mlroseplant

Oh, I don't know if you can say with conviction that you're bringing up the rear. After all, you have only my word as evidence. I say that my standards are high, but you've never actually seen me walk. I might be terrible! My main concern in real life is to avoid looking like a complete idiot. I do not feel like I succeeded in that on Sunday. Yesterday (Monday) was an incrementally better day.

I am fairly lucky when it comes to women's shoes and clothing. I'm fairly predictable. Size 9 USW shoes. Or maybe 8.5 for sandals. Size 4 bottoms, not size 6, not size 2. Which sometimes translates to size 27. . . 27? Don't ask me. My actual waist size is approximately 30". Also, it's better if whatever it is is labeled 4P (for petite), otherwise, I have to get it hemmed. We won't even get into odd-numbered juniors sizing, which you would think would fit my non-curvy body better, but it doesn't.

I finally got a chance to walk around in a photograph my new shoes from Highest Heel. The weather actually approaced 0º yesterday, so I didn't feel like I was totally freezing every time I stepped out the door. The verdict is, I think they're quite attractive, and they seem to fit well. I cannot say that with 100% confidence because I never actually left my driveway, nor do I think this will happen anytime soon. Let's put it this way: No one but the across the street neighbor can watch me walk in them just yet, I won't allow it. Over the last couple of days, I've spent several hours each day in 11 cm shoes, but these 12.5 cm are a whole different level. To be fair, I didn't feel like I had it together anyway yesterday. I was not walking well in the 11 cm, much less the higher ones. I guess it was just one of those days. I was walking just fine at the jazz festival on Saturday in the same shoe (same model, different color), and I walked just fine at the grocery store on Friday in the same exact 11 cm shoes, but I could not seem to find my feet yesterday. Here's the specs: Model name of this shoe is Hottie (I wonder if it's a nod to the Hot Chicks), they are not real leather, but appear to be of reasonable quality, with a similar look and feel to my Steve Madden patent pumps. The actual heel height measures 13.3 cm, and when I run it through my 0.94 formula, I get the 12.5 cm equivalent to size 38. These are labeled size 9 USW. The heel width is 8 mm. Pretty narrow, but not super freaky fetish narrow. Here are some photographs: 1) A closeup, 2) the shoes with an outfit, and then for comparison, 3) the 11 cm shoes I actually wore to church with the outfit. Except for the height difference, I think the shoes are almost a dead ringer for the shoes I've already got.

I still haven't had a chance to really try out my new shoes yet--I spent a good deal of the day yesterday at a jazz band festival with my son. I did wear 11 cm for a good part of the day, and walked at least a few hundred meters, total. I don't really know what I look like in 11 cm, but it does seem to be getting easier! I don't feel clumsy, anyway.

Having reread my post, I was far from clear about my true concern, which is the shank itself--that is the weak part on these shoes. I'm not worried about breaking the actual heel. What I'm worried about is, even if I could somehow or other twist the shank back into alignment, it's never going to be trustworthy, and what I don't want is for the thing to suddenly snap in half on me. I've had that happen before, and it's at best inconvenient, and at worst could cause an injury. At this point, the matter is academic.

I do agree 100% on that point, it is really more about the attitude and carriage than it is about the shoes. Perhaps that is what makes it so intimidating for us. Almost anybody can get out there and stomp around in 12 cm heels, but to actually look like one belongs in them? Tricky business indeed. I trust that @Shyheels and I will know when we've got to the point when it's time to strut our stuff in the general public. @higherheels has a leg (or a foot) up on us, as she's already worn her 13 cm in public, just not for very long. Speaking of which, I have some exciting news. As you know, I was looking for a pair of 12 cm heels in order to meet this challenge. Actually, I have one pair, but I think they are fairly ugly. I was debating about maybe getting something from Fuss, but being unemployed at the moment, I figure now is not really the time to be spending what amounts to over 200 USD by the time you get them to my door. The Highest Heels look interesting, but they are even more expensive, and I think they're not even leather, at least not all of them. So I went on ebay and typed in "The Highest Heels." I found some black patent pumps, new in the box, for 50 bucks, delivered to my door. I believe them to be a non-current model. I had hoped that they were in fact the full 12 cm, de-rated and temperature corrected for my size 9. As it turns out, they are and then some, at 12.5 cm. And they actually fit. I have not yet really had time to mess with them yet, other than a few steps around the house, but I have a good feeling about these. I'll try to get some pictures taken in the next couple of days. I might wait a couple of days anyway, because the current temperature is -18º according to my thermometer, and by Monday it's supposed to rise above zero.

