mlroseplant

On 9/15/2022 at 6:51 AM, Jkrenzer said:

Just got these very light, almost white, mules.

Are these more Hey-Si-Meys? Or have you found another acceptable Chinese manufacturer?

6 hours ago, Rockpup said:

Not exactly on topic, but for $75k you can buy a lot of heels.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/leg-lengthening-surgeon-says-software-165430529.html

Something about that just sounds nuts. I'd kind of like to see the finished product proportionally. So you lengthen one bone (well, two) to get all your additional height. That just doesn't seem like it would be satisfactory, either from a physics or an aesthetic standpoint.

3 hours ago, VirginHeels said:

Someone decided to queue wearing heels for like 13 hours!!! Most others feet would have gone in that time!!!

 

Given the angle of the foot because of the huge platform, I can sort of see it being possible. After 13 hours of standing, you're likely to be miserable no matter what. My feet are getting tired just thinking about it. I typically do not have to stand more than 5 hours at a time, and even then, I take a few minutes to sit down and eat something during that time. I cannot imagine 13 hours.

12 hours ago, bambam said:

I don't see any significant difference in heel height, the Vala may be a hair shorter, but the daisies are SOOO much more comfortable, I really think the Vala is trying to be a Loubatin, so, not comfortable for a human at all...

It's amazing how the time has flown. I never bought, and am no longer considering the Vala. I found the Klory instead, which is much better looking, and seems to wear and walk about like the Daisie, even though it is actually a little bit higher (not much, less than 1/8").

20 hours ago, kneehighs said:

I agree with all these well thought out points.  They address challenges on a micro scale.

For me, I was addressing a broader macro scale cultural and economic momentum that encourages men in heels. 

I get what you're saying, but it is very difficult for many of us to ignore the details, and that's partially because we're already reached the Promised Land, to some degree or another. I do not personally know what it feels like to want to try some kind of style, just because it's in style. I'm trying to imagine a guy buying heels for the first time, saying to himself, "I'd kind of like to try that," having larger than woman-sized feet, and purchasing a pair of these Asos shoes. If they fit ok, he might like them, and purchase another pair at some point in the future. If they don't fit ok, he might well say, "Now I understand why women always bitch about their shoes. I can see that being able to wear high heels out and about is pure fantasy." And then never buy another pair again.

I realize that reviews are not the end-all solution to this problem, but they certainly do help in many ways. Some of this micro stuff is going to end up driving the macro world in the end, at least in the long term. If only one of us could be there to guide every potential newcomer to heels down the slippery slope of an inclined footbed!

I say that I can't wear high heels to work, but I guess I forgot about my side gig, selling egg rolls at farmer's markets. I didn't used to consider it "work," as I was just helping the wife out a little bit, but now it's become more of a big deal, and I'm an essential part of it. We even bought a cargo van recently specifically for the business.

I haven't worn true flats yet this year to a market. My "backup" shoes are 2 inches, and I've only had to wear those once when the sole fell off my higher heels. These BCBGeneration thong type wedges actually work well on grass, too.

19 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

Old pumps today. Melrose, you'd like these. Steve Madden Darrt.

These actually have a thin extremely well hidden platform. 

I have actually got my eye on a pair, on the strength of your previous post. The only problem is that they are 9 1/2, and I usually take a 9. However, everything else this lady is selling is a 9. Do they possibly run a little small? Have not yet found a pair in a 9.

Thanks, guys. I figured there was nothing wrong with the look, it's just that I'm the type of guy who will wear sandals until it snows, or maybe even after it snows. My body parts get cold in this order, roughly: Legs first, I have never been able to wear shorts with a jacket, I'm much less cold with long pants and short sleeves. I will wear leggings underneath my pants with a short sleeve shirt. Next to cover up in the fall are my arms/upper body. Last: Feet. I don't know why my feet don't really get cold. Yes, they do eventually get cold in extreme weather.

I guess I have three distinct ways of leaving the house: If I'm going to work, I'll be in my construction garb. If I'm working at home on a physical project (automotive, yardwork, etc.), it's basically the same minus the helmet and high viz stuff, and probably ratty tennis shoes instead of work boots. At all other times, it's some sort of heel 99% of the time. This is true for casual or dressy occasions, true for going to the grocery store or going to a fancy dinner. I never carry "backup" shoes (with one important exception), I never keep shoes in the car, or store them anyplace else but my house. I've had enough shoe failures over the years that I probably should keep a backup pair in the car. I do keep snow boots in there during the winter.

I decided to post here because I recently took several pictures of my new Steve Madden "Klory" pumps, and I happened to be wearing shorts. I am normally loathe to wear closed-toes shoes with shorts--this was for modelling purposes only--but I don't think the combination looks horrible.

Hi all, it's time for another new pair of shoes! I am actually several pairs behind, but these are special because I think I have finally found a pair of nude (or beige) pumps which suit all of my needs and desires. Well, except for one, and that comes at a price I'm unwilling to pay.

