AZShoeNut

My first time trying on a pair of heels was when I was 12.  It was during summer vacation.  I had become more and more curious about high heels.  Teachers at school wore them and the girls were starting out in their low heel pumps about that time.  My mom was cleaning the living room so I was watching TV in her bedroom.  I was sitting on the floor next to the open closet and her shoes were sitting there in my peripheral vision.  Gilligan's Island was on the TV and Gilligan was dressed up like a woman and couldn't walk in the heels.  I thought that it couldn't be that hard so I grabbed my mom's 3-inch wooden Candies mules and gave it a try.  I was shocked by how challenging they were to stand or walk in but I was also electrified by the experience.  That was right before sixth grade and I bought my first pair during the summer before 8th grade.

In forth grade there was a French girl who wore low heel pumps. By sixth grade (1987) moist days there at least one or two girls in low heel pumps with the occasional in higher, 3-inch or so pumps for band or choir concerts. Probably where I got my love for low heels and wedge flats. 

I enjoy shopping in heels too. Costco is a blast as the store is huge. I got my picture taken, on the sly, by a Costco worker once, however. 

Very cool indeed.

You can also opt out at the beginning of each month. It is easy. I’ve been a VIP member for two months, opted out twice, and have gotten seven pairs of awesome shoes for a total spent of right about $100. Between JustFab and ShoeDazzle I feel like a kid in a candy store when I look at their websites.

I just have an automatic repeating reminder on my cell phone to go opt out of the automatic billing on the 1st of the month.

Best

Larry

On 8/20/2019 at 6:53 AM, SF said:

AZ, you had a pair of Candies mules???  Wow, always wanted a pair of those.....   You still have 'em??   sf

 

Happy, nice looking sandals.....   sf

Howdy SF,

I didn’t own them, they were my mom’s. Sittin right in front of me as I watched Gilligan stumble in heels on the volcano sacrifice episode. I thought WTF (well the fifth grader version of WTF) and put them on to see just how difficult they would be and the rest is history. 

I doubt my mom still has them by if she does I may see if I can grab them when I am in AZ in September.   Just for sentimental value.

Besy,

Larry

First worn - Wooden candies mules with a 3” heel similar to these  

First purchased - low highlights wedge pumps just like these but without the holographic detail  

“Ask yourself who you feel you really are and then commit to creating an experience of what comes up. It will.”

     - Gary Elkins

18 hours ago, jeremy1986 said:

Nicely done @kneehighs - both look great.

@AZShoeNut - well done! Those wedges look amazing, and am sure you felt great wearing them. And i certainly know that deep clop-clop noise as you walk in them … Well done on the outing. Where did you go?

Thank you sir :-)

I had to pick up stuff for my CPAP. 

39 minutes ago, Cali said:

You mean the world did not stop and take notice?  Lucky you!

I think they did take notice but the world certainly did not stop LOL

Quite frankly I don’t mind if they do take notice

The building was, however, converted from a house with a basement  No matter how I walked those wedges made a loud boom every time they hit the wooden floor  

It was a fun adventure. 

Well, I done did it, first time out in shorts. Definitely a sensation of being exposed but not a bad sensation. It also felt, for lack of better term, empowering. Being unabashedly myself. 

As far as reaction, the gal who helped me smiled hugely the whole time but said nothing. She is usually kind of grumpy. Then coming down the stairs I’m pretty sure that the guy behind me groaned. Didn’t phase me one bit. 

Regardless, It was a great way to spend the morning and sure beat working  

I wore my new black wedges. 

Best,

Larry

On 7/15/2019 at 7:44 PM, hiddenheels said:

For whatever reason when I got there I just sat in the car and didn't feel at all comfortable going in. After a while of killing time, I decided to go elsewhere, so went to another coffee shop closer to home.

Been there, done that. I totally get it. 

Awesome that you not only went in to the second place but you also stayed for a while outside. It is easy to “hide” inside a coffee house but sitting outside, to me, requires a bit more juevos. I have found that I do like outside better. 

Again, way to go. 

Beat,

Larry

13 hours ago, jeremy1986 said:

hehe :-) 

Well, the heels, then? 

Okay, so the white cage style wedges are 6"with a 1-1/2" platform.

The other two wedges are 6-1/4" with a 1-1/4" platform

The cork pumps and the nude boot like sandals are both 5" with single sole.

