Shoeiee

Jarl, You are so right... They're not as mainstream here in the US. Now Christina, Pink and Beyonce are major artists over here, with huge fan bases...We're talking millions of listeners and viewers!! That's what makes their vids so impressive! I don't want to discount the fact that Blue Orchid used them first but I'd never heard of Blue Orchid before they were mentioned on this forum. Are they a real popular group overseas? I surely hope they've got the same level of exposure there as the 'Big Three' I mentioned above do!! :-) HighHeelDude, Did you catch them this time? Look towards the end of the vid...She sitting with a long, black wigs on reading a book...It's a very dark scene...They pan over her a couple times and her total outfit is a black corset, the black wig, I can't remember the bottoms she's wearing and her feet are to the viewer's right as she sitting with the ballet heels visible. I don't recall her standing or walking in them though...

YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! It seems like 2007 is the year Ballet Heels break into the real world!! FYI, this is the THIRD music vid this year featuring ballet heels... I can't remember who did it first but... Pink has them on in her video for "U and Ur Hand" Christina Aguilerra wore them in her video for "Hurt" And now this Beyonce vid!! Now, even though none of them have 'walked' in them, at least they're present. And Beyonce did a couple of dance moves without support in hers. (Notice they are all holding a bar or something in that vid...Except her for a few seconds...) Man this is turning out to be a GREAT year for those who appreciate ballet heels!!! I hope the trend continues!!

Ain't no way......Not in a million years will any of her designs make it to mass production...or sale...or wear...especially on my feet...yikes...

I was about 29-30 when I took my first stepr in public...Been in heels ever since!!

Wolfgang,

For starters, I'm a guy...So feeling odd about wearing heels in different situations if fairly normal for me. The times I feel most uneasy is when I'm somewhere specifically aimed at children or 'extremely manly' places Like the children's museum. Or auto parts store...hardware store...etc. It's unusual enough for a guy to wear heels but when you do it in a place like this it's especially uncomfortable due to the stereotypes out there. When I'm with the kids and in heels, people look at me very funny...almost like they not only disapprove of my footwear selection but then the HORROR of exposing my 'impressionable little ones' to this 'deviant behavior!!' But what's really funny about this is that when we're all together with my wife, no one seems to care at all. Expecially if she's in heels as well!

In your situation I would imagine it's somewhat similar. With all things there is a time and place for certain image and clothing. Typically it's a matter of us all being conditioned to 'fit in' beginning in early childhood. (Blue for baby boys and pink for girls...) If everyone else is wearing jeans and t's, and you show up wearing a suit, you don't fit in anymore. And likewise, if you're invited somewhere and show up in jeans and a t, and everyone else is in suits and ties, you will feel uncomfortable as well. So in your situation I don't think it would be too far fetched for your feelings to be rather normal.

Think about it...In school, (I'm guessing your in high school??) you're among the people you have grown up with. They know a 'certain you' and have developed expectations of your dress, attitude, speech, etc. You feed those expectations in an effort to fit into what YOU think THEY expect you to look and act like. And when you deviate you are probably ribbed some from your classmates. As you mature they are expressing their discomfort with your changes through verbal and physical queues (through furtive glances..smirks...etc.) I honestly don't think it's a "masculine side" issue at all. It's an adolescence issue. You're maturing and people are noticing it. You're trying to develop your own persona, and heels are becoming part of that. And the people who have known you without heels recognize this change and are not 100% comfortable with it. They WANT the 'OLD YOU' that they've known, and are comfortable with, back. This is VERY normal and is, very simply, a fear of change. And we're all susceptible to this.

Sidebar...

One of the greatest challenges for any employer is change management. Many employees get comfortable with the 'status quo' and when change happens, they resist. But change MUST happen and the more comfortable you are with change, the more useful to a company you will be. This is why so many companies release their older employees first...They're settled in their ways and resist change while younger employees are more interested in change because it brings excitement and challenge. Many younger employees thrive on this change and hence, are more valuable and better performing.

Back to heels though

When you go to your college class you arrive in a more adult environment. Hence wearing heels feels more appropriate because most professional females wear heels of some type while in either a work or educational environment. So all of a sudden, you fit in. Also, the people there don't know you as well as your peers at school. They don't have pre-concieved notions of your persona and are learning you for the first time. You sense this and react accordingly, and in the case of heels, you are more comfortable because they are generally expected in this environment.

