Steve63130

That's great news! It's so much better indulging in our hobby when you can share it with a GF, SO, wife, or mate. You are indeed lucky. Treat her respectfully and mind your priorities so she's not weirded out or uncomfortable with your heeling. Good luck and post your experiences - we're all interested! Steve

Johnie, I'm still planning to join you. Dunno about the missus yet. Put her on the list as a definite "maybe." Steve

Not only that, it isn't clear where he is. There is a Washington in just about every state, plus the District of Columbia, plus the state of Washington (clearly, the General was a popular fellow here, probably not so much in the UK! LOL). Even if someone wanted to meet Pleaserlover, where is he? Steve

I dunno, Bubba...for some reason the photo makes me dizzy. LOL Steve

So far we have Johniheel, Spikesmike, possibly Kittyinboots and his wife, myself, and possibly my wife. We would welcome others in the area - RadioDave, Sabotalot, HappyFeat, anyone else? Our weather committee is working hard to make it a great day for travel, dining, and shoe shopping! Reminder: Saturday, November 6 at Ruby Tuesday's in Canton, Ohio. Please post here or pm Johnie if you are coming. Steve

Tech, If you want my honest feedback, with all due respects, I wouldn't read your Tantrums column. LOL It's been clearly demonstrated in the present thread that everyone has different tastes. There is no such thing as right or wrong when it comes to fashion. It's not majority rule. And sorry, Tech, it's not Tech rule either. It's "do your own thing." I really think TBG is right when he says look into the mirror and if you like the look, go out in public. And most importantly, tolerate the appearance that others have chosen for themselves. Jeff, just to side with TBG, I liked the handbag, too. I always carry a medium size one at my waist, with a wide shoulder strap. I hate bulges in my pants pockets from carrying around a lot of junk, and a handbag not only holds more, it keeps it organized. So don't lose the handbag. I like the look, and you know how utilitarian it is. Steve

...since I have too many pairs of heels...

Nonsense, SF. A guy can't have too many pairs of heels! LOL

Steve

As long as you're not wearing leopard print heels, you probably won't be spotted! Congratulations on the "baby steps!" You'll know you've "arrived" when you go out in public and you're disappointed that nobody noticed! Steve

But you know, it's a reflection on the manager that hired the doodle and the training he gave him. A good manager would probably not have hired the kid in the first place, but even if the kid showed potential, he should have been better trained. Sneakers without laces? I would have sent the doodle home to put on proper dress shoes and present a professional sales appearance. I'd even rather see him in heels than no-lace sneakers! LOL Steve

It's a silly discussion. I consider my 3" heels high heels. If you disagree, fine. Steve

I have some similar ones and they are definitely a cool addition to the wardrobe! Good choice, SQ! Steve

This thread really shows how different our opinions are. We all have our own standards of what constitutes a high heel, but in the end it's entirely subjective. Some of us consider 2-3" high; some 3-4"; others say 4-5". Everyone is different, and we should recognize that; we all need be tolerant, understanding, and respectful of other opinions, too. Otherwise there is risk that threads like this could divide us instead of unite us. I had the privilege of seeing Spikesmike's heel collection, and his LOWEST heel is higher than my HIGHEST heel! I was amazed at how well he handles 5" heels and higher. He saw me try them on, and I could hardly stand in them, much less walk in them. My toes don't bend far enough to be comfortable in shoes with heels that high, at least not for very long. He's a cool guy, and he respected my preference for lower heels, even though he prefers much higher ones for himself. Steve

I wear heels to the office on most days. If I wear shorts or capris, I'll wear low-heel (2-3") block or wedge heel clogs, sandals,or loafers, and if I wear long pants, often I'll wear a taller (3-3.5") thinner heel (clogs, sandals, loafers, boots or pumps), but I don't wear stiletto heels in public. My body type is too stocky and stilettos look goofy on me, I think. I work at my own company so I make up the dress code, and it's liberal! When I get home, I usually continue to wear heels, and I have a few favorite pairs I enjoy, mostly clogs, pumps, and sandals for relaxing, usually with a thin (but not stiletto) heel 3" or so, which is my most comfortable height. If I'm doing yard work or something that requires practical shoes, I usually wear rubber clogs. I also enjoy sleeping in sandals, 3-4", in block or stiletto heels. Steve

