Sly Fox

I've not been online here for ages, so this may be too late, but Pure Collection ( www.purecollection.com ) has some beautiful cashmere cardigans. There is an American branch on their website that's well worth a look, plus they've got a sale on now.

If you end up going for cashmere just make sure you wrap it up well from the moths. There's nothing more upsetting than finding it chomped 

I adore LKB shoes, after discovering their shops In London in about 1999-ish. I was made up when they crept further North. I'm not sure how many shops they have near where you are, but I've learnt that even when shoes I've been eyeing up on the website have apparently sold out, there are plenty in the London-based shops, so it's probably worth giving them a call if ever there are a pair you can't get online :-)

I once heard that a man looks for a characteristic/quality/trait of his mothers, in his partner. This intrigued me, so I asked my other half what I had in common with his mother. My intrigue soon turned to abject horror. After a moment's consideration, the reply came back "You're both good cooks". That's not true. I'm no Delia, but she's an insult to the kitchen (and I really hope he doesn't read this....) What do you have in common with your other half's mother?

I've read what was written, and whilst I understand the thinking behind it, if I personally don't do anything about the dead skin on my feet I end up with revolting trotters - it doesn't sort itself out naturally for me, and I've never found the removal of hard skin to cause me any subsequent problems. I don't feel that it's caused by prolonged wear of badly fitting shoes as I don't wear shoes in the house and most of the time at work I have to wear flat clogs. When they need sorting out, I give my (dry) feet a going-over with a good foot-file before showering, and before going to sleep slather them with a rich, moisturising foot cream (both the file and the cream I use are made by Scholl), then put on a pair of cotton socks (I got a pair from The Body Shop, allegedly specifically for this) and go to sleep. They definitely feel softer in the morning.

It's a bit difficult to diagnose with what you've written there. You may have strained your lateral collateral ligament, or it may be that your ilio-tibial band (which runs down the outer aspect of your leg) is rather tight - although that tends to be a bit more exercise related (runners get it, and mine sometimes plays up when I go horse-riding). Is it sore anywhere to touch/press ? If it were "nerve-pain" the most common culprit would be your sciatic nerve, which travels down through your buttock down the back of your leg, and the pain follows that distribution. I'm not entirely convinced that what you've written sounds like that. If it's either of the last two, there are exercises to help out (although sciatica may well need more than just exercises, mind) If it is exacerbated by wearing the heels, I would try giving them a break for a while to allow any inflammation to settle down, and I certainly wouldn't advise choosing a time when you're having trouble with your knee to take up an activity which will put additional strain on your joint. If it persists go to see your family doctor (GP in this country ?family physician in the US - not sure!!) so that you can get someone to actually look at and examine it, rather than people hazarding a guess. Hope it clears up soon, though and keep us posted.

I don't think it is down to the shoes themselves, but more the attitude of the wearer. A submissive person won't change their personality trait because of their shoes (although they may feel more confident for reasons mentioned in one of your earlier threads), and equally someone who is dominant won't change if they wear flats. I know of enough women who are submissive and wear high heels - I (rather unkindly??!!) wonder whether there's a small element of seeking male approval behind some of that - maybe that is what people view as being submissive? I'm sure there will be a chorus of disgust at my writing that..... sorry!! I think that a lot of the discussion comes down to the confidence and heels thing, and whether wearing them makes you feel more confident and why. Once I'm at work I am compelled to wear flat shoes, but that doesn't change my attitude or my status. The latter is what I've worked hard to achieve and what makes me dominant, not my shoes

When on my holidays recently, I was out wearing a pair of high strappy sandals, with a corsage attached to the straps. From nowhere, a stray cat appeared and started to take a huge interest in my feet, sniffing and inspecting the corsages in particular. It wasn't interested in being stroked at all, and after a minute or two it backed off. I went over to it to stroke it, but it wasn't bothered so I left it alone. As I was turning to walk away it started to crouch down low, then started to take a run at me. This feral cat was going to "kill" my shoes. Needless to say, I didn't give it the opportunity, but I was gobsmacked. What surprising things have happened to others wearing their heels?

I think one leads to the other - what it does for your legs and posture, and knowing that it looks good GIVES you confidence. As for the height of heel, they tend to range from about 2 to 4 inches. It also depends upon how long my feet will be in them for.

Kim Cattrall wears a pair of OTK boots in the first SATC movie (when she's attending the New York fashion show) and nearly goes flying in them. It's paired with a white fur coat (disapprove of) and grey dress and looks stunning on her

Pointy, pointy and pointy. But you've also got to give your feet a rest from them, or else you'll end up with pointy feet as well. Not a good look.