When you're at the mall you're in a fashion driven environment. And ladies fashion today is heels. Period. I don't care what ANYONE says, ballet flats are OUT OUT OUT!!! Same with the dreaded, yet endeared, thong sandals. YUK!! There's also a strong sense of independence and you do not expect to run into your school peers there either. So, taking all this into consideration and you're more comfy there.

When you go places you've never been before your comfortable because the people you meet there do not have pre-concieved expectations of you. This allows you to be more feminine without the peer pressure you feel at school. You don't know them and they don't know ANY of your history. They are getting their first impression and you want to portray a young adult, not an adolescent teen. Again, this is VERY normal.

Well, I've rambled on enough. Hope this helps you to understand what you're feeling and why. What's happening is change...In your ideals, persona, outlook and desires. How you react to your peers will determine whether the changes you want to invoke are accepted or rejected. You will have to reassure them that it's stiil the same you, just growing up. That's all And as they mature into adulthood, they too will change in their own ways. And if you want to retain them as friends it will be up to you to accept or reject them. If it's a TRUE friend, you will gladly accept any positive changes and help them through their struggles with negative changes they may experience. But that's another can of worms I refuse to open up on this board

In summary, be yourself. If it's not going to harm you, physically, empotionally or professionally, wear what you like. You can not please everyone 100%. It's a statistical impossibility. So you please yourself first, then those you can second. The ones which are never satisfied you don't worry about.

Happy Heeling!!

Shoeiee

WOW!! I can't believe all the replies already!! You guys are QUICK! Yeah...I know what you all are saying!! I think I'm going to have to be a conformist for awhile...Nothing too extravagent until I escape the call center. And yes, image is one of the criteria for promotion as per our center's director. He SPECIFICALLY said this to a group of us in a meeting. But the way he presented it was more about how we act/behave and present ourselves than anything else. Another thing is our EEO policy specifically mentions transgender issues...I'll ask a few people who are part of the diversity team for their opinion before I push forward for SURE!! Thanks for the replies!! Shoeiee

Hello everyone!! I've got a challenging situation I am going through right now that I think some of you may relate to :-) In April I got out of the USN. Of course since that is the military what I wore to work was always dictated by the regulations, so my heeling was always outside of work for obvious reasons. Well, in Dec. I got a new job that I REALLY like and this has brought a new situation up...No longer do the rules dictate that I must wear combat boots to work. I now must wear MY shoes/boots to work and this is where the delimma enters...I realized that I didn't own ANY 'civilian' shoes/boots which were not purchased from the women's racks!!! SO...What to do...Well, for conformity sake I went out and purchased a pair of Sperry Topsiders to wear with my kakhi pants. But this has not been the only shoes I have worn to work...I have mostly stuck with my wedge boots with about a 3" heel, both partially covered and fuly exposed. But this has brought about another delimma...I'lve almost worn them out and I can't find any to replace them with!! The concern I have is I love the job and the company (Verizon.) But I want to advance in the company's ranks. I am scared that introducing any heels higher than what I've already worn will be a deterrant to moving up. The company has a STRICT diversity policy and supports all backgrounds/races/sexual preferences/etc. (on paper at least...) But does anyone here think this could be a serious deterrant to moving up? FYI the climate is pretty good overall and I have yet to see/hear any negative remarks about my footwear. Also, being telecom, it's a fairly male-dominated environment but I am working a call-center so there are plenty of females around as well. My goal in the company is to go management (all salary positions are considered management) as a network engineer for our FiOS/Fiber To The Premises project, and hopefully move up from there. Any input would be appreciated!! Happy Heeling to everyone!! Shoeiee

Soular, Welcome to the forums!! I've been wearing heels for several years now in public and I must sat that my wife has been the greatest asset I have in this arena!! And from the sounds of it you've got a supportive GF who could also be a great support for you as well. As most of the others have said, it's a matter of time and building the confidence. And for me, the best way was to wear my heels with the wife in public. There's something about having a female with you to validate that what you're doing is NOT something freakish. And when you can honestly say "This is my wife/GF/etc., and she thinks it's sexy!!" to someone who does freak out about it it kinda makes them think twice about what they're saying/doing. And of course, it's ALWAYS better if she's wearing heels too :-) Regardless, again, welcome to the forums!! Keep the heels real and in public and soon you'll be wearing nothing BUT heels!! Happy Heeling! Shoeiee

Smitty, You can post pics from the first post. There is no 'requirement' to be a member for a certain period before posting a pic. You can either link to a pic from another site or ask an admin to set up a photo gallery so it can be hosted here instead of a pic hosting service (I think...) Happy Heeling! Shoeiee

