Sangue16

Definitely post some pictures. You could try spraying them gently with warm water, maybe in a squirt bottle, or laying soaked wash clothes over the mud. Don't scrub at your uppers! The mud/gravel will scratch it. Slooowly, bit by bit, wipe the mud off. Once that is all off, you can probably determine if anything else is worth the effort (to me, designer heels are worth it!! lol)

Since you caught your strap and ripped it rather than it wore down and ripped it sounds like the great part of the strap should still be viable. Again, a picture will all of us here tell you what steps to take. Here's hoping we can get to the beautiful heels under the mud and snapped straps!

Jane, I love getting my feet wet in certain circumstances. I have been thinking about this, and I think for me the thrill comes with "braving" being in heels. For example, I love getting my feet wet when I am running late to class and literally running in the rain on wet, slick cement. I like being one of the few that can pull this off while some are on their arse in a few steps in trainers, haha! Along with this, I like walking around comfortably even in heels that my husband ordered online and so ended up about a half a size too large (my gorgeous d'orsay Carlos Santana roulette heels) and getting comments from shoe sales people wondering how I can walk in such a slim heel without a platform, let alone one half a size large! I also love walking through dewy grass and keeping from sinking like I'm walking on water and when I'm in that mood, the cold dew is like magic on my toes (yup, in a peeptoe shoe!)

I guess the hesitation to go full-out soaked in heels comes mostly from my fear of ruining my heels. I feel every scuff mark like a scar on my own arm, silly right?

A good number of posters on here have some great expertise but I bet it would help a lot if you could post some images, specifically showing the backs for help with repairing/taking off the straps, the sides, and the toe box, and the sole (I know there is at least one thread under "Shoe repairs and modifications").

Actually, I strongly advise that you repost your entire post including the recommended images in the "Shoe repairs and modificiations" discussion forum. Some of the aforementioned experts are listed as guys and cannot help you if you post under "for the girls" as you have done here.

Good luck

Yes, I used to convert pumps to open toe or peep toes all the time.

I am always impressed by your expertise, Dr. Shoe. Did you ever post those conversion on hhp? Do you still have the heels?

Interesting. Thanks Dr. Shoe and Glosha! So you don't do anything to even out the texture of your feet? How about when the back edge of the heel becomes rough and white-ish?

My favorite are the sling backs from the first picture, easy. I must admit I am terribly jealous of your Wolford's--I bet that color is intense in person! Thanks for sharing.

Congratulations! I bet you will thoroughly enjoy the first time you buy your heels in a store rather than online. There is only so much you can experience from a web image

Wearing high heels more frequently again after a break with them has me looking for new ways to do everything again, including foot maintenance. I currently soak my feet or shower as usual then use acheap foot file to remove callouses around my heel and the side of my big toe. This I follow with lotion.

Does anyone follow a similar routine? What do you do different, if at all? Thanks, I am looking for some insight to keep my feet open toe and sandal-heel ready!

--Sangue

I am excited to share that I am turning some unwearable closed heels into peep toes! These are 4 1/2 inch Jellypop by Vigoss, a rather inexpensive (read cheap lol) brand from JCPenney. They are beautiful black heels covered in sequins small enough to lay flat, edge to edge, as opposed to the larger sequins that are often layered on sequined shoes and can look like a half-scaled fish after wear. The poor craftmanship of the shoes results in a steep incline without much heel support and most of the weight is supported by the very tip of the large toe... against a rather hard material.

So far I have cut the fabric uppers to show my first and second toes completely and half my third toe for each shoe. I will then hand sew thread over the exposed edge to cover and protect it. They are now wearable! I have worn heels during 12 hour shifts but could not endure these for more than 10 minute intervals until now.

What do you think? Has anyone else attempted anything like this, or does anyone have any tips?

