xray2

I concur. On the other hand, his recommendations are interesting.

I've been to New Orleans several times, and believe it would be a much better venue for an outing than anywhere else here in the U.S., including Vegas and New York (been there, too).

Couple of points, though - you don't want to visit there in the summer. Gah! Incredible heat and humidity, if you're not used to it. Halloween is good, as the weather is usually cooler and all hell breaks loose throughout downtown for a few days. Nothing is organized, just a tremendous number of parties going on everywhere.

My two cents.

And I'll add his recommendation: "Create a new high heel group at meetup.com to specifically advertise this annual North America event as well as other local meetings."

That'll cost you $15 a month, yet will yield dozens, if not hundreds of local members. Since the entire meetup system if based on location, are there any of us here from New Orleans who'd be willing to step up?

kikepa,

Thanks for being the first person to say something positive (as little as it may be) in regards to my first post in this thread.

New Orleans, which I suggested as my first choice, would be a really good place for a meet. However, I am not sure if would be a better place than Las Vegas or New York. I think of New Orleans as a 1980-1990's mix of Vegas and New York. The French Quarter really hasn't changed much over the decades, except for the addition of the Harrah's Casino and Hotel. You still got Bourbon Street with all of those little stores and restaurants. For shopping, there is the indoor Riverwalk Market and Jackson Square malls. You could take a ride on one of the paddleboats up the Mississippi. If you was there at the right time, there are the Saints football and Hornet basketball games.

However, I would agree with comments in another thread to avoid Mardi Gras because that would double travel costs as well as create an unnecessary excuse to dress up in heels. I would also avoid hurricane season.

Other than those periods of time, it should be fine. I have visited in summer time and yes, it is very hot and can be humid. That would make it difficult to wear boots, but still fine for pumps and sandals.

--------

In regards to meetup.com, it seems to me that meetup.com groups work. There are many groups there that have been meeting for a long time. As I mentioned previously, the meetup.com "Women with Size 11 and larger footwear" group in New York City appears to have done very well.

It is possible to create one meetup group in one physical location, but schedule meetings anywhere. (Of course, other locations would not show up in meetup.com search results done by location.) Also, note that there currently is no "high heel" group at all at meettup.com.. There is a way to search the entire meetup.com site without specifying any physical location.

Unfortunately, meetup.com does involve a monthly due of about $15, but that is small compared to the travel expenses that the organizer (iloveboots) must have spent going to Las Vegas and New York. Perhaps, if implemented, the organizer could request a small donation from all meeting attendees to help offset this cost.

I didn't find this link posted anywhere on this site yet.

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/high-heels-men-fashions-newest-trend/story?id=14763090

Hi, Bubba & Tech I tried to answer Dr. Shoe's question honestly. There is a saying that "honesty is the best policy". Although I stated facts, I re-read what I wrote because of your posts and now, I see that what I wrote wasn't nice and was an insult to the group. For that, I'm sorry. ---- Tech, You're right that I've only been here 10 minutes. So, wouldn't it be inappropriate and arrogant for me take away iloveboots' job and become the annual N.A. meet organizer so fast? (Note that I really think iloveboots did a great job in Las Vegas and New York plus Tampa. It's not his fault that more people didn't show up in LV and NYC.) ---- Dr. Shoe, All I was trying to do was make some helpful suggestions. I do like your new "do's and don'ts" thread.

Nordstroms Rack proved much better. thanks Arctic for the suggestion! SpikesMike picked up a good deal on a nice pair. And lots of attention from a group of women/girls outside of Nordstroms; lots of pictures and they loved our heels and Boots. Lots of Facebook posts we're sure!

Isn't Nordstrom south of the Colonial at 14th Street, while Macy's is north on 34th Street? Did you walk to both? (If you did, wasn't that a lot of walking and were the feet aching???)

Just heard that DSW is opening a new store in NYC. That will give Nordstrom and Macys some competition.

Well, off you go and do it!

You have all the ideas, why not organise it yourself?

Not with this group. I would have a big problem making reservations, as about 90% of the attendees were no-shows in Las Vegas as well as New York. Furthermore, about half of those who attended on day one did not show up on day two.

Suggestions for 4th Annual North America Heel/Boot Meet

1) Start organizing the meet now. Some people's calendar start filling up over a year in advance.

2) New Orleans would complete a diamond or cross with Chicago, Las Vegas, New York. (That's my first choice. Been there a few times before Katrina. Would love to go back.)