20 hours ago, Cali said:

I have worn heels with my shorts many times to Sacramento. Had lunch at a downtown brewery several times.

Perhaps we’ll have to get a cup of coffee sometime. I live about 30-45 minutes north of Sac. Let me know if/when you’re headed this way. 

That is awesome Jkrenzer!  Really awesome.

I really do not like wearing pants.  Especially jeans.  I have, however, always held back from wearing shorts with my heels because I don't want to shave my legs.  I have seen it a many times where a guy posts a picture of himself wearing heels and folks advise him to shave his legs and I kind of got the impression that we shouldn't be out there in heels without shaved legs. Looking at the fabulous pictures you have posted has me leaning towards actually doing going out in shorts and heels.  Heck, I would love to wear some of my new wedges with shorts during these hot summer months.

I have to go into downtown Sacramento here in the next couple weeks.  I might just do it... Hairy legs and all.

8 hours ago, pebblesf said:

I have often wondered about my donations as well, wish I could have been there to see who bought them....

Yes, absolutely.  I too have always wondered what becomes of the shoes I have donated.

I have also wondered what the workers think when they come across large shoes like that.  I have heard stories recently about just how crazy it is working at GoodWill from some of my wife's coworkers who have weekend jobs there that I doubt they even notice the large size shoes.  Compared to some of the other things they find I doubt that the large shoe size even hits the radar.

22 hours ago, hiddenheels said:

- What if you skip the month, and then want to buy something?

- Does the 40$ go into an online account from which you then buy stuff? So if I buy something for 50$, I assume I pay the difference. If I buy something for 20$, does the remaining 20$ roll onto the next month? 

Hello Hiddenheels,

So I joined at the end of June to get the awesome first purchase deals.  I then opted out from both sites so I didn't get charged in Juloy.  Then they had a 50% off sale that made my cork and color strip pumps only $19.99 so I went ahead and purchased them.  The check out was like any other online purchase.

I haven't had a month where I haven't opted out so I have not experienced buying off of your running total.  What I read in the terms of the VIP membership is that the $40 stays on your account as a credit.  I understand that to work like any other store credit.  If you buy something that is less than your account balance then you will have a smaller balance after the purchase.  If you buy something that is more than the balance then you will be charged the difference.  I understand that the balance does roll in to the next month but have not had a balance to experience it for certain.

I read the terms several times and chewed on the thought of joining for a few weeks before I took the plunge.  I am only a few weeks in but I don't really see a significant down side yet since opting out is easy, their shoes fit me well, and I can get styles that I cannot get anywhere else.

Also, I believe that you can purchase without joining the VIP program however the pricing is just a bit too high for me.

Best,

Larry

I never find shoes in my size at GoodWill. I have donated many shoes in hope that some person with a larger size will be pleasantly surprised.

22 hours ago, hiddenheels said:

Wow! Lucky! Here in Canada the selection is much smaller in online stores that carry really nice looking heels... Congrats on the purchase!

Thank you!

On 7/13/2019 at 3:39 PM, Heelster said:

 

I have family in Sandusky. All over Lorain too.  Doubt any are walking in it though. 

I personally prefer the styling of a more classic pump's heel.  I like for the heels to curve smoothly forward to the tip of the heel.  See pic of my Baker's shoes below - to me this style makes for the perfect stiletto.

But, this backward slung style heel seems to be in style and hard to find much other so I do have a few pairs.  I haven't noticed any additional challenge walking in them though.

20 hours ago, maninboots said:

On 7/11/2019 at 6:49 AM, jeremy1986 said:

How high are the heels? Looking forward to seeing some snaps of you in them, if you care to share   

 

 

Not sure of the actual height.  I will have to bust out with the ruler and see.  I would love to share some pics but with my hairy legs I don't think you'll want to see them LOL.

Quote

23 hours ago, jeremy1986 said:

especially if they are wedges, right @Cali  

Best wedge shoe haul ever.  I am so stoked about these shoes.

18 hours ago, HappyinHeels said:

I have seen JustFab and ShoeDazzle selections before and have always liked them. I have never used them as I didn't like the idea of being charged every month.