I had bought a pair of Steve Madden "Daisie" pumps in nude a while back. They were a very pinkish beige, but that didn't bother me. They were super pointy, had super thin heels which approached the 5 inch territory, and were super easy to walk in. The only problem was that the sock liner of the shoe had started to deteriorate due to age and exposure to air. Or sunlight. Or something. I'm no chemist, but the insides of these shoes were peeling off, and it wasn't because of heavy use--there wasn't a mark on the soles or heels. I was/am unable to find another pair in that color and in my size. The other model that is of the same basic idea is the "Vala," but it has an extreme setback heel which I think looks ugly. Naturally, those can be had everywhere for a little bit of nothing.

Anyway, I ran across these Madden pumps on Poshmark which were called "Klory." They looked to be the ticket. High, thin heel, pointed toe, but less extreme than the Daisie. Supposedly, they were brand new. The seller wanted something like 80 bucks for them. "Nah, I'm not paying quite that much for a plastic shoe that I can't try on," I said to myself. "If they come down to 50 bucks, then we'll see." It took a while, but the seller did eventually come down to 50 bucks. I couldn't go back on a promise, so I bought them, and I'm glad I did.

Although I have yet to truly wear them outside, I can tell you that they seem to have all the good characteristics of the Daisies without the peeling insides. Actually, I like them better in some aspects. The not-quite-4 3/4" heel (119 mm to be exact) is incrementally thicker than the Daisie, at 5/16", or 8 mm, but more importantly, it curves inward, toward the front of the shoe, which I find more attractive and desirable than a more set back heel. Fit is what you'd expect from a size 9 Steve Madden, so that was a relief. They seem a little bit steeper than the Daisies, even though the heel height is virtually the same. I'll have to actually wear them somewhere to comment on that, but the heels are rock solid, so any awkwardness I may experience is user error, and not the fault of the shoes. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase.

"Thin" is an interesting descriptor, as they appear to have heels of the same thickness of many other pumps of that ilk. I have personally found that the thickness of the heel (within reason) has very little correlation with comfort or walkability. Having so many people describe it as "thin" makes me wonder if it's a bit on the flexible side, which is not good. You'll have to let us know for sure!

The farmer's market season is rapidly winding down, but it's still shorts weather for sure. That may change next week, or it may not. You never know here in Iowa. The reason I mention shorts is because although I wore some pretty standout shoes last night, my blue Bruno Magli "Kira" suede wedges, I got no comments about them at all. However, one mid-thirty-ish lady gushed about my shorts. I do think they suit me rather well, being short enough without being super tight, and not so short as to be really shocking, but I guess I can't get all that enthusiastic about shorts. Another bathroom shot. I have no place else as a practical matter.

My latest is a pair of JustFab "Loola" mules, which I purchased through Poshmark for the low, low price of $24 plus shipping. They caught my eye because a) they were shiny, b) they were cheap, and c) they appeared to have close to 5 inch heels with no platform, which I have been seeking for some time.

As it turns out, they are not quite a full 5 inches in steepnes, but that's probably ok, since I can almost walk in them. The heel height is actually a full 5 inches, as I expected, but these sandals have what is effectively a 1/4" platform, reducing the difference to a mere 4 3/4". Thickness of the heel is a tidge over 5/16", or about 9 mm.

These are a size 9, which is typically too big for me in open heeled shoes, but I think these actually fit fine. There is some real estate around my foot, but it's evenly distributed between toes and heel, and it's not excessive. I hate to admit it, but I have been buying plastic shoes lately, and these are the latest addition to the petroleum based collection. I haven't really truly worn them out yet, so I cannot comment on the comfort and feel, but they seem sturdy enough for cheap shoes, and they may well help me on my goal of mastering slightly higher heels.

As an American, I have never pretended to be interested in such things, but today I do find myself being drawn into the the stories of the queen's life. She was an extraordinary lady.

I thought I recognized those. Did you snag them for somewhat less than the asking price?

I have managed to snag a pair of the aforementioned Steve Madden "Klory" pumps, and shall be interested to see if they are yet another color variation on the same theme. Hopefully, they fit and do not suffer from the same deterioration problems that plague my Daisies. It was one of those deals where I said to myself, "Self, you do not really need another pair of nude pumps, but if they come down on the price.  .  ." So without making an active offer, I waited to see if they would eventually come down on the price, and they eventually did! More to come. . .

22 hours ago, pebblesf said:

Good for you buddy, sounds like great times indeed.  

I worry that I have the "turtle thing" and might be guilty of "clumping around" in my boots.  I'm afraid of watching a video of myself, for fear it will discourage me.  But I do realize that the truth can hurt/discourage, but is needed to make long term improvements.  

I can remember the first time I ever saw myself in a full length mirror wearing heels. I was in my early 20s, and I was so horrified by what I saw that I never put on another pair of heels for 15 years. However, times have changed, and now I can look at something and say, "OK, that doesn't look that great. Why? How do I fix this?" I'm not spending time and money to go to a modeling school or some sort of coach like that, so I have to figure it out by myself. Do not be afraid, my friend. You may find out that you don't look nearly as bad as you thought. And if you do, you can fix it!

14 hours ago, Pierre1961 said:

So better not to watch. It’s already difficult enough. No need to have bad  images in our mind. For improvement only good exemples are inspiring 

I agree that you shouldn't spend a lot of time watching people do something badly, but it can be useful. Sometimes, I just need to answer the question, "Why does this person look awkward?" And then not do that!

