mlroseplant

For some reason, I find it mentally easier to wear wedges with shorts than I do shoes with a separate heel. Somehow, it doesn't seem quite so "over the top." Mind games, I suppose, since the whole getup is rather "over the top" for around here. 

It's been a while since I received a compliment from a stranger, but I got one yesterday. I was at the grocery store to pick up a couple of things real quick. I was wearing my Michael Kors Sommerly wedges with shorts and a t-shirt, nothing special. 

As I was walking in the parking lot to go back to my car, a young woman who was maybe about 25-30 years old caught my attention and said, "Cute shoes!" My first reaction was to giggle, which in the grand scheme of things wasn't a horrible reaction. I thanked her and looked down at her shoes. She was wearing white, strappy wedges which were attractive with her office casual outfit. I quickly said, "Yours, too!" We smiled at each other and walked away. A very brief encounter, but I thought it was worth noting. 

1 hour ago, jeremy1986 said:

What about 

what about https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+22:5&version=KJV ? 

I was rather hoping that comment would slip by unnoticed, but I see it didn't. So I have to point out that just a few short verses before the one you quote here, it says that if you've got an obstinate son, and you can prove to the town elders that he is stubborn and disobedient (I never heard of a teenage boy like that :p), you get to stone him to death.

Let's face it, most of the stuff in the Pentateuch after about halfway through Exodus we ignore completely, and by "we" I am including modern day Jews and Muslims as well as Christians. The no-pork-eating thing is one of the few rules that still seems to hold some sway, for some odd reason. At least we gave up animal sacrifice long ago. Can you imagine going to church every Sunday and dealing with the mess and the stench of burning flesh? Not to mention the ethical concerns it might raise.

I'm probably going to make somebody upset, but I can sleep very well at night as a Christian and at the same time completely ignore all the superstitious practices of our forefathers in religion.

The 30 pounds has made a noticeable and positive difference! Do the clothes that you have bought recently still fit?

On 7/24/2017 at 8:10 AM, Lawrence said:

If I were you (and I know I'm not) I woukd sure be growing my hair out.  If I am going to go about dressed in a skirt or dress I want to look the part.  That's just me though.

 

Jeff is, despite his trailblazing attire, the Master of blending in. There are not many women in Jeff's age bracket with long hair, at least not in this country. It would truly shock me if Jeff suddenly wanted long hair!

I have recently recounted my church story elsewhere on this forum, so I will not repeat it in full here. I am well accepted at my church, and I never feel it's like, "Oh, we mustn't upset him." However, I do agree with @Cali that not all background talk about your heels is negative. I have found that in many cases, people talk amongst themselves, but are nervous to ask me directly. That's really a pretty normal reaction. Fairly recently, I had to occasion to have a private meeting about some staffing issues with our Associate Pastor. He's been with us for about a year. He had never mentioned anything or reacted in any way about my heels up to that time. Toward the end of our meeting, he finally asked about my heels, almost apologetically. As it turns out, he has enthusiastically admired my courage to wear what I like from the first time he met me, but it took a year of wondering until there was finally an appropriate time to ask me. I think in our minds we often think that people are way more negative than they actually are.

9 hours ago, Mr. X said:

Time for another post.  These days my outings are becoming very routine and uneventful.  Plus my outing venue tends not to change much at all.  I am down to a handful of places I frequent on my outings.  So generally I decide wether or not I will post my travels on an outing by outing basis.  Unless something postworthy happens on an outing I don't always post.  Such was the case tonight.  I wasn't going to post but my outing results dictated otherwise.

I know the feeling, which is why I entitled my own thread "The Ruminations of.  .  ." instead of the "The Adventures of .  .  . " or something like this. But I am glad to see your post, even if there is not much to tell. Nice looking shorts and wedges, by the way.

8 hours ago, Steve63130 said:

And that's all? My gosh, you passed up a great opportunity to get more acquainted with a woman who might become a good friend, a "shoe sister", or even a "sole mate." You could have continued the conversation and even planned to meet again to talk fashion. Ah, well, maybe you will see her again and can pick up the conversation once more.

I do like your outfit! Well done!

Steve

Not everyone is the super-smooth guy you are, Steve!

17 hours ago, w6ish said:

truth is i have no idea what brand she used.  she came out here to the cottage and we placed a chair on the lawn!  poured a tasty full bodied shiraz and i sat there for 25 minutes getting worked over.

so i went out to meet a gal pal today for lunch and she immediately said:  you've had work done!

oh my gosh that was HOT! 

You obviously care a great deal about your hair. If I were you, I would FIND OUT what she used, so that you know what to use next time, or what NOT to use. My wife completely screwed up her long, beautiful hair trying to chintz out and use cheap hair dye. She has since found a product that works well for her, but it took about a year for the damaged part to grow out.

Have you got any before and after pics?

