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My first time playing with skirts. I was always averse to them because I hate shaving my legs. Then I realized you don't need to shave your legs to look good in a skirt. Embrace the hair! Here's the link

@pebblesfThano you for your kind words. I know that nothing bad will happen if I wear them out, just gotta get over the mental hurdle of it all. 

@Jkrenzer Unfortunately I don't. Too much of a scaredy cat. I have a few times, and nothing bad happened. Just nerves and stuff. 

@RonCThanks! The link must've went bad when I made those albums hidden on imgur. All the down votes I got made my account look bad. So I decided to make the albums hidden so only the people I share the link with can see them. I'll have to update link. Thanks for he heads up.

The red pumps are definitely nice, but I really liked the look of he outfit with the boots. 

In the last few months I've taken up a keen interest in photography, landscapes, astro, portraiture, street, etc. It's all fun to me. It also gives me the opportunity to have a nice fun creative outlet with the clothes I like wearing. The pictures also end up looking a hell of a lot better than my cell phone pics look. Still have a lot to learn on the photography side, but I'm pretty happy with how these pictures turned out. 

Anyway, I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy.

@mlroseplant I had no idea you had a youtube channel. I checked out a few of your videos and realized you're a very talented musician! Many years ago I competed in the Fort Dodge Symphony concerto competition. I played Prokofiev's 3rd piano concerto. Ended up losing to a 11 year old playing Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2. Who can compete with a 11 year old playing at that level?!?! Good experience though.

19 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

It's a mean, mean world out there in Internetland. Heck, I even got a "dislike" on my new organ video I posted on Youtube. I mean, it's not the greatest, but a dislike? Just ignore it.

I might suggest, however, that posting that many pictures at once of basically the same thing is perhaps a bit much. On top of that, you're not showing your face, and you're obviously within your home, and not out and about doing stuff. If there's one thing I've learned as a man wearing high heels, is that most of it is presentation. If you look like you know what you're doing, if you look like you are comfortable, then people won't bother you.

I'm not saying any of this to be a jackwagon, I'm just sharing with you my perception of what's going on here. My intention is to encourage you, because I think your look is great. If you hadn't said anything about the downvotes or the mean comments, I probably wouldn't have even replied. I bet if you posted pictures of yourself shopping at Walmart, or wherever, you wouldn't get any mean comments. Or at least they'd be few and far between.

I honestly didn't expect any less when I made the posts. I've been a part of the "internet community" since the late 90s and it really hasn't changed much since then. I also agree that most of the pictures are the same thing over and over again in a very boring environment. Take that coupled with all the headless shots and it just makes things look very awkward, even kind of cringey (if that's a word). The thing is the pictures are just as much a depository for me as they are me trying to express myself. Since I'm too scared to go back out in public for the time being it's nice for me to still have this outlet to do what I like. I've lost a lot of pictures in the past from just running out of space on my phone and such. It's kind of nice to have a near limitless place to upload them so I can immediately delete it off my phone to save up space for all my games. 

I'm sure as I rebuild my confidence I'll head back out. I've run into this problem of creating an image for myself at my current residence that I don't want to break out of that and have to go through the process of explaining myself to the people I know when I eventually run into them in public (town of about 30,000). I'm in the military and I'll be moving across the country in the next several months so I'll have the opportunity to reinvent who people know me as. The biggest hurdle will be going through with it versus staying stagnant in my current state of my mind...if that makes sense.

As always, thanks for your input. As a long time member of this community and a fellow Iowan I have tremendous respect for you. 

...now onto a new post..

New pictures uploaded to imgur. Here's the link! Hope you like.

Why the green screen you may ask? Well it's quite simple. It's really the only good place I have in my house to shoot photos. I use the webcam on my computer and take a 3-5 minute video. Then I pull stills from the video that I think look okay. Someday I hope to get a dslr and want to get out in the wild for some nicer pictures, but for now I'll continue with the "playing in my mom's closet" look. I'm having fun with it. Thanks for all your support!

Since these forums only allow so much space for uploading photos I decided to start a page on imgur. I've made two posts so far, but lots of pictures to look at if you're interested. It's really interesting to me how much disapproval I am getting from the imgur community, at least in the like/dislike category. I uploaded my second post just 20 or so minutes ago and I already have 8 down votes. I'm not really upset by it, but it's just something I noticed. Anyway, if you're interested here's the link. You'll see a lot of old stuff that I've posted as well as some new stuff too. I hope you enjoy.

Rather than continuing to upload photos in the posts here. I'll just revive this post when I upload new stuff to imgur. Enjoy and thank you for your support! 

