Gige

I have a pair of Leviticus 2.0 Lug Heel OTK boots and I love them! Sizing is true to size but perhaps just ever so slightly a bit on the large end. Interestingly, sizes are only in 1/2 sizes (e.g. 8.5, 9.5, 10.5) etc. They are very well made and very much worth the price. I, generally speaking, have thin calves and thighs, so my boots shafts are a bit on the large side. Thus, I wear them over a pair of jeans and they are fine. They interior is not at all on the cheap material side, which is great, and the foot bed is very roomy (no cramped toes!). I plan on purchasing the new Kenzie model in a bit and if they are too wide in the shaft, I'll have them reduced in size a bit by a professional leather worker in St. Louis. I would make an out reach to Kristina (the owner/designer if you are full sized (i.e. 9, 10, 11) for her recommendation as to going up or down to the next 1/2 size.

This is not a heel topic per se, but it certainly applies to wearing such. I'll ask the question first and then provide the back story for those who want to read it. The question is, have "you" ever not worn a pair of heels (Pumps, boots, etc) or not worn them in a certain way because doing so was "too young" of a style? The back story: Last week I was at my local large shoe store (part of a national chain here in these good ol' United States of America) looking to purchase a few "heel backers" for the hoard of new heels I just purchased/received. As I finished perusing the discount section, I noticed a pair of "chunky sole" Mary Janes (Steve Madden "Millee") that were intoxicatingly adorable. Needless to say, a short time later I had me a pair. I wore them to work today but due to swelling issues with my feet, they alternated between being just right, to loose, to rather tight. This is due to the fact that I spend a large part of my day sitting and thus, there is build-up of blood/fluid in my feet from time-to-time. This happens in the mornings as well, so that what pair of heels/boots I wear any given day is largely dependent on what fits in the morning. This is relieved by simply getting up and get moving for about 15 minutes. I have become much more aware of the condition of my feet/toes and now put forward more of an effort to care for them via trimmed nails, moisturizer at bedtime, and better fitting shoes. Likewise, I prefer to wear socks/tights to prevent blisters, and use bandages to prevent my skin from rubbing against the side of the shoe/boot. I was wearing my new Mary Janes without socks as when I left my place this morning, they felt just right. As the day wore on, however, they went from being too tight to too lose, and I was constantly having to put on or take off "footies" much to my annoyance. Given my constant having to put on/take off the footies, I realized that next time I wore these shoes, doing so with socks or tights will be a necessity. I am not disappointed by this as they can be dressed up or down. Interestingly, however, I went shopping in them without socks/footies and they were fine. There is a young woman at my "normal" grocery store who has exquisite style, and I have observed her wearing black patent Mary Janes with white socks (my new Mary Janes are leather). I have absolutely love the look as she pulls it off so well, but then again, she is probably in her early 20s. I did some research on the style and most of what I found/read seemed to be geared toward those individuals young enough to be my children (again, IF I was a parent). So the question arose of if there are certain styles of footwear, or wearing footwear in a certain manner that is "too young" for some of us. I am of the opinion that the Mary Janes with the white socks is uber cute but do not want to appear that I am trying to wear fashion my children (If I....) would wear. I suppose if I can make it work, then why not? Just to clarify, I wore my Mary Janes with a pair of above the ankle black jeans and a t-shirt sporting my love for the "Other woman" in my life, Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Let me begin by offering my apologies on behalf of all enlightened American across the globe for those ignorami in your tour group. Sadly, however, there are not too many of us! I am not "elderly" by a longshot and don't plan on ever considering myself to be such, but I am of the age where I could be a grandparent (which, I suppose, would require me becoming a parent first). I can tell that acceptance of new and/or different idea was always hard for my parents (both born pre-WWII) compared to me and my siblings. I, as an early Gen Xer, however, have a much more "live and let live" approach to life/society. Just this afternoon, I was at my local grocery store and noticed a couple of (probably) teenagers with their jeans exposing more of their rear end then actually covering it. I felt that if wearing their pants like such makes them happy, then who am I to say differently? I do not need/want anyone negatively commenting to me about my choice of attire, so I only comment to those individuals who truly have put some effort into being presentable. FWIW, I did notice two (assuming) middle aged women at the store who, probably after their work day ended and were getting their shopping finished prior the weekend getting started, looked very well put together - refreshing to see that not everyone wears leggings, t-shirts, and flip-flop to the office. A person I have always admired is Nicola Sturgeon. Say what you will about her politics and positions, but she has always presented herself as very well dressed and wearing a pair of heels. I think an individual like her speaks to how wearing heels can be very powerful.

