blueparrot

There's a shoe lady in Dillards in Arlington who knows me by name now.  Any time I walk through that store she sees me from afar and waves.  She has been so nice that I took my wife in and she sold her $250 in shoes.  Several other stores in the Metroplex have clerks who remember me and tell me of upcoming sales.  I usually wear my boots in as I'm on the motorcycle much of the time.  People here in Texas are a lot nicer about this subject than other places I've lived. 

This is going to get expensive soon as I'm starting a new job where I can be going home  by major Dallas shopping centers.  I can take several routes but they just take me by either North Park or Galleria.  Both also have nearby Nordstrom Racks though North Park also has Bloomingdales and Saks outlets across the road.  If I take the PGBT toll road it might be cheaper in the long run as it doesn't pass any shoe stores! 

I tried on several pairs today at Nordstrom Rack by Galleria.  I even got up courage to "try" wearing Sam Edelman 5" platform stilletto ankle boots though I didn't buy them.  It was easier to walk in them than I thought it would be.  All my boots are block heel or flat.  Maybe someday I might venture there but they definitely won't work on the motorcycle.  I didn't buy any shoes there but did purchase a taupe belt in the men's department.  I went to the Dillards Clearance Center in Irving where I bought some grey fringed knee high Gianni Bini boots with 3" block heels for $28. 

I had some Steven knee high wedge boots for a while.  I got rid of them because I cannot shift gears on my motorcycle while wearing them.  They looked great though. 

I think it may be just ASU and a certain segment of their student body.  I have spent time around the country in places like Boulder (CU, The Hill area) and never experienced any sort of this behavior to my attire.  I do know that frat houses at ASU have caused a lot of trouble for the Tempe Police in recent years.  One frat house got banned (finally) for doing something highly racist on MLK day.  Add alcohol in the mix and they get a lot of courage to do things they otherwise would keep to themselves.  Those types of individuals are very narrow minded and are known to harass not only us but just anyone who looks different. 

On 4/15/2017 at 3:54 AM, alphax said:

Some Nordstroms Racks have some large sizes of boots, although the selection is very inconsistent, of course. 

Regular Nordstroms has fairly good customer service too, although last time I went they wanted me to try on the boots in the back room.

Just about all the good brick and mortars with large sizes have been killed off by the internet though. 

 

I buy at Nordstrom Rack all the time.  There are two better stores and two less so with 10's and 11's that I buy.  The regular stores I only shop when the sales racks come out on the floor.  I've bought stuff there for about 50% off.  Dillards is carrying 11's more now (I used to skip them) and they have extreme sales at the end of season.  I purchased three pairs of boots for $35, $28, and $48 each.  They were $220-$250 originally.  I can't find anything that good on the internet (anymore) unless it's used.   It's always a waiting game as the longer they stay on the shelf the lower the price gets.  Wait too long and they are gone.  

I lived there three years, in Scottsdale but worked in Tempe.  Stay away from Mill Avenue in Tempe.  I was harassed several times there wearing boots.  Jeered, called horrible names, etc.  I felt like I was back in middle school, guess ASU has a lot of 12 year olds in their student body.  I never experienced anything like it anywhere else in The Valley.  Even riding my motorcycle in jeans and knee high riding boots they would do it when stopped at lights.   Otherwise enjoy The Valley in your style. 

I wore the BCBGeneration platforms today for Easter along with Levi's 527 jeans and a hawaiian shirt. 

Renegade Platform Boots

In my size the heel measures right at 5".  Levi's 527's are great for this style of footwear as they flare at the bottom but fit tight above the knee.  They are hard to find but Macy's and Kohl's carry them even in longer inseams.  I normally wear 3 to 4 inch block/western heels but do have a few taller platforms that are occasionally worn. 

We used to buy our kids shoes at Payless when they were younger.  They outgrew shoes so we didn't care that they didn't last.  The youngest daughter is now addicted to Vince Camuto, Sam Edelman, Michael Kors, Steve Madden, etc.  (I wonder who she got that from?)  I haven't been in any of their stores in a long time.  I suspect in addition to Amazon if DSW hasn't hurt them as well.  They have stores all over the place now.  That's where we have been taking the girls to shop the past few years.  I can find good name brand real leather shoes for Payless prices if I time it right during clearance sales at Dillards, Nordstrom, DSW, Saks off Fifth, Bloomingdales, and other stores.  $35 for $200 boots is just one example (Dillards).  Why sweat in polyurethane? Nordstrom especially carries 11 and 12.  The others have some 11's.  I take either 10 or 11 myself depending on brand. 

