Lime15

A couple last minute orders came in to round out the year for me.  I actually took these pictures in a hurry to get them cataloged before I head out the door for holidays away with family.

First up is a pair of Iron Fist Zebracorn platforms.  These are from the period of time when Torrid licensed manufature of a couple of their styles in wide width and extended sizes.  These are 12D and although they are just a little bit short and my toes hang off just a tiny bit more than I tend to like, it won't get much better for this particular style.  12D width was the largest that Torrid had during that season's run.  I know Iron Fist manufatured up through US14 in the RuPaul's Drag Race line but the larger sizes were massively under manufatured, very hard to find, and what was made ended up being sent to discounters.  I missed out on a couple pairs of those years ago and still "kick" myself for it.  These were a second hand purchase.

Second are a pair of black patent platform pumps with a cool faux zipper on the back.  The red behind the gold zipper gives them a little pop in my opinion.  These are by Hot Tomato and amazingly run true to size.  I only wish I knew the fit would be so good so that I could have ordered other colors before they were discontinued.

Thank you JeffB and AZShoeNut!

Thanks, Mr. X!

Been awhile, hasn't it?  I'm still heeling most non-commute days, buying and selling shoes as my tastes change and attempting to even out my heels into a couple dozen or so pairs that I'll wear frequently.  As it has been some time since I've been 'round these parts, here's my choice for today.  These are Type Z "Carla" black patent platforms, size 13W.  Honestly I would hate to see what a 13M is in these since they feel like a normal width shoe and thereby fit fine.  Very comfortable and easy to walk in with a very trim flexible platform and super thin heels.  I wish I would have bought more of this style years ago when Zappos had tons of them for sale.

Great look on your last jaunt, JeffB!

Funny thing about the gold pumps was as I was heading home with them I was thinking to myself if the gold is too much they I could decoupage them.  I've done many pairs of comic book and decoupage heels for my girlfriend and others and I've been wanting to do one with Monopoly money - these seemed like a good candidate.  However I like them way too much as-is so they shall remain gold.

The golden ones are smashing! From what I can see in your pictures, the toes are not that pointy, more sort of classic

Thank you very much, 4608!  You are correct, they have more of a classic, nearly almond toe.  I'd say they're in between an almond toe and being pointy - not quite either.  They definately have a classic shape.
 

Lime: Well done on your latest purchases. Those gold pumps are simply smashing and they look great on you! Bravo, my friend!

Thank you, JeffB!  I'll be the first to admit that I'm surprised at how good they look when worn.  I was a little apprehensive to the color but boy do they pop without being super overpowering.

You grabbed yourself a bargain there. I agree with 4608 they're not overly pointy at all, the texture of the gold is lovely (not too shiny, not too matt) and the cut of the upper is very flattering to your feet. They'd add a nice sparkle to a black dress or skirt/top combination with a not-too-bright blazer, and given your past outfits perhaps a bolder tie with some gold accents to link with the shoes.

 

At first glance the wedges seem almost too casual (like slippers!), but with smart tailoring I agree they'd really suit the "casual business" look you have in mind. Maybe you can match with the darker colour in the plaid pattern for the trousers and the lighter colour in the plaid for a top, perhaps a little tricky to combine with your favoured bright colours but maybe you could sneak a splash of red in there somewhere (if the plaid pattern is a true grey, or perhaps orange/yellow if its more of a brown-grey, it's hard to tell from photos).

Thank you, SleekHeels!  I couldn't believe they were marked so low, I was thinking there had to be something radically off in the manufaturing or a tear in the upper or something but no.  It seems they were an old discovery in their stockroom area and they figured they would sell with the Halloween season.  Shocked I was lucky enough to be there at just the right time.  I am definately looking for a gold or metallic accent necktie to pair with these.

I agree about the wedges looking overly casual at first glance.  It's amazing what a difference the uppers can make in how a shoe looks.  My girlfriend still has a pair of them in black patent and they look very sleek and trim.  The plaid uppers have an illusion of having a bit more "puff" to them, which makes them look bulkier.  It also causes an illusion of making the vamp look much higher up the foot.  One thing I can say is they are as comfortable and quiet as slippers which will make them ideal for my occasional outing as I usually walk about four miles or so along my perferred path.  I also agree that they'll work well with dark trousers and a lighter shirt.  The plaid is a true grey with a little gold, so I'm thinking muted dark colors with a solid red necktie may work well.

Good deal on the Ellie gold pumps - Pretty tame for Ellie.

Absolutely!  My girlfriend has many pairs of the more costumey Pleaser / Funtasma and Ellie heels.  I tend to gravitate toward the more pinup styled offerings from Ellie, the classic pumps and 30's / 40's maryjanes are my favorites from their line.  Fit is always such a crapshoot with them in my experience however and most retailers I've done business with tend to want to charge a restocking fee on the larger sizes (US13 or usually US14 with Pleaser and Ellie).
 

You look great, JeffB!  With how well put together your ensembles are and the confidence you have, it doesn't surprise me in the least that rather than reactions you get respect when out and about.