Black BMW 3-series convertible. Beautiful car. When the engine-management light doesn't light up and spoil my day - which happens with appalling regularity. And the bloody tyres are a rip-off too. Swindling BMW bas***rds..........

Me. And he knows it only too well After a long time on my own, then a shambles of a relationship, my independence is paramount. If he doesn't like who or what I am, he can walk - I'm not changing myself for anyone and won't be pushed around. I'm in charge of who I am and am better-paid. than he is. I looked after myself before he came along and can do so again. He struggles with "not being needed" but I'll never be dependent on anyone. It's extremely empowering. Possibly too much so. I may have turned into a bit of a hard-faced, defensive bi**h !!! x

I empathise with the destruction above - I seem to do that mostly on expensive boots :-< What seems to cause me most problems is stairs. Going up them whilst wearing a long coat/skirt I have to be very careful not to stand on them. Going down them I seem to have a very nasty habit of catching my heel in the hem, and really getting it stuck in there !! I nearly broke my neck coming down stairs a couple of weeks ago when my boot heel got well and truly snagged in the hem of my flared skirt. Had I not had a good hold of the handrail I'd have made bits of myself.

Mine has a thing for boots. I always used to rather like them but my collection has definitely increased significantly because of his preferences. I wouldn't buy anything which I didn't like but he did, BECAUSE of him, and I'll wear them only as and when I choose. I've also got a pair of loafers which I only occasionally wear and without exception get criticised for them which naffs me off a bit :-< Occasionally my feet need a break....

Surely it's more than 80% ? They may not like ALL high heels but I'd say more than 80% if they see a pair they like.....

I agree with Walkonit. wearing high heels alters your centre of gravity and distorts your posture, which may look good, but isn't actually any good for your spine. Deal with your recovery - strengthen your spinal muscles with swimming, yoga etc - and concentrate on that. When you do get back into your heels will depend upon your own recovery, but whenever that is, don't wear them for very long at a stretch. Also, as Alsheels said, you'll have to be very careful not to trip. The recent trend for platform heels, which may look gorgeous, is causing a huge rise in ankle fractures. Rather than falling from 4-6inches, people are falling from 8+inches and completely knackering their ankles in a far more long-term way than they realise. That may not be your primary concern as such, and I don't know if that's what you wear, but a fall like that has certainly also got the potential to bu**er your back too. Take it easy - there's no rush.... : )

I agree with the opinion that you've started to shorten your Achilles tendon. If it were something like sciatica you'd get a searing pain going down the back of your leg, and wearing high heels wouldn't improve it at all. For a multitude of reasons, beautiful though they may be, you shouldn't wear high heels all the time, be it down to what it does to the muscles of your legs, the bones in your feet and your overall posture. Although they make you look elegant they can throw your centre of gravity out enough to give you back problems. When you get home at night you really ought to take 'em off and give your feet, and the rest of you a break. I know I sound like a terrible killjoy, and I apologise. I do wear them, and they give me so much more confidence than flat shoes, but even I recognise that they need to come off at the end of the day ; )

Hello Bobypilote !! Coming from the female perspective, I do feel less noticeable when I wear flats. That's probably also because I'm a bit of a short-a**e, x

Thank you everyone for being such sweethearts !!

Have you tried Allopurinol ? The indomethacin will help for the pain as it's an anti-inflammatory drug ( but you may need to take something to protect your stomach, such as lansoprazole or ranitidine ), but the allopurinol will actually help to prevent the build up of urate crystals, ie treat the cause. Have a little look at it on-line and I hope this helps, x

If I can suss out how to upload pics then I'll have a go. Although I'm not a complete brain donor, I'm NOT technically minded !!

Thanks very much for your warm welcome !! As for the shoes I wear, I tend to prefer stiletto heels. Anything pretty, pointy and with a good ol' spiky heel on it floats my boat, not necessarily too high. I think sling-backs look exquisite, but keeping the little suckers on my feet is a nightmare !!

Hello Jodhpur Girl, I love heels and generally gorgeous shoes too, and jodhpurs but find the latter rather unforgiving to those of us who are not in the greatest shape...

Am a complete novice to this - a forum-virgin:wink1: so please be gentle !! After a recent split-up am finding that gorgeous shoes have helped me walk a little taller and will not break my heart. Possibly my ankles though......