Charlie

Notice he never says what the images or movies are of... That coupled with the lack of patience has me suspicious of his intentions. Charlie

I tend to prefer a flatter finish on my boots as well. It makes them more appropriate for both more casual as well as more dressy occasions. A boot that's too shiny just doesn't look as good with a casual overall look from my experience and taste. I'm usually happy if the heel height is at least 3" as well. I can wear 3" heeled boots comfortably all day with no comfort issues at all if the boot is generally comfortable fit-wise. I've noticed that with 4" heel height, the fit and general comfort is far more critical for all day wear to be a positive experience. Charlie

I didn't ping you on forgetting the link.. I make this mistake myself more often than not. LOL

Here's a link to what looks like the actual manufacturer's website:

http://tinyurl.com/26jdxmh

This is the one that claims the heel height is 3.5". The pictures on both websites seem to confirm this as the heel height is obviously higher than 2 3/4". It's also my guess that this information is more reliable as it's the actual maker's website from what I can tell? The sole appears to be manmade and the heel seems to be wooden. I'll know when I get them which I hope is soon as I love the style of this boot!

Charlie

Assuming I found the correct shoes, here's a link with larger (and more) views of the shoes. Website says they are 2 3/4" wooden heels, but who knows if that's correct. From the ankle-down, they look like totally passable boots.

I saw the website you're talking about and another one selling the same boot. One says 2 3/4" for the heel height and the other says 3 1/2". The pictures are the same in both websites and the view from the back of the boot is clearly a 3 1/2" heel height. Both sites state a wooden heel so that's likely correct. The sole of the boot is manmade material according to the one site that identifies it. I'll report back when I get them.

Charlie

Well done H.Heelman! I like those boots! There's just no reason on Earth why we can't have these kinds of choices in the men's department.. They look great. Good luck with the wife. If she really loves you and is open minded, it should go very well. They're only shoes when the day is done. Charlie

I've been wearing women's jeans exclusively now for just about a solid decade. The style choices are far superior. I too don't go for the girly ones, just something with a bootcut or flared leg. I used to be a size 12 and have managed to climb up to a size 14.. In 6 months I plan to be back to a 12! I also only buy women's turtlenecks and mock tops because I hate tucking my shirts in and the women's tops aren't as nearly as long on the torso as the men's with everything else being equal. I guess I go out in 'drag' a lot? LOL Charlie

I had a near disaster one morning coming into work. I was fine in the slushy parking lot with my 4" heeled western boots but when I got in the door, the concrete production floor was wet from the others before me who made their way in. I started to do a hydroplane with my left foot and awkwardly regained control before actually going all the way down. I was glad nobody saw it. LOL Charlie

Those are nice RonC! You should never have an issue with those. They're stylish in fact. I too do the jeans thing to hide the heel. With the thicker heels, it's less important though. I just ordered a pair of Lucky brand Elle size 11M's. There's a picture below. Not a bad price and I actually prefer a rubbery manmade sole. The uppers are leather and the heel height looks to be about 3.5". The heel is thick the way I like them. Charlie

There's nothing wrong with a guy trying to have a sense of style. You look great. Charlie

+1!!! Charlie

You should visit the Stripper Community websites.....you'll find that an awful lot of the girls do both to get through College!

This is made clear on a popular TV show here in the states. CSI, the original one, has a character Catherine Willows (played by Marg Helgenberger) who in her earlier days was a stripper who then used the money to finance her way through forensic training. I have no doubt that fiction springs from truth.

There are some days where I wish I could just take off my clothes to make money and leave the high tech world behind. If I did this, I would probably be sacked.. literally. LOL

Charlie

However, in general I'd say 3->4 is that transition area where you really get into 'high' heels.

I totally agree with this. That's been my experience.

Charlie

It seems we always get a charge out of what we can't see, rather than what is apparent.

True. This very concept is exactly why Alfred Hitchcock movies were so great. Today, not much is left to the imagination.

Charlie

Hey H.! Take a second look at Miguel's site. He has plenty of styles that he'll customize for you and the prices he's quoting look to come well under $300.00. The nice part about this route is that they are actual men's boots and if you want to make the sale to the wife, that may help. From there, mixing in something like the thinner heeled Naturalizer boots you're considering should be far easier and may even not have to be a 'sell' at all. This is only advice from afar. Only you can make the best call for your situation. Everyone's situation is different in one way or another. I actually started out with a boot virtually identical to the Naturalizer boot you're showing us and had no difficulty whatsoever with my wife. In fact, she never made a single comment so I left them in plain sight on my workshop floor and still no comment. Everyone's different.. Best of luck! Charlie

I still remember how relieved I was when I found Firefox and then Jenny on their original boards for every reason you've just stated. It was one of the best nights on the internet in my life! He and others, many still here, showed me that it was even possible to wear heels in public as a guy with little to no ridicule whatsoever. I'm not sure I'd have had the gall to try this myself without all of their encouragement. Until then, I saw it as an impossible dream. When I first tried it I was a bit terrified, but as time past, slowly but surly I discovered that they were spot on. In fact, I've established myself so well in the circle I run with that friends and acquantances EXPECT the unexpected for footwear from me and always in a positive way. It was a life changing event that has had a very strong influence on my happiness. What I still like about this place is that it's one of the few places where I can absolutely freely express myself. I don't feel as comfortable virtually anywhere else. Charlie

