csb2

The best looking ballet boots were made by Ableman, but they are very sought after collectors items today.

http://www.bootlovers.com/previews/preteri9.jpg

Some shoes by Ableman Trading Co. of Hong Kong, which was one of the best sources of 6+ inch high heels on the planet, are available at Shoecraft in Australia http://www.shoecraft.com.au/, which buys and sells fetish footwear as collectable items.

1) The Heel Saver Plates for stiletto heel tips are made of POLYURETHANE only. The seller LIAMS SHOPPE only sells metal plates for larger heels that are at least 1.25 inches. 2) If these Heel Saver Plates stick out the back end, then they would be knocked off whenever you lean on them (as when driving a car). So, I would assume that you would have to align them so that they stick out only on the inner end, which probably would not look too bad. However, I still can't imagine them sticking on to the heel tips for long, when walking outdoors on rough surfaces like concrete. 3) I love the sound of metal heel tips, especially on marble or any other type of tiles (over concrete). However, I would hope to see a girl directly above them. I would have probably have a bad emotional reaction, if there was a guy on top.

But why do guys wear heels? I wear heels to look and feel sexy but I am not sure why guys want to wear them. I am guessing it is not because they want to look sexy?

Christine.

Great question. I have thought about it many times. I'm sure that I can write at least 20 pages answering this question fully. There are multiple reasons.

In some cases, to look sexy can be one of the reasons. However, it is usually a minor reason.

The main reason is simply LOVE. They love high heels so much that they want to be with them and get to know them, especially by wearing them. This is no different from loving any other THING (that people love) and doing any other ACTIVITY (that people do).

Now, this love can get very complicated. Psychologically, it usually involves programming in the subconscious mind and thought forms as well. To explain that would take several pages.

So, I'll leave it at that. Just know that it is also usually difficult to stop loving these things (that people love) and activities (that people do).

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By the way, guys who love to wear high heels can also love many other things as well as love to do many other activities, just like everyone else.

Has anyone tried "Heel Saver Plates for Women's High Heel Shoes & Boots"?

I saw them recently at amazon.com, while searching for "heel tip replacement". They are also available in larger sizes. Personally, I be very surprised if they stay glued onto stiletto heels very long, when walking outdoors.

http://www.amazon.com/Saver-Plates-Womens-Shoes-Boots/dp/B0035G5UZ6/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=shoes&qid=1303437284&sr=8-13

eoneleg,

　

Sorry, for your leg.

I know that it is usually easier to wear flats than high heels, so KUDOS to you.

　

FYI -

1) Toes stick out of high heel shoes usually because the toe and mid-foot strap(s) are inadequate or too loose for the feet wearing them. There are several ways to fix the problem. One way is to add ball-of-foot or high heel shoe cushions to take up some space.

Another way is to tighten the toe and foot straps until you get the proper fit. Find a shoe repairman to do it or you can do-it-yourself. The easiest method is to keep adding material (like the hairy side of Velco) to the inside of the toe and mid-foot straps until you get the proper fit. If the glue on the Velco doesn't hold, then add some Super Glue and/or sew a few stitches. Of course, be careful to not make the straps too tight.

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2) In case you don't know, shoes with 3 inch platforms and 8 inch high heels that are sold in apparel stores (not fetish stores) are usually designed for club wear (i.e., use in strip clubs, gentlemen's club, etc.). Of course, feel free to wear whatever you want to, as you can see there are some men here who wear women's shoes in public.

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3) An INCREDIBLE AMPUTEE in World War II

　

Your story reminded me of a story that I read many, many times in an old issue of Bizarre magazine. I no longer have those magazines, but was able to find parts of the story on the Internet.

P.C. wrote "I had been in the Blitz and my left leg and left arm had both been amputated. In addition my right hand had been amputated above the wrist. I had become very devoted friends with one of the nurses... she decided to leave the hospital and devoted herself to taking care of me...When going through my belongings, she found a trunk containing my high heeled boots and corsets and one evening she suggested I try them on again.........................she eventually agreed to release me (from a boot with a 8-inch heel and small platform inside) if I would "walk" from one side of the room to the other, using one crutch....I managed to develop a mincing hop...As months went by I became more and more accomplished".