Thanks!! They are just a bit large (sz 10 vs 9.5 which is "normal" for me) so I had a cobbler shorten the rear straps just a bit and they are now very comfortable. I agree that wedges, especially those with a platform, can be a bit much. These, however, seem to have the right balance of wedge and platform. I did receive the nicest compliment from a co-worker on them when I wore them. As we are heading into the autumn, however, I am not sure that I will get to wear them again before open-toe season comes to an end.

Holy Cow!! I was so off the mark on my response to this or I have changed so much to render what I wrote meaningless! I wrote that: 1) I was not into open toe sandals; 2) I was not into painting my toe nails, and; 3) I was wearing pointed toe heels. So, just today, I was wearing a pair of open-toe espadrilles sandals but my toe nails were not polished (which I having been doing during the summer to wear with open-toe sandals) and I have started moving away from pointed to heels/points as they usually have a narrower toe-box. Thus, in order to compensate for such, I will usually get a 1/2 to full size large and if needed, attach heel backers. I have also started to pass on very cute pointed toe heels knowing that no matter what size I may purchase, the shoe/boot simply will not ever properly fit my foot/feet. Shoe - LC by Lauren Conrad.

...but totally worth it!!!! Noe 88 Colors (out of The Netherlands) was having a stock-up sale during the month of August. Buy one pair and receive a 20% discount, two pairs and 30% discount, and three pairs for a 50% discount. Well, as I adore their styles and colors, I got a bit carried away by buying three different pairs in three separate orders. Noe footwear is not necessarily "designer" heels but they are made from genuine Italian leather. As it took about three weeks for each individual package to arrive, the wait for them to arrive was agonizing! It is said that all things come in threes or that the third time is a charm - I guess this is true! Sadly, Noe may not be able to ship to the U.S. for a while as the Dutch Post Office is no longer accepting packages for shipment to this country because of issues that have arisen from the recently impose tariffs. I cannot speak for other companies such as DHL, UPS, or FedEx, so, I guess I will just have to go there to get my next pair which will be in December!

Oh wow! I though they would be long gone seeing how that neighborhood has changed over the years.

Is Skyscraper still open?

I would buy them only so that they could be destroyed, possibly by fire or similar means.

Believe it or not, the asking price was $100/85 Euros/75 Pounds. Seriously?

I saw these for sale and my reaction was, truthfully, "Ugly as can be." Maybe others will disagree with me but these are a mess as they look like shoes a clown would wear. I think they are personally hand painted.

Hi @Shyheels! I will admit that the simplicity of your response made me think about heels themselves being statement of self expression. I agree with this in that, yes, heels are a statement of self-expression but I also see them as being an accent to another piece of an outfit that may be an expression on its own. I would argue that it comes down to what is the focal point of the outfit that the wearer of such intends - is it the heels or is it another part of it? The photograph I have attached is an outfit I wore last November and I wanted the skirt to be the focal point as it is a statement piece on its own. In general, (and in my opinion only) bright colors and prints (especially animal prints) can be a bold statement piece where they would outshine the footwear regardless of what is worn. If I would have worn the skirt with a similar patterned pair of heels (pumps or boots) I think it would have been "too much" and the pop of the skirt would have been lost. Hence, pared with a black outfit, the skirt makes the statement. The 4"/10cm wedge boots absolutely add a superb touch of elegance to the overall feel of the outfit but they do not overshadow it. Thanks for the response! Just to briefly add to my previous response, but I am waiting for the heels pictured here to go on end of season sale and you better believe I am going to be rockin' out these bad boys as soon as I get them! Why? Because I can!