I have three pairs, one 5" platform Frye harness mid-calf in brown suede.  One pair of 5" Michael Kors black leather knee highs, and a 5.5" pair of Steve Madden ankle boots in dark brown leather.  All are block style heels.  I don't wear any of them very often.   I've actually worn the Michael Kors on the motorcycle believe it or not.  They are right at the limit of operating the shifter. 

Most of my boots have a 3-4 inch western heel.  That is "my" style.  It's also what my high arch seems happy walking in and wearing all day.  I have some that are lower of course and even a pair of 5" Frye's from a few years ago.  Here in Texas they love boots and I get many compliments. 

I usually make the rounds to DSW, Nordstrom Rack, Saks off 5th, Bloomingdales Outlet, and Dillards Clearance Center.  I've recently scored some $35 boots (about 80% off) at Dillards regular store but those items are pretty well gone now.  When a store brings the racks out into the sales floor that's when the bargains can be found.  DSW has a bargain rack in the rear of each store where you will find the "steals".  I am currently in the Dallas area and Texans love boots of course, even when it's warmer!  You might find some interesting items if you get to Santa Fe (on the plaza) but the prices there are not very cheap.  Very unique styles however.  When you get to NYC please visit Macy's flagship store.  Their shoe department occupies an entire floor!  There is also a six story DSW about a block away. 

I got in trouble at work, had to leave the lab.  I didn't know they have a two inch limit in the labs and manufacturing areas.  I was wearing four inch block heel ankle boots that day.  Nobody said anything for six months then one day the safety guy noticed them.  I can wear heels if I am not going into those areas but some days I have to go there frequently.  That day I had rode in on a motorcycle in the rain so had a pair of wellies at my desk I put on and came back in.  I had a brief (horrible) job a few years back where the limit was actually one inch!  Motorcycle boots, cowboy boots, etc. were getting men in more trouble than the women did. 

I got a LOT more crap in Phoenix than the Dallas Metroplex.  They LOVE boots here and I get compliments all the time.  The worst people I've ever been harassed by were college students near ASU in Tempe. 

I got in trouble at Laguardia once over my boots.  I was in the pre-check line where you normally don't remove shoes.  I had on Steve Madden boots with a plate in the sole.  I didn't know about it and it set off the alarm in the metal detector.  I had to go back and remove them, holding up the line.  I knew to remove them after that. 

All my heels are block type.  Highest ones without platform are 4.5" Vince Camuto booties.  I wear those to work even and ride a motorcycle in them.  I have one pair of 5.5" platform ankle boots from Steve Madden but don't wear them very often, a bit nervous to try those on the motorcycle.  I have several 5" platform boots and a bunch of 4" boots, mostly without platforms.  I really don't wear the 5" ones very often. 

I did something to my right heel so it was painful to walk on.  Strangest thing though is wearing 3 to 4 inch heel boots allowed me to walk about pain free until it heals.  It's still hurting some but transfering the weight off it (onto the front part of the foot) made a big difference.  Unfortunately though I only have a few pairs that aren't too high to wear on the motorcycle.  I tried on the wedge boots the other day and could not shift the gears up (only down). 

I've noticed it both ways.  I used to buy 12's in some brands and now they are too big.  11 is my "normal" size but at the same time some brands do seem smaller.  Nine West I now need 12 where 11 used to fit.  Mostly a problem with width however, not length when too tight.  I could probably get into 10 if they were wide, though wides are more scarce than 11's. 

Just got these for $19 on ebay.  They're Steve Madden so they should fit ok, I have several pair of that brand.  They are actually leather, not PU.    Seller says heel is 5.5", if that's true they will be the highest ones yet for me. 

I used to be able to wear 10's back in my 30's but now I need 11.  Only my seldom worn wellies are US 10 but they obviously are sized different.  I wish 10 fit because there is so much more selection in that size.  In men's athletic shoes I always wore 9.5 but I couldn't get into them so had to get 10 last pair.  I have a couple of 12s in Italian knee boots but some of those (Franco Sarto, Corso Como) seem to run a size small.  Normally 12 is too big for me.  I have a pair of knee boots in 12 from Born that I need to get rid of because they are so big.  I am trying to control myself at Nordstrom Rackand DSW but that day I didn't do too well.