There's a lot of great advice in this thread. No one is pressuring anyone else to wear heels in public or tell your wife. We who have done it, though, can advise that guys can wear in public, and hardly anyone cares. We mostly agree that you should tell your wife, too. You really don't need her approval (does she ask you for your approval on everything she likes to wear?), but if she objects, tell her about this web site and tell her you'll wear heels only when she's not home. The point is to let her know that you have your stash of shoes (and whatever else) and it doesn't belong to some other woman, so when she finds it she won't go ballistic. Thus you're not keeping any secrets from her. Marriages with secrets can implode if a spouse finds out.

Steve

www.comfilon.com

Mike, everyone is welcome, and you can ride with me if you want. I can't speak for Johnie, but last time we restricted it to long pants, so every male was in male mode - no skirts, no dresses, no femme attire except for footwear (and hosiery). Everyone was comfortable with that and it worked fine, so I would opt for the same rules again. Being conservative will not put off any newcomers and should help attendance of first-timers.

G'day, Heelsrule, We want to see Tassy on the next trip, but with the AUD so strong against the USD now is hardly the time for playing tourist there. On our first trip in 2001 the AUD was under $0.50US. That was a travel bargain! I'm the only Yank I know of that loves Vegemite, Slim Dusty, and wearing high heels! LOL Hope we can meet up someday! Steve

See? Behind every successful man, there's a woman! Well done, Sussie! Sounds like you know how to make your hubby a happy little vegemite! What part of Oz are you in? I get over there frequently and been all around NSW and Vic and a few other places. Steve

That term means it seems suspicious, like something is not quite right. Steve

Heelster, I understand. Let us know ASAP if you decide you can make it. RadioDave, can you make it? Sabotalot? How about HappyFeet? Anybody heard from him in recent months? He got married and abandoned all his friends here! Anyone else who can make it to Canton, Ohio, on November 6 is welcome! Our plan would be to meet at noon at Ruby Tuesday's, then walk over to DSW to have a look around (last time they had quite a few Size 12s, as I recall) and then over to the mall, where there is an Aldo, and several other chains, as well as Macy's and Sears. Johnie knows the area better than I do, so maybe he can give us an update on what's there now. Anyway, it will be a fun afternoon. Post here if you plan to attend! Steve

I concur. Let's go with that. Will you please handle reservations at Ruby Tuesdays like you did last time? Now we need others to "sign up" and let you know they're planning to attend. Lunch and shoe shopping!

JWhite44: The actual measured height at the back of the heels on the 12M Vitality pumps is 3.25" and on the 12M Glassy boots is just under 3.5". The heels are quiet. The 12M is generous, I'd say, so in a 12W, it might fit your size 13 feet. The only way to know for sure is to try them on! Go for it! Steve

Back in August I bought a pair of Payless Lavine Stud Mary Jane Pumps and wrote a review of it also. Payless, to their credit, DOES state gender of the reviewer and my review is under the name S63130.The review and photo are attached.

I show these examples just to encourage everyone to submit reviews and let the companies know that we're males and serious devotees of high heels.

Steve

Overall Rating:

4 out of 5

Value:

4 out of 5

Comfort:

4 out of 5

Quality:

4 out of 5

Style:

5 out of 5

S63130 (read all my reviews)

Location: Ohio

Age: 55-64

Gender: Male

Purchase from Payless: From Payless.com

Stylish shoes make a great addition to wardrobe Date: September 30, 2010

Pros: great fit, good value, very stylish, broad heel is stable, walkable, insole cushion

Cons: insole plaid color, insole fabric - prefer smooth surface

These are the highest heels I own and wear on a regular basis. I've had them nearly two months. They go great with long pants and jeans, which I prefer to wear, and they fit very well. The arch is in the right place, the straps aren't too loose or too tight, the round toe box looks stylish and fits very well. They are easy to walk in gracefully, too. I really like them.

