fastfreddy2

Jeez, this is a bit of a dour thread?

If I were to croak tomorrow, herself would do what she'd like to have done any time during the last (cough) years. 3 yard skip parked outside the house, and everything I own would be put inside.

In fact she'd possbly see getting some extra wardrobe space as something of a silver lining....

At least I won't be around to see her flip when she finds out just how many pairs of shoes and boots I have.

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Bubba136 was a stand-in for one of the principle actors in "Every which way but loose."

Last week, using a ground-breaking new technique, British surgeons removed shyguys' third ear from his upper thigh.

He wouldn't have bothered, but his taste for curry's were his undoing. Apparently, 'the morning after effect' had him jumping off his chair at work, once too often. [Loud noise close to ear? ] His boss wasn't happy to have her morning snack thrown across the room by his stray arm, having scared himself with an unplanned 'passing' of wind.

Where did you get them from? Although probably very little chance I could myself a pair...

Nine West Autumn 2007 season, originally £85.

I bought mine in the 2008 Winter sales, for £42. Worked so well, I bought another 4 pairs before they vanished from the shelves. Yes, £200 on the same style of shoe. As it turns out, my original pair have lasted waaaay longer than I expected. If you are a UK8 [boots marked (US) 10W] I may be able to help ......

A nice pair of Bandolino 4.5" stiletto pumps, low vamp, and thick ankle strap that I "impulse" bought yesterday.

Very very very elegant shoe. If they were available in the UK, I know my wife would want a pair.

Couldn't find them on the Bandolino site, nor at Zappos, so there must have been an element of "right place, right time" involved in the purchase. The ol' green-eyed monster is alive and well, my end of the keyboard.

Anybody else?

I've written about these a number of times, and written up details of wearing them. Here's a piccy of me about to spend the day at Bluewater.

Wedges are a 'slight-of-hand' when it comes to those around you spotting a higher heel on your foot. These have rubber soles and heels too, and are as quiet even on hard floors, as most mens shoes tend to be. Very discreet.

Well, I had to concede that the Mexican place we usually went to might not be the place to do it, so I changed. Probably not a bad idea; we went by the ice cream stand on the way back to her house. With the number of teenage girls and boys there, that could have been interesting.

FWIW, this morning I turned up wearing my 4 1/2" wedge sandals for some lower toe loop thongs. What I thought was strange was I've worn the thongs plenty of times with nary a second glance. Today however, I walked into Wal-Mart as a guy and his wife walked out. Darned if I didn't hear a stifled "Whoa!" from him as he immediately stared in my direction. His wife asked "What is it?" and as I walked through the doors, I could see by the reflection in the second set of doors that he was most interested in me.

I think the term 'cold feet' might be replaced with the word prudence?

This thing we do in public, involves a lot of confidence to make it work. Any spoiler to that being possible, for me at least, means "all bets are off". I've now had a couple of experiences where I wanted to wear heels, and changed my mind, only to meet people I knew while out. So two lucky escapes ..... (so far). Of course there have been many times I've changed my mind and met no-one I knew, but safe beats sorry by some margin.

Other men have peculiar reactions. I was in Oxford Street last weekend. In House of Fraser a man sitting in the shoe sales area waiting for his partner, noticed my 4" blade heel boots. I imagined that as soon as the lady arrived, there would be a dipped head followed by a quiet whisper. There'd be a discreet look, and maybe a stifled giggle as they both walked away. How wrong was I? Audible conversation about something she tried on, and no second look.

Same day in Zara, a chap sitting on the floor (also waiting ) with a sleeping child in a carrier, saw my heels. Not surprising given his line of sight had my shoes directly in front of it. Every time I looked, he was looking at my feet, and didn't stop looking even when I looked back. Even so, no adverse reaction.

[You just can't tell. People don't react in a predicable manner.]

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Mhhh can't find those on the nine west site, do you have a link?

I'm very interested in the first model

Direct link.

I am planning an extended public outing next week, and would love to wear these.

Please offer suggestions on a top and/or shoes or if these pants work at all. It would be much appreciated.

Trousers that wide may make you lower half seem disproportiate to your upper half. I'd suggest a jacket if it's cool enough to wear one, or try to avoid any figure hugging tops leastways.

I have a (very) little 'belly' on me, so I try to avoid tucking my shirt in unless I'm wearing a suit. For you I'd suggest a shirt outside your trousers, and maybe an open waist-coat. Layers will help in changable weather.

