JeffB

To answer your question, it wasn't something I did overnight. It took time to develop the nerve to wear "non-male" shoes over a lengthy period of time. I started out with stack heeled loafers, then progressed to boots, finally, when I thought the time was right and everyone at the office where I work had grown used to what I was wearing (they all knew I was wearing women's shoes, and pantyhose as well), then I started in with the pumps. Boy, that was sure scary at first, but, the more I wore them, the more comfortable I felt, and the easier it became, thanks to how well I was complimented on the shoes I wore. It was a progressive process, but a worthwhile one that has expanded my horizons of fashion.

Well, there's really nothing to it. I've been wearing pumps at the office, incluidng black patent daily for quite some time now and have been warmly accepted in them, so opting for a lighter color should be a problem since everyone already knows what to expect. As for beyond work, well, I usually don't go out to much as I'm something of a homebody, but when I do, it's usually in stack heeled loafers or boots. And yes, I'll keep everyone appraised of my progress with the lighter colored shoes!

With spring a few weeks away, I've decided that it's time to push the envelope just a little further and wear lighter colored shoes at the office. While black is a nice color, I want to try something different, something a tad bolder. Check out the below for what I have in mind:

The Etienne Aigner "Taylor" 33921 pump in bone is just perfect for wear with navy or olive colored outfits. I'm sure I'll get lots of compliments from my co-workers in those shoes!! :-) Perhaps by the time fall arrives, I'll invest in the 33924 pump in putty which would match well with brown outfits. Perhaps I'll make it a clean sweep and get the navy pumps as well! I'm really looking forward to this experiment, and I'll keep everyone posted on my progress....

Most impressive indeed, xaphod! Those pumps look quite sharp! I hope you'll enjoy them!

Squirrel, the only way to gain confidence is to just go and do it! I know that must sounds screamingly simplistic, but it's also quite true. I've been wearing heels, standard pumps in fact in public for almost two years, and, after some initial nervousness, I found it's not such a big deal. I don't hide them because I hae no fear of the reactions of others. Once you overcome any nervousness you may have, the confidence will come, and you'll feel so much better about yourself. :_D

Yes, it is easy for me to forget that I'm wearing heels while at the office because wearing them has become as natural to me as breathing itself. And that only increases my enjoyment wearing them is second nature to me! :-)

I've found that 99 percent of the populace are too wrapped up in their own affairs to notice, or care what sort of shoes people wear. And that sort of apathy is a helpful thing indeed! :-)

A most eye-catching and interesting sight indeed. And I agree wholeheartedly that a pair of heels would've matched perfectly with that outfit. In fact, I daresay that heels NEEDED to go with that ensemble! :-D

Right now there's about a couple dozen bottles of fine wine that could use all that cork! :-D

Trying shoes on unnoticed? Jeez! Where's the fun in that? :-D I don't bother with trying to be covert in a shoe store, for one, it's virtually impossible to do, if you're not being noticed by customers, then by salespersons. And the attempt might draw suspicion that you're trying to steal something. So, if you ask me, the only way to go is to be open about it. Perhaps I'm being simplistic, but it's really no big deal, shoes are shoes are shoes, what should you care if someone notices you, it's none of their business anyway. If you're calm, cool and casual about what you;re doing, just like every other customer, it's a breeze! This goes for any newbie reading these words of wit(?), just go out there and do it!!!!!

In sports, there's a term called "paralysis by analysis", so I like to keep things simple as far as my footwear preferences: Styles: pumps and boots (full shaft or ankle height) Material: mainly leather Colors: black and brown (but I'm thinking of adding navy) Heel heights: 3 inch minimum, 4 inch preference Heel type: Blade, stiletto and block Like I said, keep things simple! :-)

This is just my opinion mind you, but I think some, if not most women find the notion of a man wearing high heels fascinating insofar as how guys look in such shoes, how they pair them with specific outfits, and how men manage to walk in them. Using myself as an example, I've been told openly by women that I look quite stylish in pumps (my shoe of choice) and that I wear them well. It also helps that I dress well and make sure that I look as best I can be when I'm out and about, especially in the office environment I'm in. I could be wrong, but I think women view what we're doing as a bold fashion statement, not unlike long hair and earrings. We seek to stand out from the crowd in out own way, and I'm sure women, for the most part find it all rather intriguing. Again, that's just my opinion.

As much as I love pumps, that particular style isn't for me either. I'd definitely need a more squarish toe and a vamp that's a little shorter. I doubt I'd last more than an hour in shoes like those!