1 hour ago, Jkrenzer said:

Just Do it. Pumps are sweat.

I know I know. Whenever I do it it's never really that big of a deal either. 

2 hours ago, fashionablefun said:

Because of the quarantine or just because? 

Just because. Never 100% overcame the fear and just let my nerves get the best of me. 

I just received these beautiful Nine West Tatiana pumps in neon green snake print. Wasn't sure how I'd like them, but they look so much better in person. Just threw something together quick to try and show them off. I kinda like the all black, then when you get to the shoes your eyes get shocked. I used to wear my heels in public, but it's been so long that all those nerves of mine have come back and I've kinda just lost the motivation to overcome them. Anyway, here's the pictures.

EDIT: The sale is probably over by now. If I knew how to delete the topic I would. 

Thanks! I'm convinced my dog thinks I'm crazy. When I get a new pair of shoes I do a lot of walking around the house to try them out and he just follows me around stairs at me with this blank look on his face like "what the heck are you doing?" He's a good boy though. 

2 hours ago, nzfreestyler said:

Well done on those outfits!

I think the first one is best.

 

Personally I find that high heels are always best with more tailored outfits - or more fitted and fluted styles - and for me that means a fitter top half to make the body look lean - and also always fitted from the knee down to accentuate the shoe...

Mind you it depends on why you are wearing high heels - I love how they make me feel confident and I prefer the posture and I find the comfortable so its a win win. I am happy to show my heels and am no longer bothered about my heels being obvious etc - I was nervous once upon a time but now its empowering, not nerve racking to wear high heels.

I also love that you're interested in colour - because thats the point of neat shoe choices - wearing red is a bold colour choice - and the nude you chose is also an excellent practical shoe.

Your choice of pumps are in my opinion the most versatile of shoes as the can work with anything from jeans to shorts, skirts and dresses. It all works with a pump.

 

Anyway - I wish you good fortune and enjoy your heels!

NZFreestyler aka Craig

Thank you! I've seen some of your pictures and really admire your style. You're bold and classy with how you dress and you look absolutely stunning.

When I do go out I never make an attempt to "hide" my shoes. Really, in the end, you're only hiding them from yourself. You're fooling yourself thinking that long wide pants are hiding the type of shoes you're wearing. If one were to just look down it would be obvious what you have on your feet. With that being said, might as well wear something that compliments the shoes you are wearing. If you're going to wear high heels in public it's better to show that you're not afraid rather than trying to hide something that's very obvious.

You're someone here I look up to. I hope one day I can be as bold as you. Thanks for your contributions!

Thanks for your response and kind words. I still don't go out very often. It's very daunting. The handful of times I have been out nobody has said a word to me, and that's how I like it. My goal is to fit in, not stand out. Although compliments are nice I don't really like the attention.

Like I've mentioned in previous posts of mine, I've always struggled with finding good casual outfits to wear my heels with. A nice pair of leather pumps have the tendency to scream "formal" or "dressy". It's not particularly challenging to dress down pumps, but I'm very particular about how I want my entire silhouette to look. I'm also very particular about wanting the majority of my clothes to come from the men's department. I've kind of made it my hobby to find stylish and casual outfits that not only look good, but also come mostly from the men's department. There's still a stigma that men's clothes are boring and that you have to venture outside the men's department to find stylish clothes that compliment your high heels. Even though I find this statement to be mostly true, you can find nice clothes if you look hard enough. Please don't misinterpret this as me thinking that men should only wear "men's clothes", that's far from the truth. I'm not comfortable in women's clothes, my body proportions don't fit into them in a way that makes me feel like the clothes actually fit me. Anyway, I hope that the pictures I've been sharing demonstrate that all hope isn't lost when it comes to men's clothes.

On to today's outfit.

I took four different pictures to show that each layer can have its own look, and that you can layer up or down to add complexity or simplicity.

I've added the brand/title you can search on Amazon to find the exact item:

The Jacket: (Chouyatou Men's Casual Long Sleeve Full Zip Jacket with Shoulder Straps) Just a generic black bomber jacket I found on amazon for around $40. It's a Chinese brand I believe, but the quality was actually really good. I think it looks stylish and it has enough thickness to keep me warm during the upcoming fall months. I also really love the lining, it adds an extra little bit of detail that can be a lot of fun.

