Rob

I just wanted to relay a couple of sightings I had of "invisible high heels" over the holiday period: At a black tie Christmas ball some of the woman took their shoes off whilst dancing - this started after a couple of hours of dancing, once one woman took her shoes off, several others followed within a few minutes, as if no one wanted to be the first to take their shoes off. What caught my eye was a woman of around twenty dancing with her friend. She was dancing in bare feet as if she was still wearing 3-4 inch heels - up on tip toe. Not once did I see her put her heels down on the floor, and I watched her on and off for around an hour. - Very impressive, and quite sexy, even though I don't normally like to see women take their shoes off and dance bare foot. (Her friend danced with her feet flat like all the other bare foot ladies.) Then today I was in Karen Millen (mid range UK women's clothing store) with my lady, looking at shoes in the sale, and I noticed a young woman who had just come out of the changing room to look at the evening dress she was trying on in a bigger mirror. Like many women, she was doing the whole "stand on tip toe in bare feet, to imagine what it would look like with heels on" thing, but with her heels so high that the fronts of her feet were vertical - higher than they would be if she was wearing 4 or 5 inch heels! Also, where as most women will only go up on tie toe for a couple of seconds to look, she stood, and moved around continually with her feet arched high on tip toe for at least a minute before dropping down and going back in to the changing room. Unfortunately I never saw either of these ladies with their heels on, although I'm sure that they must have both been expert high heel wearers. Has anyone else had any similar sightings?

I've seen some girls in leg warmers and court shoes (pumps for the US guys) recently - similar look to the girl on the right in the pic kneehighs posted the link to above, but plain/without the patterns. I thought that it looked quite good in an ultra trendy type way. Not really a grunge look at all.

Would this be Dr Shoe selling off items that he purchased after the closure of The Little Shoe Box?

We were in Florance a few weeks ago and saw plenty of ladies wearing heels. As Shafted says, I think, as in most counties, you see more heels in the big cities. We came back with some great shoes as well. Italy is certainly much cheaper than the UK for quality heels.

I was out of the country during bonfire night this year, but BlondeBimbo, your post made me think how, down here in Sussex and London, we don't see kids with "Guy's" anymore. Bonfire night is still a big celebration across all age groups, but the children tend to want to celebrate Halloween and do the whole "Trick or Treat" thing. Part of the whole "Americanisation" of our culture, caused by endless US TV programs shown by channels that don't want spend money on making UK based programs.

What's the quality and service like?

We have brought from Fredericks.

Over all I felt their customer service was good, despite some problems:

Delivery (to the UK) was slow. When I contacted them after the standard deli every time had expired, they said that if they didn't come in the next two weeks, they would give a full refund - but the shoes then arrived.

However the wrong shoes arrived (also in the wrong size) although the box was marked with the details of the correct shoe. When I contacted them about this they said to just keep the incorrect shoes, and gave us a full refund - plus a credit of the additional customs/duty that we had to pay the carrier when they arrived. You can't complain about that.

So we ordered another pair, which took a similar time to come, which this time were correct. The shoes weren't the best quality, but were only $20, and were a better quality than you would expect for that price.

They were advertised as being a five inch heel, but measured nearer five an a half inches (in around a US size 9).

Do any of the board members have any experience with them (Italianheels, I mean)?

Yes.

Their shoes are real leather, and very well made, although can run narrow.

Customer service was good too.

My lady has the first ones, from Faith and she loves them.

They look much higher "in the flesh" than they do in that picture, and are very sexy on. They go well with a long fitted skirt.

Some more information: We measured the heels, and they are 4½ inches in a UK size 8. (She is normally a 7, but needed an 8 in these.)

She also finds they very comfortable as they support the foot well.

I can understand those that don't like the look of them - I wasn't sure until I saw them on her.

My lady has the first ones, from Faith and she loves them. They look much higher "in the flesh" than they do in that picture, and are very sexy on. They go well with a long fitted skirt.