Hello Smitty!! Welcome to HHPlace! I enjoy ANY type of heel, whether stiletto or chunky. If it's got a heel, I'll wear it!! My collection ranges from about 3" wedges to ballets. Typical wear is 3.5-4" chunky heel boots but sometimes I go for the 5" (or higher...) spikes when out with the wife I wear heels nearly 24/7 but occasionally do flats for work purposes. I've been getting away with 3" wedges at work and loving it! But I typically reserve the more obvious styles in public, outside of work. I have NEVER gotten a severe negative reaction but have received some giggles and laughs. The best reactions are the "WTF?!?!?!" looks I get from guys sometimes. It's funny to watch them do double and triple takes as their minds TRY to comprehend what they've just seen IT's even funny when some women recognize what I'm wearing! Most get a "HOLY CRAP!!!!" look on their faces but then it's over. Life goes on :-) Point is don't be afraid to wear what you like when you want to. Of course be abservant of work-related situations but when you leave work, leave work behind and be free to be yourself! Again, WELCOME!! Happy Heeling! Shoeiee

holy cows... JPG's collection was very interesting. I won't say 'good' or 'bad'...just interesting... To me it appears he's trying to show 'man cleavage' and a definite mixing of the gender lines typically seen in clothing styling, cut, fabrics and shoes. But some of the items seemed almost DIRECTLY off the women's shelves and placed on very slender men (and in some cases, flat chested women...) As for the shoes...There was a nice variety shown ranging from what appears to be Espridille wedges to 4" stilettos. Now I have two questions... 1.) How many of the models were actually females? (I'm guessing 2-3...) 2.) Why in the world did his entire collection feature men in heels yet when he took the catwalk he was wearing white falt shoes obviously taken off the men's shelf?? Kudos for advocating a strong blurring of the fashion line but why not wear what you advocate!! Shoeiee

Cobbler, So what if she wears them to make clips4sale short films. The films I have seen exhibit a great amount of skill...Not something many women can do without regular wear and practice!! Because of this I don't think that's the only time she wears ultra-heels. And if her abilities enable her to make a few $$$ then so be it :-) I know I'll keep enjoying her products :-) Thinking about it...The only way ANYONE ever makes any $$$ is through sale of their abilities...Whether it's working for oneself or a company...The simple fact is you get paid for what you can do. And if your product happens to be riviting films wearing ultra-high-heels in public and/or challenging situations then I say GO FOR IT!! As long as people want these films, she'll make a few $$$ to add to her till :-) You Go Pata!!! Happy Heeling!! Shoeiee

Larry,

"I dont believe much about the street heeling stories that are posted here. Oh sure they wear womens shoes with a 1" heel under jeans that cover them but what about the real high heels that click like hell on the side walks and the hard floors. Who really wears em on the streets?.,,,larry."

I DO!!! And my wife can testify to it too!!

I have worn 5" stiletto's shopping at BJ's Wholesale club, Sam's Club, Wal-mart, Target, in a mall and in several other stores too :-) I have NEVER had ANYONE approach me negatively!! Now that's not saying there weren't some snickers here and there...And you can't miss the little kids asking their mommies either :-) The best was when a little girl pointed out to here mom that "That guy's wearing high heels!!" And her mom simply replied "If that's what he likes, then so be it." And yes, I was wearing high heels...5" black leather stiletto boots :-) It was just how easily the statement rolled off her tongue...Like it was a prepared statement or something. No hesitation, stammering 'OH MY'S!!" or anything!

Another favorite was Haloween last year...My wife and I went to Wal-Mart with both of us wearing 5 1/2" stilettos. Hers were black patent pumps and mine were black patent with red heels Pleaser 'Domina' boots. Talk about double-takes!!! I thought one gal was going to fall over she was straining so hard to see me!!

Regardless, there are some of us who DO wear high heels publicly. Not so sure about work yet but not afraid in daily traffic :-) My typical heels are about 4", either block heels or thinner stacked-looking boots. I DO wear longer pants as is the style but I have also done white boots with white pants where the boots were fully exposed. There's a pic on my Yahoo profile of the outfit...http://profiles.yahoo.com/shoeiee

Happy Heeling!!

Shoeiee

Hey everyone!

Found this vid tonight while surfing google videos...It appears to be a TV commercial for PierreSilber.com and is nice to see :-)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7481907315575981069&q=high+heels&hl=en

Enjoy!

