Cali

New yet not new boots.

Today I opened up a box I had forgotten about and was surprise what I found.

I got a pair of Madden Girl Krisis calf high boots in Cognac many years ago and it has become my go to boot (see below).  I liked them so much that I got them in black as well.

If you know women's fashion, shoes are designed for one season, once gone they rarely return.  So this spring I saw the last pair of these in size 10 on EBAY and got them. Inside the box was my third pair I ordered in the beginning of February, this pair was also in cognac.

Hi

Am also new this week.

I got heels for the first time in the 70’s when my first wife gave a pair of hers that did fit, too big for her.  They were a little tight but otherwise great. 3 inch heels.  I wore those shoeties until they fell apart sometime in the early 90’s. About 12 years ago I found out the I could wear women’s size 10 shoes when a store was out of shoes in my size but had a similar (nicer color) one in women’s sizes.  The women’s shoe fitted better.  These were my first women’s shoes I bought for myself.

Ten years ago I decide to find running shoes that fit my foot.  I searched the internet for men’s shoes made for a larger toe box and narrow heels with a high arch.  I found out the reason I couldn’t find those running shoes (or any shoe for that matter) was that shape foot is considered a woman’s  foot.  So I order a very inexpensive pair from DSW.  They fitted better than any running shoe I ever wore. Got flat sandals, they fit!  I not bought a pair of men’s shoes since that day. 

I had been “jealous” of the women’s booties I had been seeing around, so I order a pair off of Macy’s website. Beginner’s luck then fit and felt great.

Several years ago I had a medical need to wear 4 inch heels for months.  During this time I discovered the 4 inch heels gave me pain relief from a major injury.  I decide I was going to live my life as much as possible in heels, mostly 4 inches and higher.  I do a lot of activities where flat shoes are mandatory. But otherwise I wear heels everywhere.

Winter/wet I mostly wear my boots and booties.

Summer/dry I mostly wear my wedges, sandals,

I also have some pairs that will blow your mind.

I use to hate shoes and shoe shopping because nothing ever fitted.

Now that I wear women shoes and heels I just love shoes and really enjoy shoe shopping. It’s fun to have shoes that fit and look good. I have over 40 pairs, mostly high heels.

Santa Cruz.  

I'm a lucky size 10, so I don't know it they carry larger sizes.

The shoe stores around Stanford carry larger sizes.

How else do you practice walking fast in heels?  He's got handle bars if he slips.

I got some narrow bookcases on Overstock and then made some addition wood shelves. I can adjust the height of each shelve and store two pairs of boots/booties per shelve, three pairs of some other heels.  Cost ~$70/case but I have over 40 pairs of heels and I want to be able to find my shoes. 

I like to shop for shoes in person as much as possible.  Not only do they need to look good, they need to fit perfectly.  So I spend several hours each month just walking thru shoe stores looking and trying on shoes.

My favorite store is a small boutique.  They treat me very well. Since I'm a regular client one of the sales women will come over and show me what they have that is new.  I try on shoes there that I know I would never be able wear anywhere, but I just want to know how they feel.  Many times they will ignore women customers to service my (shoe) needs first.  I have found some great heels there (7+ pairs) in the past 2 years.

But my favorite brands are Steve Madden (Madden Girl, Steven, Steve Madden, Freebird) and Charles by Charles David.  Not all heels in these brands fit, but many seem to fit better than other brands.

So what about you.

Do you have a favorite shoe store you love to visit often?

Do you have favorite brands?

Unfavorite brands? Why?  (For me it's "Jessica Simpson", "Ivanka Trump",...just to narrow)

I told a new women friend I wore heels while hiking at Point Lobos.  The next time I saw her I wore my 5 inch Steve Madden open-toe Mules. I'm still seeing her.

I love my black boots too. 

Got a pair of the these in Freebird Blaze in Brown and had to get them in black. Wore the black to work last week with dark blue cords.

It's a function of you foot's shape: HIGH ARCHES.  

I have size 10 women-shaped feet with high arches. The only boots I have without zippers are Uggs and two pairs of Madden Girls calf-high boots that I can get on and off...they are hard to get on and hard to get off. Otherwise I have given up all hope of ever fitting boots without zippers.  I ordered some Steve Madden KHB this winter but couldn't even get my foot halfway around the ankle choke hold, had to take them back.

The high arches make our feet too voluminous for the choke hold at the ankle, and if you add more material there the shoe would not fit correctly once you get your foot in.

The good news is there are plenty of great boots in our sizes (7 and 10) with zippers.

Name: 

Age: 62

Gender: M

Location: On the Monterey Bay in California

Occupation: Science Professor

Height: 5' 10"

Weight: 170 lbs

Shoe size: Women's 10

What's your favourite heel style: Block and wegdes

What's your favourite shoe style: Booties, Boots, open-toe high heel wedge sandals

Do you wear your heels outside: Always and everywhere

What is:

   Your favourite heel height: 4.5"

   Your highest heel height: 7"

How often do you wear:

  Your favourite heel height: Everyday

  Your highest heel height: Rarely

Do you wear socks, hose, stockings or bare feet with your shoes:

Knee high socks with boots and booties.  Bare footed in my sandals.

_________________

There are really two different questions, How high and for how long.

I have over 25 pairs that are at least 4 inches high.  I normally wear my 4 inch or higher boots, booties, or wedges for up to 18 hours straight (long work days). And I am walking/standing most of the time.  But I can only manage about 6 hours in my (Victoria's Secret) stilettos 1/2 inch platform, 5 inch heels.

My SpeedLimit 98's have a 7 inch heel with a 2 inch platform and I can walk in them all day.