Nice Shoes! Where did you get them from?

Yep, this drives me mad too! It smacks to the "can't be bothered" attitude that is so prevalent nowadays.

^^ They would be 4" Clichy's from Christian Louboutin. (There is also a 5" version. )

Living in the USA, I missed it. I've looked over the list of "Listen Again" on BBC 4 and didn't see it listed. Did I overlook it or is this one of the probrams that isn't archived for re-broadcast?

Hi Bubba,

That's because the program hasn't been broadcast yet. In fact it's just starting now.

You can listen live by clicking top right on this page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/

I just found this on the BBC web site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3724977

A reasonable article with some good advice, and not the usual "heels are bad for you" point of view that we normally see.

As much as I like to see women in high heels, I can't stand to see one walking awkwardly as if she can't handle them. For me, heels are about the way they make a ladies legs look, the angle of her ankle, and the way they make her stand (generally with good posture) and move in a elegant, yet sexy way. Seeing a (normally young) woman staggering about as if she isn't used to heels ruins the whole illusion. Although I always say "the higher the better", I would rather see a woman walking elegantly in 3 inch heels, than walking awkwardly in 5 inch heels.

Great shoes! Personally I like the look of your legs bare better.

my girlfriend has the fuscia ones. says they're really tall for a 5 incher. that is in comparison to other 5 inchers. i think the way it's built feels taller than it is. they both measure 5 inch.

RPM

Hi RPM,

My lady has these as well, but in black. In her size they measure almost five and a half inches high.

I know that Gina has them in black as well.

How does your lady find them to walk in?

Rob

Great pictures of Gwen, MM.

I see they are Louboutins - see the red sole.

She wore the same shoes on CD:UK:

(Click Pic to Enarge)

More screen shots of Gwen on CD:UK:

http://www.tartydoris.com/gallery_gwen_stefani4.htm

Yes, we miss them all!

OK, I'm a bit late to this, but it's great to have the forum back. Thanks Jeff and others for getting it back up and running!

On the beach is fine. But you even see women at weddings wearing their best dresses, then spoiling the look with cheep plastic flip flops. :x

There was previous thread on this subject here:

http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?t=3111

Some great pictures Kromozome, and fantastic quality too.

The mid-air shot shows that Gwen can more than handle her heels.

wear them in the water.

The water should reach your shoulders to be most effective.

That conjures up an "interesting" image.

You need to be further east EJ. I woke up here in East Sussex to see white everywhere. I then had to drive over your way, and once past Arundel the snow faded away. I'm back home, but it's melted now.

Nice pic of Kylie. However I think the shoes aren't up to her usual standard.

Rob, Those JLo pictures are stunning.

Yes they may be for the pictures but it seems she was wearing them for the whole evening for some fashion event. Here's a link to the fully gallery (if you didn't see it alread)

http://www.jlobronx.com/gallery/appearances/05_fashionshow/1/index.html#0032

Yes Bob, that was a fashion show for her own collection.

I've found another pic (via your Getty link) of her arriving, and she is even wearing the same shoes then:

And some more pics of her arriving at the fashion show:

http://www.jlobronx.com/gallery/candids/021105_fashion/1/

Actually... on second looks, this picture:

http://www.jlobronx.com/gallery/appearances/05_fashionshow/1/pictures/0022.html

shows the heels have a red sole, in fact, they look almost exactly the same shoes as Gwen is wearing above!!!

What do you reckon guys?

Yes, both pairs are from Christian Louboutin. Red soles are his trademark. I think the round toe versions (as worn by J-Lo) replace last seasons pointy toe version (as worn by Gwen).

Going back to J-Lo, I found a couple of other pics on that fan site:

http://www.jlobronx.com/gallery/appearances/05_trl/1/pictures/0025.html

http://www.jlobronx.com/gallery/appearances/05_trl/1/pictures/0027.html

I didn't realise she was so small!

PS: Just found this:

http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/05/spring/heel/index.htm