Not so strange at all Dr. Shoe! I'm with you up to the being a girl part, but there are literally millions of guys who like to dress in gal mode. I will admit that while in my 20's I did go to a halloween party dressed as a woman with 4" spiked heels and a long evening gown and totally made up by my girlfriend. Two guys at my girlfriend's cousin's party asked her cousin who I was and inquired as to whether or not I was in a relationship! When she told them I was a he, they got embarrassed and left the party quietly. That was it for my TV career though, but I'd be a liar if I didn't admit I was actually flattered! Charlie

That's too bad.. Payless used to be an excellent source for size 12 women's.. Good about Nine West though, the quality is a bit better. Charlie

Hi Charlie,

Very nice boots! Where are they from? Can you provide a link?

No problem Bob!

http://www.auctiva.com/stores/viewstore2.aspx?id=575689&styleid=65

It's an ebay store. Miguel is good to deal with. The quality isn't up to the same grade as the Western Ranch boots of the past, but good enough IMHO. As a little rain must always fall, the drawback with Miguel's boots is that the sizing is sometimes a little off. I've observed that anything with greater than a 3" heel height tends to run small. It starts getting hard to get the vamp right I suspect at the increased heel heights? Vamp is critical in that too large or too small makes for a difficult (if not darned near impossible) walking. I ordered the boots pictured a size larger than norm and still had to stretch out the vamp with my vamp stretcher to get that glove-like fit I now have. The good news is that if you're patient, Miguel is very good about accepting returns. When I get boots from Miguel, I try them on while on carpet and if the fit is too far off to correct with my vamp and basic boot stretcher, I return them and choose another pair in exchange. I think he'll get better as time goes on and I don't mind financing that with the occasional purchase as it's for a good cause (my high heeled boot obsession - LOL). His prices are lower and appropriate.

Charlie

Thanks for posting the videos. Yup, she's a hoot alright! I'll bet they couldn't wait for her to get off of the basketball court with those heels though.. LOL Charlie

Hi Charlie,

agree completely. A lot here will not realise just how much difference an extra half inch will make in reality - if you're really wearing heels normally. It can be the difference between being able to spend a day in a pair or not.. even half an hour on your feet may be impossible with an extra half inch depending on what you are truely used to and capable of wearing.

Reality is so much harder on your shoes and feet than anything simulated around home/ inside etc..

Cheers

Heel-Lover

Seriously.. It took me a few weeks to get used to 4" again. I've been stuck in 3" mode for quite awhile now. I literally had to re-train my feet for 4". What amazes me are the people who can pull off 5" stilletos all day long. Stilletos are generally much tougher at any height because more control is required due to the much smaller heal area contact with the floor. I think 4" is my limit as I never was able to pull off 5" in a way that looked convincing or confident and I'm not getting any younger either. LOL

Charlie

Interesting experience Kittyinboots! I wore my 4" heeled western boots to work yesterday with long jeans. I usually wear boots with 3" heels and yesterday was the first time I ever wore 4" heeled boots to work. I've made sure I'm an expert on them before attempting this. Not one word or stare. Like another poster above said, there were a couple of people that noticed the increase in height. I could tell, but again, no remarks. It's amazing how much difference a mere inch in heel height can make! Today I wore my fancier western ankle boots with python accents and the more traditional 3" heel. They got far more attention due to the white python accents. Several co-workers asked to see the whole boot and all thought they were the coolest pair I've worn yet. Life is good! Charlie

I'm not sure I'd classify them as "go anywhere". While definitely a men's shoe, I think with the white python design, they might be just as likely to attract attention as a women's black boot with a 3" heel. Of course, if you don't mind the attention, it's not a problem.

I have some data. I wore them to work twice now. I've caught just about every guy I work with looking at the boots before looking at my face. (now I know how women with a generous bust must feel! chuckle) In every case where I noticed this, I said "like the new boots?". The overwhelming answer was "yes!", followed by "where did you get them?", "they must have costed a bundle?", etc. All favorable responses without a single negative one. While walking in the city today to meet everyone in my department for the annual department Christmas lunch outing I spotted several people noticing the boots and not a single smirk amongst any of them. From this, I conclude that they ARE attention getting for sure like you predicted, but they don't seem to garner any negative attention. All is right with the world. LOL

Charlie

Just make sure you get a longer putter! LOL Sounds like fun. Charlie

Thanks for the comments! I wore them all day today at work and when I ran some errands after. In fact, they're still on and I'm going strong! I really like these boots.. but it took a little work because they were a bit tighter than the indicated size and I needed to use both a vamp and standard shoe stretcher on them to tweak everything in. This is the negative part of buying online and not trying them on.. Charlie

Today I wore the 4" heeled western boots to work. It's amazing how much difference a single inch in heel height makes! I usually wear 3" heeled boots.. It wound up being a long day with more than the average amount of walking. No problem! Went out to lunch and stopped for gas on the way back to work. After work went to a couple of stores to pick up a few odds and ends. The best advice I can give anyone is to get really good and used to walking with a new heel height before going out and about. It makes you 100% more convincing because you're confident and it shows in your stride. Charlie