Well, outside of losing ten or fifteen pounds, my resolution for 2003 is to broaden my high heel horizons, as in wearing different colors instead of black. I've already got brown pumps in my collection, next up, navy, and by spring----white! Maybe even red! I definitely plan to push the envelope and see just how far I can go! Should be lots of fun! :-D

Rose colored glasses? No, I don't think so. I'm sure there have been snickers and snide remarks said to my back in whispers since I began wearing heels in public. In fact, I'd been shocked if that wasn't the case. But I've long since came to expect that sort of thing and let it all roll off my back. And since no one's actually said anything to my face, I'm not going to worry about that. I'm just going to continue doing what I'm doing and have fun in the process.

Thanks for your opinions, Susan. I forgot to mention that there are a good 200 people at the place where I work, spread out over four floors, and I get around a fair amount during the course of a workday, so a great many people see me. Everyone there is very comfortable with me and I'm well liked, which is why no one's raised an eyebrow regarding the shoes I choose to wear. As for the conversations about same, nine times out of ten, the women ask me to join in their little chats, which I find rather remarkable. They tell me I'm extremely bold, even courageous when it comes to wearing women's shoes in public, that I wear them well and are impressed with how well I walk in them. As for the few men who work there, for the most part, they don't say anything about them. The important thing is that I'm still respected by all my co-workers, both male and female, my superiors haven't said a thing about my shoes, or if I'm violating the company dress code, I don't think I am, nor do i think it even covers men wearing women's shoes! I'm continuing to enjoy myself each and every day. :-D

"What do women think about men in high heels?" Well, I like to think I bring an interesting perspective to this particular subject. I work at an office complex that's a good niety-five percent female, and when I started wearing block heels there two years ago, I was amazed to discover that the women had absolutely no problem with it, in fact, they thought my shoes looked nice. A year later, I gradually eveolved from block heeled loafers to boots, to full blown pumps which are now my every day shoe of choice. Not only haven't I been harshly criticized for wearing women's shoes openly, I've been highly complimented instead. I've been told by my female co-workers that I look sharp in pumps, one lady told me I have better taste in shoes than most women she knows. Almost every day, I find myself in lively and enjoyable chats with the ladies about shoe styles we like, and I'm always asked where I find mine since 13 wide isn't available everywhere. I've found all the praise I've gotten from female co-workers both surprising, and refreshing, knowing that there are openminded people in this world who don't think me to be odd or unusual becuase of the shoes I choose to wear.

Sorry, but my shoe of choice are pumps. I'm inclined to think I couldn't pull off wearing sandals, so I don't even try. But hey, as long as you enjoy them, that's the important thing! :-D

Well, whaddaya know! A high heeled Timberland boot! Take away the spiked heel, round off the toes and that's just what you've got! I think I'll pass on that monstrosity!

As Spock would say: "Fascinating." For the record, I was shy as well when I was a kid. But, things have changed considerably for me today, after all, you can't be shy and wear women's shoes openly in public! :-D

I have #1 and #6 in my ever growing footwear collection and they're quite stylish indeed. Just last weekend, I found and bought these from Payless:

It's a full shaft version of number six, complete with the same sort of blade heel. I wasted no time wearing them to work on Monday and my co-workers were suitably impressed. One lady said they looked really sleek and that I have better taste in shoes than most women she knows! Just the sort of reaction I hoped for! :-)

OOF!! I ate WA-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-Y to much with relatives on Thursday, then had the colossal nerve to take home a doggie bag which I polished off the following evening. Good thing the weekend's here, 'cause I need to get in lots and lots of exercise to burn off all these calories! :-D

Very stylish, Joak! I'm assuming the heel is five inches? I don't know if I could wear something that bright at the office, still, they are mondo cool! :-)

Well, I'm of the opinion that looking stylish can be sexy as well. The first time I wore black from head to toe at the office (open necked shirt, tailored pants, hosiery and patent pumps), everyone said I looked great and attractive. If you look the very best you can, even in clothes that aren't considered sexy, then you can be looked upon as sexy! :-D

Just like with Firefox, it's the women who notice me when I'm in heels while men don't even bother to glance, and that includes the very few men at the office where I work. I've had women walk up to me on the street who don't know me from Adam and compliment me on how nice my shoes are, and admire me for both the courage it takes for me as a man to wear high heels in public, and the ability I show to walk in them as easily as any woman. And I never grow tired of getting praise like that! :-D