quella

So... You are going to leave us hanging on the last words of your post? What did she do when she caught you and how long was it before you wore them again? Quella

I was not looking for boots at first, but I thought with the heel height, they may give better support than a pump. I was also not sure how calf boots would fit on a man without lacing or only a zipper as I think we have some different shaped legs (but I could be wrong). I thought that safest bet was to try out an ankle boot and see how it fits before moving on to Knee or Calf high boots. Maybe someday I will go all the way, but that will not happen for a long time. I'm taking baby steps at this time. Quella

Heel Lover, Thanks for the extra detail in your message above. I get the concept of the shorter distance between the heel and the first part of the sole that hits the ground, the narrower this distance is the heigher the heel is. I'm not sure I fully understand the second one all the way. Are you saying that if one measures the heel to toes flat and then measures them in a heel (in a line), you can tell how heigh the heel is by the shorter length in the second measurement? I'm not a math person, so forgive me if these are silly questions. I can see that if you have a shoe size 8 with a 5" heel you would get a specific angle of slope from the heel to the point where the foot touches the ground. Yet if I have a pair of size 13 with a 5" heel, this angle would be a bit lower (I think) as the distance or amount of foot is greater in the bigger size. So, a woman with a size 6 shoe in 5" heels is much different then a man wearing a size 14 in a 5"; or do the shoe makes compensate for such differences in size to heel heigh? I think if I measure my wifes heel that is 3.5", it measure correctly and the same for my 5" heeled boots. Sorry for not being clear, but I'm just trying to understand the science of making such shoes and how they have to modify the height or angle to adjust for shoe size. I guess I may have to do some googling. Thanks for all your help. Quella

I'm sure that much of my ease of use I have been having with 5" heels is that I wear a size womans 13 and my wife wears a womans 9.5. Her foot is smaller so a heel of the same height would be different for me, unless makers correct for this. Is there an easy way to measure angle to determine the difference betweem her and my heel height? Is there a formula or some templates of how High Heel shoes are made? Comments or suggestions. Quella

Wow. Thanks very much for your detailed and honest responses. It seems that there really is a difference with 5" to 6". I have to agree that I was a bit dissapointed with wearing 5" and not seeming to have any reay trouble, My wife compalins with 3" or 3.25" heels, yet I would think these very easy. It may also be the length of wear issue. I'm not sure I could do 5" for 4 hours or more of walking or standing. Some day I hope to go 6" and 7", but now I think I will stick with practicing (as you have all said) with my 5" heels. I'm sure that the boot support has also greatly helped me in my working with heels. Quella

Jim C. Thanks for your advice. I often take the 5" heels and walk and run around in the in the basement on carpet. Not sure if that makes a big difference or not. I have not worn them for more then 3 hours around the house; I try to force myself to stand to watch tv or doing things just to see if I can handle the shoes for long term. I do have to say that the Ankle Boots give me more support and that may be one of the reasons they seem easier also. Just a few thoughts. I also know that many heels are measured differently so one company's 5" is anothers 4.5" or even 5.5". I think that as I move up to 6" or even 7", it will need to also be in a boot for the support. I'm looking forward to it someday. Quella

I'm not here desiring to be proud of my heel accomplishments, but I have a pair of 5" spiked heel without any platform and apart from some calf muscle sorness and a little knee pain, I do not find it all that hard to walk in heels this heigh. I was wondering if you found it easy or hard when you first started wearing heels? I would like to move up to a 6" or 7" heel in the future and it does not seem to be a balance issue more then my flexability of my foot. I can walk, run, and do just about anything I want in these 5" heels. Is that normal or not for a beginner? Quella

All very good suggestions and I now have to agree with them after getting a pair of new boots with a zipper and laces. I find that they are much easier to get into with the zippers and then when they are laced on, they are much tighter and give better support then without. I also find that I cannot take them off if I just try to un zip them without also taking off some of the laceing. I was not sure how I would like boots with both, but I think they are going to grow on me. I really like the extra support a lace gives as you can snug them to your ankles. Again, thanks all for your suggestions and thoughts. Quella

Here is what just arrived on my door step... I can't wait to have a full day in them at home. Quella

Thanks for the advice. I plan on taking it slow to start, I was looking at 6" but knew that 3.5 was something I needed to get use to, so 5" would be heigh enough. I did not want to go with 4" as it was only a half inch higher then what I have now. They are scheduled to arrive today via UPS. I can't wait to tell her next time she complains with her 3" that I know someone that has done 5" Great advice, thanks. Quella

So you are saying that one needs to be careful when lacing up boots with a zipper so as not to damage the zipper. I will have to make sure I am careful of that. I would it is based on the tightness after one puts weight on the feet and the ankle expands. Thanks for the heads up. Quella

Is it like a corset in that you have the laces to provide the tight snug fit, but the zipper is the quick on and off for the boot? I just did not want to laces to be decerative, but to also be useful. I really like the idea of a tight laced boot and the zipper in some ways seems to spoil it for me. I guess I will just have to live with it though. Thanks for the reply. The lace up you have, do they all also have zippers? Quella

Why do the majority of boots that are lace-up also have zippers? It does not seem to make sense to me why you would need both. Why not just one or the other? Do the laces just improve the fit of the boot after being zipped up? Is the zipper only used for quick on and off? What do like better (to wear or see), lace-up of boots with zippers only? Quella

Can you tell me what size heel these are (inches or cm)? They look like a 4" or more. Quella

Thanks Vector. That is exactly what I did do. I went to Payless (which was not all that crowded) and fouond one pair of high heels in a size 12 with a 3.5" heel with a rounded toe. Nice looking shoe and at 16.00 I could not pass it up. It was only in a wide, so the arch is not as supported or a snug as I would like; I guess I'm a normal [whatever that means ]. These shoes are comfortable and I'm learning to walk in them some.