The outfit for today - simple with a timeless/classic feel to it.

Hi Luvmaryjanez! It appears that this is your first post and if so, I would like to welcome you to this forum! I agree with you that the heels of the 60's were so elegant. They were simple and always had a timeless design to them. Likewise, the simple black pump without any sort of embellishment will always have a timeless elegance to it.

The woman in this picture is someone who holds a somewhat infamous place in annals of American history but her identity is far less important than that which she is wearing. What is amazing about her outfit is how the heels are the focal point of it - they are certainly "statement" heels without being excessively so. I absolutely adore the entirety of her ensemble as the colors are perfect and accent her heels so well. I love the idea of simple solid colors from the same pallet matching or complimenting "exotic" or "statement" footwear. I am utterly entranced by this and have had the ability to start putting together outfits along this concept. Even if the heels were block or kitten height//type heels, they would still complete what is an extraordinary simple yet beautiful outfit. Heels play so well with wide leg trousers, regardless of their height. A frequent commentor on this forum recently noted a disliking for "kitten" heels and there is certainly good reason for such. But, given the right outfit, in terms of style and color, most any pair of heels can be perfect. This, to me, is houte couture in a very simple manner. Always remember - it never goes out of style to have style!

Sorry - put this topic in the wrong place! Moved to "For Everyone!"

Oh lordy!!! Those pictures are hilarious! I just love the way they are drawn in such a cartoonish manner, as if how they looked on paper was anything close to reality. What is interesting is that the styles in those ads are not that horribly different than what is available nowadays. Similar to others, I have never been much of a fan of the "heelless" heels - they would seem to be an extreme test of one's balance. A few weeks ago, I wore a pair of 13cm heels to the office and although all went well, for the most part, I wouldn't do it again. By the end of the day, my knees were feeling it from the pressure put on them from the angle of the ankle. I stopped running a few years ago in order to save my knees and now, greater than 11cm is not going to happen simply for the sake of preserving those joints. ~10cm seems to be just right for me.

Some time ago in another thread, the presumedly long discussed and possibly resolved issue of what constitutes a stiletto heel surfaced for yet another round of unnecessary debate and comment. I posted that although I love stilettos, I could not imagine that I would ever wear a pair of such heels out and about, let alone to work/the office. I believe that I had legitimate concerns regarding how appropriate they may be for a professional environment and the possibility of breaking a heel while simply walking from place "a" to place "b." Well, much to my surprise, all of that changed today as I wore a pair of 12cm stiletto ankle boots to the office for the first time. June 19th is a holiday here in the states and I expected that just about "everyone" would take off on the 20th for an extended weekend. Given that I still do not have a substantial amount accumulated time to take away from my job beyond holidays and weekends, taking a day off now would have a direct impact on travel plans for the remainder of the year. Thus, I decided not to do so and head in to the office for the day despite how much I just wanted to stay in bed this morning. As I recognized that very few other people were probably going to head to the building, I started to warm to the idea of wearing a pair of very high stiletto ankle boots to the office for the day. I saw this as a "test" to see how I enjoyed it and determine if there were going to be any "problems" if I did so. I decided to wear a pair of very long trousers as to cover almost all of the heel and a simple top for the day (and yet, is was still houte couture). In sum, the experience of wearing such heels was incredible. As 12cm is the very limit of what I can reasonably handle, it took me some time to get the mechanics of it down so that my cadence was smooth. I had to remember to stand up straight, bend the knees a bit, and walk at a much slower pace so as to take longer strides. Although, I more or less "had it down" by day's end, I think it I still need a bit of polishing/practice. An errand followed the end of the work day on the way home and once I got into my place, my knees were feeling it but everywhere else was fine. Needless to say, I immediately started planning the next time when I will be wearing a pair of similar heels to the office. In all the experience was utterly intoxicating! So yes @mlroseplant you were correct in your prediction that I would eventually be wearing stilettos to the office! A note on the photo - at lunch, I felt the need to get out of the office as reviewing dozens of pages of intricate financial documents can only be fun for so long. I walked over to the small park across the street and sat on a bench for a few minutes to clear my mind. The mere fact that I was out in a place were the world could see me wearing my stilettos is that to which I can find not adequate words to properly describe. For some reason, I continue to have issues of posting photo to the original post....

