Steve63130

Cute boots, Debbi! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your "Friday-eve" - good way to put it! Heels up! Steve

Sleekheels and Alan, very well stated. I am the same way. I accept myself in heels (and have done so for several years) and now I'm proud of my collection of shoes, I'm not afraid to talk about my preferences to anyone, and I'm wearing styles in public that I wouldn't have dreamed wearing a couple of years ago. No guilt here, unless I can feel guilty for having WAY too much fun! HA HA! Steve

Thank you, Steve. The nail color is "It's Greek to Me" by OPI.

I love OPI, Debbi. I frequently wear "Nomad's Dream." It's a more subtle color which matches my complexion quite well. It's a satin dusky rose color. My wife got me started on it and she loves it on both of us!

Steve

We see the gay question come up often in the pantyhose business. Stiletto2004, wise man that he is, told me once: Conversation: "I notice you're wearing pantyhose. Are you gay?" Response: "No, I'm not gay. But I have a friend who is gay, and he has a shirt just like the one you're wearing...." Substitute high heels for pantyhose and you get the picture. Steve

Sleekheels, I went through a drought period of a few months like that. Nothing I saw appealed to me, but it wasn't for lack of trying. Then all of the sudden, there was a pair of sandals, and another, some clogs, a pair of boots...all at once. Things don't go smoothly, they come in bunches. You just have to accept that and when things are dull, take comfort that brighter days are ahead. Steve

Well said, Happyinheels! Just today I was coming out of a restaurant where I had lunch with some friends. I was in women's bootcut denim jeans over black tights, blue heavy jacket, navy stocking cap, and black shoulder bag. I was wearing the BOC tan suede western-style clogs with 3.5 inch underslung dark brown heels shown in the photo. Outside, on the street was a college-age woman with a clipboard, taking a survey. It was cold and very windy and my jacket and gloves weren't going to keep me warm for very long, so I declined her invitation. Her: Do have a minute to participate in a survey? Me: No thanks, I don't have time. Her: That's ok. Have a nice day. Her (after I walked by - the heels were noisy): Hey, nice shoes! Me (turning back to her): Thanks! That was the first time anyone noticed AND commented in a long time. Made my day. I wish she were inside instead of out in the bitter cold wind! I would have been glad to stop and take the survey. Steve

In fact the only reason that I get rid of shoes now is to make room for new ones. When we move into a place with more storage then that will be less of an issue.

Larry,

You haven't heard of "Steve's Law of Shoes," have you? It says, "The shoes accumulate to fill (and eventually to exceed) the available space."

Getting a larger place with more storage is not the answer; it is only a short-term temporary adjustment.

Interesting article, btw. Thanks for posting the link.

Steve

The red shoes were very attractive, no matter who was wearing them. I think it was good publicity. The more that people see men in heels, the less "odd" it becomes. People get used to fashion. It's that first jolt they have to get over. Thanks for sharing the magazine photos. Steve

Yeah, what Bluejay and the other Debbi Fan Club members said. Great pics. I love the color of your nail polish, Debbi! It's very attractive. Steve

It's often a delicate subject, especially when it involves people you have to work with. If they behave immaturely, it can be even more challenging. But it sounds like you handled it well. The more you wear the easier it becomes. You develop confidence in yourself and the embarrassment factor diminishes. Being honest and saying, "Because that's what I like," is a great response. Thanks for sharing your story, and best of success in continuing to educate those 10 year olds! Steve

Now and then? Oh, c'mon. You'd be talking to her non-stop all day, wouldn't you? Be honest now! Just kidding...or am I? Steve

Larry, It sounds like you had a good outing, in spite of not being able to get the shoes you really wanted. I can relate. I've bought shoes before that hurt at one particular point on the foot (usually my bunions) and it makes walking impossible. It's disappointing. Looks like your consolation prize isn't bad though. Good luck in the charity walk. Take and post pics and let us know how it goes. Steve

Inquisitor, That's an impressive collection! Thanks for sharing. I appreciate the advice on shoe shopping in your area. I sent you a pm. Check it out. Steve

Rockbass, Welcome to this forum and thanks for introducing yourself. Sounds like you're diving right in without hesitation, and you may even have some support from your wife. Take it slow and carefully so she can adjust your wardrobe changes comfortably. Her biggest fear may be that all of the sudden, this is not the guy she thought she married. If she's insecure, address it quickly and openly. Good luck and let us know how all your heeling adventures go. You're on the right path! Steve

Freestyle75, I like that outfit, even with the turtleneck. I can't understand how anyone would laugh at it. I think it looks really good. Steve

HHL86, I share your frustration, and I'm a fairly common 12M. The real problem is that this is is just a bad time to be looking for block heels. They aren't in vogue at the moment. They used to be very common a few years ago but the fashion has changed and most heels are now slender or stiletto. Good luck finding something. Steve

Inquisitor, You may be right. Some of the prices were fairly high, but others seemed to be in line. The Nordstrom Rack in question, btw, is the one in St. Louis on Brentwood Blvd, south of the Galleria shopping center. We were in that city back in December visiting family. Steve

A guy can never have too many shoes! Steve

Looking good, Bluejay! I like that outfit a lot. Well done! Steve

Larry, That's great that you found gray booties that you already owned but never wore, and discovered them to be so much fun. And you have gained the confidence to wear them in public. That is so cool. Good looking, too, by the way. Be careful, though. Falling could be embarrassing or a lot worse, so walk carefully! Best of success! Steve

Reece, You might start with something that is not extremely feminine. Avoid stilettos, strappy sandals, bows and ornaments, pointy toes, open toes, slingbacks, sparkly or satin finishes, and stick with black or brown. A shoe with a unisex look (boots, booties, clogs, loafers, and some sandals) will be a lot easier for your parents to accept, and you won't have to hide them. Wear them often (so your parents see them and get used to them) and gain confidence. Over time, expand the envelope to wear more daring shoes if you want to, but build up to it very gradually. Your parents love you, I hope, and they want to see you succeed. Ask them what they wore as teens that their parents didn't approve of. You're just paying them back! LOL Steve

Man, if you loose your job just because you wore some heeled boots discreetly, find a lawyer and clean up! You didn't want to work for that organization anyway! It's highly unlikely that if you wear fashionable, color coordinated outfits that take from both sides of the aisle, you'll lose your job. If your performance is good, they would be stupid to fire you. Steve

I like Payless, too, and have quite a few shoes and boots from them, both flats and heels. My wife has never been a fan of theirs, because she used to have narrow feet and Payless carried only medium and wide. But in recent years her feet have widened with age to the point where some shoes in medium width will fit her. Last fall we stopped in Payless so I could check out the "Marcie" boots that Jimj3, Stiletto2004 and a woman friend have and rave about, so I tried them and bought a pair. My wife found TWO pair of boots - a flat pair in gray, and a low-heeled pair in brown. She was very pleased with the quality and fit, and of course the price. I agree with you, SF. Write up reviews of their products and mention you're a fashion-forward male and like their shoes. They've never failed to publish any of my reviews yet! Steve

Yep, it reads ok. You write very well. But now that the cat's partly out of the bag, why not let it out all the way? Wear your heels and flats in front of your mates all the time and if they ask, just say, "I like them." That's it. You don't need a lengthy explanation. If they ask more questions, fine. Be totally honest. Invite them to try your heels on before they make any judgments. Point to this web site and the hundreds of supporters you have here from around the world. You're not alone, you know. By coming out of your shoe closet, you'll be seen as eccentric, of course, but also as honest, bold, and confident, and watch out - that could make you a chick magnet! There are women out there who like men in heels and you might meet some! Do let us know! Best of success! Steve

Nice shoes. Can you rotate the photos before posting? My neck hurts. Steve