Great day as I was able to pick up two new pairs for only a few dollars.

I was at a local botique looking at some things for my girlfriend when I saw the Ellie gold stilettos on markdown.  The only size 13 heels I have ever seen there, they were marked $3.99 and looked to be unworn and were new outside of a few dents and dings.  Although they looked a little narrow, I figured for that money I could figure something out.  They actually fit pretty well but are more managable without hosiery as with pantyhose they tend to make my toes bunch up.  However they have already stretched out nicely so I think that will be a temporary issue.  I'm usually not a fan of the pointed vamp but I really like how they look on me, even if 5 1/2" gold pumps may pose a challenge to work into my wardrobe.

Other pair are Dexter "Kylie" wedges from Payless.  These appeared to be a stray return and were marked down to $8.  I had a pair of these years ago in black patent but they were a pair that was sold off when I was reorganizing my heels.  They ended up being one of the few pairs that I wish I had kept so when I saw these in grey plaid I had to get them.  Lower than most of my shoes but perfect for wearing out and a natural complement to my "casual business" attire I tend to wear when heeling.  They are also completely silent.

I'm not overly enthused with the current range of high-heeled loafers available, most of them have quite a blocky medium height heel that looks a bit frumpy but that seems to be trending lately.

Agreed absolutely!!  High-heeled loafers and "menswear" oxfords are some of my favorite styles but too often the look is ruined in my opinion with an out of place chunky heel.

Great reading about your latest jaunt and you look superb in your slected outfit.

Breaking in my new Payless Jetset faux suede oxfords today.  These are pretty comfortable however they do have a pretty steep rise so unless you're used to higher heels you may want to try before you buy.  Sure they have a small platform but they feel like steep single sole heels.  Decent quality too as they're very soft and flexible.  They do have that flocked fabic outsole that I hate however but I'll probably coat it with sealant to keep the outsoles from soaking up outside moisture.

I'd prefer them to "bring back the size 13 section in the Rack stores."

You look great in my opinion and that type of style is what I generally wear when I heel out and about, which isn't that often but that's my preference.

Finally just buck up and be a man and stop letting others live my life for me. I want to live my life on my terms and nobody else's.

This is the exact thing I tell myself on the days I go out.  Over the past couple years I've decided that I'm going to do what I want with my life.  I have a very supportive girlfriend and pretty damn good life and I'm going to enjoy it.  Especially this past year there's been a lot of loss and BS with family and friends and that's only re-affirmed that I'm going to enjoy the, well, things I enjoy.

I wear skirts on occasion with my business attire but I think that simply "finishes" another type of look for a man in heels.  A clean, casual look of t-shirt and jeans with heels is just another style open to men who wish to wear heels.  In my opinion it's a look that most men can generally pull of better than most women.

Also, those heels are awesome.  I'm always on a lookout of classic pumps such as those but finding them in my size, US13, can be a challenge.  However sometimes I get lucky.
 

Very nice on both pairs, Jkrenzer. Is that a snakeskin design peeking out on the arch of the first pair?

I had some shoe money from selling a few pairs of old heels and decided to splurge on some fall styles at Payless.

The first pair are Jorge Oxfords from the American Eagle branding in black.  These are essentially an oxford that they sold last year in patent finishes but are now offered in matte.  I actually had a pair of the earlier patent oxfords in burgandy / oxblood but as the heel wasn't patent shiny they looked odd to me and I ended up selling them once they were discontinued.  In contrast, I really like these all matte black oxfords and replaced a pair of lower black oxfords with them.

Selling the lower black oxfords mentioned above gave me the funds to take advantage of buy one get one half off last week.  In addition to free shipping and a coupon I had been holding onto I purchased two more pairs.

First of these is the Jetset Platform Oxford from the Fioni branding in blue faux suede.  Again, these are essentially a reworking of an older style, in this case the Jax oxford from a few years ago.  I had a pair of those but wasn't accustomed to wearing heels with such a steep rise and quickly returned them.  The Jetset are Jax with some very slight detail changes and a tapered heel.  I'm much more comfortable with a steep rise these days and I really like the thinner heel as I thought the cone shaped heel on the Jax platforms added too much bulk.  Don't get me wrong though, these are steep and are very open as an oxford goes.

Finally the Hogan Monk Strap Heels from the Dexflex Comfort line.  I won't lie, when Payless first put these on their website a few weeks ago I knew I had to have a pair.  I toss the phrase around sometimes but the moment I opened the box I knew these were it, quite simply the favorite pair of heels I've ever owned.  Very similar to a Ralph Lauren style from last year, they may not be all that high or super exotic but they simply appeal directly to my sense of style.  To me they are the epitome of heels for men.  Masculine yet feminine, refined yet payful, conservitive yet modern.  They are extremely luxurious with surprisingly high quality all around.  Every part of the shoe is supple without sacrificing proper support and the strap and buckles are up to par with heels priced 10x as much.  I really am shocked with how well Payless did with this style.  I simply don't want to take them off.  Very lightweight but still rock solid feeling and fit like a glove.  I don't mind that they're not super high or that it doesn't even feel like I'm wearing heels because they fit so well.  Everything about them is perfect in my mind.  My girlfriend was really impressed as well so I ordered her a pair in black and myself another pair in brown as they're on sale right now.