Yes, and yes, to both of you. Now you've got me curious @Puffer. Trash day isn't until Monday, so I could dig the shoes out of the bin and see if it's even possible to straighten up the heel without breaking it. However, that would be nothing more than an experiment, because after that, as @Cali says, I would never wear them out again (meaning I would never wear them again at all). They would indeed break, probably at an inconvenient time. Part of that calculus is metal fatigue, but the other part is that they are Michael Kors brand. They will break eventually anyway. I'm lucky they gave me some warning to begin with! According to my records, I have owned those sandals approximately 10 years, so they really don't owe me anything. They have been all over the country (quite literally) with me, but they were sort of a default dressy sandal for me. I have never found them to be terribly exciting. I shall report my findings, should I decide to experiment, at a later date.

Aaaaaannndd. . . we're back to -15º again. However, it looks to be actually warm starting on Sunday. Well, warm as in above zero. For whatever reason, that method never occurred to me before. It makes good sense, though. I'll have to try it again. If I bothered to warm up in the past (I usually don't have time), I'd wear slightly higher heels than what I was planning on wearing to whatever event. The problem with that method is that you've got to have a chunk of time to wear the higher heels beforehand.

The last time I wore the sandals, back in September, I remember not walking well. I figured I was just having an off day, as one will from time to time. I have no idea why I noticed the state of this heel only yesterday, but it does account for a good deal.

I broke one of my own rules yesterday--don't wear dressy shoes with a casual outfit. However, I was going through my shoe collection, trying to get it under control. This involved some vetting, or re-vetting, if that's even a thing. As a result, I wound up wearing black patent pumps to the grocery store to purchase some comestibles. They are 11 cm, and definitely keepers. I felt the need to re-vet because I actually had to wipe the dust and cobwebs off of them, so it's possible that I haven't actually worn them since Christmas 2024, the last time I distinctly remember wearing them. But is it too much for a non-dressy outfit?

Since I have the time on my hands at the moment, I finally dove in and attacked my shoe problem. As a result, I now have a little bit of shelf space where I had none before. I am prepared to do a new shoe inventory, the first in two years. There are significant changes since then. For now, I want to share with you a pair of sandals that I actually threw away. You would think I'd have noticed this defect before, and I guarantee they weren't always like this, but how did the heel of this shoe become so badly bent? I cranked on it pretty good trying to figure it out, and the heel is quite securely attached. The only thing I can think of is that the shank has become twisted somehow without actually breaking, which wouldn't surprise me a bit, because they are (or were) Michael Kors, a brand I've had long experience with, and they all have weak shanks. What do you think?

Although I started off the day yesterday with a whimper, I am happy to report that I ended with a bang! Yesterday morning, I decided I was too tired and too cold to bother with my "high" shoes, so I walked in my mid heeled boots instead (9 cm block heels). By mid morning, the sun had come out, and the temperature rose to almost -5º, so I put on 10 cm clogs and walked to take care of some business with our county government. Before I went to sleep last night, I got a notion to keep the momentum going and walk in my 12 cm oxfords. As of this writing, my calves are not screaming too badly, just feeling a little tired. I'm still not very good at the 12 cm.

I haven't run into this situation in quite some time, but it never feels good. I can certainly empathize, and as others have said, you must move on if you want to keep your sanity. This fellow was obviously somewhat less than sane.