Big blocks of bright colour catch the eye of everyone, so pastels might be better for someone who doesn't want to stand out in the crowd (or do you? ) If you don't do the waist-coat, consider a shirt or top with some texture or motif-type patterning. [Not 'pac-men'! although that is PH's thing. ]

This style of trouser is one I like. As I've mentioned before, I normally see these with slim pointed shoes, and I DO like the look of the two together.

[Jacket, pointed shoes, 'loose-fit' flared trouser, all about a balanced look.]

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So, what do you think of my outing at the gas station yesterday morning?

I'd say you knew how to look good.

What do you guys think of boot cut pants from Banana Republic? They have a "long/tall" version of many styles, which means an inseam of 36". I never tried those, but I am kind of tempted.

Example:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/product.do?cid=37576&pid=587836

36" inseam is long, and probably needs quite a platform unless you have unusually long legs?

The sewn in cuff/turn-up at the bottom of the trouser has been seen by myself over a here a number of times and looks good, especially with longer pointed-shoe styles. The material must be lightweight for this 'cuff' to work, and might be there because the material is lightweight. [The cuff making sure the lower part of the trouser keeps its shape?] A spring/summer style then? Or 'office' wear?

If your chosen shoe to wear with the trousers would be those in your avatar, I could see them working very well.

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For ANYONE who missed it the first time .....

I'll leave this thread for good. Cheers all.

I've started another thread in the Fashion Section to continue this debate, if it is indeed, worth debating.

P.S.

And please don't use the awful outfit you wore at the World Heel Meet either. If you consider that jumper that made you look heavy in the stomach area good style, then think again.

You mean the winter sweater I was wearing because it was winter, and I had to walk outside?

Now you're just being plain rude.

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Faux pas ......

These remarks are addressed to people living in the UK alone. I have no experience of those living outside the UK, except some short term experience of other Europeans, so my remarks are about us Brits only.

I was pointed at this post very recently:

I wonder sometimes if guys in here understand that it's okay to by fashionably imperfect. Think Kate Moss.

Something is almost always off--messy hair, mismatched accessories, wrinkled shirts. YET, she always looks amazing.

You don't have to be ready for a photo shoot to go out in the world and wear high heels. You don't have to perfectly imitate the rebelliousness and raunchiness of the Rolling Stones to look good. Nor do you have to perfectly imitate The Sex Pistols' spiked leather jackets, torn stockings, and pierced bodies.

Your look can't appear staged...It has to look effortless.

So where do you begin? Have you ever been inspired by someone who walked into a room or down the street, that you had to take a second look over? Confidence captivates people.

I'd say begin with confidence that you respect yourself in heels, love yourself in heels, and dress for yourself and nobody else. Have you ever seen a 6' tall woman in stilettos? I have. And I was "wowed", because she had a great attitude.

I think style is being confident about who you want to be and going out and seeking inspirations for that. It could be people from your childhood (my mom always wore blazers), from your travels (Parisian effortless elegance in heels for me please), art (look at YSL's Mondrian dress...YSL took Mondrian's idea and fitted it to the female form), music (in the 90's Marc Jacobs saw Cobain in a plaid flannel shirt...then bought a $2 version of it on St. Mark's Place, had it shipped to Italy, and had the plaid pattern made into silk. And the birth of the high end version of "Nirvana" ensued).

This is one of the benefits of living in a big city....soo much inspiration everywhere...New York...definitely London (Brick Lane/Shoreditch/Hoxton may be passe for you locals, but avid tourists like me still find many style muses there).

So find some inspiration! Wooohooo.

zzz...it's 12:37 am and I have to work tomorrow morning...signing off.

DOUBLE EDIT: wanted to add a quick story about an encounter I had with Marc Jacobs. As you may or may not recall, a few months ago I spent the evening with a gorgeous 5'11" blonde swapping clothes. We went through her entire wardrobe...mostly high end designer stuff...and I walked off with a grey sweater dress with the most amazing geometric triangular avant-garde collar...

and ran into Marc Jacobs on the street. Of course I had to approach him and say hello. But before a word came out of my mouth, Mr. Jacobs exclaimed, "Nice dress!"

HA! How is that for a good attitude?

And I realised how far away some of us are, from my world.....

