AZShoeNut

Hello,

 

I ran across a Shoe Dept Encore in one of our malls here in Phoenix.  When I looked them up online I found that they have a number of stores that all sell shoes at prices that are less expensive than Payless.  They have a handful of styles with tall heels that go up to size twelve - even including wedges.

 

Has anybody had any experiences with Shoe Show or any of their sister stores.  I have thought about making a purchase for months.  I am wondering about size comparison, quality, and customer service.

 

It will still be a couple months until I make a purchase as I am losing my job and moving to another state to start a new job.  Should I wind up buying anything I'll advise.

 

Thanks, Larry

Hey there SF. Do I recall correctly that you are in the Bay area? I will be moving to the Sacramento area soon which is not too far from the Bay area. Perhaps it will be sooner than later.

Newfie, you rock man!

Hello newguy,

 

Man, I hear you.  It is crazy how the emotional pendulum swings when it comes to doing the high heel thing when you don't have a completely supporting partner (spouse).  I recall the day that I decided eff it, I am wearing my heels.  I was super excited and thrilled that I was finally living my thing.  That excitement quickly fell to a gawd awful feeling when my wife fully expressed just how insecure it made her feel.  We have had many ups and downs.  I spent several months going out in my heels several times a week.  She got used to it but it really was a don't ask, don't tell kind of arrangement.  She is cool with me wearing them around the house and I do so frequently in the evening.  She still will not go out with me in heels with one drunken exception and one evening for a walk around the neighborhood in the dark.  One evening recently we were discussing another couple whose marriage is in question and noting that our relationship, though its been through several ups and downs, is working out pretty well.  I said that my thing for heels has certainly rocked the boat at times and her smile turned serious and said that it is still a not so light issue.

 

She also surprises me every now and then.  I got a Payless gift card one time for Christmas and a gift card to my favorite hang out when I wear heels.  Also, she was going to join me in my fundraiser walk this year but it got changed up and was made into a fashion show only available to Pike fraternity guys and gals so that didn't happen.

 

So, all that I can say is that the spouse thing is probably one of the most challenging aspects of wearing heels out publicly.  At least that has been my greatest challenge to wearing heels out and about.  The good still out weighs the bad in my relationship so I tread carefully on this subject and I take my private jaunts in heels every so often.

 

Best,

Larry 

Way to go, man!  Nice looking booties too.

 

I find that a good shoe shopping trip is one of the things that I enjoy the most now days.

 

Best,

Larry

Howdy NewfieGutInHeels, The first time I blew through this thread today I didn't even catch your makeup. Just now as I paused to check out your hat I noticed the makeup and then read your post and saw what you wrote about it. I would call that subtle makeup. A quality that I really appreciate with the women that I know who wear makeup. I say way to go, man. You rock it well. Best, Larry

 

I must agree with you whole heartedly that it does defy all forms of logic and thus : Im puzzled or just absolutely baffled.

 

 

Furthering my contemplation about how illogical some reactions to "gender crossing" issues are I recalled a story that I heard in youth group when I was in my teens.  The intent of the story was to illustrate how it was important to be who we are even if it goes against the grain.  The story was about some type of primates such as chimps or apes or the like.

 

Basically a study was done over a lengthy period of time where several primates shared a common space.  Within that common space there was a ladder and a treat or food was placed at the top of the ladder.  Whenever one of the primates would climb the ladder the rest of the primates would get sprayed with water.  This continued and the primates then started to dissuade any primate who attempted to climb the ladder for the treat.  This continued for a period of time until no primates attempted to climb the ladder.  Whenever new primates were introduced the other primates would keep them from climbing the ladder.  After a period of time the experimenters stopped spraying the primates and the group still continued to keep new primates from climbing the ladder.  Eventually there were no primates who were part of the initial group and thus the entire group had not ever experienced getting sprayed when a primate climbed the ladder.  The behavior, however, of keeping each other off of the ladder was well established even though not one primate knew why they were keeping each other off of the ladder.

 

I suspect that the absolutely illogical reaction that many of us experience from our spouses or other important people in our life may just be steeped in similar past, and no longer useful, mindsets having been passed down from generation to generation.  As Warren Farrell suggests in his book, "The Myth of Male Power," many of the elements that establish generally accepted gender roles are based upon such long past requirements.

 

Examples from Warren Farrell, who I heard in a day long presentation, include the poor attitude toward homosexuality and how women tend to be saved at the risk of men in some situations.  It is postulated by Farrell that the (gratefully now reducing) poor attitude toward homosexual people and the saving of women at the risk to men are both steeped in cultures where survival of the population required people to procreate and that women were available to give birth.  It is suggested that the need for the culture to survive and for people to procreate was so great and so in peril that anything that countered it was strictly forbidden and viewed to be extremely heinous.  The question was posed to the 120 men that I was with that if a woman was drowning would you jump in to rescue her even if your own drowning seemed likely and most of the 120 men indicated that they would.  Under-population certainly is not a problem today, at least in my neck of the woods however both of these attitudes remain in place.  I highly support gay people so I have overcome that illogical past mindset.  I would, even though completely illogical, probably still jump in the water to help save the drowning woman.

 

I just fail to see where anybody today is jeopardized by a guy wearing high heels.  The fact is that nobody is jeopardized however logic and reasonable thought are little match to a group that has been conditioned by ancient, and now useless, needs.

 

Just something that I have been chewing on.

 

Best,

Larry

Ain't that the everlovin' truth! Even for smallish men, our feet are still too wide and/or too large to properly fit into women's shoes. The fact that most of us have found shoes that fit relatively well (thanks to Payless) is nothing short of a minor miracle.