I think that was an amazing achievement for this woman with only one leg and no hands. However, if you ever try to do what this woman did, she also wrote "Nowadays I rarely have the boot taken off, but when I do I find that my foot has become almost permanently set in the position corresponding to the high heel, and that to put it into what was the normal position is quite painful and difficult." Of course, with the use two hands, you should be able to take your shoe or boot off more often than this woman did. Otherwise, some foot flexing/stretching exercise may be needed.

There is more to this woman's story in issue No. 19 of Bizarre magazine (published by John Willie in 1956) on pages 20-24. There is a thread about "John Willie" under the "ULTRA HIGH HEELS" category on this forum, where some members mention having the Bizarre magazines.

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4) An INCREDIBLE DOUBLE LEG AMPUTEE walking in high heel shoes

　

I first read about Aimmee Mullins 10 years ago as the first double leg amputee (LBK and RBK when she was 1 year old) to walk in high heel shoes with a specially-made pair of carbon-fiber prosthetic legs. That was an astonishing achievement!

Since then, Aimmee has made even more progress. She now has a beautiful pair of handcarved wooden high-heeled prosthetic legs used on a model runway, glass-like polyurethane high heeled prosthetic legs and more. Watch Aimmee in a video talking about all of this. She looks so beautiful and sexy walking around in a real pair of very high heel shoes without crutches.

http://scienceblogs.com/bioephemera/2009/04/a_tribute_to_isis.php

I know there is a big difference between a RBK (right leg below the knee amputee) and RAK (right leg above the knee amputee), but perhaps(?) someone can make something similar for a RAK, who wanted to walk in high heel shoes without crutches.

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Hope you find this information useful.

Best Wishes!

Of course since Imelda never told me about this she remains the ultimate source of information. Maybe we should ask her?

Chorlini,

First, please note that my first post in this thread was only an attempt to add to your post, not to contradict anything that you wrote. Sorry, if I gave you the impression that I did.

Second, I never heard Imelda say nor write that "she and her partner modify existing shoes" (as you suggested on April 17th).

Third, I got the impression that you already asked Imelda from what you wrote on April 17th, which is why I replied as I did in my last post.

Fourth, since you haven't, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND ASK IMELDA. Also, ask her about her old video in which she specifically mentioned a different manufacturer that makes ballet heels with the heel closer to the sole.

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My original intention was simply to point out some other POSSIBILITIES for those wanting to buy ballet heels, not to get into a silly debate. So, at this point, I no longer give a damn how many ballet heel manufacturers there are in China.

I have seen high heel shoemakers come and go through the ages. I was around when they didn't even make high heel shoes in China (because the Communist government made everyone dress in black pajamas and would not allow the people to make a profit). Back then, if you wanted to buy high heel shoes in Asia, the only place was in Hong Kong. That was before the Internet ever existed. So, you had to buy via old-fashioned mail order catalogs.

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Best Wishes! Good Luck!

Maybe or maybe not. I don’t know. I have seen all or most of the videos and writings that Imelda posted on the Internet since she began. 　 1) Did Kassiopeya.de ever say that their ballet heels are made in China?. Are there "Made in China" stickers on their ballet heels? 　 2) We all know that Pleaser USA’s Devious brand of ballet heels are made in China. Now, if we assume that Kassiopeya.de imports from China, then I can guarantee you that there were at least 3 different manufacturers in China. That’s because a different manufacturer (who may be just one guy) made the ZEBRA and LACE styles of ballet heels. Also, if that’s the case, then I would tend to believe that there were 4 different manufacturers in China because in one of Imelda’s older videos , she specifically said that a different manufacturer made her ballet heels with the heel closer to the sole of the shoe. 　 3) Did Imelda provide you or anybody else with the contact information for her ballet heel manufacturer, especially now that she doesn’t sell them? (That’s why I used the term "secret" manufacturer.)

Spikesmike, glad to hear you had a fun trip to Las Vegas. Your story deserves to be in a newspaper. You are amazing. Curious if you was you wearing a skirt or pants with the 6 inch heeled Mary Janes?

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Your $1 hot dog story evoked some of my fond memories of Las Vegas. Thirty years ago, circa 1981, they sold 25 cents foot-long hot dogs and $1 roast beef at the Westward Ho Casino on the Strip.

Also, Westward Ho was near the Silver Slipper Casino, where Kenny Kerr starred in Boyleque. Kenny impersonated Barbara Streisand. Although Kenny was not as beautiful as Barbara, he walked in high heels as well as any woman swaying her hips. Kenny also danced well in high heels in several acts of his stage show.

