nzfreestyler

thanks Cali. It would definitely help you because they do hold the torso nicely. I really like the feel of wearing one. NZF

Gidday recently I've been wearing a few corsets - started from a sore back and I wore a brace and thought I would try a corset for a bit and the effect was similar. Now from a fashion perspective I am liking the styling and the silhouette I have with a corset. I do feel it is very edgy a look - but I also really like it and have worn these corsets quite a few times out. They are not really restrictive unless you had the wrong size and wore them too tight - but they do help posture a lot !! heres a pic

people stare at anybody wearing high heels. If I wear a miniskirt and flats I don't get stared at like a pair of stilettos and a miniskirt. Doesn't matter who is wearing, man/woman - its the heels that get the attention going. I don't bother about peoples reactions - if you own your look and a confident - the reactions are almost always positive. cheers NZF

Don't you just love how a pointed toe pump works with stretch pants !! This is a good look on you! The trick is to show some ankle - you're perfectly ok here - but a little more ankle would be ideal 2-3'' (in my opinion) so a tight cuffing would work or a deliberately slightly shorter leg. Typically over the years I have found that pants with high heels are best either almost to the ground - in which case you need to stick to the heel height they were tailored for on you - or let your pants end above your ankle - that way as your heels change etc - or you change your shoes your pants are still wearable. This I discovered wearing heels all the time and wearing pants and pant suits for many years. (To avoid being stuck in one heel height and/or style I generally wear skirts now because its easier to coordinate a wardrobe)

That will go away over time. I have no concerns wearing high heels anywhere - other than the damn I'm in heels situation when heels are a nuisance such as gravel or a steep hill or slippery ship decks etc.... there's heaps of little scenarios. However my point is the apprehension will diminish with experience and it reaches that point where you realise you can just enjoy your shoes and clothes. I don't worry about my shoes/clothes and I travel all over the place from cities to rather old fashioned rural areas, and I have found its all about confidence. Wearing high heels requires confidence - men or women - it doesn't matter - you need confidence to put them on and be seen in them. (thats why half the women don't wear them) Also a great choice to get a pump in nude - its an amazingly versatile shoe. You could consider metallics too - a silver pump is a great neutral pump with denim. I wear metallics with pants - although I don't wear pants much these days. Enjoy the evolution into heels! regards NZFreestyler

Well done on those outfits! I think the first one is best. Personally I find that high heels are always best with more tailored outfits - or more fitted and fluted styles - and for me that means a fitter top half to make the body look lean - and also always fitted from the knee down to accentuate the shoe... Mind you it depends on why you are wearing high heels - I love how they make me feel confident and I prefer the posture and I find the comfortable so its a win win. I am happy to show my heels and am no longer bothered about my heels being obvious etc - I was nervous once upon a time but now its empowering, not nerve racking to wear high heels. I also love that you're interested in colour - because thats the point of neat shoe choices - wearing red is a bold colour choice - and the nude you chose is also an excellent practical shoe. Your choice of pumps are in my opinion the most versatile of shoes as the can work with anything from jeans to shorts, skirts and dresses. It all works with a pump. Anyway - I wish you good fortune and enjoy your heels! NZFreestyler aka Craig

awesome !!! I reckon white shoes are so spectacular ! And you've paired it up so well with other white/silver accessories. Well done JeffB !!

I'm just curious. My question is would you allow another guy (a stranger you've just met) try your shoes on? I should also mention that this is like in a public environment. I have often been asked or in a situation where its was suggested that a guy should try my high heels. Usually because either I have been talking to some guys and one of them has admitted he likes high heels, and then he might have asked or one of his mates has sort of suggested he tries, there by implying a let that happen. Similarly talking to women about shoes, and then their partners also say they like my shoes etc, and then somehow it is suggested that he trys my shoes... I ask because I am much more inclined to allow a woman to try my heels on, in fact I have done on several occasions, and I'll try hers but there's something about letting a novice guy wear my high heels, and also that guys feet can often be stinky, and then my barefeet have to go in there afterwards....and I love my shoes too much to want to risk them being damaged. And his feet will likely be larger than mine by a little ...Guys are heavier, and not used to heels so the risk of my shoes getting damaged is higher? I have allowed it once or twice - many years ago, but the guys took it more of a silly thing rather than a serious thing, women are more discerning and serious about shoes, and appreciate them. I felt for the guys it was more of a dare. Kind of a shame because I do like to do whatever I can to promote wearing high heels openly, and honestly a lot of guys have a high heel thing, they admit it - but they can't be seen to take it too seriously by their peers.

Lovely look. Looking great! I love the contrast black heel and the black piping around the pump. Gorgeous style. I'd definitely wear them ! (mind you I can't do peeps at work)

bags are almost like shoes.... you can never have too many. a nice acquisition and I'm sure will be a great embellishment to many outfits - as well as so practical!