My next thought was that I wanted something with an ankle strap that would not be easily removed to keep me in the shoes longer than just a slip on pump. I was looking at a 4" pump with a lace-up cuff or the cuff with a lock on it, but I also was wanting something that constrained my foot more than a pump. That is when I decided to make another purchase online which are these...

http://www.dimoutshoes.com/seduce-1022-lace-up-ankle-boot-with-contrasting-trim.html

I hope that the lace-up will force my feet to remain in the arc shape for an extended period. I was at first looking at the 6", but I need to take it easy and may even need to get a 4" or 4.5 before really using the 5" I just bought. I can't wait for the order to arrive.

Thanks all for your advice.

Quella

Sorry for not being as clear as I could have been. I'm asking if a higher heel is easier for a person with a larger foot then the same heel height for a person that is shorter with the same heel. So is it more difficult for a person with a size 8 to walk in a 4" or a size 13 in a 4"? Quella

It seems logical in many ways, but I have to ask the experts here to see what your thoughts are. I was thinking that my wife who is 5'6" with a size 8 shoe in a 4" heel, is much higher than some one that is 6'0" with a size 13 shoe in a 4" heel. With that thinking, is it easier for a person with a larger foot to have a higher heel with less impact? Or, does the extra weight or height of the person added to the heel height make a 4" seem the same regardless of shoe size. Quella

Sorry, I was more asking advice to see if anyone of you here have tried these shoes or your impressions of them. I'm willing to search for a few places to buy them, but that was not the primary question. I saw that the link on Amazon had them in larger sizes, and I may buy them from there (or a cheaper place if someine knows any). Again, I was more looking for advice on the shoes and if they would be a good pair or not. Quella.

I was doing some research on a thick ankle strap pump that would be a challenge for me. While looking, I found these shoes.

http://www.amazon.com/Seduce-434-Pump-Interchangeable-Ankle-Cuffs/dp/B000I0DM70/ref=sr_1_10/002-7828119-6744061?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1190540252&sr=1-10

They have three interchangable ankle straps, which one includes a locking pair which interests me. I was wondering if anyone here has tried or have been forced to wear these shoes for an extended period of time, if you have, do you do the 4 or 5 inch heel? They look like some good play shoes. If you have, can you recommend a place to buy them in a US size 13?

Quella

Where did you find these. I just bought these http://www.payless.com/Catalog/productdetail.aspx?ItemCode=56617&ProductColor=Black&Width=Wide&TLC=Womens&SLC=WomensDress&BLC=WomensDressTrendy

and I was really looking for a 3.5 - 4 inch heel with a wide ankle strap. How high are they, and where did you get them, if you do not mind me asking.

Quella

Here is the pair I was able to find at Payless in a size 12W. I will try these out and see just how much trouble they are. They are a 3 1/2 heel. I really wanted an ankle strap to make sure they would stay on, but these are snug.

http://www.payless.com/Catalog/productdetail.aspx?ItemCode=56617&ProductColor=Black&Width=Wide&TLC=Womens&SLC=WomensDress&BLC=WomensDressTrendy

Thanks for all your help, I would not have gone there to look.

Quella

It is not that I want to deceive, I just do not think she would understand. I was just looking for local shops (like Payless) that may have size 12 or 13 in stock that would not raise questions in a 3.5 to 4.5 inch heel. I did not know if large adult shops carried such heels in these sizes or if I would need to go to a retail shop like some chain store. What about other department stores (Marshalls, TJ MAx, Etc? I know Penny's seems to only carry up to a size 11 and most of these are in their cataloge only. Quella

Thanks for the great advice, I would not have looked there myself. I would like to find a 4" pump with an ankle strap or a sandel in the same idea. I will have to see if they have any like this. Thanks again. Quella

I have always been a fan of high heels in both shoes and boots for as long as I can remember. After getting married, I would buy outfits for my wife that I thought would look nice on her and each outfit had higher and higher heels (she was a flat wearing woman). My latest purchase was a heeled pump with a 3 3/4 - 4 inch heel. She told me that such shoes are not practical, but she would wear them for me if I wanted; and I did. A few times she said that I would not have her wear them if I had to walk in them myself, or if I were in her shoes. That got me thinking. What is I did get a pair of heels with the same heel height to try and see how such is to walk and do things in around the house. I guess I'm not sure were to start though. I would like to get a cheap shoe as I may only wear then once so I can empathise with her, and I did not want to have something shipped to the home as she may get the package before I do. Are there places that I can check locally that have sizes 12 or 13 where the clerk would not think I' wierd? If it has to be online and shipped, are there places that you can recommend that are good and not real expensive? Sorry for all the questions. Just though I would ask the experts here. Quella

Thank you for the detailed inforomation in your reply. I have progressed in her stock of heels and have increased height slowly so not to dissapoint her or get her frustrated. She has many 2-3" heels that I have bought her, and the 4" are only for some special occations. I try to encourage her when she wears them, but this was the first time she complained of knee problems. Not having worn heels myself, I did not know if this was a normal response or not. Maybe she will wear them more and learn how to walk in them over time with less discomfort. I try to make sure if she wears the 4", we have time to sit and rest her feet during the event. Again, thanks for the information. Quella