I have often wondered at your ease with English, Heidi, being that you are in Germany. Did you often speak English during your business travels? Since I seem to be the only American here I notice that you are all so at ease with the metric system while I find myself referring back to Chemistry lab which is the only place I encounter it, lol! Also, trainers, courts, and similar words are so much fun but so quotidian, I'm sure, for you all. Heidi and Sharon, since you often wear tights, did you have to get used to the clingy, warm sensation of wearing them? I find I cannot tolerate them and as my favorite TV series character Debra said on the subject, "Has anyone ever died of crotch asphyxiation?!" I happened upon a nice thread on here, which I believe Heidi and Alexa posted on, weighing the pros and cons of different hosiery and whether to wear it at all. Someone on their cuts her opaque tights for use as stockings! I think I will try this as I tend to need something thick sometimes or I will be a smelly, sweaty, sliding mess. There are few options for thick stockings and that hot, asphyxiating feeling of hose is something I cannot stand. Heidi, when you were describing leaving sweaty footprints on your tile floor it reminded me of looong work days when I would take a break from my heels to avoid steaming them up and would leave similar steamy outlines on the tiles. I like to get my PU heels wet but not that way:penitent:. Do I recall correctly that you experimented using antiperspirant on your feet? Do you find that that helps or causes issues slipping in your heels? For now, I have yet to get my feet wet this season as I did not wear heels for some time out of fear of wearing them down too much. I have since learned about the option of using more durable metal heel tips and I am curious what they might sound like so will eventually order them. I wonder what they sound like wet? Something tells me Alexa might know... lol

My kind of combination! I do love combining my stockings, heels, and of course garters Welcome!

I see, how lovely! I very recently ordered a new pair of opaque stockings that are open but laced up from about three quarters of the way up. I will suddenly become extremely helpful with his projects including installing a cherry wood sink fixture in the bathroom so we might move on to the next--a jacuzzi in our basement! I will have to christen these stockings before then. This makes me wonder, does opaque hoisery stand up well in the sort of chemicals used to treat pools, or do you go without? Personally, I find that pool chemicals are horribly harsh on my hair and I end up saturating it with conditioner which I mostly rinse out before I go into the water. (My hair ends about three inches past my natural waist and I would like to keep a healthy length to it.) I wonder if a pre-soaking to saturate tights with chemical-free water would be necessary for the same effect? Heidi? Jane? Alexa? Are you three still following this thread? I hope so because now I am down to page 12 and it feels as though you are all old friends, lol. Funny how that goes! Reading some of this thread reminded me of a time my family went to Disney world in California for summer vacation. I had, sadly not heels, a pair of blue Converse with leather uppers that I went on every ride with, including the water ones! I recall squelching about in my white cotton socks and repeating the water rides just to feel the water slosh from the back to the front of the shoe. They held up very well with the wetting despite being leather, I wonder if leather pumps--courts--would hold up equally well? I liked leaving wet foot prints and would splash in puddles to resume making dark prints. Heels must leave much different soaking prints. I do love the abbreviated footprint followed by a small heel mark when I see it in the snow... that's a thought that I can play with. Hope to hear from you and the others soon

Hi Sangue16,

I'm actually wearing a pair of navy blue 140 denier opaques today. I've had them for around a year and a half now, and they are still in excellent condition, so good that they haven't even started to get any of the bobbles on the fabric that usually occur with opaque tights after several machine washes and tumble dries.

Kind regards, Sharon. x

Very interesting, Shannon. Now I understand why Heidi was asking in previous posts if your white tights would become almost transparent when wet, because they are not already sheer. I found a website that describes denier--before today I had never come across the term. In truth, I have never been such a enthusiast for stockings until recently although I have so thoroughly enjoyed heels in every Minnesotan season.

I am curious, what brands of opaque tights do you favor, and do you wear only the type like pantyhose or stockings? I should think 20 denier and below as I favor would be best for water play, but now you, Alexa, and Jane have me thinking about experimenting in other types of tights. With winter on the horizon here, I will have ample opportunity to purposely splash through some nice snow-melt puddles in between campuses. I love the thought of trying it with different colors as Heidi has been asking about. I imagine the pair you were wearing today are a rather lovely shade and I bet water would deepen it nicely, is that right?

