Shyheels

My desire for a pair of go-go boots came from this same time frame - c.1970. It was a general blurring of gender lines in fashion in those days. Which is why, funnily enough, I didn’t actually grasp at first that go-go boots were only for girls. I nearly asked my parents for a pair. I don’t remember quite what it was that clued me in, but I was mortified to find I fancied girls boots. That embarrassment stayed with me for years.

My first attraction to feminine footwear was for the shiny white go-go boots worn by a very pretty red haired girl in my seventh grade class. I didn’t just admire them, I longed to have a pair too. At the same time I was also acutely embarrassed by the thought that I fancied wearing girls boots. I put such thoughts out of my mind, or at least tried to, although I still really wished I could have a pair of go-go boots and thought it grievously unfair that I couldn’t. It wasn’t an obsession, this curiosity and desire to wear feminine boots - it was the feminine styling, not so much the heels themselves that appealed to me - it was more like something I’d be reminded of from time to time. Some random style would catch my eye and send my imagination wandering down those corridors again. And always with regret that such a thing was impossible. About ten years ago, I had this damascene moment when I realised it wasn’t impossible. It was only me that was making it impossible. I decided that I didn’t want to go the rest of my life having never worn heels or feminine boots, and so I ordered a pair. I splurged and bought some beautiful black suede OTK boots from Jean Gaborit with 10cm slender - nearly stiletto - heels. They were beautiful and fit like a glove, my first feels. And from the moment I stood up in them I knew it had been worth the wait. I never did get a pair of go-go boots, but I want to…

Fashion is all about contrived obsolescence. Styles are here and gone in weeks and either you buy them or you don’t. It’s a shame but it’ll never change

Indeed walking a towpath in tall boots and jeans, jumpers and high heeled boots in the supermarket will never grab the headlines, but people here have grown used to seeing me in my tall boots - to the extent that one day when I was wearing hiking boots, one of the locals said he didn’t recognise me at first when he saw me from behind

Yes those are very nice - a bit high for my tastes, I like just over the knee, but the heels and overall styling are very nice indeed

I suspect you’re right. They need guys like us on the carpet, who actually wear boots and heels!

To be fair, there is so little style guidance out there for men in heels or tall boots. You can find no end of fashion stories and articles for women looking for inspiration on what to wear with boots and heels, how to pair things up, but for men there is nothing and the few examples one sees, on Instagram or in the catwalk, are generally bizarre, androgynous, or overtly gay and thus offer little guidance for an average Joe who fancies adding a touch of theatre to his look without going over the top.

On one of my early trips to Antarctica back in the 90s I spend several weeks on an icebreaker and during that time obviously came to know everyone - about 90 or so people (crew, scientists, tradesmen working at the bases) After spending time on the base, and changing over the staff, we headed back home again. One night at sea I found myself talking to what I thought was one of the new guys - returning home after a winter in the ice. I introduced myself and asked his name. He gave me a funny look. It was one of the marine biologists, a guy I’d played scrabble with many a time in the preceding weeks at sea - only he’d had a great bushy beard then. He’d shaved it off while we were at the base and I completely failed to recognise him.

Yes, as someone who wears tall boots a lot I always wear skinny jeans so they can fit nicely in the boot shaft instead of ruching up and/or having the fabric billow out over the top of the boot. His boots are so high though - much too high for my tastes - and so loose (again, much too loose fitting for me) he could probably get away with wearing even zoot suit trousers under them.

I saw that article too - or an article anyway. Perhaps there were others. I liked the tolerant tone of the one I read (on the CNN website) It was far from disparaging the notion of tall boots for men. I’m not a fan of the style - too much like waders - but to each their own. It was not outlandish. A positive response to them, as in the article I read, could well help to normalise the idea of tall boots on men. And that would be a great thing!