I'd say easily, 90-95% of UK men are clueless to how to put an outfit together. Most young people here prefer ultra comfortable clothing, that completely excludes itself from any style statement at all. Baggy grey 'sweat-suits' still seem remarkably common here. Shops that ONLY sell trainers are still popular. I suspect people here who wear sports clothes, believe wearing them will make them look sporty?

The dress code for going out in the evening seems to be:

Girls; Highest heels, shortest skirts in wardrobe.

Boys; black trousers, shirt. Haircut.

Any colour combination is acceptable. Any pattern combination is acceptable. Sizing isn't an issue. If it doesn't fall off, it fits.

Neither Kate Moss, or Marc Jacobs is in my social circle, but even they would struggle to look good in some of the outfits I see on a daily basis.

My personal style isn't great. I'm limited by financial constraints mostly due to sinking every penny earned back into my business. Even so, I'd struggle to spend serious money on clothes, and my social life no longer justifies it. [if ever it did.] But I do know enough to understand what fits, and what colours work. I know how to 'flatter' my shape, and give me the appearance of someone who has given a couple of minutes thought to what they put on in the morning.

I don't look like Kate Moss, or Sienna Miller, so I'm not going to look good with a style faux pas. Jeez, I struggle to look acceptable even at my best. I'm confident, [had a 16PF test that said I was] but even I couldn't get away with wearing a bright red blaser over vivid green trousers. And contrary to the inference of the quoted text above, going out feeling good in an outfit that (actually) makes me look like an escapee from a pantomime, is something I hope those close to me would try to stop.

Members here put up pictures of themselves for a number of reasons. Two I can think of, is (a) want to 'show-off' and outfit they are proud of, and (( are looking for help/advice on how to improve how they look. I'm not sure there are many who are in the ( category, but I feel there are some in (a) that belong in (......

I'm someone who is always happy to tell someone they look great when they do, and tell them they might look better in something else. Patentheels, is someone I can think of, who has taken my remarks about this in the well-meant-spirit they were given. The rapport has allowed me to enjoy his style, and hopefully keep him away from 'pacman' socks.

Not everyone welcomes this sort of advice though. While being (always) respectful, I've tried to draw attention to the opportunity for improvement if it hasn't been discussed in the original post. Until recently I've been labouring under the understanding that debate is healthy? Maybe not. I'm not one given to falling for the The Emperor's New Clothes mentality, nor do I take pleasure in watching someone lost in fools paradise.

IT IS TRUE that someone who looks like Kate Moss can get away with dressing in an old sack and will still look good. But I don't look like her, do many of us? Consequently we have to think more than she does about how to make ourselves look attractive. Be as avant garde as you like, just don't expect to 'blend-in' anywhere unless you are out of the mainstream and inside your own microcosm of style.

Most of us here in the UK are on the outside of such a place. Most have work amongst hundreds of other people, all dressed as soberly as might be expected in such an old culture. Most have families, for the most part fairly conservative too. There are a few [say 5000 from 56 million] who wish to plough a course for themselves in Uber Fashion, but I doubt there are many of the male contingent in that number who are interested in wearing high heels. Certainly there doesn't seem to be a high ratio of them here. [Maybe benno, if any?]

For the rest of us with an interest, it's a case of trying to stay 'on-trend' with the physical limitations nature gave us. For even fewer (of us here), that would include finding some way to covertly include heels for use in the street.

Bottom line?

We could all improve our general look. [Clothes and personal grooming.] To make the most of what nature handicapped us with, we ought to be debating "looks", especially in this section. And we need to be willing to take advice on what's right (looks good) and what is a faux pas.

Footnote:

When I mention members in my posts, I usually PM them advice they are mentioned. This has not been possible with Benno.

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Anyone can come in here and offer their style advice, but frankly, there is a time and a place for everything. Posting about wearing heels with shorts with my friends here is a time for celebration, not a time for outfit critique. So I tend to agree with Bubba on this one.

In the post now deleted, I did mention it could well have been the camera angle that made it look like the shorts were baggy. Anyone who thinks that outfit worked with baggy shorts and slim legs needs advice. However, it's been fully explained to me they weren't, both here and via PM.

My original post wasn't offered as a critique, but well-thought, and well meant advice. I was so cautious about mentioning it at all, it took me two or three days to decide what to do. Sadly, my well meant intention was not appreciated. I'm sorry for all those ungracious enough to accept my good intent.