I have decided I love getting my feet wet when I am at leisure to enjoy it. I absolutely abhor having wet feet in my PU peeptoes or any of my leather or fabric heels as I am too devout to risk ruining them. I have recently even purchased a can of Scotch Guard which works wonders to repel stains and some water. Maybe this might make yours, Alexa's, and Jane's heel bear the wetting better? I was glad to hear from you and I look forward to further enjoying this thread!

Sharon, do you find you run your pantyhose a lot? I love wearing my (gartered) stockings as much as possible but I have some unique pieces that I will not wear without heels, which means if I am cleaning with chemicals or juggling little ones I just have to take them off. Do you tend to go through them a lot? I will also add that I am catching up on this thread and am finding it gives me a lot to think about--there are certain situations including when I get snow in my heels or have to stop and fix my heel straps that are little inconveniences that I somehow love about heels. I have not yet decided exactly how I feel about the water, though! I will let you ladies know:smile:

:wave:Welcome!

I wish there were a sticky in this forum for this type of info.

My girlfriend wore out the taps on her beloved boots and they probably shouldn't be worn until getting new ones. Googling for replacement taps was surprisingly unhelpful as no one place seemed to be a great (established) bet. Anyone?

I am not sure who to request this from, but could we please make a sticky of this? I managed to stupidly repost this question and I bet others will too. It would be nice to have all the heel replacement threads together. Thanks

Any good Shoe Repair shop will do replacement heel tips in steel, however, if you want do do them yourself....or supply them to the Repairer, then you can also look here:

http://www.stiletto-heel-tips.co.uk/

http://www.shoedoctorshop.co.uk/DIY_Shoe_Repairs.htm

Thanks, looks like about $14.99 for 5 pairs including shipping (I'm in the US I will actually be able to wear the heels in my avatar more often! I was worried about wearing out the heel tip because I do not see them online anymore --U and Me by Boutique 9). I need them to last because they are my future med school interview shoes! Thanks for the help!

If anyone else has any other suggestions to add I would greatly appreciate it.

Hello all, I am looking for a reputable source for metal heel tips. Where have you had success with a reputable seller of good quality heel tips? I cannot seem to find them on ebay. Thanks!

Ridiculous. You may want to talk to your HR as it sounds like discrimination--why should you be the one to adjust b/c he can't handle himself? It's not like you're clicking your heels against your desk or doing something loud. He could grow up and focus on his work, there's an idea for him...

Get a pair of 5 inch heels with a padlock, wear some fishnet stockings and maybe they won't slip on and off but watch him get distracted. Sheryl

LOL! I love this! These that I posted on another discussion (someone looking for padlocks for heels) would do the trick. Haha, thanks for the laugh Dancer Girl!

Diana, try this link. It looks like these heels are in black patent and it looks like the strap is removable. You can choose to use the buckled strap or the locking strap to fit your mood

My guess is that you can take the locking strap and attach it to the heels you already have! Haha, I am all excited to try it and they are not even mine

Ohhh, those are so beautiful! I'm super glad I just figured out how to "say thanks", as these are now on my dream list....

Thanks for the welcome! I am finding this to be a very friendly site

*edit: this is in response to shoerepairer's reply:* I am new here and have noticed you have considerable expertise, could you explain what you mean by having a "fine stick" put on the shoe? I am looking into doing some work on several of my heels and was also wondering if this can be done at home with the right tools? Thanks in advance!

I'm intrigued by the metal heels! Are they metal down to the tip, and how thick is the heel? I also love the color pop on the heel, and I envy your ability to pull off 7"+ heels.

I have seen some men rock heels better than some women. I like the look better on women, but I don't see why men shouldn't join the fun if they are so inclined.