Hi all: Allow me to set the situation. Today I was wearing a pair of 3”/3.5cm, dark blue, block heel pumps at the office - a pair of shoes that are very appropriate for a professional setting if one wants to wear heels (see photo). Around noon, I decided that I wanted to stretch my legs and clear my mind prior to having to switch gears from one monstrous case to another monstrous case. I figured that I would step out of the building and possibly walk to the medium sized park across the street. I stepped on to the elevator/lift and as it stopped on the floor below mine, two women stepped into the car. The conversation that followed was very close to the following: Woman #1: “It just started raining.” Woman #2: No or not heard response. Me: Oh man…that stinks! I wanted to go outside and walk around for a bit.” At that point, woman #2 looks down at my feet and says, “How can you wear those? I can’t wear heels." The manner in which the comment was delivered did not seem to be challenging me on my wearing of heels or the pair I was wearing was somehow inappropriate. Moreso, it seemed that she was expressing a general disbelief that any person can walk in heels. Regardless, the comment caught me off guard as, usually, comments given by women are very much along the lines of the fact that they love my heels and if I can wear them, then do so! Not to digress, but I often respond to compliments with a very warmly stated, "It never goes out of style to have style" which often gets a laugh or at least a smile! Me: “Oh, they’re very comfortable. The material is canvas, so there is a lot of stretch to them,” which was/is true. At that point, the doors opened and I held out my hand to signal for them to exit first and as they did so, I wished them both a good afternoon. I stepped outside and it was raining hard enough to prevent me from walking to the park. As I thought about it, I should have responded along the lines of “You should see what I consider to be high heels” or moreso, “Because I can!” Not wanting to create a scene, I responded in a nice and professional capacity. Just for clarity, woman #2 was approximately in her mid to late 40s, about 5’ 6”/167cm, and a proportional frame to her height - not heavy but not thin. She was wearing thong style sandals but not flip flops and jeans - effort level of the outfit, about a 2.5 (on a scale of 1-10). Later in the afternoon when my spreadsheets were giving me headaches, eye strain, and seizures, I decided to ask some of the other females in the office, both of whom told me they “can’t” wear heels, why such was the case. I explained to each the situation, and that I was truly curious and sought an understanding of why some women may be able to wear 5”/12-13cm heels at age 80 and others cannot wear 2”/5cm heels at age 20. I was not at all wanting to be judgmental but was only seeking knowledge. The responses I received were not only enlightening but quite helpful. It seems that foot shape and size are the primary reasons they do not wear heels. One woman explained that she has small but wide feet, as well as a low arch, which makes finding a well fitting pair very difficult while the other indicated that she had narrow feet, especially in the heel area. The latter, who is my colleague, added that if she wore a pair of pumps, her foot would not be wide enough to remain in the shoe, and she would walk right out of them regardless of height. She added that she often wears lace-up shoes or those with a strap across the top of foot so as to keep her foot in place. In a sense of friendship and humor, my colleague stated that she has often seen me wearing heels and wondered how I do it as to her, they look very uncomfortable. It is important to note that only one other person who works in my building on a regular basis (my big boss!) ever puts any effort whatsoever into presenting him/herself in a professional manner. As I have expressed on many past occasions, lounging and/or frump (or both) is often the 'style du jour' throughout the entirety of my office building. Likewise, only once in the two-and-one-half years I have worked in my building have I seen a woman wearing heels (higher than 2”/5cm) and/or a skirt for the day. Thus, the only person who wears heels on a regular basis is me, and there are time where I wear my trainers rather than heels to mix up the look a bit. So, was the question posed to me inappropriate or not? Thoughts? Can't get my photo to upload.... This is an on-line photo of the pumps I was wearing. "Midnight" by Aerosoles.

