HappyinHeels

Enribote,

I know you like your heels but I highly recommend against showing them in Dubai. As Chorlini wisely pointed out do not mistake the country's modern appearance for a modern social outlook. Dubai adopted its current western-looking and tourist-friendly facade because they knew they were about to run out of oil and they do indeed tolerate forms of behaviour from Westerners normally obnoxious for them because they need the income. It is as simple as that. There is a reason democracies in Islamic countries as rare as radium. I happened to live in one of them in Turkey but even Turkey has become more authoritarian of late. Morocco, Tunisia, and Jordan are probably the freest but the rest are authoritarian states. Lebanon used to be nice until the Iran-influenced Hezbollah got a stronghold there. 

Whilst I am neither a Muslim or Jewish I nevertheless use my five senses to come to a rational conclusion. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. Jordan is a kingdom with many of the underpinnings of democracy and Turkey was a dynamic democracy until the last ten years. Tunisia is freer than it has ever been and may turn out to be the freest Islamic nation of all. Morocco, while not in the Middle East, is an Islamic-majority nation with a workable democracy and is friendly to the West but it is not hard to get into trouble there. If you are not in one of the aforementioned countries you are in a place of one-party rule where religion if politics and vice-versa. Women are not treated well, electricity comes and goes, the side of the road is a longitudinal dump, and police/military checkpoints are a national pastime. If this description doesn't paint the picture then I don't know what does. Absorb the advice of others well-travelled and do what what seems best for you. Whilst I have learned about 100 words or so of Arabic in my travels, and it does do wonders to open more doors, I also recognise these people have a different outlook on life and we are not part of it. Ultimately the traveller has one goal in mind; to go happily and without undue delay. Never forget that. Je vous souhaite tout le meilleur sur vos voyages. HappyinHeels

R E M E M B E R

This site IS a reading scheme. It encourages us to read others' experiences and thus adds to our collective human experience. Whilst the vast majority here go about their business alone we all still migrate back here to read the journeys of others and the purpose of our site is fulfilled. HinH

Exactly. Cali knows something about projecting confidence and I have mentioned this fundamental belief many times. Just get out there and enjoy and believe in yourself! HinH

S P A C E (Outer)

The trick is actually spotting a man in heels. The enormity of people moving in all manner of directions and your eyes trained on one narrow slice of it make the odds small. Your odds get better if you sit somewhere with a view of a busy sidewalk and sit in a mall where you can watch many people pass your vantage point. Back in 2012 before the Steve Madden in Milwaukee closed the staff there had told me they saw men in heels walk by their store every single day from their vantage point. The vantage point one has seems to make all the difference it seems. I'll keep wearing what I like and maybe I'll run into another dude wearing wedges just like me. HinH

I have used foot pads from both Bakers, when they were in business, and Aldo but almost exclusively in my pumps as few of the other styles seem to need them. I think part of the reason I put the in the pumps is that I normally wear them with hosiery. I can't ever remember wearing pumps in bare feet. Hosiery will cause the feet to slide a bit more as moisture is being wicked away. I have enjoyed wearing my wedges in bare feet this year which means I have to keep those toes nicely polished. I have had more compliments this year then any previous year. I do encourage you all to wear your heels out and enjoy your life. HinH

C H A T T E R

If you wanted to match the first of the style to a description then these are some I just though of: After "Comfy Loafer", how about "Magnificent Mule", "Delightful D'Orsay", "Wonderful Wedge", "Beautiful Boot", and "Sleek Stiletto"?? Just a few to get started. Like others have said anything to keep it interesting! HinH

I have no real problem with Tech's idea. As far as how high a level one can go we need only look at two members, Bubba136 and Shyheels, who are the only two active members with over 10,000 posts thus establishing a gold standard. Others have opined, and I would reiterate here, that probably two dozen or so members are the creators of 80% of the new posts. Perhaps this is somewhat inevitable in forums. It should be fun and engaging and I believe it is but keeping it interesting is also important. If only 10-20% more of those who have been lurking would join our forum then its dynamic nature might be more apparent. Here's hoping, whether as a Comfy Loafer or a Super Stiletto HappyinHeels

G R E A T

I enjoyed wearing some of my wedges while Out West in the sunshine and warmer weather. It has been very wet and cool in Pennsylvania so no sandal weather here. I have started to get a tan since mid-April. Keeping my toes polished for warmer weather to come. HinH

Journalist

I see the platform or lack of one as I do the style of high heeled footwear you choose to wear. It's all about your mood and the image you want to project that particular day. A platform makes that sandal or pump or boot a little sassier which may fit the venue one is going to. Since 75% of my footwear have heels of 5"/12cm or higher I'd say an equal percentage have a platform of some sort. Ultimately, we all want to feel and look our best which fuels that confidence I have talked so much about in past posts. Strap in, stride on, and go do your own thing! HappyinHeels

C O M E D Y

It was a pleasant surprise though it sounds to me which is a good thing indeed. HinH

mlroseplant,

I imagine the wedges actually belong to her mother and this girl just happens to be that size right now but will probably outgrow them. It was nice of her mother to encourage her to wear them probably in deference to you HinH

B U B B L Y

I believe j-1986 and his wife are coming to a meeting of the minds at a very steady pace. Continued effective communication should lead to an enhanced relationship and that is a very worthy goal indeed. As one who is now coming up on 34 years married and not even 60 years old I have watched as others have made more money or advanced to higher positions of authority or responsibility I have born witness to their failed marriages as mine has flourished. So, naturally, I stand as an enthusiastic cheerleader for all others who need it. It's because I believe good unions are worth fighting for. They inspire, heal, and improve the lives of all they touch. We humans are intrinsically designed for interaction and when those interactions go really well a wave of positive reinforcement can bathe all those around us in its soothing warmth. This is the essence of the human condition and what makes life on Earth worth every minute. Make more of those minutes, and hours, and days and you'll make more out of each year and ultimately your entire lifetime. A very very worthy goal for all. HappyinHeels

V I O L E N T

CAT,

C'mon man you're just one county away from me but apparently in a whole other time zone. We celebrated the new year over three months ago! Remember, it's just a leg contest not an entire outfit contest. You've done quite well in that discipline HinH

I've worn them but only when fully-dressed. If you get your ears pierced then you can wear really cool earrings. The clip on plastic can separate and crack causing the earrings to slip off. I found a solution in buying an assortment of hose gaskets (works best with hoop earrings) which are the same size. Longer hair covers my ears anyway so they cannot be seen. HinH

Yep they were ugly. "Boondockers", or steel-toe workboots, were not much to look either at but were practically indestructible. I still have mine issued in 1980 and they're the only true steel-toe shoe I have. You can still read the word "Goodyear" on the bottom. Walking on tyres, I love it  HinH

Is it too late to get this activity into the next Summer Olympics?? She definitely looks very fit  and has found a novel way to stay in shape and make a living. HinH

One feature I've noticed in my sets of jeans is the ladies' jeans have five belt loops and the mens' have six or seven loops. I imagine the difference has to do with men carrying more in their pockets, having usually bigger waists, and wearing thicker belts but there maybe other reasons I haven't thought of. I have a couple of mens' jeans in great condition for the occasional meal out with the wife and the rest are ladies' which I wear most everyday. HinH