radiodave

I was home feeling ill today, but I felt well enough to run an errand. I just picked up a pair of skinny jeans from the other side of the store over the weekend, and wore them with my Aldo "Hortensia" boots, black shirt, and denim handbag. We're getting our soaking from the rains, so I had my black leather jacket. I went to pick up some supplies for our community theater, and it was in one of these office complexes where they buzz you in, but I managed to follow somebody returning from lunch. Told him I needed some supplies, so he took me over to his desk. His colleague glanced at my boots, but that was it. Other than having my handbag hit the deck when I leaned over to sign the receipt, pretty uneventful. Got back home and one of the neighbors was arriving home. Well, if the cat wasn't out of the bag already, it is now.

Sounds like that shrink wasn't much of a shrink. If she was wearing pants I would have turned it around on her and ask her if she secretly wants to be a man if she's one wearing the pants in her family. Better yet, just ask her why she chose to wear pants instead of wearing a dress or skirt like she's "supposed to". I like your response, though. Good luck on tonight's "interview".

Just got these from Aldo. Love them. Very comfortable, and they fit me like a glove.

Not really any bad experiences in heels, but I did have a strange experience involving nail polish. Some coworkers and I went out for a beer after work, and for some odd reason two ladies were exchanging nail polish. One of them turned to the guys at the table and said "So, can I paint any of your nails?". On a whim, I said "Sure.". So she painted all 10 of my fingernails a shade of red. Well, a few of the guys chuckled, one guy said (and probably still thinks) I'm gay, but I just laughed it off. Now, the strange thing was I was driving my antique car that day, and 3 times on the way home it vapor locked. The last time it stalled out just a few blocks from my house. A bunch of folks walked over to offer their help, and I'm sure they must have thought it odd to see me wearing red nail polish while working under the hood of my little British sports car trying to prime the fuel pump. There was this brief moment of thinking "Aw geez, why oh why did I let her paint my nails, and why did the car have to pick today of all days to give me trouble?", but no harm done.

Unless they have a dress code stating what's acceptable, they really can't unless it would interfere with your job. I could see how if you have customer interaction they might have something to say about it since you are presenting the company's image, but customer service or retail positions would usually spell out what the dress code is. I don't really interact with customers, so while my colleagues might laugh at it, the company can't fire me or send me home for it. Since we have other engineers routinely wearing sweat pants, t-shirts and jeans, and other casual items, I don't think they would really care.

Interestingly, Aldo's reviews allow the reviewer to state whether they are male or female.

Oh, I'm sure they'll be open minded. Last spring we had a guy known among our theater group try out for a female role in a comedy. We thought it was a little unusual, but the director got a chuckle out of his Dame Edna persona and cast him. The audiences loved it. The only difference is I'm not trying out for a part or wearing a costume, so I could see some head scratching as to the "why" question. Also, I never told them the primary reason why my whacko ex-girlfriend thinks I'm gay and went out in a hissy fit, I sort of left out that part. They are pretty sure she's got a few loose screws anyway, but I could see having to "come clean" on that little detail. That's the part that has me a little nervous.

I came so close to wearing my new boots last night. I volunteer with a community theater group, and I'm their VP. Last night was a board meeting, and at the last minute I chickened out and put on my flat riding boots instead. I'm the youngest on the board, and my guess is being theater folks and my friends they would be cool with it, but I just didn't quite have the gumption to do that. FYI, the ones I wanted to wear were these in black: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/g+by+guess+ringster+wide+calf+boot?prodId=258539&brand=dsw12brand9800002&activeCats=women,dsw12brand9800002&isBrand=y&categoryName=women Any thoughts? Words of wisdom? My original plan was just to wear them, and if anybody asked why I'm wearing them I'd just say they are comfortable and I like them.

I got these G by Guess "Ringster" boots. Very comfortable.

http://www.dsw.com/shoe/g+by+guess+ringster+wide+calf+boot?prodId=258539&brand=dsw12brand9800002&activeCats=women,dsw12brand9800002&isBrand=y&categoryName=women

I think I know what I want to do, even though it's not exactly a costume. I want to wear my dark blue dress shirt, tie, dark sport coat, black dress slacks, and either my black Jessica Simpson "Adeni" pumps, or my purple Aldo "Jonquiere" pumps, no socks. Why? Because I like the look, it's stylish, albeit unusual, and it's Halloween. I'm co-directing a play and we have a rehearsal that night, so I'm sure my co-director and cast will get a look. I'm a regular at the karaoke bar, and some of the other regulars have already talked about having a costume night, so maybe I'll go there after our rehearsal. I'm not sure I'm ready to "come out" to friends, but I figure on Halloween it might be more "accepted". It could be interesting if they ask "so what are you going to do with those shoes after today?".

Nope, you're not alone. I still have occasions where I think "Why do I do this?".

Heelster: Thanks! We may have to meet up sometime. SleekHeels: Now that would be a neat look, although these show a little toe cleavage.

