Shyheels

The muscular fatigue really came as a surprise to me. I’d expected the burning in the balls of my feet - I’d heard that was a common issue - but instead I had cramping and achy calves. Considering all the cycling I do, I couldn’t believe muscle tone was an issue when it came to wearing heels. If anyone had fir calves it was me - but wearing heels really was like taking up an entirely new sport! I’ve not yet had an occasion to stand for several hours in my 10cm so I don’t know how I’d managed but for a couple of hours I’m certainly fine. I have not tried standing for a long period in my 12cm heels - I shall start building up, see if I can manage an hour standing in them.

Let me second those Christmas wishes! I know what you mean about the muscular fatigue. I was not in actual pain, and don’t recall much pain in the balls if my feet, but my calf muscles felt like I’d dine about a thousand toe raises at the gym. It wasn’t exactly painful, but tight and achy. I took the next day off - frustrating, as I was so keen to put them in again!

I was lucky - having waited so long to try wearing high heels, I decided to splurge and treat myself to a really nice pair of boots. A heel wearing friend, to whom I confided my plan, had also urged me to buy well. And so I did. They were expensive, but really nicely made and fit perfectly so I escaped some of the usual discomfort and blisters that most experience.

I’ve no doubt at all about that. I think guys in general are weary of the stifling rules for men’s fashion regarding colours and styles, and would like to inject a bit of theatre into their personal style

Oh, I agree with you that when you start to wear heels you’ll find muscles you forgot about. I differentiate between that and actual foot pain. I could walk reasonably well - hardly catwalk grace, but reasonably well - in my 10cm boots when I first got them although after a fairly short while my calf muscles seized up in quite painful cramps. These went away when I sat down and flexed and massaged the muscles and I learned quickly that small doses were the way to go when you’re first starting out. i have taken a sort of middle road - wearing 8cm blocky heels generally but also slowly building up time in my 10cm stilettos. I’m doing the same now as I try to learn to walk in my 12cm boots.

I always try to dress smartly when I’m in heels and I would do the same with leather trousers. I like contrasts in textures so I would wear them with a wool jumper or something like that

I find that too.

Yes there is something empowering about walking in heels. I always feel a bit deflated when I take mine off at the end of the day.

Yes, I also like how wearing heels feel, especially the 10cm and 12cm heights. And you’re quite right, wearing heels is like any athletic endeavour. I think that having done a lot of yoga, sabre fencing, running, skiing and cycling I had a natural advantage when it came to wearing heels. I never had any trouble at all with 7 to 8cm heels, not even from the first day. Even 10cm heels were not that hard although since I started practicing with my 12cm heels, they’ve become quite comfortable and easy. I still have to graduate to the 12cm ones ..

Yes, my heels are all quite comfortable - even my 12cm ones which I struggle to walk fluidly in, are still comfortable. I’ve experienced more pain in badly fitted and designed running shoes than I ever had with heels. But then I made certain to buy well made, well fitting heels. They absolutely don’t need to be painful

They certainly are. The history of fashion is quite an interesting topic. Until I got brave enough to try wearing heels, I never really considered the history and meanings of fashion before. The history of heels is fascinating And you’re right in the 90s and 00s it was not uncommon for men to wear leather trousers - even without a motorcycle!

It’s a pity that men seem to be so restricted in what society permits them to wear. It’s the same with knee boots - fine if there’s a horse or motorcycle in the picture, but otherwise wearing them is considered odd or effeminate. Strange, really. As for me I rather like the idea of wearing leather trousers with heels.

It is very presumptuous - but then some people just seem to be like that. I can never understand this mindset.

It's a look I'd like to try

Maybe he thinks you’re just incorrigible!