mlroseplant

I know, and it bugs me every time I see it. I'm thinkinging about unjoining the group just because of its misspelled name. 

Yes, I feel feminine when I wear heels and tight clothing, but I am not quite sure why. Perhaps it is what I find attractive to my eye, so I try to emulate the style myself. It is a feeling that I can neither describe nor fully understand. 

Perhaps it is because I am small and slender, perhaps it's because I rail against the macho-bullshit culture of my profession, but I certainly identify with my feminine side, while at the same time embracing my rough and tumble masculine side. 

I bought one of these on the strength of your recommendation, and it has saved several pairs of shoes from being donated or sold. Thanks!

I have a bit of a problem. I have a lovely pair of Charles David sandals, which are generally very comfortable, but after I had them re-soled with rubber (the original, ridiculously thin leather soles lasted less than 10 miles), the left shoe is quite wobbly compared to the right. If you set the left shoe on a flat surface and touch it on the side, it will move quite easily. The right shoe will stay fairly stable in the same test. 

This is is not a big problem for initial walking--I guess my ankles are fairly strong--but I discovered just this morning after walking my son to Sunday school, my left ankle becomes fatigued in less than one mile. I thought the heel had broken, but this is not the case. Upon further inspection, for some reason, the left shoe wants to turn outward, and I have to use ankle strength to keep it upright. 

I I suppose I could take the shoes back to the cobbler and complain, but I am loathe to do so for a couple of reasons, the most important of which is that I would have to leave work early (twice) to do so. Is there any fix I could do at home to make these shoes (actually just one shoe) more comfortable? I really hate to relegate them to short distance only shoes. By my own rules, that would mean I have to get rid of them, and I really don't want to do that. They were fine before. I look forward to your thoughts. 

To be very honest, I have led you down the path of deception, ever-so-slightly. I did wear those shoes out the other night, but I wore them with bootcut jeans, rather than the straight-leg jeans you see in the picture. It was handy to use an old photograph to show the shoes, which I will make an effort to put into my rotation more often.

It was not beyond the realm of possibility that someone might have asked why I wasn't wearing heels, but in this case, no one I saw really knew me.

I am not convinced that the heel set further back like this necessarily in and of itself makes it harder to walk. Walking in these is really no problem. It's the standing for an extended period of time that becomes rather uncomfortable. I think there are other factors that affect the walkability of a shoe more than the exact placement of the heel under the foot.

Yeah, then I tried to make up for it by wearing these bad boys out to dinner and shopping. I wouldn't say it was a mistake, but I was definitely ready to take them off when I got home. The problem was that there was way too much standing going on, and not enough walking or sitting. Ah well, it gives me another goal to work toward. 

I had to go to court today as a witness. Everyone involved, including me, decided it was best if I didn't wear heels. Wow, my feet look weird in these flatties!

The subject came up in another thread about our professions. I am an electrician (the industrial variety, not the residential), and I'm currently working on a pretty good-sized job. There are 300+ electricians on the project, so I get to meet people from all over the country. It is difficult for me to keep a low profile, because somehow I have managed to get the job of leading morning stretch-and-flex. Therefore, pretty much everybody knows who I am, at least by sight.

As it turns out, I am known for three things: My loud voice, my shiny boots (Doc Martens with 2 1/4" heels), and my relatively tiny t-shirts. I definitely push the 4" sleeve rule with women's t-shirts. However, my name has yet to appear on the port-a-potty walls, which is a good indication that people like me, or at least don't dislike me.

There are a select few people on the jobsite who are aware of my unusual fashion choices outside of work.

In my case, I figured it was because I had mentioned my work a number of times on the forum.

I started wearing high heels about 3 years ago. By "high," I mean anything 3 1/2 inches or above. I wore the clogs pictured below or something very similar on and off for several years before I decided I had the confidence to rock some "real" heels.  These clogs have 2 1/2 in heels, and are very easy to get used to, plus they look pretty much like any other clog, only with just a little bit of an elevated heel. 

If if you start off with something like this, or a boot with a 2 - 2 1/2 inch heel, you'll gain confidence as well as practical experience about wearing high heels in the real world. Good luck! 

Oops, I seem to have double posted somehow. Sorry about that. I don't see any way to correct this myself. 

After three years of practice, I think I have finally managed to come up with some sort of consistent, halfway-graceful walk in heels. Except when going down the stairs. I still suck at that, but that's a whole other subject. 

Many "how-to" guides suggest taking little, itty-bitty steps when walking in heels. I do not find this to be the least bit attractive for either gender. It may be practical advice if you don't really know how to walk in heels, but if that's the case, one should probably wear lower heels anyway. My goal has always been to walk athletically and aggressively, yet with a somewhat feminine style. My problem has always been that I am slightly bowlegged, and that I never paid any attention to how I appeared when I walked before I started wearing high heels. I definitely walk like a guy when left to my own device. 

One could argue that that since I AM a guy, I should walk like one, since it is not my intention to look like a woman. However, I find an overly masculine walk to be highly unattractive in heels. There has to be a happy medium. Here is what I have come up with:

I like to take longer strides, but I take great care to keep my legs very close together. I push off with my trailing foot, rather than stretching out with my leading foot. That happens naturally anyway, if one gives a powerful push with the trailing foot. I have included an illustration of what I strive for. I can't remember where I found this, but when I ran across it, I remember thinking that THIS is the way to walk in heels! 