Sadly, the rather flattering remarks made about KH's personality and their pertinence to his social success have been overlooked.

For my part, I'm not happy to say someone looks great when they don't. It doesn't help them, or anyone else looking for references. Baggy shorts would look less than great on a girl with legs that slim, how good would the look be on a man?

I'll leave this thread for good. Cheers all. [Another one for you Bubba. ]

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Post content deleted by author.

Too much provocation for knuckle-draggers.

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Post deleted by author, and sent direct via PM.

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Of course that is just my way of thinking and others may disagree.

I wouldn't disagree about any form of [artistic/fashion*] self-expression. Especially not with someone 'lucky' enough to have your legs.

* <thought it prudent to limit the range of "self" expression>

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Thanks all for the great remarks. I've passed some of them on, and I may even print off the whole thread for her to read.

The one I definitely mentioned was Johnieheels remark about her being sweet. The look I got, was from someone who thought they'd heard something nice, but wasn't sure. So I said it again.

She was bowled over. ['Rabbit staring at headlights' look.] Think it's possibly the nicest thing anyone's ever said about her.

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You have a very sweet Mother fastfreddy2

You have no idea how stange it is to see that written about my mother.

For many years, I disliked her immensely. She was the product of WWII, and the change here that was seldom good. Moved from her birth town, ["evacuated"] to live with stangers who where typical of Victorians in their somewhat 'hard' attitude to children. Her brothers were moved to Wales [hence our visit] and her sister was moved to Scotland. None of them ever went back as their mother died during the war, through disease not injury.

As a child she received little love, and for that reason never learned how to give it.

More recently (and helps explain my change of attitude toward her) she told me a little story: Seems I was out late one evening when a child of (say) 12. It was dark, and my mother was worried. To "teach me a lesson", (for giving her cause to make her worry), I got what you could describe as an attack with a bamboo cane.

My wife who is simply the most gentle person I know on the planet, feels that since this was one of many such incidents (some much worse), that I could be described as someone who was 'abused' during their childhood. Not that it seemed anything other than 'normal' to me at the time....

As an adult I've tried to reason out her being treated badly, and this lesson being imprinted in such a way, she could do little else than mimic the same behaviour. But I'm not the same way, or don't appear to be anyway. And I doubt my wife would tolerate having a mean person about either..... But then my father was gentle ..... Guess I did have a positive role model, which plainly she didn't.

My mother has mellowed in recent years, and positively glows when her great-grandchildren are around. I suppose seeing this has made me realise that she's human after all, and we get on amazingly well now. She likes being out of the house, and so do I. [it's in the genes. ]

No surprise then, I was inclined to 'share' with my new found friend.....

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Hmm...The more I think about it though, it seems to me that the majority of blade heels that I see nowadays are worn by Asian women.

And strangely enough, is the source of the pairs I've bought. [Asian shop.]

Dead helpful the lady is too. Even put some boots away for me, not knowing for sure when I was returning.

Really? Replace the heel? That seems to be a mechanical challenge. If you have pictures of that I would be very interested.

I searched the Timpson website, and did a general Google trawl, and came up with 'zip'. Shame we didn't have this conversation yesterday. I stood in front of the board with the various options shown, only this afternoon.

I may have to go back there tomorrow.... [To return something. ] If I do ....

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43 euro

I'm an EU41.

My first experience of wearing heels, was on (re)discovering some my mother had tucked away in the back of her wardrobe, I had quite liked the look of years before. The were I suppose, a 2" heeled white mule wedge sandal. I'd always liked the click-clack of the shoe striking the underside of her foot as she walked. [That rather pleasant noise is still pleasant to hear.]

I wore them for a while when alone in the house. I soon wanted higher heels, so I taped another pair of heels inside those, which gave me a decent height heel, if something of an unusual style. Sometimes I would wear her corselette (sp) and stockings to improve the overall look. To be fair to me, I was going through puberty at the time, and my hormones were all over the place. <settled now though>

More than once, I vivdly remember thinking "if my mother could see me now". Years later when going to fetish clubs fully dressed 'en femme', I often had the same thought.

As a side note, mator and I haven't enjoyed each others company since ... well, waaaay back. Things have improved over the last couple of months, mostly due to her ill-health and the inevitable conclusion she has drawn over it.