The Shirt: (NankeyStar Ripped Denim Shirt for Men Short Sleeve Button Down Plaid Shirt Slim Fit) This is just a simple plaid short sleeve button up shirt. It's made of denim. It's a little too distressed for my taste, but in the end I love the way it looks and it's cut nearly perfect for my body type. You can layer different color shirts underneath to get a little pop of color through the holes on the shoulder. I even think it would be kinda fun to find some interesting patches to sew on to add a little punk rock flair to it. It's a really simple shirt with lots of potential.

The Undershirt: Not much to say about this. Just a plain black v-neck t-shirt. The brand is Gildan. I prefer a v-neck to a crew neck. Not for any reason, I just like the lines of the "V".

The Jeans: (Bullhead Dillon Skinny Jeans) These jeans are probably going to be impossible to find anymore. I bought them from PacSun about 6 years ago. I just checked their website and I'm not sure they even carry them anymore. Not a big deal though since men's skinny jeans are available from nearly every major clothing brand you can think of. H&M sells some really great jeans in various levels of tightness. All the way from the "spray painted on" look of super skinny jeans to a more relaxed skinny jean, they're all easy to find. 

The Shoes: (Sam Edelman Hazel in Spiced Mahogany Size 11) I cannot say how much I love these shoes. They're the most comfortable pumps I have ever worn. Pumps are notorious for being uncomfortable, but I think I could probably wear these shoes for an entire day and not be limping by the end of it. There's really no point of friction where blisters will happen and the leather is extremely soft. These shoes fit perfectly right out of the box. Another thing I appreciate about Sam Edelman is that they're a mainstream designer with shoe sizes all the way up to size 14 and they offer narrow and wide width shoes! This is literally the perfect pump. The only gripe I have is that they're going to set you back about $120. If you're in the market for a really nice pump you absolutely have to give these shoes a try. These shoes also come in a huge variety of colors and patterns. I bought mine from Zappos. For me  the 3 3/4 inch heel is the perfect height. If you prefer something a little bit higher Sam Edelman also has the "Danna Pump". It's basically the same concept as the Hazel Pump but with a 4 1/4 inch heel. Looking on Zappos these only go up to a size 11. I think the Hazel Pump is the bread and butter of their shoe line though. 

Anyway, I'm really proud of this outfit. If you guys are enjoying these posts I'll keep experimenting with different styles and outfits and share them. My quest for casual is finally yielding some great results I think. When someone sees me in public and does a double take, as they inevitably will, I don't want them to think "oh look there's a guy in high heels!" I want them to think "Wow! I had no idea heels could look so normal on a guy!"

Sorry I cropped out my face. My hair was kind of a mess...

7 minutes ago, Cali said:

I buy items based on their function. Women's shorts because men's are just tooooooo long.  Men's long pants because I need pockets. In October I'll be looking for pants that will fit inside my knee high boots this winter. 

Haven't you heard the expression “Beauty Is Pain” ?

Avoid the stubble and get them waxed.  LOL. It only really hurts the first 2-3 times.

Men's shorts have been getting much shorter over the last several years, still no competition for women's shorts, but the thighs are finally starting to get some sunlight! haha

The problem is when I shave I get these nasty red bumps that don't go away. If I shave again the bumps bleed all over the place. I've tried different lotions, soaps, shaving creams, etc. Nothing really works. I've also used veet and nair. Those work pretty well, but I don't think using those chemicals on a regular basis is very healthy, so I avoid that. I could get a wax, but the money i'd spend on that could go towards getting more shoes!!! 

13 minutes ago, Pierre1961 said:

Everything is right. I just don't personally feel like going to wearing skirts. 

I love flare jeans. I buy them in the women section. Also slim fit jeans. Honestly said both draw people attention the same when they are worn with high heels. 

Pierre

I definitely don't have the confidence for public skirt wearing. Maybe it's because I don't shave my legs. I tried shaving several times, but it's just too much work and it actually puts my legs in a great deal of pain. I think it's because I have really thick leg hair. Regardless, skirts are fun but not an every day type of thing for me. 

I really don't wear flare jeans anymore, skinny jeans are kinda my thing right now. Like I said, skinny pants of any type cut right at the ankle with a nice pair of leather pumps just looks really really nice to me. 

I've found during my outings that no matter what type of heel i wear, or how hidden or exposed they are I still feel just as nervous. So, i just try to find an outfit that i really think I look good in and go with that.

