Stu

Laurie, your announcement in the other forum that you are starting training with the goal of being able to wear 6" and 7" heels attracted quite a response. So now I guess "the shoe is on the other foot" concerning your inquiry into the darker reasons why people wear heels. As someone who has and will continue to wish you the best of luck in your endeavor, I still have to ask: What forces are driving you to do this?

Sitting on the bus last week, I was lucky enough to have an attractive lady with a taste for boots with 3" heels sit next to me. (And, yes, she has a very nice personality, which made the ride very enjoyable.) Somehow, the strap to my lunch container managed to wrap around the heel of her boot during the trip, and when she got up to leave the bus I had to manually untie the strap from her heel or she would have dragged my lunch container off the bus. It was one of those cute little experiences.

I live in Northern California, which is pretty earthy. It's pretty far from the glamorous "Hollywood" image that pertains to Southern California. In recent years, however, I have noticed increasing numbers of women wearing thick 3"-4" heels or boots, especially in the winter. In years past, when thinner heels were more in fashion, the numbers were a lot lower, so I'm guessing that lots of women feel more comfortable in the thicker-heel shoes. I saw much the same thing during a recent trip to Peru in South America, with one intriguing exception. In supermarkets, of all places, the women there wear uniforms that consist of surprisingly short skirts and pumps at least 3" high. It made shopping for a bottle of wine a different experience than it is in the U.S.

Looking at women in high heels is a pleasant hobby for me. I thought it would be interesting for the men to talk about the things that they look for in HH-wearing women, and also to get some reaction from the ladies. In my case, most of my contact with heel-wearing women is in the office. The manner of dress may be more moderate than in clubs, but I like the fact that I can see the same women every day and note the changes in dress and shoes over time. The things I typically look for are: 1. Shoes and clothes (duh!). Of course, this is the most important. Feminine and tasteful combinations are always appreciated. I like to pick out patterns, such as a woman's tendency to wear a particular dress early in the week, jeans and boots on Fridays, etc. Seeing a woman wear a new dress or heels for the first time is nice, too. I'll often remember what a particular woman wore on a given day long after I've forgotten what I wore. 2. Figure. This is less important than shoes and clothes, but it still merits a mention. Even though I have a preference for the hourglass figure, I don't think a woman has to have a particular kind of figure to be attractive. A very thin or well rounded woman can still be attractive, particulary if she knows how to dress to take full advantage of the figure she has. 3. Walking style. A woman who walks confidently and skillfully in heels always stands out above those who don't. It's amazing how many women can't walk properly in heels. 4. Personality. This is very important, as a warm, outgoing personality greatly enhances a woman's femininity and attractiveness. A little eye contact, a nice smile, a warm "hello" and perhaps a friendly conversation from a well-dressed woman can warm up a cold office quickly and be one of the highlights of the day. Those of you who make the effort to wear heels and dress well at work can feel confident that you are noticed and appreciated.

So far, so good. I know a lot of people back in September were skeptical that the U.S. could take effective action against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, but we are making good progress so far. The new government is a house of cards and would collapse easily without lots of TLC from the west, so Britain (as a lead peacekeeper) has an important role in stabilizing things there. I echo much of what has been said about women's rights. A newspaper article published about the time the Taliban started to collapse made the oberservation that some Afghan women could be seen wearing high heels under their burquas in the then-newly liberated towns. Let freedom ring!

Quite a difference from the old board. It's a bit overwhelming initially, but I'm getting the hang of it. I'm sure other "admirers" (non-heel wearers) will sign in; otherwise I may feel like the odd duck here. <font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Stu on 2002-01-18 07:33 ]</font>