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The second pair from Naturalizer was a pair of Glassy boots, photo attached.

Steve

The review follows, and again the hidden information is in red:

September 30, 2010 – Posted by: essgkay from Ohio

(read all my reviews)

from Ohio

Top 500 Contributor

Overall

4 out of 5

Quality

5 out of 5

Comfort

4 out of 5

Style

5 out of 5

Product Experience:

1 size too small

1 size too big

Too narrow

Too wide

Pros: durable, good traction, easy to put on, comfortable, stylish

Cons: arch could be more forward, my narrow foot slipped forward a little

Great boot!

"I received these boots last week. The fit is very good, although I would prefer the arch moved forward slightly for better support, but still it isn't bad. The regular width top fit my calf perfectly. I wore them a couple of days ago when we had some cool weather. I wore them with jeans and I wore pantyhose under them. We went to a coffee house with some friends, and then grocery shopping. I was on my feet for an hour. The thicker heel is quite stable, and suits my bigger body size better than stilettos. And no break-in was necessary. They were comfortable from the start. These will be a terrific addition to my wardrobe for fall. Thank you, Naturalizer for a stylish pair of great boots!"

Fitness needs/level: Exercise Regularly

Shoe expertise: I love shoe shopping and purchase new styles very regularly.

Age: 55-64

Gender: Male

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One of the best ways for guys who like high heels to let shoe companies know that fact, and encourage them to supply more choices in bigger sizes for men, something that a lot of us want, is to provide feedback in the product reviews, if the company’s web site allows it.

In September I made two purchases from Naturalizer, and submitted reviews on both of them. The first was a pair of pumps called Vitality, and the review by “essgkay” (my initials, SGK) is mine. The review form asked for gender, which I filled out honestly as male, but the reviews don’t display that information and from what I wrote, the reader really can’t determine that the reviewer was anything but female. In the future I will push the envelope a bit and state that I’m male in the review. Who knows? They still might publish it, especially if it’s a favorable review and isn’t kinky in any way.

I encourage more of you who buy shoes from places that have web sites, to submit product reviews, and if the company does not state the gender of the reviewer, to work that fact in somehow. Please avoid fetish and transvestite comments, since that only reinforces stereotypes and probably won’t get published, but if it does, it can make life more difficult for those of us who wear heels for fashion and comfort. Thanks!

Steve

Attached is a picture of the pumps. Also I am attaching the review itself, since it will disappear when the shoes are discontinued. Interestingly, when I copied and pasted the review here, there was hidden information that showed up in the copy (in red below) and it indeed has the gender information! Too bad it’s hidden.

September 29, 2010 –

Posted by: essgkay from Ohio

(read all my reviews)

from Ohio

Top 500 Contributor

Overall

4 out of 5

Quality

5 out of 5

Comfort

4 out of 5

Style

4 out of 5

Product Experience:

1 size too small

1 size too big

Too narrow

Too wide

Pros: comfortable, stable, stylish, cushioning, good value

Excellent quality and good value

"These are a favorite for sure. The quality is outstanding and they look terrific. They are comfortable and go well with long pants and jeans. The elastic band gives security like a mary jane strap, and although there is a little slippage in the back of the heel, it's still a great addition to the wardrobe. I've had them only a week so far, but I really like them and have worn them everywhere. No break-in was needed. Naturalizer is the best!"

Fitness needs/level: Exercise Regularly

Shoe expertise: I love shoe shopping and purchase new styles very regularly.

Age: 55-64

Gender: Male

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Johnie and RadioDave, I'd love to join you for another meet in Canton, but I'm not available on October 30 (besides, everyone will think our heeling is for Halloween!). Please make it on October 23 or November 6, and I'll be there! It would be great to see you both again! Steve