robbiehhw

13 hours ago, geot said:

Funny thing is some people, especially those on the left of the political spectrum, automatically assume Trump and Republicans are anti LGBTQ, but the only place I received a worrying reaction from someone for wearing heels was thoroughly liberal Portland Oregon, and that was from a couple of bearded plaid-wearing hipster dudes. No issues in the UK, many different places in Georgia and Florida and even Kansas City and surrounding areas, which is pretty rural bible-belt. Although I was cautioned against wearing heels outside in Paris (France) some years ago. Never was able to go to the Netherlands, so no idea what kind of reaction it would get out there. I guess my point is that the resident of whatever seat of national power (The White House, 10 Downing Street, etc.) only really matters to a small section of society, usually the most vocal, but everyone else just gets on with living their lives how best suits them. Politicians come, politicians go, life goes on regardless.

The assumption made about the right is correct based on the massive weight of evidence and their track record of opposing equality legislation, silly bathroom bills and talk of "religious liberty" to name just a few and there are many more.  Their record on opposing our rights goes way back. Your experiences in "liberal" areas are certainly valid, but i will say much different than mine. I live in Oregon, except for the rural east part of the state, intolerance is pretty rare. I've traveled in many areas the UK, France, Russia, Japan and many more and i invariably urban areas to be pretty accepting. The exceptions to this were where you would expect, Africa and the middle east.

Despite the bump in the road of the current admin, i suspect a lot of good will come from this as well. Organizations, activism etc Gender Variance, being outside of the norm in many ways including dress has a bright cultural future.

Never been refused anywhere. That sort of treatment could get you a successful lawsuit in many US States.

12 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

 And yet, I have no idea why this should be so. It may be because I've been around for so long. It may be because I am well-liked and respected as both a foreman and a worker. It may be because I have been tireless in my advocacy for trying to improve working conditions and morale on the job site, both with my mighty fountain pen, and with a microphone (you would be surprised at how many waves a well-penned letter or a few well-spoken sentences creates, when delivered to the right people).

So my invitation is, I would like to hear your ideas about what really makes people tick. Is this a unique situation for me? I do not have a forceful personality by any stretch of the imagination. My point is, I appear to be able to express myself in my dress and my appearance, and I seem to be getting by with it, and I theoretically shouldn't be able to get by with it. Sometimes, it boggles the mind. When is the party going to end? Will I have to pay the Piper someday?

Long ago, this was probably about 1991 i was working a job that required me to visit residential construction sites pretty regularity. To protect myself from the mud, i did not want to wear my decent snow boots because and they were too hot anyways. I had no work boots even though some steel toe protection would have likely been wise. Instead, i found a pair of women's rain boots on sale, plain black but shiny and the lining was leopard skin if i am remembering correctly and i thought "oh bonus they are girl's too" . I would put on/remove the muddy boots will sitting on the back of my jeep at the time. 

Well i wore them for pretty much a year and nobody (to my face anyways, i don't care about anything else) ever negatively commented me on them. Curiously one man actually said " I had a pair like those but i burned through them pretty quickly, you should get these". I'm positive they were recognized as women's.

15 hours ago, Heelster said:

I wish I wasn't saying this, but that's not what I'm seeing. Get out in the rural areas, and the shift you mentioned seems to heading the other way. 

Yes no argument that the rural urban divide is huge, but there are far far fewer people out there than in the cities and on the coasts. Electoral College notwithstanding, this bodes pretty well for the political future but also the acceptance of alternative identities and even things like non-mainstream dressing.

Sorry i don't have a lot to contribute. I do have women's gloves like these:

http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-cashmere-lined-leather-gloves/id_302835?sku_0=::BLA

and running gloves like these:

https://shop.lululemon.com/p/women-scarves-gloves/Run-With-Me-Gloves/_/prod4500497?skuId=3637565&color=LW9L97S_020099&locale=en_US&sl=US&CAWELAID=120278590000015374&CID=Google:US12363&sl=US&locale=en_US&gclid=CIucgf-X8tECFZSGfgodSGQNZw

I also have some awesome purple ski mitts

Very cool! I love seeing well cared for vintage clothing and shoes. 

I get quite a few positive comments about shoes, mainly from women but recently one from a guy as well.

Another political thread yikes. I'm one of those "equality fascists" that the OP speaks of. The thing about equal rights is it does not mean less rights for you, human rights are not an apple pie. It can mean less privilege for a few, but do we really want privilege, we did not earn? 

If they don't make men wear heels as part of their outfit, they should not make women do the same. I do not think it can be any clearer in logic (or morality) than that. Women and men are 100% equals with a level playing field. They are not the same, but is this not a sameness thing at all.