I am in an office 75% of the time and I end up at factories, corporates, warehouses etc for site visits/follow up etc and I still go in heels. Admittedly I often have to wear steel capped gumboots at these places, and leave my heels in their admin areas if I am to be permitted into the working environment, which is fine because they provide the footwear and if need be I just do what other visitors do and wear a visio jacket/hat etc and gumboots. Can look a bit silly in a skirt with gumboots - but I enjoy wearing my heels as much as I can, and some places I can visit and keep my heels on still. It depends on the nature of the work environment, I suppose I am lucky, certainly being in an office is easier! One of the warehouses I worked at - it was 3.5km walk to walk its aisles once - in one direction, so there is a lot of walking, so In some ways its not a bad thing to be made to ditch the high heels !

I have used foot petals - ball of foot cushioning - they're quite cute because I got them in varying colours to contrast my insoles.. just for fun, and there little flower petal shaped pads and in my opinion they do work a little bit. I don't think though that a well fitting pump needs padding to any great degree, if the shoe arch is good and your weight can get back onto that heel as much as possible then its quite comfortable. I have the dr scholls inserts for high heels - the ones for shoes over 3.5 inches. they're specifically designed for higher heels and sit under the ball of the foot with a little ridge on the ball of your foot before your tos and it stops my foot sliding forward a little. The cushion also rises up under my arch and pads my arch/instep slightly which kind of feels nice. Its discreet and clear coloured so it is hardly visible, and can't be seen when wearing pumps, even the lower cut ones and slings nothing can be seen. They feel ok with barefeet but I find when I wear stockings that I slide into my pumps a lot more, so I appreciate these when I am obligated to wear stockings, and also for some of my peep toe pumps I find I slip down them after many hours - and they help there too and take that presure of my 2nd toes from the edge of the peep. I don't wear opaques/socks etc every and I find hosiery (10-15 denier is about my limit) with high nylon content is very slippery in high heels and the inserts really really really help in that situation. The only time I walk out of my pumps is when I am wearing stockings, and then ots after a few hours of wearing that it can happen, so its annoying and I have to be much more careful. Bare legs/feet is so much easier for fit and then comfort too.

pretty well said although I wouldn't say thin heels are notoriously unstable. I find them just fine, easy as now, and thats even after a few too many wines. I agree with your reference to pavements etc, but with regular wearing it becomes a second nature to navigate your way in heels, taking flatter surfaces, choosing steps over ramps, taking a longer route to get somewhere because the surfaces are better, not running across the middle of roads and using crossings etc.... Its just different but it becomes a new norm.

personally I'd go with a pump because I can slip them on or off effortlessly. If security wants my heels off - as has happened on several occasions then I can just step out of them and hand them over, It would be more awkward if I had straps/buckles, zips or laces etc. Height around 4 inches is fine for me for all day - and same for travel. In terms of heel I have very few block/thicker heels and almost no platfoms so its a skinnier heel I choose. During the flight I can slip my feet out of my shoes if I want to stretch etc. I don't wear stockings on short flights - although I have worn ambra 20 denier thigh highs on long haul because they are recommended for air crew as hosiery and good for circulation. High heels are only a nuisance if I have to use the stairs at an airport to board/disgorge from a plane, then its just one of those situations you have to deal with as a heel wearer - and then personally I'm more concerned about my skirt/hemline on stairs in a crowd. Slick floors in airports are no different than a mall so theres nothing to be bothered with - and as far as carrying or lifting luggage - well high heels make carrying and lifting anything more difficult - but not impossible. Use the services provided, luggage trolleys are there for reason, everything has wheels so its easy to use with heels, floors and pavements at airports are always high heel friendly (perhaps not in way out back places), and I get the shuttles to a rental car, or if they offer to bring the car up then I'll accept, same as if I get offered a hand to balance stepping somewhere I will graciously accept because its awkward for both parties if I decline. Similarly I have asked for help lifting heavy cases when I am in heels, and it really does help to be helped - eg try loading a sedan car boot with heavy cases when you're in a skirt and 4-5 inch heels... its quite hard to put the case in front of you and its riskier on my lower back than if I took my heels off. (and I always avoid taking my heels off - but I'm not stupid - if I have to I will, but it is seldom that I need to. Usually there is always a way to get stuff done without any inconvenience, and often I get helped, by men and women, and I kind of like that, Mind you I also reciprocate whenever I can too. I suppose my ramblings are saying - or mean to say that I have found I can wear whatever I would wear in a normal situation just fine for travelling. The only exception would be if the destination was a ski resort, or a really small provincial airport without pavements etc.

As a long time wearer, and full time wearer - its a balance between aesthetics and the feel. I don't like platforms personally because the shoe doesn't respond well or as sensitively when walking on varied surfaces, and when on my feet for a long time a platform becomes uncomfortable - and a little dangerous due to a lack of feel. regardless of the whole heel height/platform vs non platform etc... for me it comes to a couple of things. Colours are important to me, a lightweight pump is my favourite - I love the barely there but sturdy stiletto heel feeling. I don't get into comparing heights etc.. its about the lightweightness, the curvature of the shoe and how it fits my foot, I find hels more comfortable than flats for standing in over a long period of time.