I have never heard of anything quite this extreme, I don't really see how they think they can control people's behavior that closely, like forbidding the crossing of legs. Even if there is sound science to it, how are you going to control that? You can buy all the fancy ergonomic stuff in the world, but you can't make people use it.

As a former (and maybe future) "safety guy" at work, I like to think I strike a good balance between putting everybody in bubble wrap and practicality. The creation off OSHA (or its equivalent elsewhere) was a major step in protecting the ordinary worker from unscrupulous employers, but like most things of this nature, it can become absurd. Having said that, I have to admit that I kind of laugh at "office safety." I know there are serious concerns, some of which have been addressed here, but honestly, I work with my hands over my head much of the time, and there is always the potential of being killed violently by chance at any given jobsite, particularly projects with large equipment and machinery.

On 7/20/2017 at 8:40 AM, krazyhusband said:

Small fishing boat was fun and a 15 km hike in 4 inch heels. Feet were a little sore after that. 

Well, ya got me beat there. The farthest I've ever walked in one shot was 8.5 km, in 5 inch heels. But they had a 1 inch platform, so that's the equivalent of 4 inch heels. I have, however, replaced the lower intake manifold gaskets in my car and the clutch in my pickup truck wearing 5 inch heels, again with a 1 inch platform. Definitely worn out "beater" shoes for those operations. 

I apologize for completely derailing this thread, so I'll try to make up for it by posting actual new shoes. 

These are my first ever brightly colored shoes, and I have actually worn them out a couple of times, with really no more reaction than usual. They are BCBG, I don't know exactly what style line or model they are, but it's not the super cheap line, because they're made in Brazil, not China. 

They have a 4 1/2 inch heel, with a 3/4 inch platform. The heel is slimmer, but not a stiletto, obviously. There is a bamboo weave type detail on the heel and the platform, and it is actually textured, not just printed.

Comfort-wise, they're not too bad. They are just a little tight on my small toes, but that is already getting noticeably better with just a few wearings. I don't know how I can fit the term "Cubic Feet per Minute" in here for one last little chuckle, but in my opinion, these are definitely not CFM shoes. Except for the color, there is not anything particularly interesting about them. They're just rather nice looking, I think. 

23 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

I wouldn't think you could get very many CFM out of those shoes. I think you'd need something more like this: 

Just so everyone understands my feeble attempt at humor, the term "CFM" rightfully and normally would be interpreted as "Cubic Feet per Minute," in the U.S. This could describe the size and maximum performance of the above-pictured pump. I didn't just suddenly want to post pictures of plumbing. I really was trying to be funny. 

5 hours ago, Cali said:

Sorry, been off at work. Here's some examples of my CFM's: the Steve Madden Dreamgrl and the Bamboo t-strap. I had never heard the term until one day a work a woman told me that I had CFMs on.

I wouldn't think you could get very many CFM out of those shoes. I think you'd need something more like this: 

It just occurred to me, I wonder why they are called ballet flats? You can't really dance ballet in them.  .  .

1 hour ago, nzfreestyler said:

Hi Cali - what style is CFM ?

Forgive me - its not a term I'm familiar with way down yonder here in NZ .

Heh, heh, I think what he meant to say is "stiletto."

On 7/16/2017 at 8:33 PM, meganiwish said:

Being British and in my fifties, I find working in metric or in imperial is a doddle.  100g is a about a quarter if you're buying tea, cheese or ham.  A metric foot is no longer an iamb or a dactyl, but 30cm.  The only difficulty is whether to use a metric doddle or an imperial doddle.

The world may change completely in the twinkling of an eye, but we can always rely on Megan to clear things up straight away!

On 7/14/2017 at 11:50 PM, nzfreestyler said:

I've worn heels into church a couple of times but I'm uncomfortable on several levels. My heels are noisy (which I usually like) and I also I'm aware of how different I am and church is such a traditional environment I feel like a fish out of water. I fear that I could be seen as being confrontational to the congregation, maybe even disrespectful to the traditional ways - if that makes sense?

Anyway I've only ever worn heels to weddings - not for regular church services.

Probably a little off topic, but one of the places I GET to wear heels without feeling any discomfort is at church. However, I've been around for so long (40 years) that what are they going to do? Excommunicate me over heels? Up until last year, no one had ever said a word to me about my heels, but then I found out through conversation that a lot of the old ladies were checking me out every week, not because I was odd to them or as a show of disapproval, but rather they wanted to see what shoes I was wearing THIS week! It was rather nice to find that out. I feel very lucky. I am sorry that you feel like a fish out of water at church. Ideally, a church should be a welcoming community no matter who you are. I know we fail badly at this oftentimes.

I just repaired some boots with contact cement. 

14 hours ago, Heelster said:

I like them - - - - In fact, who makes them??

