loveheel

I can't believe this many people have lived in Belgium ! I grew up there (now live in the US). The comments about the rain that goes sideways make me melancholic ! I find the US (at least parts of it) a pretty easy place to wear heels. Sometimes my wife and I toy with the idea of moving back to Belgium and I wonder if heel wearing would be as easy there.

Thanks for the advice guys. I actually went into a shop the day after I posted the original message. I was determined to buy a pair of Dansko clogs that were DEFINITELY a woman's style. While some clogs are unisex, these were not. The owner of the store knows me from previous sales and she didn't even bat an eye when I wanted to try on that style. The size that I tried was a bit small so she ordered a pair in my size. (size 41). She thought they looked fine and her main concern was getting a proper fit! You guys are right, the sales people are more interested in helping a customer rather than making an issue of our choices.

Great. I am glad it worked out for you. Of course, you know what this means ? Soon you will be shopping for shoes all the time ...

Go for it. Halloween is one of those great times to do whatever you want. I get to go tricker-treating with the kiddo.

You can read on this topic in many other threads where many of the old timers of this board have given their own approach. In the end the best advice is just to be confident. And if the sales people are not accomodating, just walk away. There are plenty of shoe shops. Having said that here is some stuff that helps: Wear women's shoes going in. If you are uncomfortable wearing very high heels in public, then just wear some lower heels. But sales people will know that they are women's shoes. That way there is already an unspoken communication that you are buying for yourself. I have probably bought over 30 pairs of shoes and boots and shoes in stores and have NEVER had a negative reaction. Reactions tend to range from a but surprised, or uninterested, to very supportive. Surprisingly, supportive reactions sometimes come from other customers in the store. Part of the fun is to talk to the sales people about the shoes. I am disappointed when I have to buy something in a self-service store. Several times I have had sales people ask me if I want to try something on, just when I am browsing. So they definitely know that I am buying for myself, even when I haven't told them. And that is even when I am not wearign serious heels.

I agree. The shoes and toes are great. The hair is bad.

Monster Garage is the coolest show on TV ! That show has done more for the welding profession that any professional society ever did.

I got them at a Ninewest outlet store in Camarillo CA. They were on sale. Only $16. Great deal ! I had my eye on sandals like these for a while. Nine West has had similar styles in the past, but I find full price at Nine West a little too expensive. So I was pleasantly surprised when I found them in the outlet store. I wore them right away !

I feel that so much depends on the type of shoe, even on my mood. Some days I walk comfortably in 4.5" sandals, and other days I feel too clumsy in them and just don't want to bother. Then just switching to 3.5" or 4" feels perfect. In the end that is what it is about. Wear shoes that you feel good about.

The nail salon did a nice job with the pedicure. Did you get it before or after you bought your sandals? And, did you wear the sandals into the salon to show the nail girl why you wanted the pedicure? Nice sandals, by the way

Actually I got the pedicure before I bought the sandals. But I did wear another pair of 3" heel sandals in the salon. The girls in the salon (in Santa Monica CA) all took it very lightly. The manager actually was the one who recommended that I have an airbrush design done on the big toe. They did a great job, much better than my usual salon back in New England. Guess I should look around for something else.

I am always struck by the fact how these people in salons can do such a better job than I can do myself. I guess that is why they are the professionals.

I love the flower painted on. My wife is rather ambivalent about it, but then, she never gets pedicures herself.

Hello everyone. It has been a while since I have been on the board. Been travelling a lot. I bought these sandals in LA. As you can see I also managed to get a pedicure there. Tried to get together with Nicole and Wickedheelz, but it didn't work out. At least I got shoes. I also bought some go-go boots. Will try to get pictures of these soon.

The sandals are from Nine West. They are held with elastic straps to the feet, which makes them easy to fit if you have large feet, but not the most stable to walk in.

Overall these seem to be much less pretentious replies than what you saw on the other boards. The replies are probably a reptty good reflections of how most people would think about it: Some don't care it. Some think it looks good, and some just don't like the idea of a guy in heels. You show the look that I was going to sport on our outing in Santa Barbara in a couple of weeks.

Hi guys, Apologies for being absent. I have been under the weather. Was in bed with the flu for a few days. Maybe we should work out the details of our meet by PM. I hadn't quite counted on it being a 2hr drive to SB, but I am checking if I can make it work out since I still have business stuff to do on Sat morning.

I like New Look stretch jeans, especially since their size 12 fits me. Does anyone try stuff on in womens' only shops? I don't think I'd have the guts.

