Shyheels

I just noticed this post. Totally agree. Women’s fashion has far more choices, colours and capacity for self expression than men’s. Male fashion is all about conformity and is quite puritanical. I’d much rather be one of the Cavaliers

I don’t see how that works in any snowy situation. If the snow is deeper than the heel is high she’ll topple over backwards. If it’s light powdery snow and she's walking over an icy surface she’ll go flying. If it is stable shallow snow on a firm surface she might be able to walk a short ways without doing a pratfall, but what would be the point? In no way would heels confer an advantage. Any illusory “grip”; a heel might seem to offer would be badly offset by the slick narrow leather sole. She might have walked across a snowy parking lot without suffering a broken coccyx but there’s no way she had an advantage

I think you’re right. People do notice but in these days of ridiculously heightened sensibilities nobody is going to want to risk putting a foot (or eye) out of line., let alone express a compliment to a woman, no matter how tame the wording might be. One just does not know how it will be taken, and when even the use of the wrong pronoun can ruin someone’s entire life why risk your career, live savings and possibly your liberty by telling a woman you don’t know that she looks nice?

I know Cadbury has won court battles over its particular shade of purple-blue for bars of chocolate. The rulings concerned that particular shade and for the sales of chocolate specifically. It’s complicated

I guess anybody can be a shoe designer

I know if you’re a cyclist you definitely want to be making eye contact with motorists at intersections - whether you’re in heels or not!

Yes the steepness seems higher than even 5”. As you say a bit hard to wear around and about

We’re getting some proper winter weather here in the Pennines. About 6” of snow last night, more expected in the next two days then clear and cold, down to -10°C. A long walk today in tall boots but no heels!

I occasionally notice swift downward glances when I am walking along the towpath in my knee boots - and that’s without heels. I’m certainly the in,y male in nice leather knee boots (one does see occasional guys in hunter gum boots - but not many)

Yes, one can overthink these things

True not on canals - although working swing bridges you will stop traffic, sometimes on busy roads. But then you would be most unlikely to be wearing heels as when you’re moving your boat along the canal you’re working locks, bridges, mooring and unmooring the boat constantly and heels would be decidedly dangerous.

Fortunately that sort of thing is fairly unusual - or at least it is in my experience.

Yes, me too. Wearing tall boots is just part of my natural style now and I do not notice or care if anyone thinks that odd.

Congratulations on setting a new record! That’s quite an accomplishment. I’ve no idea what my mileage would be, but it would be nowhere near yours.

Yes, what kind of society have we created where humans do the drudge work and computers create music, literature and art?

Same here. As a writer and photographer I can get screwed two ways. It’s a serious worry

Sounds like there was more of Huck Finn in Mark Twain than met the eye

Oh I agree with you on that front! I love silence too and do not go around with earbuds stuck in my ears. I can never understand cyclists who have to listen to music when they ride - aside from the safety implications how nice it is to hear birdsong and the rustling in the hedgerows. On my boat I listen to birds each morning. I play music at a time of my choosing and when I’m don’t am happy to enjoy silence and my own company

I’ve really no idea if anyone notices that I’m always in knee or OTK boots. It feels normal to me and so I genuinely don’t notice if anyone is noticing me. I suspect not. I have had a few comments, not many, but those I do get have been positive - and usually by women.

I have to say I pretty much dislike all of them. They strike me as either dirge-like or too overtly pious. Not a huge fan of organised religion in general.

Do you dislike all music or just some types? It is certainly odd to dislike all music. I certainly don’t care for much that was written after 1985 or so, but before that my tastes are varied and eclectic - blues, jazz, rock, swing, musicals, classical, Charleston-era, ragtime etc… I must say though that hymns leave me rather glassy eyed. If I went to church at all I’d probably try to avoid any and all hymn singing …

I remember reading a quote from some famous classical musician - I forget the name or the instrument he played. He said, if I don’t practice for a day, I notice. If I don’t practice for two days, the critics notice. If I don’t practice for three days, the world notices

They’re certainly cheaper than Dorothy’s Ruby slippers! Did you see they sold for $28 million the other day?

I’d like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. And a happy and prosperous new year!

Indeed! Merry Christmas from this side of the pond!