mlroseplant

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.

While I don't believe "Caitlin" Jenner is a fool, it may have ignited the fears many (most?) women have about their men who proclaim to just wear heels. That they may someday transition to full time CD/transgender.

I think that's something we have to keep in the back of our minds, as I believe it's in the back of theirs.

This had never occurred to me, but you may be right. I was asked recently by an acquaintance if I was "transitioning." I'm pretty sure he was serious.

One of my few bad experiences in heels was in Costco (similar to Sam's Club). A man there called me gay, despite having my wife and child with me. It hasn't stopped me, though. I still wear my heels proudly in Costco.

Wowsers! Did you look at some of her other inventions? Knowing Asia as I do, I cannot imagine a woman who dresses like this every day. I wonder if it's an Internet persona?

It's very common in Asia to show a lot of leg (complete with very high heels), but typically it's highly frowned upon to show that much boob outside of nightlife.

Sometimes, what I thought was going to be a really cool pair of kicks turns out to be less than great. I've had many "fails" over the past three years, but I'll give a specific example. I bought a pair of Nine West Plantera, which is a loafer-style pump, a style which I normally like very much. I've put enough miles on these shoes to have them reheeled, but lately when I look in the mirror, I see Kim Jung-il's (former leader of North Korea, known, among other things, for his hideous platform shoes) shoes staring back at me. See photos below. They are just too thick in the forefoot to look good with normal dress pants.

Is there any hope for these? I hate to get rid of them, but I need some ideas about what they might look good with.

I can certainly identify with your desire to avoid confrontation. I have, without a doubt, walked a different way when I have encountered a group of people I've felt "funny" about walking past. Part of me wants to engage them, but I have yet to find a derisive person who wants to do anything but yell insults and run away. Perhaps this has to do with my booming voice, a voice which is a singing tenor, but which I can make much deeper on demand while speaking if necessary. I feel your pain. Glad you ultimately had a nice time.

Yesterday got even better! After discussing shoes in the morning with my gal pal, I wore said high stiletto slingbacks to church, where I received a compliment from a more or less total stranger.

Later on in the day, I went to a child's birthday party. I did not wear the slingbacks because I wasn't sure how much walking on grass I'd have to do. After I'd been there a while, I heard the very wonderful sound of stiletto heels behind me. I turned around, and it was my friend I'd been talking with that morning. I had not expected her to attend this party, so it was a nice surprise. She was also wearing her favorite combo, high heels with shorts, a look I really like on her. A very nice day, indeed! Here are a couple of pictures.

I just had the most interesting conversation with a gal pal of mine. And no, not "gal pal" in the sense of w6ish, haha. We had not talked in quite some time, so we caught up on family news, then I asked her if she wanted to see my new shoes, and she immediately answered in the affirmative. I showed her these pictures, posted previously in post No. 28 of this thread. She got terribly excited and replied, "I love them! Where can I get a pair?" We talked about shoes and fashion for quite a while longer, then I changed the subject, not wanting to seem a crushing bore. I must say, however, that she is the only person I know who would say that those shoes look quite comfy. They are, believe it or not.

It is nice to have a few friends who can get beyond the "I wonder why the hell he does that?" stage, and be able to talk about shoes and fashion in a completely natural manner. So if anyone knows where a person can purchase these Charles David slingbacks (model name unknown) or something similar in a size 5 1/2 or 6, my friend would be thrilled.

No desire to wear skirts here, either, even as my shoes become gradually more feminine as the years go by. What I do love, however, is shorts. Short shorts.

I think that perhaps there is a slight misunderstanding of the lawyer's request. My friend is going through a very nasty child custody battle with his ex-wife. My friend's lawyer wants me to testify on his behalf. Right or wrong, the lawyer wants no distractions from the actual evidence. I can understand that. That's why I'm not even hesitating to make sure my choice of footwear does not negatively affect my friend's case. I mean it might, or it might not, you never know. So why take the chance?

I live in a small town. Well, it used to be small, back in the day. Without getting into details, which would be unethical, a local attorney called me the other day, and asked me if I would be a character witness for a certain colleague of mine (not a criminal case). I said sure, and the very next thing the attorney said was, "Please don't wear high heels to the hearing."

Fine. I understand. It makes me sad, but I understand.

I was not wearing heels when I got divorced, but if I had been, it would have been an issue. If I were to get divorced again, shoes would be <5% of the reason.

Back on topic, I rather like kitten heels. I like SF's heeled sandals. I like jet heels (although I never heard the term either until jetheelsfan came along). I like taller stilettos, thicker heels, block heels, tapered heels, stacked heels, clog heels, cuban heels, and (this is scary) I'm starting to like some wedges! Did I say that?

Steve

It sounds as though you are polyamorous. As far as shoes are concerned. Haha.