Across from the Silver Slipper on the Strip was the Riveria Hotel and Casino, where Frank Marino impersonated comedienne Joan Rivers in his La Cage show. I sat at a small table between the front row seats and the stage. So, I was only about 3 feet away from Frank, whenever he was performing at the front of the stage.

As beautiful as Joan Rivers was (a 47 year old beauty at the time), Frank (26 years old) was really MORE beautiful and stunning than Joan. Joan shared the same sentiment at that time.

So, I was sitting directly in front of Frank Marino's feet, while he was impersonating Joan Rivers on stage. He wore several different outfits and pairs of beautiful designer high heel shoes, like the kind that cost several hundred dollars a pair at boutiques in Caesar’s Palace. According to Frank, he spent (literally) all of his money buying women’s gowns and stuff. (If you are a guy, can you imagine investing all of your money in women's clothing?)

SOME OTHER POSSIBILITIES:

　

1) http://cgi.ebay.com/7-Fetish-Gothic-Punk-Ballet-Pinup-Point-Lace-up-Boots-/310251931972?pt=US_Women_s_Shoes&var=&hash=item8e07667e56

http://cgi.ebay.com/High-Heel-Stiletto-Calf-Sneaker-Boot-Faux-Leather-White-/310274299731?pt=US_Women_s_Shoes&var=&hash=item8e07a2c230 (nice 4-inch heeled sneakers)

http://stores.ebay.com/refusetobeusual sells the same or similar ballet heel ankle boots as http://www.kassiopeya.de. However, you can buy with the protection of eBay. They can also customize the color, width and ankle circumference!!! "Refuse to be Usual" operates out of Taipei, Taiwan and ships worldwide.

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2) http://stores.ebay.com/flyinwindxp sold ballet heels as recently as 2010 for a manufacturer in China, that used cloth instead of leather. They had two styles. One had a black and white ZEBRA print pattern. The other style had a LACE pattern, that was available in either white or red color. flyinwindxp is still in business selling other stuff and can be contacted via their information at ebay. (Remember, you can usually get anything for the right price.)

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3) Imelda de Cirque (a nickname) came out of nowhere and burst onto YouTube circa 2008 as a single middle-aged (about 45 years old) dark-haired woman in Australia, who was able to walk outdoors in ballet heels and 6 and 7-inch heels without platforms as though they were 2 inch heels. She also wears corsets.

Imelda has her own secret manufacturer that makes ballet heels with the stiletto heel closer to the sole of the shoe. If you are trained in ballet en pointe or skilled in walking on tip-toes, this style can make it significantly easier to walk in. Some high heel shoe designers, like the one for the WIld Pair back in the 1980's, who knew about this fact also made some high heel style of shoes with a very high heel closer to the sole of shoe.

Again, Imelda has her own secret manufacturer for this unique style of ballet heels. At one time, Imelda tried to stock, sell and ship the ballet heels herself, but gave up for no apparent reason.

NOTE: Imelda no longer uses the userid imeldadecirque on YouTube because it was banned, (probably because some jealous person reported her videos as porn). This has happened to her several times on YouTube. So, she is now using the userid SuzanziBalletHeels. You can usually contact her via her information on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SuzanziBalletHeels#p/u/14/9mitOJ5K3uw

　

TITLE: MP: Foot Binding Still in China? Women with Bound Feet Today?

With all of the threads about permanent high heel feet, this video shows some 80/90 year old women with bound feet walking in China.

　

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Q9WMbs2ow

　

TITLE: Ripley's Inside The Vault: Lilly Slippers

This video shows a Chinese Lilly Slipper with a High Heel accessory that would cause the woman to take even smaller steps, as does modern day ultra-high heel footwear.

TIP: bring a 6-inch ruler with you. Sometimes, there are great buys on really nice, hard-to-find designer 5-inch heels.

That's always assuming you buy shoes based solely on their heel height...

Hello, Dr. Shoe,

You are right, of course. As I re-read what I wrote, there are a few missing sentences.

Perhaps, I should have wrote:

TIP: If you are looking for a certain heel height, then bring a 6-inch ruler.