I wore the 4" heel OTK cowboy boots today on the BMW.  It's a bit different shifting but I just have to be a bit careful in parking spaces so I don't slip.  Fortunately the heels have rubber on the bottom.  I still haven't tried the 5" Frye's yet (the lower heel campus ones I have worn quite a few times), have to build up courage to.  My bike is so tall that heels actually make it easier to keep feet on the ground when stopped. 

Any idea where I can find the prefered boots. Haven't seen any like those around here.

I saw those in the picture at 6pm.com.  Otherwise it would probably be best to order some from Miguel Jones, just remember he makes them too large.  I would recommend Vibram or at least synthetic soles.  Leather soles can be slippery (I almost dropped my bike in the parking lot wearing Frye's with leather soles)  I have some 4" from Miguel and they are pretty good at least on my BMW F800 GS.  He makes them 5" too but I have no experience with those, might be too high.  My bike is so high I could probably wear those too.  Hey my wife wore shoes like the third picture Sunday, but she was on the passenger seat and wasn't shifting gears!

I was eating breakfast Sunday morning in Scottsdale.  A lady alone at another table kept staring at my 22" brown cowboy boots with the 4" heels.  My wife had on her 5" platform stilettos and we were riding my motorcycle that morning.  The lady finally got up and came over, gushing over my boots.  She had to know where I got them.  I told her they were from Miguel Jones on ebay and that they were actually a bit too large (he has a reputation for doing just that) but I put Ugg insoles in so they fit. 

Mill Ave. is just where I've been acosted.  I'm glad ASU finally banned that horrible frat that threw bricks at the firemen from the balconies.  I think they are just the type who got in my face over my shoes, saw greek letters on their shirts.  What's ironic is all of mine are chunky heels, not very fem looking at all, 4" doesn't look 4" on them.  Most of the trouble in Chandler is at the mall and involves teenagers or college types.  They are at that age where they think everybody must wear a uniform and look alike.  Still it makes me feel unwelcome down there so I probebly won't go there much unless I have to.  Even on a motorcycle I'm not allowed to wear even flat boots.

I've been in Arizona over a year now.  In the Phoenix area I spend most of my time in Scottsdale but work in Tempe.  Most places around here are very cool about whatever I decide to wear.  There are two areas I don't like going unless I dress down and wear sneakers.  One is downtown Tempe, near ASU.  The students there are often intoxicated and are all trained as fashion police.  I have been harassed there a dozen times and don't enjoy being in that area.  The other place, far worse, is down south in Chandler.  That town is the most biggotted, closed minded community I've ever encountered.  I can't go down there on my motorcycle, wearing flat heeled riding boots, leather motorcycle jacket, and carrying a full face helmet without being the laughing stock of every kid in the mall.  The store clerks are also quite rude to me.  Last night I needed to go to the Apple store, I had phone problems and was down near US 60 in Tempe so I went to Chandler because it was closer than Biltmore or North Scottsdale stores.  There were some young clerks who worked in one of the other stores and were on break.  They harassed me pretty bad, then went into the employee passage back to their store.  I didn't get the store name from their tags but it was highly uncalled for.  I have not worn any of my higher heel boots there because the result would likely be even worse. 

I don't understand this.  I can walk all over Scottsdale, downtown, Scottsdale Fashion Square, go over to Phoenix to Biltmore (Macy's there are very nice to me when buying boots), and the year before in Boulder I had no problems.  I expect there are some people who don't like me wearing the boots I have but I get dozens of compliments each week from those who do.  Most people don't even seem to care. It seems strange that there would be such a difference in a large metropolitan area like this one.  I don't know what it's like over on the west side, I don't go over to Glendale, Buckeye, Peoria, etc. 

All my heels are chunky and I do have a few platforms.  I have one pair of wedge platforms.  Most of my boots are flat or lower heel but 3 to 4" is my favorite height.  I have been riding the motorcycle with up to 4" but haven't yet dared try the 5" platforms I rarely wear. 

I have some similar boots and haven't gotten any grief worn that way.  I get more issues from lower heels or flat boots worn outside the pants.  The only heels I've gotten busted in worn under the jeans are the 5" Fryes.  Usually there are some bad stares but little kids will point and say something.