Really, really like the two most recent looks, JeffB!

I love the second pair, Lime15.  Very nice!  If I saw them in my size, I'd buy them!

Thanks!  I could have let the auction run and maybe saved a bit of money but when I saw them I had to have them.

A couple new pairs this week, both from Type Z.

The first were a lucky find online as they've been out of stock in the larger sizes almost everywhere for a couple years.  The style name is Carla and although I'm usually a 13M I had to settle for 13W.  Now that I have them I understand why they were an available return - they fit like a 13M.  Maybe the heel cup is a tiny bit wider than usual and they're a hair long but really they fit like my usual 13M.  These are very similar to the Christian Siriano La Femme platforms that I wear quite a bit but the platform is a little higher, the heel is a little higher to match as well, the toe is slightly more rounded and the heel is much thinner.  They feel great so far and will be my shoes for today.

The second pair was purchased pre-owned, style name is Button Nose.  These simply fit perfectly.  Nice leather throughout with a silver button over the toe box of each along a strap with white stitching.  I can't wait to pair these with a pair of slacks going forward.  I've been looking for a pair of heels like these, kind of a classic office pump with a little extra style.

I've had some illness over the past week but I'm on the mend and wanted to get back to heeling today.  I also wanted to break in these new pumps that came in the mail yesterday.  I also haven't worn my green skirt for awhile so went for this quick look pairing the two.  The heels are from Type Z and the style is Carla.  Extremely comfortable and fit surprisingly well considering they're a 13W and I'm usually a 13M.

I'm in Southern California, and want to know where you work, because I want to work there if they allow this!

I'm up north and wear these outfits on the days I work from home.  To be honest I tend to get more done on days I heel, which is nearly every day I'm working on something.

Picked these up on E-Bay. More detail in response to the Rockstud thread.

I really like those, Jkrenzer.  Torrid had a similar style up through US13 but the heel wasn't nearly as high so I passed.

@Lime15

I love Iron fist, those are great and look good on you! :-)

Thanks!  Now the hunt is on to find a few other pairs in the larger size.

I ended up having some extra cash last week and to my amazement these showed up on eBay at the same time.  Ended up being $30 out the door which was excellent.  They are by Iron Fist and are arguably their most popular style, green Zombie Stompers.  Iron Fist shoes tend to stop at size 11 (sometimes 10) but a few years ago, under a partnership with Torrid, a couple of their key styles were manufatured in D width up through size 12 and sold by Torrid as "Iron Fist D Width."

I wasn't heeling much at the time and as I take a women's US13 anyway, I missed out on Torrid's Iron Fist offerings.  However I know some Iron Fist shoes fit a little big as my girlfriend has a ton of them and sometimes a Torrid 12 fits me pretty nicely so I decided to go for these.  Worst case I could easily sell them back for the same or more.

Thankfully they do fit, rather perfect in fact.  They are brand new store samples and as such have only the lightest wear on the outsole of the right shoe.  My toes hang off the slightest bit but if the sizing was any different they'd either be too big or too small.  That said they fit incredibly well and are incredibly comfortable.  Seriously, I'm shocked that they feel so light when on.  They really don't go with what I'm wearing today so I'll give them a more proper break-in tomorrow but for the hour or so I wore them when they arrived - perfect.

The styling is a little out there but then again if you've seen the heels I like, these fit right in.  It's also a style my girlfriend doesn't have as neither of us were big on the design earlier, but damn I like how they look on my feet.

Been awhile since I've taken some pictures but I really like how today's outfit came together.  First time I've worn these heels for an entire day and I have to say they're pretty comfortable and stay on my feet as if they are glued on - rare for platforms.  These are Christian Siriano Gold Collection for Payless, I believe the style is "Pearl" - discontinued many years ago.  Paired with my staple of suntan pantyhose, black skirt, simple grey shirt and a black tie.

I thought this outfit would either look to plain or the dark green croc print of the heels wouldn't jive with everything else but - wow, I think it looks great and even more importantly I feel great wearing this one.

Perfect, classic pumps NewfieGuy!

Thanks for posting this, Amanda!

thanks for the post Amanda.  This guy makes amazing heels and boots.  To me the point of wearing heels is that it makes me feel really sexy.  I believe that we all should be able to feel sexy, no matter if you are a man or a woman.  

 

I find it extremely difficult to feel sexy with mens clothing.  Ties and long sleeve shirts tend to make you look sharp but not sexy at all.  Instead a pair of white or red pointy toe boots would make me feel really sexy.

 

I know this might not be relevant but these shoes are extremely sexy.

Well I feel sexy when I wear a tie but agreed on all other points!

I think the best way to buy shoes is to just walk in and buy them at a store. I guess I was just lucky with these shoes.

A difficult proposition these days for my size, US13.