Gige

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.

Earlier today I had an encounter with a woman in heeled boots that was so unexpected and amazing that I felt the need to regale all members of such. So, if you are interested in reading about it, then continue on but if not….well, too bad. Today was the quintessential autumn day in central Illinois as the high temperature was ever so slightly above normal. It was brilliantly sunny with not a single cloud in the sky and at this latitude, it is the peak of Autumn colors. Given such, it was not a day to spend indoors in any capacity and it was my desire to be outdoors that led to an inspiring encounter that will be long remembered. The dialog of the conversation is presented as the best as I remember it. After completing a few errands in the morning, I returned home to drop off my purchases and have a light lunch. The day was simply too beautiful not to enjoy the autumn colors and thus, I decided to head to the Lincoln Memorial Gardens located on the east side of town. The Memorial Gardens is a 125 acre large nature preserve and probably the best place to stroll along marked trails on this marvelous day; the entrance is about a 20 minute drive from residence. En route, I came upon a non-descript intersection controlled by a traffic light and as I had the green, I approached without much caution. There is a small petrol station on the northeast corner of such and as I neared it, I could not believe what I observed – a woman wearing five-inch, black stiletto knee high boots stepping out of her vehicle. As soon as I saw her, I thought to myself, “Did I just see that?!” I immediately turned into the gas station and pulled my car to the pump behind and on the other side of her car. I could easily see that yes, she WAS wearing the boots I thought she was wearing! Although I could have used a bit of petrol, I was not going to purchase it there as the station only offered the lowest octane regular or diesel. Sorry, but neither one of those are going to work for me. Upon stepping out of my car, I reached for the window washing brush and cleaned up the rear window (it was actually rather dirty) and then grabbed a few paper towels the clean the edges and wipe away the streaking. As I went to place the paper towels in the trash, I cautiously approached her. “Excuse me, ma’am” I stated. She looked at me and then I said, “Those are killer boots!” A bright smile came across her face and she responded, “Oh, Thank you!!” I then professed that her boots were those which I would love to have in my closet. As she seemed to be delighted with the compliments, I asked her about the brand she was wearing. She leaned against her car and raised her left foot so that the sole and heel were facing upwards. I could see that the boots fit her calves like a glove. “I don’t remember where I got them…Oh, they’re Nine West. So it’s a decent brand” she stated. “Yes, Nine West has great designs – I have a few pairs in my wardrobe” I replied. “I do not mean to be forward” I continued, “but you look sensational! Are you attending an event?" I asked. The woman, probably in her mid-40s, and an “average” physique, was wearing a black dress with a hemline that hit about mid thigh, with a slightly below the waist length black jacket. She had long, straight brunette hair coming to about her mid-back, and a tongue, nose, and just below the lower lip piercings. Based on her appearance, I though she may be heading to a Halloween party. Her outfit is hardly that worn around my part of the world. “I just left a funeral” she replied. Talk about awkward – complimenting a woman on what she is wearing to a funeral… “Oh, I am sorry to hear that” was the best I could do. “Regardless, your outfit is stunning” I said. “I don’t mean to be rude by complimenting you, but your outfit is incredible!” I continued. I do not remember her exact response, but she mentioned that she loved the compliments and never tires of hearing such when directed her way. Not wanting to make her feel that I was wanting to do more than simply express my appreciation for what she was wearing, I started moving back towards my car. “Have a wonderful afternoon” I said. “Thank you darling! You’re beautiful!” she said as got back into my vehicle. From there, I left the premises with someone needing to pour cold water on me! As I drove to my destination, my mind was racing. Wearing five inch stiletto boots in a funeral? That is extreme confidence in my eyes and has so inspired me to step up “my game.” During my lovely stroll around the Gardens, I made a vow to do something that I have wanted to do for years. I will reveal such, however, when it comes to fruition. The picture of the boots were not the exact model she was wearing, but were fairly close. When I should pass away, I want those in attendance at my funeral to wear the same outfit.