Even though that results in not wearing my higher ones that often.

I haven't seen shoes like that in years. I didn't find them particularly attractive in the 1990s, but I was rather impressed that girls wore them literally everywhere. Even to work in the grocery store, or for an entire shift as a waitress. Of course now, it doesn't seem nearly that impressive, but at the time. . .

Who won?

Sorry, I saw them recently on line but don't remember where. Sometimes you have act fast before they are gone, and sometimes you need to buy more than one.

Bringing heels in a bag to put them on for a photo shot is not really wearing heels. I stay around 4 inch. I put them on at 6:45 am and go to work, and only take them off when I get home -anywhere from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. I might take a stiletto off to drive, but that's because they tend to wear a hole in the car mat

@bluejay, I seem to recall some stories about how you have been harassed about your fashion choices in the past. Perhaps recounting one of those would be helpful in this situation. I don't think you're the type of person to put up with it much.

I would suspect the latter. See and be seen, and change into something manageable

For years, I've been on a mission: to find a truly extreme high heel that combines height with elegance. The kind of shoe that commands attention and still adheres to most dress codes. My search for anything above 80mm that was also a closed-toe design proved surprisingly difficult, until I discovered the custom design process at ExtremeHighHeels.net. This is where "Miss Arches" was born. My vision was clear: a sky-high stiletto with an incredible arch, but without a clunky platform. Platforms, while adding height, often detract from the sleek, classic lines I was after. I wanted that dramatic, almost gravity-defying curve that only a true no-platform heel can deliver. Crafting the Dream: Design & Engineering The team at ExtremeHighHeels.net helped bring my ambitious design to life. The goal was to maximize the arch, creating that stunning visual, while also ensuring as much wearability and durability as possible for such an extreme heel. We opted for premium leather for both the upper and the sole, ensuring a luxurious feel and classic aesthetic that meets most formal dress codes. Beneath the surface, these shoes are built to last. They're constructed on a lasting board with triple reinforcement and a steel shank, providing crucial stability and support for such a daring height. In principle, this makes them incredibly durable. The "V" and the Walls: Form Meets Function One of the key design elements we incorporated was the V-shaped opening and slightly higher side walls. My thinking here was all about support. With a heel this extreme, every bit of added stability helps. The V-shape offers a sophisticated aesthetic while gently cradling the foot, and the higher side walls aim to provide a more secure fit, reducing the chance of the foot slipping laterally. It's a subtle but significant detail that I believe enhances both the look and the wearability. "Miss Arches" isn't just a shoe; it's a statement. It's the culmination of a quest for the ultimate in height and class, a design that truly makes the arch pop and the wearer stand tall.

We are delighted to have been able to fulfill your wishes. Looking forward to starting the next project.