Shoeiee

WELCOME to the forums!! Look forward to reading many posts from you detailing your stories/experiences in heels!! Happy Heeling! Shoeiee

Just wanted to wish all of the High Heel wearing community a Happy Holiday season. To the Christmas Crowd, MERRY CHRISTMAS!! And for those of other faiths may your Holidays be as happy as they should be as well!! Since nearly everyone lives by the calander year, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! And regardless of your personal faiths/beliefs/calander, we all believe in heels so...HAPPY HEELING!! May 2007 bring another wonderful year to us all! Happy Heeling! Shoeiee

JS, Something you may want to take into consideration is your wallet...I'm not talking about a financial consideration but a thickness on the arse one... Most guys keep their wallet in the rear pocket of their jeans/pants. When you sit it places added pressure along the sciatic nerve in the buttocks. This could be a cause for the issues you're experiencing. Try removing it while driving or significantly thinning it out. I also feel you're on target with the seats in the truck. I had a Ford Probe and after 12 years of use the seats were junk. This resulted in similar symptoms as you described. I upgraded to a newer vehicle and things are better now but nowhere near as good as when I had my Lincoln MK VIII. The seats in that car were so comfortable and adjustable that I never had any problems in my feet/legs after hours of driving. I would first remove my wallet from my rear pocket (if that's where you keep it...) and then try a seat cover with additional padding/massaging motors/beads/SOMETHING! Something else I've noticed is that men's jeans place the wallet MUCH lower on the buttocks than women's jeans. I haven't had nearly as much problems with a wallet since wearing almost exclusively women's cut jeans...Just another thing to think about... Happy Heeling!! Shoeiee

In a word...

OUCH!!!

That was a NASTY spill she took:blush:...And not once, but TWICE in one run...

Maybe she should have practiced in those heels before the show?

NOT what I would want a friend to experience to say the least!!

Happy Heeling!

Shoeiee

Hampton Roads, Virginia area... Happy Heeling!! Shoeiee

There's a big difference between a brand new pair and ones which have been well worn yet maintained. And then there's the pairs which are obviously abused and misused. My preference is when the shoes appear to have been worn yet still maintained. These pics appear 'more realistic' to me than the 'cheesecake' pics. Hence I find them more attractive. There's nothing sexier than a woman who ACTUALLY WEARS her heels rather than just poses in them!! It's when that wear becomes abusive that I don't appreciate the wearer or the shoes as much. Happy Heeling! Shoeiee

JimC, Love the boots and the outfits too!! Reading your post made me homesick...I miss Lincoln Rd. Mall...So nice down there on SoBe!! Heck...I miss the SoFla atmosphere altogether!!! But I'm not completely unhappy where I am, and even though this is a heavily military area, not many people seem to give a hoot about a guy in heels... Looking great in the South Florida Winter Season!! Happy Heeling! Shoeiee

DeSalto, I understand your plight. But I'm not worried about what my kids say when it comes to my shoes, it's what their friends may say that concerns me. Or their teachers...Or other adults whom they may interact with in life. My wife and I have the same view on the shoes...They're only shoes...And as for which shelf they were bought from in the store, who cares. I'm wearing them, therefore they're MY shoes. (To say the least she is very supportive and accepts them 100%.) Now I will say this though...My personal preference has predominately become boots. Occasionally I will wear closed toe heels in a pump style, but 99% of the time it's boots for me. They have a more masculine appearance even if they're stilettos. My collection ranges from low block-heels to 7" stilettos and ballets. And my kids have all seen them all...even the ballets (but not with me wearing them...) For daily wear I usually wear 3.5-4.5" stacked or wedge heels and occasionally a 5" stiletto. I've even gone shopping with the whole family in 5" stiletto boots to our local BJ's member's club. I don't usually wear overtly feminine styles like sandals or shoes with lots of flowers/hearts/embellishments though. I feel you and your wife have made a decision and should abide by it if that's what you feel is the best route to take. However, IMHO, I believe openness would be better for them so there is no shock if and when they should find out. Should it remain hidden from them and they find out in their tween/teen years it could cause some serious problems. But being open before these critical years hit may avoid a traumatic situation. Something else about those odd years is they may talk to their friends about a sudden find and this may lead to problems. If they're exposed to this before then, and it's 'normal' for dad to wear 'different' shoes, they may react very differently, if at all, should a friend question your choice in footwear. Something you may consider, which could possibly improve the situation, is to find more masculine appearing heels to wear around the house to get them exposed. Keep the fetish stuff hidden and used for those private moments yet still allow them to see a range of footwear. This may minimize the shock should they find the fetish stash in later years. My line of thinking is there's not too much of a jump between a 4" block heel boot and a 5" stiletto sandal, but one appears more masculine and the other is definitely feminine. And should the question arise, then you can explain that there is a definite social cost to wearing the more feminie shoes publicly where the more masculine style is accepted more widely, hence the preference for the masculine style in public and the feminine style in private. Just a thought... Regardless, kids always add a different view on topics such as this. They bring us out of the "ME" thought process and into an "OUR" or "THEIR" process. This results in a change of focus which effects every aspect of our lives. And although they are limiting in many ways, they are such a treasure to watch develop and grow!! For those without kids, be thankful for the time to play without them around but anxious to experience the wonderous joys of parenthood!! Happy Heeling!! Shoeiee