Context is everything. It had been years and he wouldn’t have been expecting to meet you - and when he did encounter you, his eyes were drawn to your sandals. That’s what his impression would have been based on, and the corridors down which his thinking went. Small wonder he didn’t recognise you. Had you been in jeans and work boots I think he might well have recognised you

I woke up before dawn this morning, noticed some interesting blue hour conditions and decided to go out with camera and tripod. On a whim I decided to be brave and wear my midi skirt and chunky heel boots. It was four thirty and no one was around. I was setting up a shot when I heard a cheery voice behind me - a woman out walking her dogs, with a camera slung over her shoulder. A fellow photographer as it turns out. She must have noticed I was wearing a skirt - the heels were less obvious - but made no comment or gave me any strange looks. We chatted about light and photography. The conversation was as natural as if I’d been in my usual hiking boots and jeans. I went from feeling momentarily embarrassed to prolonging the conversation. It was just two photographers chatting we now follow each other on Instagram

I am the same with my stilettos. I love wearing them, but worry about wear and breakage. They’ve become my office shoes. And I’m quite satisfied with that. I’m never unaware that I’m in heels when I wear them - I don’t need to be out logging my 10,000 steps a day.

Yes those are nice. I’ve seen Leviticus Boots website. More elegant than the ones in the article. I was encouraged by the tone and the hope that if tall boots in general can become accepted as men’s wear, that will open the door to a wider range of styles.

An interesting article about a Swedish actor turning up at the Cannes film festival in a pair of (low heel) thigh boot by Saint Laurent. What was interesting about the article is that the writer did not disparage the idea of men in tall boots, and indeed went into the history of boots as a masculine fashion, and threw the story forward by suggesting that maybe tall boots could be coming back into style. I certainly hope so, and found the tone of the article encouraging. The boots pictures are not to my personal taste although there is nothing outlandish about them. It would be nice if this story did indeed herald a return to tall boots for men. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/20/style/alexander-skarsgard-thigh-high-boots-in-cannes

They look very classy

Yes, stilettos would be a real disaster there. And on a towpath too.

I'm quite familiar with Avebury and the henge - its a beautiful walk, as is the one out to Silbury Hill but not one that would be advisable in heeled ankle boots!

Definitely not!

Out and about - silly photographer in heels (me). I went out in the evening with my camera and, given the dry weather, and not too rough state of the towpath thought I might just risk wearing heels - in this case ankle boots with 3.5” block heels. The walking wasn’t too bad although complicated by carrying a tripod and with a heavy camera bag slug over one shoulder. The funny part came when I was changing lenses, standing in rough ground in 3.5” heels and bending over to pick out lenses from my bag, on the grass. Especially with a dodgy back. And trying to be quick with the light changing rapidly. Next time I’ll stay with my low heeled knee boots!

I remember the clogs craze in the mid 70s. I was at university by then. I liked clogs and can recall wanting a pair but nothing like my desire for a pair of white go-go boots c.1970

Me too. For me it would have to be white - that’s what I so vividly remember! It was the girls hair that was red. Wonder what ever became of her?

For me it was never so much the bell but the overall feminine styling. I never fancied cowboy boots, or cowgirl boots either for that matter. For me it started with go-go boots, which really don’t have much of a heel at all, and then sorta evolved. The heels became a part of it, since many feminine boot styles also have heels. In terms of personal style and preference I like block heeled boots. They feel more “me”. I’m ambivalent about stilettos. I love the lines - especially 120mm stilettos - but I’m not sure they are really me. And I’m not sure if that’s residual self consciousness or a sense that they don’t - quite - fit my style. i own two pair of Italian Heels stiletto knee boots - same style (Tina), one with 10cm heels the other with 12cm. I like them both very much and would never get rid of them. But I feel much more at ease in 7-9cm block heeled boots (ankle, knee and OTK)

Congratulations! I have fond recollections of the moment that I decided at long last to buy myself some high heeled boots - in the event, a pair of very nice (expensive) black suede OTK boots with four inch slender (not quite stiletto) heels. I decided to treat it as a bucket list thing and although expensive as boots go, vastly cheaper than the exotic travels that usually feature on bucket lists. That initial purchase has led to my buying several more pair, although nothing like your numbers. I love wearing them though and regret the years I needlessly went without

Nice job. I don’t think five photos is too many nor do I think they are too small. The look and concept is conveyed. You look great, very presentable. I would like to do some shots but it’s tricky on the towpath …!