I have done it a few times. It definitely is exciting ! I do it on the days that I have good courage and if I feel the sales staff is friendly

Sure, I can drive up. What is it ? 1 hr or 2hrs ? if it is easier for you folks I can also do Friday afternoon. Is there any good shoe shopping in SB ?

For me it is easy since I always wear pants with my heels. But even with the pants I am difficult. Even the way the pants drape over a boot our sandal is very important for me. Sometimes you have pants that fall perfectly over one shoe, but are terrible with another. Sometimes i tryh on five different combinations before i go out. Yes, call me compulsive !

Nicole, If we can make you change your mind, I could be around for a heel meet-up on Saturday Oct 9. Could be a good distraction from writing a thesis. I will be in LA, but if we get folks for a meet-up in Santa Barbara, I can drive there.

Nine west has a nice overview of the styles for Fall. Seems like there are a lot of HH shoes with accents of men's shoes and clothing. Maybe a goot time for guys wearing heels to come out of the closet.

http://www.ninewest.com/s?namespace=static&origin=main.jsp&event=whatshot.view&ep_tag=feature3

Here are some styles I particulary like

The front of this T-strap sandal would really appear like a men's shoe

Here are two lace-up boots. Lace-up seems to be big this year

Really nice with all the straps and the clear heel. I assume that is you in the dress ?

Yes Jeff, these are awesome ! I have been looking for slingbacks myself. Just don't know if I can do patent.

Oh, yes...

Wearing heels as a man, with masculine attire, is generally seen as a slight personal deviation from the accepted norm. Wearing a a non-feminine skirt, without heels, is seen as a lesser deviation. Wearing any combination of traditional women's clothing is seen as cross-dressing, regardless of whether you're sporting a full beard, or not, and crossdressing is not held in high regard among the general populace of any nationality.

I found that even a small thing like a bracelet seems to make a difference. Boots with heels, in particular block heels under jeans still have a bit of manly character to them. In the end cuban heels on cowboy boots can be easily 2". But once you wear a bracelet or something like that, people see it very much as "crossing" over to the women's side. Of course, nothing wrong with that. but I do believe most people react differently.

For men who wear ladies shoes, the problem is usually because ladies shoes have thinner soles and uppers than your average men's shoe. When combined with a man's average 50% greater weight, you're looking at blowing out a woman's shoe in less than half the time it would take us gents to blow out a man's shoe.

Yes. But most women compensate that by having lots of shoes !

And the big, fat, wide, ugly straps aren't too appealing, either...

You got it. Those straps on men's sandals. Just too close to the medieval boards with cloth on the feet.

I suggest that in fact the public are becoming more accepting as well. I don't mean specifically about guys-in-heels because the majority of passers-by have probably never seen a guy in heels, but as my wife points out, society is gradually getting more and more relaxed and accepting of whatever anybody wants to wear. It is becoming an "Anything goes" culture where individualism in all forms of clothing (including high heels) is accepted far more than it used to be in the very different stiff and formal times of my own youth.

Heelfan, I am sure you are right about this. Now that people don't get shocked anymore by people pearcing their tongue, heels on a guy is probably not a big deal. Also, over the last 30 years I think it has become less accepted to show negative reactions to anything in public.

In particular in the US.

In any case, i am going to cruise along in my heels. Now that I have been wearing sandals outside, I can kick myself for not having done it sooner. I have always had trouble with hot feet, and before my only choice was those nasty looking men sandals. While men's shoes are only boring, men's sandals are the ultimate fashion disaster.

Have you ever given it some thought ? Many people on this board, including myself, have with time grown bolder in wearing higher heels outside. Last year I wouldn't have though of wearing HH sandals outside. A couple of days ago I was shopping in my 4.5 inch Chaka sandals (bought at Bakers). Is this purely an issue of confidence, or have we just gotten more impervious to other people's reactions ? I doubt that the general public's attitude towards men in heels has changed. For that there is just not enough exposure. I think that most people that see me in the mall or on the street in heels, probably see their first guy ever in heels. So, if there reactions have not changed, are we just becoming less sensitive to other people's reactions ? Sometimes I think I must be kidding myself, and that people must be having a serious laugh behind my back (not that I have ever noticed). While I love my heels and strongly believe in freedom of fashion choice, I also don't want to become the village fool, ignorant of what goes on in other people's minds.

That is though. Snatched from right in front of you. Must have felt bad