Cali

Ball

I have a thick pad under my toes. My reflexologist says it is thicker than any she has ever seen. So it has more volume than wide. If I stand on a shoe chart I should wear men's 8.5. But I have never found a 8.5 that I can get my foot into. So I had to get 9 EEEE and sometimes 9.5 EEEE just to get my toes in.  I have placed a size 9 wide men's shoe back to back with a woman's size 10 and many seem that they are the same width at the toe box.  I also have an extremely high arch that adds to the volume in men's shoes. In high heels the arch is absorbed.

Now I not saying I fit all women's size 10. I can't get my toes into a pump, just cuts my toe tendons. and single straps at the toes is a style that is real tricky for me. I also have gone up to size 11 for a few pointed toe shoes.

I had only a few minor ankle twists since I started to wear women's shoes.

4 hours ago, Shyheels said:

I have to shop a bit, and be willing to spend more, but I can find some quite well fitting men's boots

After shopping for men's shoes for over 50 years, I can attest that there is nothing that fits my feet in the men's department. Only clown shoes.  After 3 ankle reconstructions I researched the shoe market and came to the conclusion that men's shoes are made in a rectangular shape and women's shoes are more pear like.  Shyheels, with a narrow heel and foot, you have a rectangular foot, so there are narrow men's shoes that fit you, you just have to look for them.  I have a pear shaped foot with an extra thick toe box. To get my toes into men's shoes I had to get an extra wide male shoe (4E), which meant my heels swam in the shoe and my ankles would turn extremely easily, over 100 times a year, sometimes 4-5 times a day. It's not a matter of making the extra effort to shop for men's shoes, it's that men's shoes just don't fit my feet, they simply aren't designed to. 

Yes. I wear clothes that start on the women's side of the store. Why? FIT. I'm not trying to dress as a women or look like a women, women's versions of certain things just fit me better. I rather dress in women's clothes that fit than in male's clothes that don't.

Fit and functionality over label (men's/women's) every time. I refuse to let my masculinity be determine by the labels on my clothes.  Too many people think the clothes make the man and too many men hide behind the suit. Be a leader not a lemming. 

3 minutes ago, Shyheels said:

If your male shoes were clown shoes then you were buying them too big. I have size 14 hiking boots and they are still not clown shoes - they fit.

I have a large toe box and a narrow heel.  I had to get men's size 9 4E just to get my toes in. Then I would have an extra inch of space around my heel and 1/2+ inch at my toes. Sandals were even harder. I could find sandals to fit my toe box but then I couldn't get the top tight enough.  I would pull the ends together and still be very loose around my ankle.  It wasn't a matter of buying them too big, it was a matter that my foot shape and men's shoes disagree.  Once I figured out that I had women's shape feet, I suddenly found shoes that fit. Now I wear women's size 10 shoes M. Because I have a large toe box, some women's styles (like pumps) don't fit, but there are so many different women's shoes it extremely easy to find shoes that fit. I went from hating shopping for shoes to now when I always take the time to look and try on heels. I go shoe shopping 2-3 times a month...got to see (and try on) the latest styles.

I stopped buying men's shoes in 2011, and started to purchase women's shoes. It has to do with fit and ankle problems.  My ankle problems disappeared once I gave up the (clown) male shoes.  I have about 8 left from then, most used to work in my garden when it is muddy.....I don't wear them otherwise.  So my ratio is about 8:50 and decreasing everyday.

Disassembled 

Weaving

Cloth

I believe I'm pushing my limit at work and a skirt would be too much, especially with my painted nails. Although many times 60 - 80% of my clothes I'm wearing started in the women's department, I present as a male in high heels. In the summer its shorts and sandals.

Spinach

Everyday wearers - how many different pairs do you wear during a week? during a month?

I wear high heels everyday to work. I like to wear a different pair each time and can go for months without repeating a pair. Many times I pick my outfit for the day based on the shoes I'm wearing. (Yes, I'm a shoe whore.) The only change is for weather, I like my Madden Girl Krisis on nasty weather days. Also I have some that are better to dance in.

My question to everyday wearers, do you wear a different pair everyday or do you wear a pair for a few days in a row, then another pair. 

The Hue corduroy legging fit fine; the mediums are long enough and go to mid ankle. I have only worn leggings/yoga pants a few times in public. This is one area I would like to wear more of. It is common for runners in my area to wear what looks like leggings in the winter time. Just hoping it will become more common around here.  I sure would love to wear leggings into work with my knee high boots.

Several times in public I have worn a pair of shorts over my leggings for modesty.  I would love to wear a long tunic and leggings to work.

I have worn my Nike dri fit woman's pants many times while kayaking (basically they are leggings) and have even worn them into work afterwards before changing into other pants. When it's colder I have also worn my Victoria's Secret thermal leggings while kayaking. No one has said anything so far.

Sockeye

Rainbow fish

Paddlewheeler

I've wearing Levis men 527 bootcut stretch jeans, I need to have decent front pockets which I can't find in women's jeans.

Roe

I don't do pumps, so I say the sandal...summer is coming for you.

Cherry

Amerigo

Here's where a picture is worth at thousand words. I can sit out in my garden and enjoy the sun on my feet.  Luving my new leggings.

Court Jester

Count

Just picked up a pair of corduroy leggings on sale. Can't wait to try them on.

14 hours ago, SF said:

Several years ago I was in Vegas, in heels of course, when a guy (shorter than me) approached me and said, “you’re wearing heels?”  That began a short discussion that ended with the guy saying that he thought it wonderful that I would wear heels, that he always wanted to be taller and might try wearing heels someday.  I hope he did.  

Good short story SF.