Great topic we've got going here so I thought I'd add my $.02... As a father of two step-daughters (8 & 13) and two sons (almost 4 and 7 months) I have not hidden my shoes from them at all. They all are aware of my 'fancy shoes' as one poster said and I wear them with impunity around them and when we go out, either as a family or individually. I feel this openness is important as if you hide this from them it will be a huge shock when they do find out. (It's almost the wife/girlfriend situation...if you wait to tell, it'll be hell!!) This also fosters a more open view of society and has allowed many discussions about individuality, especially with the 8yo step-daughter. The 13yo is learning challenged and doesn't understand many issues but she accepts me for who I am and that's all there is to it. As for the boys, they are both being raised around my shoes openly. My 4yo has seen them and has no problem with it so far. I know he's still very young but he's got impeccable logic!! Even though I wear 'different' shoes from the other guys we still do our 'manly things,' have much father-son time, go mudding, ride the lawnmowers, play catch, visit the parks and many other things all other fathers do with their kids. He's even helped me work on the cars!! I am very much a man in every aspect of my life except fashion. As he grows up I will explain the differences society places on us and direct him as to appropriate situations for different items of clothing should he decide to follow in my footsteps. My greatest concern is other children in social settings as he gets older. My experience has led me to believe that most people are either too shocked, too polite, too shy or don't care enough about what others wear to make comments about it. But children are a different story altogether. My wife has heard many comments from kids to their parents/siblings/friends along the lines of "Mommy, that man is wearing heels!!!" USUALLY the recipient of these comments replies "That's his choice to make" and that's about it. If the discussion goes further after we're our of earshot then so be it. The point here is kids speak their minds regardless of etiquette rules or constraints. So the possibility of ridicule is always present. But what makes heels on a guy any different than a guy with long hair, ear rings, painted nails, spiked hair, or any of the other trends or personal preferences observed out there?? NOTHING!! And that is what I reinforce to my children whenever they face comments about my footwear selection. And as they grow I will continue to develop their acceptance of everybody for their individual traits. After all, if all men and women wore EXACTLY THE SAME clothing ALL THE TIME, imagine how boring the world would be!! I had a great experience awhile back at a local gas station/convienience store...This girl, about 15yo or so, and her friend (about 18 I guess...) were in line in front of us. The 15yo noticed my shoes and stared repeatedly at my selection (brown narrow heeled wedge boots from Payless...) and made comment to her friend. They exchanged a few whispers and I engaged them by showing my boots to them a little more. When I left the store I approached the vehicle they were in and commented "Just remember, you girls can't have ALL the fun in fashion!!" They got a chuckle, gave me an approving comment or two and drove off. It was one of my highlights wearing heels and was from the younger crowd. IT also made my night complete to say the least!! In closing I think honesty and education are the best approach with kids. If we hide it they will think it very strange when they find the stash (and YES, they WILL find them!!!) and are old enough to know the societial difference. But if it's 'normal' for them to see men wearing heels, when that time comes, it will be much easier to explain individual personalities, desires, fashion sense and more. So don't hide your footwear selection. It's sure to be just as easy to explain shoes as it would be long hair, painted nails, ear rings/piercings, tattoos, etc. I hope this helps!!

WOW!!! That is one HECK of a collection!! Otherworldly is an understatement for some of them!! I particularly liked the boots which you couldn't tell which way was front or back...Very unique!! but would I wear them?? I HIGHLY doubt it!! But they'd be great for photo shoots!! Great find!

Welcome!! Hope to hear more from you in the future about you're ballet experiences!! Just curious, but are you into ballet heels, ballet dancing, both, or fetishes in general?? Also you state you're somewhat of an artist?? What areas of art are you in to?