Agreed, nothing short of a miracle. If I ever wind up with the bank to do it I will attempt to find a shoemaker who wiil make whatever style I dig in a size that fits my feet and ankles.

Wedges are by far my favorite style to wear . The pictures are the ones I wear the most. img-thing.jpg shoe pose (6).JPG Copy of shoe pose (4).JPG Sexy Wedges for Phrieda.jpg

Love both pair.

I need to ask, and Im not trying to be a dick or anything, but how is a pair of shoes big news? *I* HONESTLY might be just that simple of a person for finding something like a pair of shoes causing a commotion to be.. dumb? I started another thread that went off-topic/hijacked about things worthy of note in comparison to ' I wear heels '. Again, ' her or your shoes '. As bad as it might sound, and not to be insulting, if such a choice was to be forced, I'd hold the door open for her. I would even help her pack! I could see ' big news ' being one or the other sleeping around. I could see one or the other having a ' fetish ' for minors in school uniforms. How about coming home with someone else and asking for a 3 way? ' Big news '.. how about having a verbal spat with the inlaws or being so vile towards them that they tell your spouse not to bring you around anymore? How about the Bills? Rent paid? Car fixed? Hows the health these days? Family member terminally sick or anything? I seriously dont understand why a pair of shoes should cause such an issue.

I agree with your logical perspective, ILK. The only problem is that it seems that many people's perspective on "gender crossing" topics seem to defy logic. Hell, it seems that logic is sorely missing from many people's perspective on most subjects. Best, Larry

Are these shoes to loud ? I can't decide. The other day when I was wearing them out shopping, it was only the second time outside since I bought them 4 years again. No reactions to speak of, but I'm not sure. The thing is that their very comfortable.

 

I think that the whole out fit works quite well.

 

Best,

Larry

Several years ago in the late '90s I did Chemistry with a fellow (same small group and lab partner) who was going back for his third degree who maintained a polished pedicure.  He was a successful international businessman and had no problem wearing Tevas (popular open outdoors sandals at that time) to class with his brightly polished toes visible.  People would ask him questions and our lab partner would trade salon and polish information with him however nobody held it against him and our lab partner (a gal) certainly thought it was cool.  The professor sometimes would shake his head but still didn't hold it against him.  He was the top student in the class to they were buddies right off.

 

At that time I was no where near being open with my heels however if it were now I tend to suspect that I would have attempted to be open about my heels too.  Ahh, shoulda, coulda, woulda.

 

Best,

Larry

http://lookbook.nu/user/2952190-Elliott-A/looks

 

He seems to have some really great outfits! Has the build to pull it off too. 

 

Wow, his styles are somewhere between shocking and amazing.  I give him credit for pulling off the looks that he would like.  Also, his legs are very feminine and perhaps even approaching super model in shape.

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

Best,

Larry

Now that's a worthy contribution.

Ditto

I too find it frustrating. I have a favorite pair of sandals that I will choose to jot wear because the holes are tight and buckling is a pain. I will say that when I have less of a gut I have less of an issue.

There are a lot of web sites out there for guys who cross dress that go into the details of the emotional toll on wives when they learn about their husbands cross dressing. And though for many of us here we only dig wearing shoes I think that the impact could be similar. Google River City Gems. I suspect that their resources page could offer information that could fairly easily be paralled in our world.

I love, love, love wedge sandals. Unfortunately the styles that I really dig rarely make it up to size 12. If I were 2 or 3 sizes smaller I would go broke at Charolette Rouse with each new season :-)

Thanks for posting, Shafted.  Though your outings are so completely casual to you now I still appreciate reading about them.

 

Best,

Larry

Great post Gudulitooo!  Thank you.

 

Mr. Dunlop really takes the notion of freestyle fashion and knocks the ball out of the park.

 

Best,

Larry

Howdy,

 

I love the sound coming from both shoes worn by other people or by me.  I remember when a gal in high school wore a tall pair of pumps for me around her home and being absolutely thrilled by the sound her shoes made when she crossed the tile floor of the kitchen.  Whenever I am wearing a pair of shoes that sound similar I am delighted all over again.

 

That being said, I too can become a bit nervous when I enter a quiet environment while wearing a pair of shoes that are super loud.  I sometimes feel like all eyes are on me.  I do, however, take it in grain and move along and enjoy myself.

 

I have a pair of ankle boots that are just plain way too loud however I love wearing them.  They are one of the most challenging pair of heels to walk smoothly in and I love that challenge so I don't let the sound keep me from wearing them.

 

Best,

Larry

Payless had some recently. 

 

http://www.payless.com/womens-immerse-high-top-wedge-sneaker/73826.html?dwvar_73826_color=tan#start=24

 

But sadly, they seem to be out of stock.  I got the last pair of 13's in our area and am glad they were there after being told by a male associate over the phone they were gone.  The second try with a female SA saved them.  I wore them for about 8 hours one day around the house.  Next...

 

Thanks!

Right on, man!  Way to go.

Agreed, Mlroseplant's perspective is pretty darn good.

 

You know, even though I am all about tall pumps, I bet that I would get out of the house in heels more often if I had a pair of the wedge heeled sneakers that he mentions in the post.  Has anybody found anything decent that has sizes as large as 12W?

 

Best,

Larry

Howdy,

 

Here is a post that I stumbled upon.  Really, just a gal who loves heels (cannot have too many ladies like that) rambling about shoes spruced up with a bunch of nice pictures.

 

Best,

Larry

 

The Fashion Tag:

http://thefashiontag.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/heels-sexy-shoes-styles/

And what does he do in this underground car park ?

Hmm... I see your point.