Shyheels

I much prefer almond toes, but they are so hard to find with stilettos. Italian Heels makes a very nice pump with rounded/almond toes and 12cm stiletto heels that I like the look of. I’ve never worn pumps, only boots. I’m curious and a bit tempted

I’m a continuous cruiser, although the 14 day rule was suspended because of the long term closures this summer and into the autumn. I’m on a mooring now though. It just made sense. Winter is nearly upon us. There are more closures planned for winter repairs and the reservoirs are still low. Here I’ve ready access to coal, wood, diesel, gas etc - just no good place to practice in 12cm stiletto boots!

That’s my plan come spring. The nearest spot for that is a town about 15 locks east of here. At the moment that would be too chancy a journey. The canal I’m on has been closed to navigation for much of the year because of a water shortage and reopened only about a month ago - mainly to allow people who were stranded in awkward places for months to move somewhere better for the winter. Nobody expects the canal to remain open for long, despite our rainy weather lately. I’m in a really good spot at the moment. I’d be nuts to move

Yes you’re right. I definitely need real world walking experience and longer, more open walking areas. Putting my boots in a backpack and hiking off to a park in town - about a mile and a half away - is the best bet. The trouble then becomes time and commitment - finding the hour and a half minimum it will take to walk to the park and back and put in a bit of practice time. To say nothing of short days up here and foul weather. It becomes so easy to decide to practice in my boat

That would be extremely unusual. I can only think that the bar to success in 14cm was set quite low - simply being able to walk without falling - or that there was a platform involved somewhere. Or that she is or was a ballet dancer. Hot Chicks at 13cm are famously difficult to master even by very experienced high heel wearers - so much so that Louboutin stopped making them. @higherheels is the only person with whom I’ve had any contact who feels confident walking in them, at least to go out for dinner. And I have a sense that she sets the bar pretty high, can walk easily in 12cm and even then she finds the need to work hard and practice with the 13cm Hot Chicks and her new and slightly higher boots. i have a couple of friends who are serious high heel aficionados and their limit is 12cm, and one of them has quite a collection of Louboutins too. But nothing over 12cm. So I’m just finding it hard to picture someone slipping on a pair of 14cm court shoes and striding out of the shop unless there is some very unusual circumstance

What I really need is to find a place where I can go for meaningful walks in my boots. I know I could improve quickly. I’m pretty good at sports. But honestly you guys should see the towpath - chalky muddy clays, puddles, rocks etc. very frustrating.

Yes that seems very familiar. I think you put it well - a lack of controlled heel to toe motion, which leads to this sense of clomping around. So much of learning to walk well in heels reminds me of learning to ski or skate, acquired skills that are deeply enviable to those who are just learning. @higherheels mentions walking easily in her 12cm heels and even going out in her Hot Chicks and it just seems like a huge hill to climb as I clomp around on the beginners slope

Doing 20k steps on a day like today would be hard work - at least if your weather was anything like what we’ve had in the Pennines today. A thoroughly miserable day with single digit temperatures, winds and cold hard rain. I wore heels today - my 12cm stilettos, sitting at my desk with a nice wood fire going! Like you, when I’ve been out and about I’ve noticed quite a strong bias towards blocky heeled boots

Exactly! And when I do stand up the angle feels familiar. Those boots of yours will be really good practice for the Hot Chicks. Aside from looking quite smart in their own

I can certainly feel it in my calves when I walk in my 12cm heels. Like you I’ve been wearing them mainly while sitting or puttering about making lunch. I have found that even just wearing them while seated at my desk is helpful in getting myself used to the height and assertive angle of wearing 12cm stilettos

I think that is probably it - no fluid heel to toe motion. I have to work on that, overcome my lack of familiarity with 12cm heels and be a little more deliberate in walking heel to toe. i too am interested to hear more about these new boots of yours

Yes, they could have altered shape slightly in the interim, or your feet grew accustomed to other heels, heights and styles. Hopefully you’ll settle in

I would guess it’s just a matter of reacquainting yourself with them.

I might give that a try although in a narrowboat it’s a bit tricky. Given the length of the boat I can take anything up to 20 short steps each way. I think I am taking steps that are too short and clomping.

I think you might be right. I shall work on that. I really, really want to master these!