 

I'll tell you what--I'll do you one better, and give you a little mini-review of them as well. They are BCBG, model Bonny. They are, like most of my shoes, a non-current model, and are only available sporadically on places like ebay. They are a classic "Candies" style wooden mule, only with a substantially higher heel than the Candies of yore, at just shy of 5 inches, or about 12 cm. This measurement does not include the footbed, which, being exposed, makes the heel appear even taller, at 5 1/4", or about 13 cm. But we have to compare apples to apples, and must measure our open-backed shoes in the same way that we measure our pumps and boots. The platform is right at 1 1/4", or about 3 cm. As you can see from the photo, the strap has patterned beading in a sort of Native American-esque style.

I've had these mules for quite a while. When I saw them a few years ago, I could not resist the "Candies" style, and the price was right. However, at the time, I was not brave enough to wear them out and about, especially with shorts. In fact, as I recall, my first test run with them was late at night, wearing these somewhat ridiculous looking flared jeans that came nearly to the floor with the heels on. I have since realized that those pants probably drew more attention than the actual shoes would have. It is only within the last year, nay, the last few months that I have actually worn them in a truly public setting. Now I wear them loud and proud, and I've had several women coo over them.

I wish the platform were a little thinner, but the thing I really don't like about the platform is that the toe curls up so much. When the shoe is at rest, the front of the shoe is a full inch off the floor. If it were half that, it would be perfect. Several other shoes I have of a similar basic style do not curl up nearly so much at the toes. Not only is this styling feature somewhat objectionable in my book, but it also makes them more difficult to wear, as my toes have to curl upwards right along with the footbed of the shoe. It's a small thing, but it's my main criticism.

Despite this, once I got used to the additional curling of the toes, they are a breeze to walk in, and have easily passed my "two mile" test. Which brings me to the other problem I have with these--durability. Like many high heeled shoes, it seems that the maker didn't actually take into account that somebody might actually walk in these. I've had this same problem to some extent or another with practically every mule of this style I've ever owned. Within a few short miles, things start coming unglued. I've managed to make these hold together so far, but I don't know that I'd wear them on an all-day shopping trip, for fear that they wouldn't make the end of the day in one piece. I may have to pull them apart someday to contact cement them down really well. Maybe that will solve the problem. I have a feeling, though, that it is just the nature of the shoe. All that pressure being put on a single strap, along with the sudden snap-back when the trailing foot is raised off the ground, particularly when walking aggressively, may be too much to ask for from a fashion sandal. I notice that I do not have the same problem with mules which have at least two wide straps to hold them on your foot. Unfortunately for me, I have a thing for the single strap design.

Anyway, if I ever see another pair of these in size 8.5, I will be tempted to buy them as a backup for when these eventually wear out. I hope you enjoyed this review.

I haven't done this in a while, but my motivation was to not only see how I looked to others, but to see how badly I walked. It was a useful tool to help me look more graceful. I've never videoed myself out and about, but I set up a camera on a tripod in my garage and walked around the driveway. I'm still not completely happy with my walk, but it's many times better than it was 5 years ago! I rarely grimace any more when I happen to see myself on a store security camera, or in the reflection of a window. I still think I look much better from the side than I do from the front or back (my unfortunately bowed legs--there's only so much I can really do about that).

No, it's not really weird.

8 hours ago, SF said:

Forget the hair, I really like the sandals.  If I wasn't so tall I would wear those too.  Fortunately I do have a few pair of similar sandals with a lower heel.....  take care..  sf

Another problem I don't have--being too tall! Luckily, I'm not really too worried about my "challenges," either vertically or follically. 

I have really come to like those mules. I'm glad someone else likes them too!

6 hours ago, w6ish said:

too bad about your hair!

I have no idea how to take that, Brother. 

40 minutes ago, pebblesf said:

Bubba

I want to see your Buick!

@Bubba136, me too!

36 minutes ago, RonC said:

In reading these posts, one thing struck me.  It is, to me, very understandable that wearing heels with shorts would cause some trepidation.  That is a combination that even most women would not do.  WHile it was in style for a very brief time, women wearing heels with shorts was never a common sight.  I think most would hesitate on that look (unless they were platform wedges or something on the more clunky side - I am referring to stiletto heels now).  So even among women, that look would make one stand out from the crowd.

Oh yeah, and that's the thing--it's kind of a bold statement, even for a woman, at least in much of the U.S. It's really common in SE Asia, however, not much of a big deal. That has some bleed-over to the Asian community here. It seems that Asian women pull off that look with more ease (on the street, not at the club) than do white or black women. My Asian friend here in the relatively conservative Midwest has made that combo a staple of her wardrobe, without a great deal of commotion. However, she told me that her old boss frowned heavily on her wearing high heels with shorts to work at the nail salon. Her resignation from that job was unrelated to this. 

I can tell you from experience as a man, wearing shorts with your high heels is a big upstep in the attention factor, particularly if the heels are high stilettos, and the shorts are way above the knee. It's just a fact of life that I can't explain. Wearing wedges SOMEWHAT blunts the effect, but only so much.

14 hours ago, Cali said:

The lesson here is that even some of us that wear our heels as normal footwear will be cautious and "chicken out" at times.

Yup.