Some weeks back I went away to Wales with my parents. I'd been warned by my mother she wasn't likely to sleep well, and might be inclined to wander late at night. As I was planning to roam around later in heels, I decided a week before we went, to 'fess up'. I wanted her to know, especially since she had revealed to me 2 weeks before, my father had hoped one of his three children would be a girl .....

Well, she took it quite well.

I think, or at least thought at the time, she practically dismissed it. My expectation was she would want to talk about it. She didn't so I thought she was in denial.

At the weekend she was with me when I shopped at a local store for (yet another) pair of boot-cut jeans. [Will I ever find a waisted pair with 34" legs?] She was a little suprised I was looking in the girls section, at least until the penny dropped. I told her I have a problem with mens trousers, and had worn girls jeans for close to 30 years, on and off. Anyway, we didn't find any suitable.

Today, we (that's me and her) went out to a grden centre to get her a 'Peace' rose for her garden. While out, I suggested I kidnap her, and take her somewhere I wanted to go. Since she likes being at home as much as most of us like to pay taxes, I got a willing escort.

We went to a large store in Hemel Hempstead called Debenhams, where I showed her the shoes I was interested in. [Jasper Conran MJ's reduced from £35 to £11.] Her only comment was, "They look a bit high?" (Bless her). They are somewhere between 10.5cm and 11.0cm

We walked into the centre, to have a look in a couple of other shoe shops. Mator drew my attention to one we had walked past. I responded that they don't carry the sort of shoe I like. "Oh, alright then."

About the only comment I remember that got close to criticism, was her asking why I felt that way? I assured her I was completely straight, but enjoyed walking in heels. I asked her to remember how she felt wearing them. I mentioned my early experiences (above), and said I'd recently come back to realising just how much I still enjoyed wearing them. [And I may have foolishly mentioned how many pairs I'd bought this year. ]

We had some coffee, and one of us enjoyed a tea-cake. [That should have been toasted as it was a tad dry, but her teeth are not so good.]

With nothing of interest to see, we walked back towards the large store, and our parked car. I pulled her (gently) toward TK Maxx. "Why are we going there?"

My response; "Take a wild guess." And we both walked into the store.

Upstairs in the Womens section, she had to sit so I browsed alone. I found some rather girlie Morgan courts, and retrieved my escort. We both sat on the same stool, while I de-socked ready for trying on the shoes. Once on, I decided immediately they weren't for me, and took them off. We left soon after, finally arriving back at the shoes I was there for.

The store wasn't so busy on our second arrival. We had originally visited at lunchtime, and there were many shoppers rushing around. Now at least we could both sit.

I grabbed the shoes and was watched by the middle-aged assistant. I got the shoes on and not for the first time today decided the shoes were not for me. Really quite disappointing, because I had been very patient waiting [months] for the shoes to go on sale.... I knew they would fit, as I'd had tried them on before. But today I was wearing straight jeans and it was obvious the toe-cover didn't extend up my foot far enough to conceal I was wearing MJ's.

The really nice bit ....

I was just about to take the shoes off, when my mother say's, "Aren't you going to walk in them?" (Bless her.) So I did. Bit risky given the polished floor and plastic heels, but the 'performance' went okay.

As I removed the shoes, the middle-aged lady assistant (maybe husband and wife) came over to help. Mator, with no experince of this sort of situation, replied; "He tries them on, I wear them." (Good, ain't she?) I smiled and explained I liked the shoes, but they were obviously girls shoes when seen and as I was unable to conceal them under my jeans, I wouldn't be buying them. Though, at £11 it was rather tempting anyway. She agreed and comfirmed they were very nice shoes for £11. But I wouldn't be swayed....

We left the store, returning to the car, empty-handed.

The journey homeward was uneventful. But what a trip!

Still can't believe it. Seems so surreal.

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Wrong colour for me, but anyway ... Size please?

Colour corrected image below?

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WR makes anything you can dream of but they are real western boots, handcrafted, a little rougher in finish, but last a lifetime.

It's all what you want. Ánd maybe you don't want all the mileage...

I've never owned a pair of shoes or boots, that didn't feel more comfortable with use. I'm also a bit "careful" with money. The thought of buying a pair of shoes that might last 10-15 years, sounds like a dream.

Seriously ....... I've started saving already.

I'm so pleased to have been passed the link.

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