14 hours ago, hiddenheels said:

Been working a lot on my posture/confidence. I envy women who can do this without anyone batting an eye. But I rarely see any heels being worn.

Glad you were able to make it out for an extended period. I think it's good to carry yourself well, heels or not. It's probably just flat-out better for your health. One thing I noticed, having taken some videos of myself recently, is that I am starting to do the turtle thing, and I didn't realize it. In case you don't know what I'm talking about, as we get older, many of us tend to carry our heads in a forward position, rather than straight above the body. I refer to this as the turtle thing. I don't know what the real name for it is.

As far as the other, women who can wear heels without batting an eye, I've seen very few. I have seen quite a number of all ages walking in heels this year, and I am sad to report that the number who can do it properly is approaching zero. Whether they know this, I have no idea. I'm guessing they don't, so it probably doesn't faze them, other than the perceived discomfort of heels. I shouldn't be too hard on them, it's something that probably only I notice, since I've made it my hobby to study the mechanics of walking. For something that everybody is hardwired to do, most people walk poorly to begin with, even without the added challenge of heels.

5 hours ago, CAT said:

I wish I could!!!   There is no issue with wearing them for an entire day as I have.  It’s wishing I could do it every day!!!  That would be awesome.   

I think maybe we've had this conversation before, because I often wish I could wear heels more often, but do I really wish I could wear them at work? Yeah, for some of it. I would rather enjoy walking the quarter-mile long buildings when I'm in supervisor mode. However, when it comes to doing any actual work like lifting something heavy, carrying something heavy, walking on rocks and/or mud, and many other things---nah, not really. For one thing, I don't want to mess up my good shoes. If I had a job like one of these server techs where I was guaranteed to never have to run outside real quick and take care of something, sure I'd try to push the envelope and wear heels at work. As it is, I'll just let it remain a fantasy. Because, like the song says, sometimes a fantasy is all you need.

It is unfortunate when a substantive post is the last one on the page, as it tends to get ignored. And yes, I think most people don't think about the distinction between truly high heels and mid heels. I find that anything 3 inches or less is not really a heel for me anymore. However, my learning curve is over with pretty quickly, as I can't seem to deal with anything higher than 4 1/2 inches, and I have the video to prove it!

In my lifetime, I've seen gambling go from being completely illegal to full-blown casino here in Iowa. I don't see that as a positive, but I will say that as a band, Prairie Meadows (local casino with the following slogan) was indeed my "favorite place to play." They paid twice as much as any other gig as the time, and we were done by midnight! I cannot say what the reaction would have been to my heels, as I didn't wear them at the time. I did wear regular cowboy boots, as we played both types of music--Country AND Western.

It's been several days since I posted anything, and that's ok. I have nothing new to post, outfit-wise. I'm continuing to recycle what I've worn. The fewer stories I have to tell, the better for all of us.

I got gushing compliments from a Costco employee yesterday about this outfit, different variations of which I have worn many times. I call it my "earthtone" outfit. I chose to pair it with my Söfft "Calvados" sandals partially because I realize my lower heels are not getting any love lately, and they are good solid shoes that never bite me back. I should appreciate them more, especially given the fact that the Costco employee mistook them for high heels. Speaking of high heels, there was only one customer in Costco at that time who was wearing actual high heels (there were a few others with mid-heels like me), and that was a 10 year old girl.

In other news, the records say that I have been remarkably lazy for the past year in the fact that I have not walked as much as I used to. The last month that I walked a truly significant amount was May of 2021, when I walked 37.2 miles. So far this month, I have walked only 15.1 miles, and most of that was in the last week. My legs and ankles are out of shape. The good news is that my 2 mile route no longer wipes me out muscle-wise, after only one week of getting back with the program. Pictured here are my True Religion mules, which are effectively right at 4" in height (5" with a 1" platform).  I have them in for new heel tips at the moment. The old ones lasted about 45 miles, which is pretty decent.

18 hours ago, hhboots said:

I have those same Steve Madden pumps and speaking of the many shades nude, they appear to be essentially pink rather than nude, but I still really like them.  They are surprisingly very comfortable and easy to walk in, I agree.

15 hours ago, bambam said:

Yeah, my Steve Madden Daisies are amazingly easy to walk in, I almost hate how they feel less like heels, and more like slippers...

Steve Madden seems to have this other model called "Klory." It appears to be quite similar to the Daisie, but with slightly more inward curve to the heel. The Vala seems to go the other way, and has a straighter, more set back heel. Do you guys have experience with either of these? I'm not so much interested in the Vala (I think the set back heel looks strange), but it would be nice to know if the sizing is fairly consistent in this basic style of shoe.

The pointy toed Steve Maddens are actually like walking in slippers. I only wish they weren't suffering from material degradation on the inside. I'm still looking for a replacement pair. The Jimmy Choos suck big time. This is my second pair of Jimmy Choos, and I will never buy another pair again, no matter how much I am attracted to them visually. Thank you, Jimmy, AND the horse you came in on.