As far as clothes that come from the men's department vs clothes that come from the women's department. I find clothes that are made for male bodies tend be a lot more comfortable. If you look in the right places you can definitely find a lot of men's clothes that look more like something a female would typically wear. Especially with jeans. I used to wear women's jeans on a regular basis. I really loved the flare jeans that were popular in the early 2000s/late 90s, and they were all I would wear. These days I really dig the skinny jeans and super skinny jeans are really easy to find in the men's department. A lot of online retailers also have free returns, so you can buy multiple sizes until you find something that fits. You can also find lots of fitted tops as well, from t-shirts to button ups, they're all there with all the fun prints and styles that women enjoy too. I think stilettos and skirts are still a long way off from being able to be found in the men's department, so I still have to buy those types of things from the women's section. Not too big of a deal though if you know your size, and skirts would probably fit the same regardless of gender, just due to the nature of what a skirt is. 

A nice pair of skinny chinos cut right at the ankle with a smart pair of pumps and a cool looking t-shirt or button up is such a great look on both a man or a woman. 

4 minutes ago, mlroseplant said:

Maybe it is I who is the outcast here, because I have never done a search for "men who wear high heels." If I stop and think about it, I'm probably not in the majority there. The reason why I said what I did in the first place was simply by looking up Duane's youtube channel, and noting that the views were typically in the hundreds, which is about like all of my youtube videos, and no one's ever heard of me!

nobody should feel like an outcast, so i'll rephrase what i said...

Have any of you ever heard of Paul Duane? He's this really cool guy from Salt Lake City that wears heels with shorts on a regular basis.  He makes the look seem so effortless and clean. I love his style. 

How's that?

Thank you for your kind words! You've always been one of my biggest inspirations on this site. I always appreciate what you contribute. 

1 minute ago, mlroseplant said:

I don't mean to be flippant, but I have no idea why you would think that most of us know who Paul Duane is. Of course, we have all Googled him by now, and wondered even more why you would think that any of us know who Paul Duane is. He's got decent legs, I'll give him that.

I don't know, I made the assumption because I am in a forum full of men who wear high heels. I figured, like me, a lot of you have searched for "men who wear high heels" on the internet. He is a very popular man who wears high heels. Sorry for being so bold to make that assumption, i'll keep my assumptions in check next time @mlroseplant. I didn't realize such an assumption would arouse your flippancy. 

I'm sure most of you know who Paul Duane is. He makes the heels with shorts look so effortless and clean. I love his style. 

2 hours ago, Cali said:

Although I dress as a male, I do not limit myself to male clothes.  

To each their own. I've seen your pictures. You look good! Everyone has their own unique style, and nobody should feel limited to anything that doesn't bring them joy. 

Thanks for the support guys! All the clothing I wear, with the exception of the shoes, come from the men's department. You can actually find really great skinny jeans, with the look and feel of what you might find in the women's department, in a lot of men's sections. It's nice because they're actually cut for a male figure. The fit feels more...right...for lack of a better term. I've always found women's pants to feel just a little off, and women's tops don't work for me because I have kind of broad shoulders. 

A really good online retailer where you can find a very broad variety of clothing for each gender is asos.com I've also bought quite a bit of stuff from H & M and PacSun as well. 

I might try cuffing the jeans a little bit in the first picture to kind of reduce the bunching up around the ankle. It kinda looks a little more edgy I guess, but cuffing the jeans might take some of the edge off and look a little more clean. I don't know, we'll see. 

I've always wanted red pumps, but I'm not really into patent, or super bright colors. That's why these red pumps stood out to me. It's a very sharp color, but also muted enough to not look off the wall crazy. I'm not going for fabulous as much as I am going for natural. When I go out I don't want to be noticed. I don't want people to compliment me nor do I want them to say anything negative to me. I just want to be, to exist. I want to be left alone and seen as being just as mundane as every other pedestrian. Attention is not something I crave, I actually hate it. Being an introvert and being a man who wears high heels is such a perplexing combination to me. I wish I didn't have this desire, I wish I could just be content with my van's hi tops and a pair of cargo shorts, even though I like those things, it's only a fraction of who I am. I also like heels and I've gotta deal with that and find a way to balance the desire to go unnoticed with the desire to wear what I want. 

The tucked in shirt look is something I really like. I think it looks super clean and very professional. If I wore something like that to the office every day I'd probably pick up some shirt stays to help keep the shirt tucked in. As I move around the shirt slowly gets un-tucked. It would be nice to have something holding it down. I don't work in an office and I don't go to church very often so I'm going to start trying harder to find something a little bit more every-day-casual-wear-to-the grocery-store-type look. A look that's more true to who I am as an individual. I'm most definitely not that polished on a regular basis, nor do I have an interest in changing that. I think I can achieve this look. I just need to do a little more critical thinking and digging through my clothes. The top picture is definitely more "me".