Gorgeous!

Generally, I agree with the comments that have been added to this thread. The boots DO look like waders and as much as I appreciate the actor wearing thigh high boots in public, this outfit is somewhat of a mess. I also think the jacket is too long and should be cut off at the waist. I, too, read the article on CNN and also appreciate the lack of judgement about the style choice.

Not sure if anyone saw this but there was a rather public event regarding a male wearing OTK boots (but without a high heel). Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård was recently photographed wearing a pair of Saint Laurent thigh high boots (designed for men) on the red carpet at Cannes in the recent past. There was an interesting article that accompanied this "story" about how this may be the next logical step in men's footwear trends. I did some research on the boots but information was limited. Given the designer name, I am sure they cost as much as a small automobile. Just to clarify, the picture is not mine but posted for purposes only related to this discussion.

So, last week my wife and I spent a few days in France (5 full days in Tours in the Loire Valley, 1.5 days in Paris) before we departed ways to return to our places of residence. I was excited to see what the pulse of fashion was in France and wondered if I would see anyone dressed (in) Houte Couture that included towering heels or other gorgeous footwear. Much to my surprise, the answer was nope, nada, zilch, zero! Although I noticed a few individuals dressed in high style but when such was observed, sadly, it was at restaurants, cafes, or the like. I expected to see a cavalcade of over-the-top fashion, but such was not the case - not even close. In fact, I can only recall two instances of observing individuals with "outrageous" style. Although I did notice quite a few women wearing heels, for the most part, casual comfort was the norm. It was interesting to observe that even though there was a casual vibe about the aforementioned named places, most "everyone" seemed "put together." By this, I mean that it was evident that there was some effort in putting together an outfit and what was worn fit the individual rather well. As we did a great deal of walking or made use of public transportation during our journey (which we both enjoy) only once was I in heels (mid-heel knee boots) during our adventure. This was for a "fancy" dinner near Le Tour Eiffel and a stroll afterwards to a nearby park to catch the light show at 2200. Not all was bad/disappointing as I returned home with a long-awaited, custom pair of black, leather knee boots from Noe of Antwerp. I had ordered the boots in January and knew that I was going to have to wait for 10-11 weeks before they were shipped to me here in middle America. The problem was that shipping for such an item takes about three weeks and thus, it was quite possible they would arrive at my place when I was overseas. Given that, most of the time, I have to sign for packages that originated overseas upon delivery, it was quite possible that they would be returned to the sender if delivery could not be made within a few days after the first attempt to delivery them. That being the case, I had them rerouted to my wife in The Netherlands who brought them with her when we finally met each other at Gard du Nord. In all, I waited four months to finally put my feet in my new boots. Needless to say, the boots are beautiful beyond words and fit like a glove. I love Noe of Antwerp and in time, they will be sole supplier of heeled footwear! I wore these boots for the first time today and what bothered me the most about them was that I had to take them off at the end of my day. So worth the wait and cost to get them!

An invitation or suggestion? Quite interestingly, I will be passing through Chicago this Friday as I will be on an Amtrak train from Springfield to Union Station, and then catching the Blue Line out to O'Hare for a flight on to Paris. Sadly, tight connections both to and from will make stopping anywhere else all but impossible.

OK - you win on this one! I could do 5" (6" w/a platform) but the reason I do not is simply that I have nowhere to wear such towering heels. I have a few 12cm heels that I would love to wear out but I'd have to be in ChiTown for that. Around here, there just is not a place to do so.