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I just spent a week travelling around by Britain, mainly by rail, and nearly every day wearing a pair of brown suede OTK boots over skinny jeans. They were standard heels admittedly, not high heels, but still very definitely OTK boots, with ornamental lacing down the sides and straps and buckles over the instep - styling that would very definitely be regarded as feminine by society at large. Over the course of the week I passed through several big cities, several main train stations and had meals in working class pubs - some of which were busy, others of which were quiet and where patrons were more likely to notice newcomers. And not once did my choice of footwear evoke so much as a second glance. No compliments, but no censorious looks either. In fact, my footwear choice did not seem to register with anybody at all, not the lest little bit, which is just as it should be. I'm not out trying to attract attention or push an agenda but simply wearing a style of boot I liked, which looked nice and was suitable for where I was going and what I was doing. I make the point not for the regular posters here, to whom this would be preaching to the choir, but for those hesitating on the sidelines, wondering what the reactions might be if oe steps out in more theatrical footwear. The answer: none.

The concept of this blog seems very simple, but how to begin? At least I managed to come up with a wacky title. I have been meaning to feature the following shoes for a long time because they are among the first heels I ever purchased with a serious intent to wear them in public. They have also turned out to be, thus far, my most durable pair of heels. Though I have mentioned them many times in passing over the years, let me formally introduce you to my Nine West “Sizzle” oxfords in plain black leather. I purchased them on January 4, 2013. Going back through my records, I evidently paid $99 for them from Amazon. This was probably pretty close to full price, which is something I never do anymore. However, in retrospect, I can’t say that I didn’t get my money’s worth. My motivation for buying these particular shoes has been lost to the sands of time, but I can tell you that this was my second pair of this model. The first pair I had was black patent, rather than just plain black, and was U.S. Women’s size 9. I always thought that they were a bit too tight, and so I got rid of them and got the instant shoes in a size 9 1/2. I did that often in those days, that is, bought stuff in 9 1/2 or even 10. I am not sure why, but I would never make that mistake today. I am pretty clearly and solidly a size 9. As a result, I have to wear thick socks with these oxfords. This is simultaneously a plus and a minus. I hate how the shoes are really too big, but on the other hand, the cushioning provided by thick socks may be the secret to why they are an any occasion, all-the-time shoe--in the winter, anyway. Just so you know, just so you do not doubt my proclivities, I never wear these, ever, from about mid-May to mid-October. What would a Melrose expository post be without statistics? Here are the numbers: 4 3/4” heel, 3/4” platform, for an effective steepness of right at 4 inches. Diameter of the heels is about 3/4”. I have had them reheeled three times, and am very, very close to needing No. 4. I have walked 191 documented miles in these, plus any number of undocumented/incidental miles. I feel like they are going to fail sometime on the next reheel, and I will be sad when they do. I think I have worn these in every situation that I normally encounter in life, and some that I don’t normally encounter. I have worn these with men’s suits to church, and I have worn them with jeans for my neighborhood constitutionals. I know I have worn them on at least one occasion to work the “big” farmer’s market, which involves standing for five hours. I have worn them on a walk that exceeded 5 miles, 6.1 to be exact. I have only ever done this with 3 pairs of shoes over the past 11 years. After all this use, they still shine up pretty well!

My latest heel purchase finally can in. First time even trying a Journee product. These are from the Journee Collection (whatever that is) called Markie Stiletto Booties. I got them because I’m looking for something in this color tone – gray. My normal size is 10, but I got them in a size 11 because of the pointed toes. However, they are too large. You just cant win. So, I’m going to exchange them for a smaller size.

So true. I hate that stereotype

Another high school band concert last night. Amazingly, there were lots of heels! Of course, they were all low- to mid-heels, but it was pleasantly surprising, especially when the band director put, and I quote, "Flats are preferred over heels" right in the email reminding students of the dress requirements for the concert.

You are correct @AlexC94 And yes they are very nice!

Wow Cali in stilettos, like it.

I didn't wear the boots in the snow--I wore clogs. The snow wasn't too deep, so I figured I'd wear my very high platform clogs, and the strategy worked. I did not have a previous picture of my giant Sam Edelman platform clogs, so I had to take one in the time honored location of the washing machine. Then I switched to the boots for church, and wound up wearing those well into the evening, including testing out my son's new-to-him, but very old, motorbike. I still say it's not all that fun to ride a regular motorcycle in heels. Here's something strange about how I'm built. The snow started falling on Saturday afternoon, but none of it stuck to the ground because the temperature was above freezing. As it continued falling overnight, the temperature dropped down to about 25º, or -4º C. I wore my clogs barefoot, and they were high enough that I didn't get any significant amount of snow in my shoes. I also wore medium weight gloves. Not super heavy, but some amount of insulation in them. By the time I got back home, my fingers were like little blocks of ice, but my feet were slightly damp from sweating. How is this even possible?

To differentiate men from women. Men's shoes have to be ugly, gross, big, bold so they're manly. Some say...

Sunday's outfit. You can't really see the outfit because of the coat, but it was rather cold and snowy yesterday. It seemed easiest to wear my Vince Camuto knee high boots. The platform clogs I wore on my morning constitutional seemed too casual for church, but they did leave some nice looking footprints in the snow. Edit: And once again, I have no idea why certain random pictures load sideways and can't be turned, at least not by me.