About 1985 or 86, i purchased a pair of plain black pumps. Tried them on in store in front of snickering customers. Did not care one bit

Sandals definitely

I don't see any changes where i live. A very liberal city in a very liberal state (Our Governor is LGTBQ) Will there be an attempt at cultural backlash toward LGTBQ people in some areas yeah sure there will be as well as more racism etc., but ultimately it will fail because public opinion is solidly shifted in favor of diversity and away from fundamentalist religion. I'm a trans woman and i feel safe. I also feel emboldened to be an activist and make those that would take rights of people away, pay for that attempt politically.

Some boots are meant to worn with boot cut jeans, others are meant for tucking, others for cuffing or rolling.

I wear heels traveling often and through airports, statistically those place might be more dangerous than others, but agains the odds are still tiny of a violent act occurring at any one airport at a particular time.

3 hours ago, aristoc said:

Great fashion advice there Robbie. Spot on. 

Although I fear this is more of a plumbing issue further up the drainpipe. 

Lol yes, i thought i'd offer the other tucking advice too - You'd maybe would be surprised how stretchy many skinny jeans or jeggings are though and some of us have little of that offending equipment to worry about. I also still stand by by thought that many wear long tunics or sweaters anyways

On 1/5/2017 at 6:45 PM, Heelster said:

Our moms must have been friends. To this day, I can't wear a t-shirt under a dress shirt (Then again I haven't worn dress shirts more than a few times a year) I'm a guy that has that specific shape that will not be improved by any shape wear. That "slim figure" concept left the station way back in high school. I will always be a guy in heels. 

I have some spanx and the like but pretty rarely wear them. Also sort of interesting is that sweaters don't bother me with another layer, but then again most of those are cardigan types and left open. Pull over sweaters i generally wear next to my skin. 

I really don't think of escaping such things. Statistically you have a much higher chance of getting in trouble other ways. 

If they are tall boots you should generally tuck. If they are ankle boots you cuff the jeans and let a sliver of skin show. If they are in between, tucking is still the best option as you can only cuff your jeans so high. Another option is boot cut jeans but this is about jeggings.

I've been witness to several employee wrongful termination filings and in nearly ever case the employee walked away with considerably more money than whatever their severance was. Companies hate distractions, hate negative publicity and hate using their resources on non-revenue generating activities. They simply write a check to make it go away. Now there are certain things you have to say in order for this to happen but employment attorneys understand these things.  Of course your complaint must have merit

The idea that men are sometimes bullies and more so in some environments is true, but again if you work in one of those environments that is of course your choice. We get to choose.

14 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

Also, if the shoe or shoes are that easy to slip off while seated, how does one actually walk, when it comes time to walk the walk, without constantly stepping out of one's shoes accidentally? I would find that extremely annoying. Nevertheless, it is a practice that I find somewhat, though not magnetically, attractive.

Agreed when i wear pumps they remain firmly on my feet. Unless i want to take them off. Maybe thong sandals dangle a bit but they have too.

Have never really been a fan of the jumpsuit as underwear, spanx and things like that are good when necessary, but to me jumpsuits are usually an unnecessary layer and too many layers makes me uncomfortable. When i was a kid, my mom always told me to wear undershirts with my shirts but i refused most of the time for this reason.

Interestingly, I never had an issue wearing bras.

The vast majority of the time i wear shirts and blouses untucked. For business casual i will sometimes wear a blouse tucked because of the outfit, (blazers etc)

I never saw the appeal in this. Is it a foot thing? is it sort of she is uncovering herself thing? I happen to think many people have very attractive feet but i guess i don't connect the two. 

When i see this sort of thing, i always sort of thought...."if her heels are that uncomfortable that she can't keep them on, maybe she should by some other heels "

Just thought i'd ask

4 hours ago, Heelster said:

In theory, your correct - - - Reality says your chancing loosing your job. They won't claim "A guy wearing heels" but there are plenty of other excuses that are damned hard to defend yourself against. Been there - done that.

 

I totally get that and understand that. However, you could put that concern next to about any societal change or variance from the norm (long hair etc) and while it would be true, this is not how you change the world. You don't wait for the adoption curve or Hollywood, or anyone else, you boldly go out and do it. In general you may get snickers and gossip, but a life without snickers and gossip is not that well lived in my opinion. I don't want to blend in to a society that has so many problems, i want to change it.

There should be zero differences between dress codes and acceptability therein,  between women and men. If women can wear heels to work, so can men. If a girl can wear a princess dress to the party, so can boys.

I know about coming out as non-standard and work, socially and among professional peers. As a trans person i realize i had to experience the extremes here as i was figuring out who i was and then learning to present myself consistent with it, but i think all of the men here that have done any public heeling at all have taken similar steps, to step out and present themselves to the world in the way that they choose. Bravery is pretty universal at this site

Any employer in the western world at least, that would fire you for your choice of footwear, would be opening themselves up to potential problems and embarrassment. At the most, someone that had authority in the situation might politely ask you to follow another dress code. Be brave and be the change you want to see.

Cute Anklet!

Yes i tend to wear tops that are longer with either leggings or jeggings. It fits the style more. you can tuck shirts with skinny jeans but leggings are just a bit too tight for that.