Washington, D.C. would be my second choice. (Been there many times and wouldn't mind going back.)

Memphis, Tennessee (with a half hour drive to a bunch of big casinos in Tunica, Mississippi) would be my third choice.

My alternatives would be Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Boston and Minneasota.

Of course, you could go back to Chicago, Las Vegas or New York.

3) OBSERVATION: On the West Coast, there is no place like Las Vegas for air, hotel and entertainment bargains. Yet, it seemed that no one living on the West Coast attended the event in 2011.

4) ADVERTISING: Create a new high heel group at meetup.com to specifically advertise this annual North America event as well as other local meetings. Do the same at Yahoo! Groups, facebook, etc..

5) OBSERVATION: In regards to the low attendance numbers, the High Heels Place forum is supposedly co-ed. However, it seems that most attendees (except for a few wives) to these meetings in North America and Europe are men.

While it is quite possible that normal women have no interest in these meetings, I would think that some transvestite, drag queen and transsexuals would be interested, if they received invitations.

There is a large group at meetup.com called "Women with Size 11 or larger Footwear". They have regular real-life meetings, based in New York City. Groups like this one could be sent invitations.

Sorry for not showing up on Saturday. I was really intending to come. However, on Friday night, I Googled for more information about Padles and read the reviews at http://wwww.yelp.com/ I didn't like the "dress code of underwear or less" and the $2 mandatory coat check.

I also saw a television ad by Macy's for their "Huge One Day Sale" on Saturday. That changed the probability of bumping into someone who I knew from unlikely to quite possible.

So, sleeping on Friday night became near impossible. I had all kinds of thoughts popping up, like there being an undesirable photo of me wearing only an underwear and pair of high heel boots in a basement dungeon (and everyone I know seeing that photo).

Then, when my alarm clock went off, I felt very tired. So, I went back to sleep.

Again, sorry for not coming. It's quite apparent that at this time, I don't have the kind of courage that those who attended possess.

xray2

Does anyone have a photo or information about baby doll (U-shaped) pumps with chunky, slightly flared high heels (about 3.5 to 4 inches high) that were quite popular in the New York City area during the 1970's?

Wednesday, Feb 29, 2012 UPDATE

Note: See Saturday afternoon walk tour info posted just before this post. If we are in rain (that is the forecast) the contingency plan is to meet at Macy's, same time.

At this moment, there is a 60% chance for showers (that is off-and-on rain) throughout Saturday. If it rains, hope it is light or none-at-all. In any case, it might be a good idea to bring a small umbrella and have no-slip pads on your soles.

Macy's is a really huge place to simply meet at. Need to be very specific where to meet. I know the area quite well (worked in Manhattan for a few years). It is over half a mile between Macy's and the Colonial Inn, so it's going to be impossible to be at both Macy's and the Colonial Inn at 1 pm. Also, how much rain does there have to be offically considered rain?

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/03/10310288-stilettos-in-the-snow-only-in-rome

I found this link last week on Feb. 3, 2012. Nice sandals and feet, but beware of frostbite.

For sure wearing heels alot causes Achilles tendon problems and for me i get pain when wearing lower heels right in the lower back of the heels, this pain eases off when i take the pressure away by resting bare foot or wearing a high heel.

I also get pain in the bottom of both my heels when i get up in the mornings and i feel i need to tip toe to relive this, im unsure what this is maybe Xray2 you know what this is you sound like you are a expert in this feild , intresting reading .

It would be irresponsible for anyone, even a licensed foot doctor, to diagnose your problem via a message board. What you can do is Google for "heel pain" and read as much as you can. Much info is available.

I also get heel pain once in a while. I do two different exercises that pointe ballet dancers do and these exercises seem to re-align all the stuff directly under the heel for me and the pain instantly vanishes.

Only that muscles have by nature actin and myosin filaments which have a possibility to "shrink" while tendons are quite rigid. I was thinking about operative possibilities. but .. well only thinking - from theoretical/ anatomical point of view.

A normal Achilles tendon is slightly flexible, it is not "rigid". However, ironically, the Achilles tendon is rigid in people with permanently shortened calf muscles.

====

If you Google for "Achilles tendon muscle shorten", you will find many hits. Most hits are about the relatively recent report "Effect Of High Heels On Leg Muscles And Tendons" in The Journal of Experimental Biology, 2010

by R Csapo (University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria) and C N Maganaris (Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK).