ASOS currently has on its UK website some 56 items of men's footwear described as 'heeled'. Several of these styles have been shown here before. Overall, they are a mixed bag, with the more extreme examples being unlikely to have much appeal to those here who value their feelings for taste, reputation (or sanity). One of the newer items that I would certainly never wear is these OTK boots: Take four bricks and two black binliners and assemble as shown! They are listed as available in sizes UK6 - UK12 and the discounted price today is £72.00, or less with extra discount code. Would anyone here like to wear them (outside Halloween)?

Last night was the first jazz band concert of the season. My younger entered high school this fall, and for the first time experienced the pressure of actually having to audition to get into a group. I was seated on the very wrong side of the auditorium, but oh well. Good pictures shouldn't be the major part of the experience anyway. I can report that there were at least three girls wearing what you could call heels at the concert. There may have been more, but it's awfully tough to see into the back row, and I didn't hang around any longer than necessary. I would estimate the total number of girls participating in this concert was about 30. There were no boys wearing heels except for me. I managed to capture in incidental pictures, and then zoom in on later, an example of what was the highest of the heels, worn by the vibraphonist, who appeared to be a senior. Pointy-toed suede or faux suede boots. There was another girl in a different band who wore fuchsia mules with 3 or 3 1/2" block heels. The prescribed uniform for all of the jazz bands is "Solid black with a splash of color." I found it interesting and admirable that this girl chose her shoes as the splash of color. I'm gonna guess they were prom shoes, and have only been worn one other time. I guess heels are not completely dead yet, they are just on life support. One could say that during my own high school days, something closer to 15 girls out of 30 would be wearing heels. Yes and no, because the majority of those would have been 1 1/2" or less, and can you really call those heels?

Here are my latest. The brand is fashion nova. They have a snake print and a chunkier heel measuring in at four and a half inches.

My latest pair of boots, KG Carvela "Specious", leather ankle boots. 4.5" heel (doesn't sound too high, but i have a size 5uk foot, about 7.5us (38eu), so has a nice arch for my small foot The front zip caught my attention :)

There may be an old thread on this but I can't find it. Even in London it's rare to see men wearing heels in public. Yesterday evening I saw a man on the Tube (London Underground) wearing ankle boots with about 2.5" block heels. Black suede or fake suede, simple design. He was in his 50s or 60s and otherwise unremarkable. I was wearing my Hush Puppies brown wedge ankle boots with about 2.75" heel.

Even I subdue my footwear in international locations. I wore the booties that lost the heel recent in Australia. A similar pair in Canada, England and Scotland. But in Argentina and Chile I went with a 2 inch heel.

Interesting the note would even be sent like that and more interesting it was ignored. Nothing makes teenagers do things in a certain way better than suggesting or telling them not to. Next time hopefully they say high heels are discouraged.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm doing random heelings it's been 1.5 years now and having almost the same no-big-deal thing. I rarely got compliments from strangers, 3 to be exact, all from men. I've got one laugh from a girl on a group of teenagers at the street in plain daylight but not sure it was on me. I've got stares from a right-wing radical group at a McDonalds restaurant once. No problem in the end but I know I was on their radar. I was with wife and kids so I found it threatening for them. Anyway, I try to be careful where I go and avoid heels on small villages where I can find trouble. Don't know how it goes in England but I see you're doing the experiment

That's why they invented faux suede for you birtish chaps.

Update, exchanged the booties for a smaller size. Get them next week. I hope.

I'm not fond of pointed toes myself, but I do like the lines of those ankle boots. They're very nice.

I have many pairs of stilettoes: sandals, booties and knee highs. The only heels I don't wear are pumps. My feet weren't made for pumps and pumps are not made to fit my feet.

I WOULD WEAR THOSE IN A HEARTBEAT!!!!!!!!!!

I recently got 2 new pairs of heels: leather Pleaser Adore 1020, 7 inch heel platform boots and a pair of Mary Janes from Amazon by a brand called MissHeel. The platform pleasers are a perfect fit as usual, and I took them out for a concert to swap into on the eve of my birthday, Tuesday November 21. I swapped into them and I got a lot of good looks, especially from a group of ladies who asked me how I mange to walk in such high heels. They were in awe of my ability to not fall over in them. After the show, I decided to walk to the train station next to the venue in them. The pathway was a little challenging with a slight incline and a spiral staircase with some wet leaves on them but neither really stopped me to make me swap out into my other shoes. I kept them on and didn't take them off until I got home. I had no munters laughing at me, no slurs and no any rude gestures, maybe because it was a late and weekday night. The only person who said about my shoes was an older man calling me brave for walking in them. I stayed in them, got off the train in them, and I never got a single bad word said. It was great. The other photos are of the Amazon Mary Janes from MissHeel. I got them on November 22, my 29th birthday 🥳. They're fine on my right foot but the toe box on the left is a little snug but not to the point of them being very uncomfortable. After a while of breaking them in, its no problem. They're very nice to wear and easy to walk in.

And these from ASOS are little better: ASOS has several other nen's boots with chunky platforms of doubtful appeal. That does seem to be a current trend, alas.

I am seriously considering doing a feature on my shoe collection. Maybe not individually, and maybe not every pair I own, but I definitely want to hit the high spots, and make some comments about the history and the life with a particular pair. Some might get grouped together, like all of the Steve Madden pumps, because, well, there's not much to tell about them individually. The question is, what to call such a thread. I wanted to use the word "exposé," but it has the wrong sort of shade to it, unless I meant to reveal how boring my collection actually is, and how the adventures are less adventuresome than most people imagine. Any title ideas for such a thread? As an introduction, I was going to start off with my most durable pair of shoes, and reveal some interesting statistics and observations. The "teaser" picture is here: