HappyinHeels

RonC- Thanks for your idea. I actually bought a dress and an electric blue blazer there to go with my electric blue Victoria pumps I got at Bakers last December. They used to have a nail technician there a few years ago but she moved on so I assumed the makeover service went as well. I'll have to give them a second look. It would be much easier to have a night out in Chicago than to travel several hours somewhere else. I'm sure it'll all work out! HappyinHeels

ALL-- I'm looking at any events I could attend in mid-May where I could go get makeup and nails done then go out for a night. I'm close to Chicago but also know of a store in te Detroit area that does makeovers and takes you out. I might just as well settle for getting together for coffee or a meal with some of our forumers here. I have my own clothes (and shoes of course) which I'm dying to wear out where it counts since I haven't had a chance to fully dress (and REALLY REALLY enjoy those heels) in over four years now. Going out fully-dressed or just in your heels like many here do is one thing but isn't it SO much more enjoyable when enjoyed with others?? Any ideas or suggestions now is the time! Thanks! HappyinHeels

jwhite-- The "TEAGAN" shoe is as comfortable to wear as it is sexy to look at! I'll have a chance in May to go somewhere and dress-up and this is certainly a shoe I'd consider taking. It would be good for eating out, going to a movie, or certainly clubbing. Or perhaps just to meet others on this forum! HappyinHeels

BOOTKING+++ This is why you are the BootMeister among us; very nice outfit. Never wore anythng like that for housecleaning. In warmer months I've worn short shorts and wedge heels either for housecleaning or when I was Up North at our land. I did buy a pair of suede boots with 5.5" stiletto heels at a DSW in Frederick,MD upon return from a DC trip at 80% off similiar to yours...and I love them!! Keep on clickin' and cleanin'!! HappyinHeels

TIFFANY, WELL done!! Glad to see you had yur first "outside" heeling experience. I remember my first time outiside in heels, first time going into a business, first time wearing extreme heels to a party, and first time wearing heels with toenails painted an obvious color, all mileposts of the experience. The salient point in your story was the guy with the ludicrous grin towards you as he uses my beloved (Dad's Canadian) CANADA as his personal ashtray. It floors me how the boors of the world who quickly judge others fail to see their own abyssmal reflecton. HEEL ON!!!!! HappyinHeels

5INCHFORME: I've touted the virtues of forging good business relationships by trying on what you buy and allowing sales associates the interaction with the customer. I'm glad that someone else has had a good experience at Bakers. I visited a Bakers in Hyattsville,MD while on a recent trip to DC and the sales girl told me she saw a lot of men buying shoes there. The other very pleasant surprise was that they carried all their styles up to size 11 which is not the typical experience at Bakers. I recently, however, bought a shoe called "TEAGAN" in size 10 and, because I tried it out in the store, I saw that it fit rather well. It is something different for the girls to see men in the store, it's a break for them and a chance for you, the male consumer of high heels to show your confidence and a chance for them, the purveyors of the product, to rise to the occasion and embrace a whole new world of customers. The more we frequent these stores be it a Bakers, DSW, Aldo, NineWest, and many others, the more others will become aware of our presence and the more the retail industry will also take notice. Like I have also said before though go through their door with sincerity and confidence, the attuned salesgirl knows you are buying the heels for YOU, so act the part!! Denise S.

s2005kz--- Fantastic-looking heels but those stiletto heels worry me. I don't think they could really be worn for a night out since there's a high probability the heel would break. I have seen some of LaPiazza's shoes made with a thicker heel though. They do have some of the sexiest designs I have ever seen, I am curious how much they charged you for the shoes in your photos. The highest heel I ever wore was an 8.5" platform sandal with a gold metallic dress to a Halloween party a few years back. I'd love to find a store that could make a shoe for me with a 9" heel-now that would be cool indeed! I wonder how many of our members have experience with lapiazza heels in Germany. HappyinHeels

ERICGE; Recognized the first photo of your set as a pair of Soda huarache wedge sandals I bought in May of 2009 for just $30. This pair stood out because it was first time I had tried on a size 10...and it fit!! The wedge heel is exactly 5". Great for wearing under your jeans!

Hey All!

Wonderful weather day today in SE Wisconsin so I stopped by a Bakers in Milwaukee and bought the "TEAGAN" platform pum in black. A sexy 6" in stiletto heel on a triple platform shoe. Very comfortable and of course I test-fitted it in the store. Great service and a cool shoe! The best part is I got it in size 10...and it fits fine.

http://www.bakersshoes.com/product.aspx?c=296&p=144037

It might help that the front is open-toed and the bacis flexible but I highly recommend it. This is the first time a size 10 shoe from Bakers has fit me like an 11 would.

VeryHappyinHeels

OnYourToes, Got some Kork-Ease wedge sandals (different from these) at Burlington Coat Factory lsat year and they are very comfortable and blend in just like the ones you bought. They are made in Brazil which I intend to make my winter home starting with an investment trip later this year. Brazil is a shoe lover's pardise and one of the absolute biggest shoe manufacturers in the world. great find!! HappyinHeels

REGAN, Forgot to address this topic. That sawbuck the store mistakenly gave you may have been a $10 boost in your pocket but it was a $10 HOLE in the that particular clerk's till at the end of her shift. A business always will hold the clerk responsible or the clerk will catch the mistake and chip the missing amount themself. The Midwest region of the United States is famous for it's HONESTY---so you know your next stop is the Payless at Pulaski Rd. and Madison where you will find that same clerk, or if she is not there, will locate the on-duty manager, and explain yourself. AFter all, REGAN, I referred you to a friend of mine, I'd like to think I have referred him a customer and not a potential thief. The easy way is to say you were home when you discovered the mistake and came back at the first chance. The harder way is to simply admit you discovered it much sooner and were too lazy or dishonest to return the extra money. But you know what you need to do, don't you????? While it is true you are finding your place in this world there is always time to make it an honest journey. I know you'll do the right thing. HappyinHeels America's Dairyland

I scanned this thread back to its origin and made a few observations; Simcity3 started the thread posing the question and personally concluding pink heels could be worn but with care as to location and outfit. Bubba136 noted that a man wearing a high-heeled shoe of the pink color, and its automatic connection to anything feminine, would essentially become a moot point when one considers the MAN is wearing a HIGH-HEELED SHOE. If such a person openly chooses to wear such a feminine article of clothing then it is a foregone conclusion that he doesn't give a penny for anyone's negative thought on the color. Crazyewok notes that he doesn't like the idea of any public wearing. Yet, within the last week or so, Crazyewok has begun to discover his real identity and has opened up to people in his world. Somewhere his path may cross that of another individual finding their place in the world and that guy might be wearing pink heels. This is where the rubber meets the road-perhaps where the heel meets the sidewalk for this thread. Everyone here needs to find out where they are and where they are going as human beings. The same reasons the gender barrier for style of shoe worn should (and is) be broken hold true for the half-baked idea that one particular color (PINK) must be reserved for women. Men are now wearing extremely nice pink ties and pink shirts with their business suits. I love pink because I love the outdoors and growing flowers many of which are pink. WHich brings us to what roniinheels said. He will participate in a 10 mile walk for cancer in August wearing ALL pink. The participants should be emulated for the type of human being the world needs more of. THE SUBSTANCE OF ONE'S CHARITABLE DEEDS SHOULD NEVER BECOME OBSCURED BY THE SYMBOLISM OF ARTIFICIAL COLOR BARRIERS. Let fashion freedom ring! Liberty and justice for all! HappyinHeels

REGAN, Yes, I use Lubriderm after showering and shaving my legs. You can get an economy pack at Sam's Club. HappyinHeels

REGAN, I am fascinated by your both your posts and curiosity and by your youth!! You have the benefit of growing up when you did and access to technology like this forum which is full of "seasoned" folks from whom you can learn a lot. Many of us grew up in times or places where any deviance from established routines or manner of dress was "upsetting the apple cart". The world however has done lots of changing in the last 20 years. Gays and lesbians have asserted themselves as have women and blacks, latinos, and native peoples and people have explored their sexuality. Many here just want to talk about high-heeled shoes and boots because it is something they are really into-IRRESPECTIVE of their gender. Some have no interest in wearing anything else feminine except the shoes and combining that with other articles of clothing. Others incorporate more feminine articles into their wardrobe while others (like me) have dressed entirely en femme and have attended some social functions as such. Women express themselves via their clothing and many men want that same latitude. Many on this forum have detailed their experiences wearing heels in public places and dressed as men and have had positive experiences. The key seems to be CONFIDENCE. Wear what you want and do so CONFIDENTLY and the world will tend to respond well. Even though I wear business casual M-Thurs and casual clothes on Friday I still make a concerted effort to keep my legs smooth and toes polished. I wear panties and a woman' dress watch and keep a pair of heels in my car. I have some loafer-style wedge heels (4") from Steve Madde which I have worn many times into malls, gas stations, etc. and that gives me enormous satisfaction. I have gone shopping at places like DSW and Bakers and tried on stiletto-heel shoes right alongside women with NO problem. Nobody really wants to alienate another paying customer and women tend to be much open-minded and supportive anyway-they genuinely enjoy giving compliments and receiving them as well about wardrobe items. I don't know where you fall on the spectrum but you'll figure it out for sure. The clothes and shoes you wear, and the support you receive, will have a direct correlation to the confidence you exude in the years to come. I am married and heterosexual but I love dresses and skirts and high heels as much as any genetic woman does, it is simply who I am and I have known this since I was 10! Do keep us informed as you get out in the world and get your questions answered. That's why we're all here!!! HappyinHeels

REGAN, Like DanielinHeels says try out Payless anywhere you see them but I HIGHLY recommend you take a trip to my buddy's store- Skyscraperheels at 2202 West Belmont Ave. just west of Damen. Either park around the corner on Leavitt or right on Belmont BEFORE 4 pm. His store is closed Sunday and Monday, open 11-6 Tuesday and Wednesday, 11-8 Thurs-Sat. If he's not there then Diane or the other girl will help you. Skyscraperheels carries sizes 5-17 and is VERY transgender-friendly so men buying heels there is a very normal thing. SOmetimes I stop in just to say hello and chat and yes, I might try on a pair of heels while I chat. Feel free to stop in, it is the kind of place all of us here dream about. A place that carries a wide selection in larger sizes where you can try on what you want without fear of judgement or looks of any kind. I just wonder how many other cities have such a place because they are rare indeed. There are many places that are friendly towards guys buying heels-Bakers,Target,Aldo,NineWest,etc. but how many have women's sizes past US11?? You could even wear a pair of heels under your jeans or something to go there if you wanted, it's that kind of place. Get out there and immerse yourself and then tell us what happened!! HappyinHeels

Was in DC on business recently and looked up the closest Bakers store to my DC hotel suspecting that, just perhaps, this store may carry more selecton in size 11 than the Bakers stores I had visited in Chicago and Milwaukee and.....I was right! I talked with the girl behind the counter a while and when I decided on a pair went back to the counter to pay. I took out my "B" discount card and she asked if the card belonged to my wife or me to which I replied "Why do you ask a question you already know the answer to?" She laughed and said she indeed already knew I was buying or myself which backs up what I have always said on this forum-that is be up frot with the sales associates you meet-which are invariably women-since they are attuned to their surroundings and can't be easily fooled. They ARE there to help, and sell shoes. The quicker you are up front with them allows them to help you that much faster and the faster you can get the heels on your feet--which is the point of this forum, now isn't it?? Onward and Upward!! HappyinHeels

Like SF, I too am a US women's 11 but can fit size 10 in certain styles. I like everything from wedge sandals for walking around in the grass to platform sandals and pumps both closed and peep-toe. Generally I prefer shoes with at least a 5-6" heel and have worn an 8" heel to a party. Having come through another long Wisconsin winter I have paid more attention to high-heeled boots and the last pair I got was a black leather pair with 5.5" stiletto heels from DSW. HappyinHeels

I was in DC recently and had finished my business when I spotted a DSW from I-270 in Frederick,MD so I made my way in there. I went into the apparently new and spacious store and checkd out the clearance area. There, I spotted a pair of black leather NineWest boots with a a 3/4" platform and 5.5" stiletto heel that had been $129.95 at the beginning of the season but was now $91 off that price so I walked OUT the store for about $41!! And, yes the two guys at the counter were quite envious. There are incredible deals at DSW if you wait for them. HappyinHeels

WhynotHeels,

Here's the link I should've included so you can see the shoe I'm talking about; http://www.bakersshoes.com/product.aspx?c=318&p=145616.

Now, just imagine you're out in your denim skirt and you step outside in your denim pumps as the sunlight hits your freshly-polished toes--now you're talking spring-time!

These shoes are now at the lowest price I've seen them this year.

Good luck shopping and matching.

HappyinHeels

WhynotHeels-- Go to bakersshoes.com and look up the "Denim Eryn" which is a denim peep-toe pum with a 5.5" stiletto heel that would look incredibly sexy with a denim skirt. A cork-covered wedge heel or an espadrille wedge heel should also look cool with your denim skirt. I actually happened to score some denim wedges at my friend's store in Chicago two years ago which is a perfect match for a denim skirt! HappyinHeels

WOOD AND METAL, You SHOULD try out stiletto heels!! My advice is to perhaps go grab some end-of-the-season high heel boots which are all marked at clearance prices even in northern states like Wisconsin since retailers are now pusng spring merchandise. Once you have some boots then try wearing them in the car when you know you'll be driving for a while. If you wear them under ladies' boot-cut jeans you'd only see and inch or so of the heel anyway. Try stopping for gas and just get out and scrub your windows while you pump your gas whatever you'd normally do then grab your receipt and leave. Just act naturally and I guarantee you nobody will notice. What others say on this site is true---either nobody will notice, will notice and not care, or will notice and say something positive. If someone were to ever say something nasty you can inform them you are wearing a WEAPON---case resolved. Everyone here will tell you of the joy felt when going into the world with heels on whether in limited circumstances or all the time. NONE of are getting any younger and you'll only kick yourself for waiting all this time!! HappyinHeels

Henri, That's cool to see that this establishment has treated you so well-perhaps a caring open-minded woman that wants to make others feel accepted and apprecaited or perhaps just good business sense. A place that charges two C-notes or more per night HAD BETTER be working to earn your continued business. HappyinHeels

Hey the girls took the corsets, wigs, leotards, skirts...all items originally worn by men...and made tehm their own. It's about time that men reclaimed high heels for themselves!! Onward and UPward we go!!! HappyinHeels

Now you know why the number of expats from places the U.K. and the U.S. is at an all-time high--who needs all this complicated liberty-eroding crap?? People are finding new places to invest, vacation, and RETIRE all over Latin America, SE Asia, and southern Europe. E-chips on garbage cans...WOW! Too bad there isn't an e-chip on all the rubbish emanating from London and Washington!! HappyinHeels

FAN4HH-- I had to reply when I saw the part about "well-hidden from my wife". I'm nearing my 25th anniversary (taking my wife to BRAZIL to celebrate) this year and women invariably find the things you think you had hidden as they clean different parts of the house. I don't hide any shoes, or lingerie, or dresses or anything from her. As Bubba136 says, your wife will find your shoes and you should prepare for when this occurs. Better yet figure out a way to bring it up and see how unconditional the bond really is. This seems scary now but the consequences of dealing with the surprise later may be many times worse. It may even be possible for her to come to accept it if you show confidence in telling her. One thing is absolutely certain though: you are not going through a phase, it will NOT go away, you have loved women's shoes (as we all have) for all or most of your life which includes that part BEFORE you got married. You need to reconcile that fact with your current situation. I wish you strength and confidence, you'll need both. HappyinHeels