Shyheels

I have several pair of low-heeled knee and OTK boots for when heels are inappropriate for whatever reason. A couple of them are feminine in styling, but the others are old-fashioned motorcycle or engineering boots. I’m not that fussed about which side of the shop my boots come from. I’d buy trainers from the women’s aisle if the colours exerted a strong appeal but I would not make a special point of shopping there

Go with the flow - it’s all about wearing what you feel like and not being moulded by convention, your own or anybody else’s

I would have loved the decadent 20s - as long as I had the money to participate and not be one of the doormen, waiters or ship stewards

I’ve always fancied a pair of really nice (tall) white boots

Yes, I’m curious too. On rare occasions I’ve seen men in ankle boots with higher than expected heels but never anything else

I thought I'd start this thread as a bit of a finger on the pulse of what is being worn. I was thinking of this the other night when I was in a busy pub having dinner and noticing the boots and heels being worn by my fellow patrons. I was wearing low-heeled OTK boots myself - bluish-grey suede over skinny jeans. I was not the only one in OTK boots. There was a young lady in black shorts (this in winter) with some very tall black leather boors - actually more like thigh boots than OTK. I'd never seen anything quite like them. The shafts looked to be made of very nice leather and fit her well; that part was elegant. The boot part though was like a pair of exceptionally heavy Doc Martens with very thick clod-hopper soles. I don't know if contrast and aesthetic tension was the point of this, but it looked like hell. My other outing this week was to go to Leeds, an old city in the north of England. I saw a lot of people (all women) wearing heels - typically chunky heeled knee and and ankle boots with 3" heels. It was almost the norm. I was wearing black leather knee boots myself, again with low heels (my circumstances at the moment do not lend themselves to wearing heels - not because of the fear of censure but risky footing and the ruination of nice suede high-heeled boots) Again, my black leather knee bots, for over skinny jeans, passed without notice.

But you can!!!

I really admire the practicality and hand on abilities of people such as yourselves who can do these things. I have precisely zero aptitude

It’s just about exactly freezing in my part of the UK and I’m not exactly enjoying it! Bring on summer!!!

It will no problem. Trust me. I wear knee boots a lot - indeed I am writing this at a pub in Yorkshire where I am having dinner on a busy Saturday night. I am wearing grey suede OTK boots with low heels over skinny jeans and nobody has given me a second glance. Ok, they are low heels but OTK boots all the same. No issues. At all

I usually wear knee and OTK boots but usually with mid-heels - I prefer blocky mid heels to stilettos, about three inches is my favourite height. I just like the aesthetics. I also low-heeled knee and OTK boots, again because I like the styling. I wear them over my skinny jeans and never have had any issues. I do own a couple pair of stilettos, bought when I first started daring myself to wear heels and tall boots. As I became more accustomed to wearing them, and accepting that I liked wearing heels, I realised that my natural taste was for mid-heeled boots. I have no urge to wear higher and higher heels, I don’t see it as a quantitative or competitive thing, just a freedom to wear what I like. Curiously enough although I am a photographer I do not have any images. I much prefer being behind the camera than in front of it. And this isn’t just with wearing heels, but in general.

Sounds like you’re really copping the snow! Over here in the UK we’re getting a blast of what we call cold weather - which means about -3°C where I am (that’s about 26°F for you guys). I have to say though the British cold can be more unpleasant than the temperature figure suggests. I think it’s because there is a rawness to it that just seeps into your bones. At any rate it’s perfect weather for knee and OTK boots! I am certainly getting good use out of mine! I like the boots you were wearing. I’m quite a fan of low- to mid-heel knee boots - a nice combination of stylishness and everyday practicality

Indeed! I never saw the original posts, but I’m totally on board with what @mlroseplant is saying here.

My heels and tall boots are not especially eye catching and I just wear them out and about. I wear my boots over my jeans and they really do blend in and look unremarkable in the best sense of the word. I’ve no interest in being noticed or pushing an agenda, merely in wearing style of footwear that I like.

Yes, marketing and advertising, along with social media - which is often just a variant form of marketing - drives a lot if what is wrong with today’s society.

Oh, I totally agree that "meat cleaver' is never going to be a winner as far as marketing imagery goes! I don't blame whoever is marketing these for coming up with the term "stiletto wedges", but beyond this applied term I can't see them as stilettos.

Well clearly somebody got a lot of mileage out of them and if they haven't fractured yet, and show now visible indications of doing so, I can see no reason why you shouldn't get plenty of use out of them.

Yes in deep snow or any kind of soft surface I’d much prefer block heels or better still rugged, flat Vibram soles. In fact I have several pair of otherwise elegant knee boots with just those soles for just these occasions

How time flies!

We joined exactly the same day! 29 Jan 2014 - coming up ten years!

And sports days aren't so goo either, especially if you're participating in the long jump.

I love the styling in those. Block heels, round toes - perfect. This is definitely the season for wearing boots!

We’re meant to be getting some snow here in the UK, maybe I can give that a try.. whatever their crampon-like qualities on snow or ice, I think I’d still prefer block heeled boots. Stilettos just seem too dressy for wearing in snow.

Sounds very nice - always nice to have a shop where you are known and welcome and receive personal attention.

Ah yes, I'm a writer, which is an art of sorts, and words are my palette. I love the richness of the English language. Thank you!