I though of you HappyInHeels when I bought these.  I know that you dig wedges.  I think you would like them.  The VIP membership...  Well it is easy to opt out each month, which I did this month.  Since it is so hard to find shoes like this that fit I decided to take the membership risk and go with it.

16 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

They are good cheap brands. Problem is they will bill you on a regular basis even if you don't purchase anything.

Yeah, I hear you JKrenzer.  I really struggle to find shoes like this that fit so I took the membership risk.  It is easy to opt out each month and I set up calendar reminders on my phone to remind me to go opt out.  For wedges like these, to me, it is worth it.

20 hours ago, maninboots said:

Wow what a fabulous collection, make sure you have a lot of fun with those mate 

Thank you very much.  I am having a lot of fun.  Heck, it is fun just deciding which pair to wear. LOL

Howdy,

So, I have discovered that JustFab and ShoeDazzle now go up to size 12.  I have ordered from both companies with outstanding results and I am now like a kid in a candy store.

Two things that really stand out for me with these two online stores are that their size 12 is on the large side and their heels get higher as the size gets larger.  My fit is more of a 12.5 wide and the shoes that I ordered fit perfectly.  That is a huge bonus.  I have ordered many a pair of size 12 shoes that would be lucky to fit on a size 11 foot.  More than the generous size that is awesome, I love that their heels scale with size.  I have ordered so many pairs of shoes online with a high heel style that I like only to receive the shoes and find that they look more like mid-heels.  JustFab and ShoeDazzle won me over with these two qualities.

The only thing that I don’t like about JustFab and ShoeDazzle is that to get the best prices you have to join their VIP club.  This means that they will automatically charge you $39 each month unless you opt out between the 1st and the 5th of the month.  Yes, the funds build up your account to buy shoes (twist  my arm) but I don't like anything automatically charging my card.  It is only a mild pain in the neck but I think it is worth it.

So, I have ordered and received four pairs of shoes and I love all four of them.  I bought three pairs of wedges and pair of what look like shoe-ties to me but they refer to them as lace up sandals.  All four pairs are beyond fantastic and I struggle to decide which pair I am going to wear.

ShoeDazzle has a 50% off sale today so I ordered another pair.  They are pumps with a cork looking upper and color strips.  I cannot wait for them to arrive.

Just wanted to share what to me is a great new find.  Happy heeling to you all.

Best,

Larry

On 2/28/2019 at 7:49 PM, hernaezjames said:

Thanks @pebblesf and @maninboots.

Here are some photos during that time. Its not much and i wish soon enough i will the courage to reveal my face here. 

Wow! You really rocked the look.  Perhaps better than many gals can.

1 hour ago, maninboots said:

I know it’s frustrating and there’s nothing I’d like more than to go out with her in heels, i keep hoping one day it might happen but I’m afraid that day seems a long way off at the moment, i feel for you but don’t do anything you might regret in terms of your relationship mate 

Boy I hear you on that.  With the exception of Walk a Mile events my wife too refuses to go out with me in heels, with the exception of a handful of evenings where we were both having drinks prior to going out.

I too have wondered just how long I will have to wait if ever for my wife to be okay with going out with me in heels.  I am chewing on the fact that I turn 44 this month and am not the healthiest person in the world, we've been married for 13 years,, and the last 25 years went by in a flash.  I would like to still be able to move about without a walker by the time she comes around, if ever.

Maninboots, it is a dicey, tricky road.  This may be the best relationship you have ever had and I understand that you don't want to lose a relationship over "stupid" shoes.  I would also point out that your interest in heels will not go away, likely ever.  That interest when suppressed can easily turn into resentment and put together some serious bumps down the road in the relationship.  At least that has been my experience.

Furthermore, limiting your experience by telling her that it is not frequently that you wear heels or the like can limit you from growing into whatever it is that you want to be/experience on the inside.  When I met my wife and told her about my heels I couldn't possibly see into the future that one day I might want to wear them out.  I told her that I had no plans to do so.  But I also at the time was just coming to terms with my passion for heels.  As I grew to accept myself my genuine inner interest took me further and further outside the house and my wife is quick to point out that I told her in the beginning that I had no desire to step outside the home in heels.  And though, by and large, our relationship is pretty decent and we have made it through some serious challenges, 13 years later, even with the help of a counselor, the shoes are still an un-surmounted challenge.

Okay, I think that is it.

Best wishes as you work through this.

Larry