The basic conclusions of that study were:

1) Women wearing high heels for a long time were found to have shortened gastrocnemius muscle bundles.

and

2) An "increase in size and stiffness" of the connective tissue in the Achilles tendon was observed.

[sOURCE: many websites including

http://www.fyiliving.com/research/high-heels-may-hurt-calf-and-tendon-study-finds/

]

So, Csapo and Maganaris implied the Achilles tendons become thicker and stiffer (rigid). However, the problem with that study is that all of the women who participated in the study were between 20 and 50 years old.

An inquisitive mind will wonder why they omitted women over 50 years of age. Many members of this website are already over 50 years old. Also, some women live until they over 100 years old. If they included just a few women over 50 years of age, they might of found some Achilles tendons that shrunk.

Also, the amount of progress these type of scientists have made regarding this subject over the past decade has really been totally un-impressive. Before that study, many podiatrists (foot doctors) already wrote about "permanent" contraction.

Call this change to the Achilles tendon whatever you want. The tendon may become "thickened", "stiffer" and then, perhaps "shortened" (if only very slightly when measured with a ruler, but enough to have an enormous effect on the ability to walk without heels).

====

Furthermore, VISIT THIS LINK

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/scientists-look-at-the-dangers-of-high-heels/

You will find information about Neil J. Cronin, a postdoctoral researcher, and two of his colleagues at the Musculoskeletal Research Program at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

It states the following:

"That biomechanical distinction is important, says Dr. Cronin, who is now a researcher at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland. Several studies have shown that optimal muscle-tendon efficiency while walking occurs when the muscle stays approximately the same length while the tendon lengthens. When the tendon lengthens, it stores elastic energy and later returns it when the foot pushes off the ground. Tendons are more effective springs than muscles, he continues. So by stretching and straining their already shortened calf muscles, the heel wearers walk less efficiently with or without heels, he says, requiring more energy to cover the same amount of ground as people in flats and probably causing muscle fatigue."

Again, Dr. Cronin's research showed that the Achilles tendon can lengthen (and logically, the tendon will recoil or shorten back). So, once again, a normal Achilles tendon is slightly flexible.

xray2

Hello!

I have the feeling however that people who wear high heels permanently do not get a change in their tendons (bradytroph tissue) but more in their muscles. I'd actually expect more transformation and atrophy of muscles than tendons. So not the stretching or shrinking of tendons is the key to permanent high heeled feet but well exercised calf muscles.

And this is where the point of Pata would make 100% sence, that without propper Muscular training high heeling makes littel sence.

There use to be a web site (can't find it now) with a lot of information about this. Supposedly, BOTH the Achilles tendons and calf muscles were affected.

Some medical literature mentioned the Achilles tendons, while other medical literature mentioned calf muscles. Since the tendon and muscle are physically connected to each other, it makes sense that both are shrunk or shortened.

I'm a permanently high heel person now because I actually find it difficult to walk in flats. I have to wear riding boots at work and I find it quite uncomfortable walking up the road to fetch horses in or to turn them out. Often I can't wait to get home and slip those flats off and get my [4inch] slippers on!

That is certainly well into the beginning of becoming a permanently high heeled person. When you are 100% permanent, the heels of your feet will no longer touch the floor or ground.

There are actually people born that way, throughout history. They literally tip-toe around or wear heels to cover up their condition. Supposedly, the same condition can be acquired by wearing high heels all the time.

So, congratulations for getting as far as you have! Best wishes and good luck, but be careful not to rupture any tendon along the way!

My wife wear high heels almost all the time since 15 years...she s not permanent yet but she said she have little incomfort in the back of her heels when she's flat foot for long time...

She wear heels between 3 and 4,5 inches...

Do you think this is the beginning of permanent high heels feet ???

That is the beginning. The bottom of the Achilles tendon attaches to the back of the heel.

iloveboots

David, Do you think any more than You, Me and Bernheels will show up for New York meeting ? Some of our former attendees were no shows. Oh well, I still had fun in Las Vegas. Also, So did some of the Bar and Street people. See you in New York.

spikesmike

It's interesting that most of those people who signed up for Las Vegas did not have valid userids and did not show up. Look's like the current list for NYC also has a lot of people without valid userids. This is just an observation, nothing more.

Hoping to attend one or perhaps, both days.