Today I went by Aldo to exchange a pair of pumps I bought last week. Silly me, they apparently got the hint that their sizes ran small, and the saleslady mentioned they changed their sizing. So of course I ended up with ones that were a size too big. I wore a yellow shirt, gray pants, and black flats with black tights. They didn't have the correct size, but they will ship them out. Went next door to Dillard's to have a look, and found a nice pair of Jessica Simpson pumps. Just a plain, black pump, but a nice heel on it. No qualms from the saleslady, but then I recognize her and figure she probably remembers me. Shoot, I LIKE these pumps and they fit well. So what am I going to do? Wear them after I've bought them, of course! Changed into them right there. Feeling a little nervous since I'm in the swanky mall with teenagers galore, but I got a smile from a couple coming up the escalator, and the guy passing out cologne samples handed me one like I was anybody else, telling me what it was called. Made my way across the parking lot, and yep, these are actually comfortable for walking. Went down the road to a different mall, feeling a little more at ease since I haven't worn stilettos in public much. Got a few looks, but that's all. Stopped in the Aldo there, and tried on a pair of wedges, but they were a little too high, even for me. I noticed that compared to experiences from a while back, I think the sales folk are really getting used to guys buying heels. It used to be that they'd be polite, but you could detect that "Am I really seeing this? Is this guy for real? OMG, I wish I had a camera!" from the smile. Now they just seem pretty used to it and it's just like I'm buying shoes for work. The Dillard's there was having a clearance sale, but I didn't spot much. I did get an approving nod from the sales guy working there though. I made my way over to DSW, and despite teenage girls shopping with their mothers, they didn't seem too interested. I found a nice pair of boots, and they fit well. Not real high heels, they might be middle of the road for street heeling.

Not much of an adventure today. I thought really hard about going to the dentist wearing heels this morning, but decided against it. This evening I had to go to the ATM, and I needed to pick up mouthwash at the drugstore. My hygienist recommended it since my gums aren't all that happy. I wore a yellow polo shirt, jeans, and my beige espadrille wedges. The elderly guy behind me at the checkout didn't seem too interested. As I got into my car, I noticed a teenage girl who had been at the cosmetics counter had followed me out and got into her friend's car, and they were both looking over my way with smiles on their faces. I just smiled back and thought they must have been something new for them.

Oh yes. Love the Christian Louboutin Bloody Mary heels, but sadly out of production. Even the ones on Ebay are still expensive.

Yep, I just bought a pair, very comfortable. Only $100 at DSW.

Got my Jeffrey Campbell Nightwalks today. Wow, those are high. I might have to reconsider whether I want to attempt wearing them on Halloween. They are surprisingly easy to walk in and fit beautifully though. Even going up and down stairs is no sweat, they are quite stable. I don't think I'd try driving in them though, that seems risky.

Hi Ron, I'd say they are roomy for a size 9. Boots in a 9 are normally a little snug, and occasionally I have to go to a 9.5 or 10.

I went by DSW on the way home from work, and saw a pair of boots I really liked. They had block heels, and not too outlandish. I forgot I had a coupon, so I went on home, got my coupon, and changed into my thin trouser socks, and the Payless flats from above. Not a bad look, and the flats actually went well with the thin black socks. I went to another DSW after looking online to see if this other store had them in stock, and set forth. Sure enough, I found them, and tried them on next to the full length mirror. Not too shabby, I love them already and they are very comfortable. At the checkout the young lady commented they were really nice boots (Jessica Simpson "Torta"). I changed in the car, and thought I'd stop by the Starbucks for a coffee. The crowd of teenagers sitting out front barely noticed, even though it was hard to hide the noise. One guy in the store looked down and smiled, but that was it. I had to stop by the drugstore on the way home to pick up something. Must be getting braver, this is the one I go to frequently that's close to my house. Wasn't too concerned about running into my neighbors, and even though I clopped my way to the very back of the store, folks didn't seem to take notice that there's guy making that clopping noise. Got my things and went on home. Another small step the other day, I was wearing my Payless flats sans socks the other day, when my next door neighbor came knocking on my door. I'm sure he must have seen them, especially when my cat made a break for it and tried to slip outside. Not a thing was mentioned.

I couldn't resist, I've been drooling over them since I first heard of them. I broke down and bought a pair of Jeffrey Campbell Night Walk heelless heels. I found them on Ebay in my size. I'm also very tempted to wear them on Halloween, except that I'm co-directing a play and we have a rehearsal that night. Not sure what my friend who is co-directing would think, although she would probably find it more amusing than anything. Theater folks don't get too bent out of shape about things like that. I'd probably have to worry more about our cast focusing on their acting than my shoes!

Tough to say, since I don't have kids. A lot would depend on what his mom thinks about my own heeling. If he wanted to wear women's sandals that weren't too outlandish, I'd probably say OK. If he was in his teens and was curious about what high heels were like to wear, I'd get mom involved and see if she has strong feelings against it. If she's not against it, I'd admire his courage for speaking up and thinking for himself, and help him pick out a pair for himself. If he tried them and finds out that he wants to wear them all the time, then... I don't know. I think I'd have to say no to wearing them to school, lest he get sent home. If he wanted to wear them around the house, I wouldn't mind. If he wanted to wear them outside the house, I'd make sure he really understands what he's doing and that not everyone is going to think it's cool. It would also depend on what mom thinks. If she ain't happy, then nobody's happy. I'd still make sure he knows that I still love him even if he wants to wear heels, and I hope mom would do the same.

Not religious necessarily, but here's conservative drivel that represents narrow thinking.

http://newsbusters.o...ants-wear-dress

Steve

Oh brother. The NY Times article was interesting, but most of the comments on this one are pathetic. Only a couple of comments trying to go against the prevailing neanderthal comments, but no big surprise that the few who seem to have some gray matter between the ears didn't get much of any reply to their opposing view. I'm thinking if some of those commenters found our site, they'd probably have a heart attack.

I know who it wasn't - - Me.

Could that have been Spikes Mike??

Yes, that is Spikesmike.

I'll have to admit I really like the Jeffrey Campbell Nightwalks. Urban Outfitters has them, and from pictures of women wearing them, I think they are awesome. I wouldn't mind trying them myself if I could justify the price.

Thanks all, it feels good to be back. Heelster, I went over to Great Northern Mall, just west of the airport off I-480. I think that's actually in North Olmstead. There's Aldo, Macy's, Dillard's, Payless, Charlotte Russe, Shoe Dept., and there's a DSW next door. Since Sleekheels pointed out I didn't have a good shot of the suede pumps, here they are: