Steve63130

I echo JeffB's comments regarding the purse. A shoulder bag makes so much sense, I wear mine everywhere, and very seldom get any comments. And what comments I get are always positive. My pants pockets are always empty now and they fit and look so much better that way. Much more challenging for pickpockets, too, who look for easier prey. Steve

Bluejay, I wear clogs like that all the time. I find that heeled clogs are an excellent choice for streetheeling. They have a more masculine appearance (by not exposing the top of the foot as pumps do) while still giving you 3-4" of heel height with a sturdy heel that looks more masculine. They're not as warm as boots, so I can wear clogs all year long. This evening I was with family at our Thanksgiving meal (two dozen people) and everyone could see them. Two of my female cousins complimented me on them. Nobody ever asks me if they were women's shoes, which amazes me. They're easy to walk in, comfortable, stay on better than pumps, and best of all, I can wear them one size smaller than shoes with a back; I normally wear a women's 12, but in clogs I can wear an 11, so there are LOTS more choices in lots more stores and on the Internet. Congratulations on your successful outing in clogs, and I encourage more guys here to try them. They're great for clandestine public heeling. Steve

I've been epilating for over 10 years, and while it takes longer to do (about 45 minutes), I only have to do it every 10-14 days. The advantage is that not only are my legs maintenance free for that time (versus shaving every other day), but the skin is much cleaner looking without the dark hair roots showing after shaving, the skin feels much smoother without stubble growing back the next day, and the hair that does grow back is much finer and not stiff like stubble because it's new growth. I admit that it hurt the first time. The application of ice helped (probably some Jack Daniels with the ice would have done better!), but it hardly hurt at all the second time and there was absolutely no pain after that. I actually look forward to the experience now because the epilator is also a massager. I make sure that I wash my legs well with soap in a hot shower before, in order to get all the skin oil off all the hairs, so that the epilator will grab them well. I exfoliate to get rid of dead skin, too. Then I dry my legs thoroughly, and the epilator efficiently plucks out the hairs. I have used Emjoi, Braun, and Panasonic epilators. I like Panasonic best, but they all worked. I say go for it, if you're considering epilation. I'm glad I do it. My wife liked my legs hairy and was sorry to see me hairless at first, but realizes I'm much happier now and as we often like to rub legs to relax, she's ok with me hairless. Steve

It sounds to me like you equate high heels and fetish, and thus your gf does too, which may be why she's embarrassed to go out with you in hh. In her mind, it's exposing part of you that is private and should not be exposed in public. For a lot of guys, myself included, who started out heeling as a fetish or sexual thrill, we've "trained" or conditioned our SO's to see men in heels that way, too. Once we get over the thrill and it's no longer such an arousal (we just wear because we love doing it), our SO's are still programmed that it should be a private ("bedroom") activity. We've changed the goalposts without realizing it when we want to go public, and they're totally bewildered by our actions. No wonder your gf appears to be changing her mind. She's flustered by trying desperately to get you to give up wearing hh in public. I think you two need to sit down and discuss the issues, the desires, the fears, and find out if you can reach a happy compromise. If not, you're just frustrating each other and wasting your time together. We can predict that the relationship will fail. Just my 2 cents. Steve

Gonna be out of town for a few days with the wife, and I'm probably gonna drag out a pair of boots to go along.

In drag? LOL

Let us know how the outing goes!

Steve

Got new GF. Told her right up front. She wasn't crazy about it but because she like me so much she has excepted it and is getting more used to it every day. Yes I have worn my heels out in public with her many times and didn't seem to bother her at all. She loves me for me and not whats on my feet. As it should be.

Johnie,

We love you for you and not what's on your feet, too! LOL

Seriously, I hope to see you again soon and meet her. She sounds wonderful! Take care!

Steve

I take issue with that last article's (fsquarefashion.com) statement that: "Top names like Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Yves StLaurent, Jimmy Choo, Alain Quilici, and Rick Owens now provide a wonderful range of shoes and boots for men, with heels." I found nothing in the men's shoe collections of Gucci, Prada, Burberry, or Jimmy Choo, but I guess it doesn't really matter, as they wouldn't be affordable even if they did have men's heels. <sigh> Steve

At the beginning of the day nobody cares either! Witch reminds me - go have a beer! Steve

Yes, I agree. It's not negative. It just isn't positive, either. I make no judgment of the man in that regard. Steve

No "probably" about it - definitely! He didn't seem interested in the subject of men's heels, unfortunately. If he did, I would have been glad to engage him in further conversation. Steve

I was shopping with my wife the other day in Nordstrom's, and as we walked through the women's shoe department, I noticed a sign that announced that shoe designer Vince Camuto would be making a personal appearance that day, and in fact during the time we were there. Sure enough, over in a corner, there he was, standing and chatting with a male colleague of his. So I boldly went up to him and asked him if he foresaw any chance of men's heels getting taller. I told him the shoes of the 70s were a lot of fun, and that men's shoes today and men's clothing in general were pretty boring. He chuckled and said he didn't think there was much chance, and in any case, he didn't seem interested in the subject, so I thanked him for his time and we moved on. So there you have it from an industry insider, for what it's worth. Steve

Ahoy, mate! Ye might be righty! I'd enjoy a schooner with ya, if it were filled with beer! HA HA Steve

Dr. Shoe, Please elaborate and explain why not. Thanks. Steve

Charlie, I gotta meet you someday! You have the same warped, twisted sense of humor I do! HA HA Steve

Kneehighs, As one who has achieved much in your life so far and inspired many of us through your thoughtful and eloquent comments, you show signs of boredom with this forum. It's natural. You have risen to the top and there is nothing left for this forum to give you. BUT, please consider giving back. Consider that your experiences and posts can and do help and motivate others, especially newbies. We were all newbies once. We all experienced the nervousness and insecurity and thrill of wearing heels because of our social conditioning. You have gone way beyond that, however, and are highly qualified to be a teacher and example to others. So stick around, post more often, and do for others all that you're capable of doing here, so they in turn can rise to your level and pass on the motivation to future heelers who stumble onto this forum looking for help. We need more people like you here to contribute posts and keep this forum exciting. Don't consider bailing out now. You have so much to offer. Steve

Last night I was asked if I had a yacht by 2 rich Eastern European girls in a very swanky bar in Notting Hill.

Benno, you didn't tell us you had a yacht! How big is it, man?

Steve (just kiddin')

The more friends and family you tell, the more liberated you'll feel. Once the secret is out, and you find out that most people don't really care what you wear, you'll wonder what all your insecurity was about in the first place. Go for it. Come out of the closet wearing whatever you found in that closet! As long as you feel confident that you present a good image, most people will accept you. Steve

I would recommend open, candid, and honest communications. Tell her what you like in women's footwear and offer to go shopping with her to buy her a pair of 3" heels so she can build up her foot and leg muscles to get used to higher heels. If she protests and refuses to wear anything like that, get yourself a different girl with a more positive attitude to heeling. You two are already very far apart on this issue, and I'd be surprised if you come closer together, but it's worth a try. Don't buy her any expensive designer shoes yet! For what it's worth, if you like to wear heels yourself, consider telling her early in the relationship. If that issue is a no-go with her, dump her sooner rather than later. It's a lot less painful. Life is too short to get entangled with a woman who hates what you like. Just my 2c. Hope it's helpful. Good luck! Steve

While I detest that advertisement also, I see their point. The ad's purpose is to distinguish that this product is for men, but unfortunately it does so in a way that offends us heelers. I face the same kind of delicate situation in my business. As most of you know, I sell support tights, pantyhose, stockings and socks for men under the Activskin brand (no "e" if you google it) and I have chosen to market these products as a men's product, not as a unisex product (and certainly not as a women's product) that "it's okay for men to wear." Men are socially conditioned to be strong, so wearing legwear, which is considered mainly for women, challenges that conditioning, and literally terrifies most macho guys. Thus, given that a lot of men are very insecure about wearing (or at least getting caught wearing) legwear for women, it seemed to me like a good idea to give them something that is especially for them. Our products, particularly those with a fly opening, are clearly intended for men, and a guy who is otherwise paranoid about wearing legwear can feel comfortable in a product intended for guys. Directing your product to a niche market is called market positioning, and it's exactly what L'Oreal is trying to do with its moisturizer. The ad is attention-getting (men like to look at women wearing high heels) and it does an effective job, I think, at establishing a separation that positions the product clearly in the men's market niche. As advertising goes, it's not bad, and the use of the high heel icons to make the letters is clever. We just happen to be in that tiny insignificant minority that is offended by it. I don't think L'Oreal cares. Steve

Whew, too pricey for me. But I'm glad to see them starting to show heels for men. It's about time they rose to the occasion (so to speak). Steve

I'd go along with that! I've had a great time wearing my new Aerosoles sandals in public, and have yet to see anyone notice them. I wear with boot cut jeans and don't make any effort to hide them. It was in the 50s (F) this morning when I went out, and I'm afraid it will soon be too cold for sandals here in Ohio. Steve

I voted for both, but I buy most of my heels on eBay and have gotten some real bargains. A lot of them are second hand...

Ummmm...wouldn't that more properly be "second foot?"

Steve

I'm with JeffB on this, but I have to add that the most fun I've had wearing heels in public was last June at the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event in Columbus, with 380 other people (mostly guys) in heels! It was a hoot, and even my wife, who approves of my wearing but is conservative, had a good time! Public wearing is great, but public wearing with lots of others was fabulous! Steve

What kind of batteries do those retractable heels take? And if the batteries go flat, do the shoes go flat, too? HA HA Steve

...All together I was in the Loft for about an hour, tried on 5 skirts types - some in multiple sizes. A couple skirts I repeatedly tried - switched back and forth - and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

So what did you end up buying? You didn't say, and it kinda left us all hanging...please put some closure on your great adventure!

Steve