Sometimes, it is difficult to determine the actual height of a heel. Brick-and-mortar stores don't usually post shoe description information. Even when heel height information is provided (like at most Internet stores), the actual pair of shoes may have a shorter or even, higher heel height. Also, with platforms, it is even more difficult to figure out the height of the actual instep (i.e., heel height minus platform height).

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BTW, is that you in the photo on the web page? (Whoever is in the photo is pretty and reminds me of actress Lisa Kudrow.)

Pleaser, Domina, Elle and Devious labels of high heel footwear are all sold (wholesale only) by "Pleaser USA" and manufactured in China. The heel heights vary according to the particular shoe style, not always the product line. Some particular styles have SHORTER heels than the advertised heel height in the smaller sizes, and HIGHER heels in the larger sizes. These discrepancies are best noted at the Pierre Silber website http://www.pierresilber.com/ , where you can drill down the product descriptions and order information.

All closed toe styles can make you scream. IMHO, "Pleaser USA" footwear is popular only because they are relatively inexpensive to other brands. If you have feet wider than B-Medium width, then you better be skilled at shoe modification with a razor blade and bubble gum.

If you are interested in shopping for heels and wear size 10 or smaller, visit:

Wild Pair Shoe Store

3663 Las Vegas Blvd S # 395

Las Vegas, NV 89109-1949

(702) 892-0662

and other shoe stores at the Fashion Mall

3200 Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109-2692

(702) 369-0704

Note: these two malls are almost empty during weekday morning and early afternoon hours.

.....Both malls are huge. The mall that Wild Pair is located in is called "Miracle Mile Shops", which is part of the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino This mall contains other shoe stores including Bakers, (designer) Betsy Johnson, and Steve Madden. However, if you only have time to shop at one shoe store, then Wild Pair is that one. They have plenty of designer type of 4 to 5 inch heels that are moderately priced and sometimes, there are super buys on clearance items.

Also, while I called it the Fashion Mall, the official name is "Fashion Show" mall. It is across from Wynn, just north of Caesar's Palace and the Mirage. While the Fashion Show is known as an upscale place, it has shoe stores with all price ranges including low-priced Payless. Some moderate priced shoe stores include (another) Bakers and Nine West. Some high-end designer stores include BCBG Max Azria, Cole Haan, Ken Cole, Louis Vuitton and Michael Kors.

TIP: bring a 6-inch ruler with you. Sometimes, there are great buys on really nice, hard-to-find designer 5-inch heels.

If you are interested in shopping for heels and wear size 10 or smaller, visit: Wild Pair Shoe Store 3663 Las Vegas Blvd S # 395 Las Vegas, NV 89109-1949 (702) 892-0662 and other shoe stores at the Fashion Mall 3200 Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89109-2692 (702) 369-0704 Note: these two malls are almost empty during weekday morning and early afternoon hours.

I agree with the other reader that your walk was unrealistic. Some models are actually taught to walk that way on the catwalk. It is referred to by some as model "pigeon toe" walk. The reason to walk like that is to accentuate the sway of the hips. However, your hooded sweatshirt and dark lighting made it too difficult to follow your hips. BTW, the heels look no higher than 6 inches on a person about 5 feet 10 inches tall. So, I'm curious as to how tall you are and the size of those sandals?

Onyourtoes, Sorry, I'm not looking for volunteers. Of course, you can buy your own to experience and deal with the problem yourself. Just be sure to order the proper size. That helps, but only a very little bit. ---- Roz, I'm not looking for wooden platforms that can be walked in. Instead, I'm trying to figure out the cause of the problem. I'm assuming that your "XTC" shoes are those with 7.5 inch high heels and 4 inch chunky platforms, providing an instep equilvalent to 3.5 inch high heel shoes. Those are not equivalent to the "one unit wood bottom" shoes that have real 6+ inch high insteps. ---- NOTES: 1) I know its not cushioning because Mr. James does add good cushion material. Also, using ball of foot cushions does not help much either. 2) I know the problem is not the wood itself because ultra-hgh heel shoes with wood platforms added internally (hidden) or externally to the sole (ball of foot area) do not have the problem. 3) My best guess at this time is that the wood is not being carved with the proper "instep, high arch area and/or heel angle placement". (Again, that's just a guess. I'm not sure what causes the problem.)

Has anybody been able to walk in wooden platforms with 6+ inch high heels (like the kind sold by Mr. James Shoes and thighhighboots.net) without extreme pain in the ball-of-foot areas?