I took some video today in three different pairs of heels, and although there is still room for improvement, I think I'm doing ok. I did notice that my stride is stronger when I'm leading with the left foot. I wonder if this is a vestige of high school marching band (I played the tuba, which some of you might find humorous, given my diminutive size)?  Included are some pictures. Tight sandals (worn often and habitually in public), flappy sandals (not worn often in public), and my highest pumps, in a loafer style. 

So, what do you think about when you are walking in heels? Do you try to alter your natural stride? Do you like to appear more feminine, or do you prefer to embrace your masculinity, even in your walk? I am very excited to hear your thoughts  

After three years of practice, I think I have finally managed to come up with some sort of consistent, halfway-graceful walk in heels. Except when going down the stairs. I still suck at that, but that's a whole other subject. 

Many "how-to" guides suggest taking little, itty-bitty steps when walking in heels. I do not find this to be the least bit attractive for either gender. It may be practical advice if you don't really know how to walk in heels, but if that's the case, one should probably wear lower heels anyway. My goal has always been to walk athletically and aggressively, yet with a somewhat feminine style. My problem has always been that I am slightly bowlegged, and that I never paid any attention to how I appeared when I walked before I started wearing high heels. I definitely walk like a guy when left to my own device. 

One could argue that that since I AM a guy, I should walk like one, since it is not my intention to look like a woman. However, I find an overly masculine walk to be highly unattractive in heels. There has to be a happy medium. Here is what I have come up with:

I like to take longer strides, but I take great care to keep my legs very close together. I push off with my trailing foot, rather than stretching out with my leading foot. That happens naturally anyway, if one gives a powerful push with the trailing foot. I have included an illustration of what I strive for. I can't remember where I found this, but when I ran across it, I remember thinking that THIS is the way to walk in heels! 

I took some video today in three different pairs of heels, and although there is still room for improvement, I think I'm doing ok. I did notice that my stride is stronger when I'm leading with the left foot. I wonder if this is a vestige of high school marching band (I played the tuba, which some of you might find humorous, given my diminutive size)?  Included are some pictures. Tight sandals (worn often and habitually in public), flappy sandals (not worn often in public), and my highest pumps, in a loafer style. 

I put up some new pictures yesterday, and they show up just fine, but the old ones are gone. I assume they will all return in the coming weeks. 

As it turns out, I was the only person in heels today at the park.  There was one woman in kitten heel pumps. I mean maybe these were 2 inches, but I doubt it. They were probably about 1 1/2 inches. There were a couple of women in very mild wedges--I guess you might call them flatforms--less than 2 inches and certainly at most a 1 inch rise.

I got a few stares, but nothing really notable. However, my wife caught this lady taking pictures of me. I didn't notice it, but I decided to take a picture of her. From the expression on her face, I'd say she was irritated at being caught red-handed. 

So, we are at the local amusement park today. I thought about wearing something more spectacular, but I know I can trust these Söfft Belicias to not bite me in the butt (or in the feet) during all-day wearing and walking. At around 3.5 inches, I've still got the highest heels in the park so far. Actually, the only heels. Time will tell. 

Why bother? Is it the thrill of wearing something intended for women? Flat shoes are boring. Buy heels.

Steve

Haha, I so agree, Steve. I actually just rejected a pair of sandals I bought on eBay without even bothering to try them on because the heels were too short. They appeared much taller in the picture. Guess I should have made an inquiry to the seller first! At least I didn't waste too much money on them.

I have also undergone a paradigm shift. I used to hate mules/slides and thongs, but today they are my absolute favorite styles!

I have yet to accept wedges as enthusiastically as have you. I have just a few pairs, but they are mainly for practicality, as in when it's necessary to walk on a non-paved surface for an extended period of time. Even then, you have to be rather picky. I have 2 pairs of Sbicca wedges that are infuriatingly unsuitable for off-road use.

Yes Mr Puffer I did agree 100% with your comments, as for the Like bit please do keep up.

I'm quite sure it was not the "like" part that was somewhat confusing, but rather the "Miss Amanda" part.

I agree with you. I looked at those pictures and saw nothing there that struck me as remotely out of real life or people with whom I could possibly identify. They were models, striking poses and in fairly preposterous ways. It is like when one sees photos of men wearing business suits and lipstick red stilettos, images supposedly normalising the wearing of heels. All they do is call attention to its out-of-the-ordinariness and crete a sense of confrontation and the bizarre. Would anyone seriously wear lipstick red brogues to an office unless you were deliberately being provocative and wanting to call attention to yourself and your footwear. So why would one do it with shoes that would already been different, especially if you seriously wanted to make the new style acceptable.

 

The same goes for the images of androgynous models and clothing that usually accompanies stories about radical changes in men's fashions. All that sort of look does is make most guys want to run the other way,

You'll get no argument from me, either. I'm used to seeing guys in heels (well, pictures of them, anyway), and 90% of those pictures made me cringe. In fact, most of them are so outrageous that I'm not at all sure that the title of the "article" was not intended to be sarcastic. Possibly No. 10, I might attempt, but if I wore that same outfit.  .  . nah, never mind, I wouldn't attempt it.

Please explain - too cryptic!

I believe it simply means he liked your comments. I agree and like them too.

What do you think about these boots?

I don't think they are too feminime,...

http://shop.mango.com/GB/p0/women/new/buckle-leather-ankle-boots/?id=53053646_99&n=1&s=nuevo&ident=0__0_1441188865706&ts=1441188865706

Not even the least little bit.

I will have 5 days off work over the holiday weekend. This means 5 days in heels all day, every day. Yay!

The Oxford I know. It comes from the University of Oxford in England. Apparently, the young students there popularized the style enough sometime in the 19th century that we call them by that name to this day.

The high heeled version that is a staple of my wardrobe probably came much later.