Yay! I did it! I definitely should have worn my balaclava, though. It is still not anything approaching warm out, especially with a 20 km/hr wind that has kicked up in the last 30 minutes. Part of my problem is that I do not own a pair of boots that exceed mid-height (to us, anyway), so I am forced to wear pumps if I want to go truly high. In this case, with an effective steepness of 10.7 cm. I can definitely tell that it's been over a week since I've really walked in anything actually high. Keep on keepin' on, my friends.

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day who said, "R. doesn't believe me when I say that four inch heels are comfortable." My response: "Yeah, I'm the only one who believes you."

I'd personally rather spend my time practicing in heels. Which I should force myself to do this morning, since it's a sweltering 16º (-9º C) out there. I'm not even being sarcastic. -9 I can kind of handle. -20 is for sled dogs. Speaking of training, I can tell that I've already lost something it took some effort to gain, and it's only been a little over a week!

I am sure sucking rocks lately at practicing in high heels. This cold weather has made me very unmotivated.

Admittedly, there is a fine line between self confidence/empowerment and self awareness. As I get older, I question myself more and more about my fashion choices, particularly shorts. Through a combination of dumb genetic luck, and a little hard work (diet/exercise), I do feel I can still pull it off. For how much longer, I do not know. However, there is a lady in my town whom I've known for decades, and recently got to know a little bit better through a book club we were both in. She wears shorts, though not as short as mine, and not with heels. I was putting two and two together, thinking about who her children are, and who her parents were, and come to find out this woman is 67 years old. 67, and still has very nice looking legs and cute feet. Admittedly, that is super rare, but maybe there is hope for me.

I suppose if those who have actually met Steve in person can't get hold of him, then neither can I. Still, I suppose it only takes a couple of minutes to dash off an email saying, "Thinking of you." What's the worst than can happen? Here in Iowa, we missed most of the snow, and it looks like we have about 24 more hours of this super cold stuff, then we return back to a blistering 20º (-7º C) for highs for a few days. It's going to feel like a heat wave!

Another totally random comment, but what do you guys, and our one gal, think about these earrings/earclips? I don't know what to properly call them. Worn in real life by one of my female friends. My personal opinion is still not completely settled.

Steve Madden actually surprises you sometimes. As it is stupidly cold here for the next few days, I will not be submitting any photographs, but I've actually purchased some new Steve Madden shoes recently. While those particular boots are not really my cup of tea, I do like the look of a close fitting knee boot. Believe it or don't.

Definitely guilty as charged. I was on the high school tennis team in the 1980s, and we all wore shorts of that length. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I think we are all too fat in general for that style to ever come back. So I guess it's me and you and Cali. And maybe a few others.

The only reason that I sort of care is because, well, I'm going to need some higher heels. As you know, I have quite a number of heels in the 11 cm range, but only one pair that is really wearable in public that is 12 cm, and I think that pair is kind of ugly, mainly because of the design of the toe. Also, if I wear anything but skinny jeans, it looks like I have no feet. At any rate, it looks like I have two remaining options: Fuss Schuhe and this outfit called the Highest Heels that keeps showing up on my Instagram feed. Or the designer route, but I don't really want to pay that kind of money. I'm willing to pay a couple hundred bucks for the right shoes, but not a thousand. For that kind of money, I'll buy another obscure musical instrument. Did I ever show you my early 20th century Conn cornet?

I actually have some boots that are sort of like that, maybe not quite as sock-like, but a similar idea. I wore them exactly once, and never again. I do have photographic evidence, submitted for you here. I'm not saying they don't fit, I'm not even saying they don't look ok on me, I'm just saying I don't like them.

Somebody wrote about this the other day, this staple of 12 cm heels seems to be on its last legs. No pun intended. I have never taken the opportunity to buy from them, but know a couple of people who have. If they are indeed going belly-up, it's a shame.