loveheel

Yes, they are stunning. So much money thought. I am sure they are worth it, but still a painful experience for the pocketbook.

Got almost the same pair from Candies (now defunct) in the US, but mine have a side zipper. So I only need to lace up the top few hooks. Love them

Wouldn't it be something if we just all started wearing the styles we liked in public ...

Because of this, in the last few years, I've veered from being a bit embarrassed about approaching shoe salesgirls to now really loving the experience every time!

Yes, isn't it great !

I have had this kind of enthusiastic responses from younder sales girls. You will find that they often are shoe fanatics with enormous collections themselves. Don't count older sales staff out though. They can be very helpful and accepting, but tend to act in a more reserved and professional way.

Although none have heels, here are some men's and women's sandals, some of which are not ugly: http://keywestsandals.com/stylereview.htm

Thanks for suggestions, but I really prefer the sandals with a a bit of a heel to them. Seem like the women's sandals have more subtle styles to them.

It is always the teenage girsl that are giggling. Either that, or it is a couple of half drunken guys.

Great story. We need more brave guys like you, exitman

I have shoes and boots which become painful wearing them after a while. But invariably, it is the result of a poor fit. I usually already know this when I buy them in the store, but still can't resist buying them

I would love to wear nice open HH sandals in summer. Closed men's shoes are such a drag in summer and men's sandals usually are UGLY. For boots, I would love to wear exposed stilleto heels. While I will probably never get to wear HH sandals in public I will probably get to the exposed stilleto boots someday. I have been experimneting with thinner and thinner heels.

I would treat those boots with loving care, if I were you. I must be a great feeling to get your wife to buy you boots.

Your blockheels seem to have some wear on them. I guess you wear them outside ? What about the stiletto heels ? Do you take them out ? I have just started buying stilleto boots and while I regularly wear heels to go shopping I have been hesitant to wear my very feminine boots (narrow point, 4.5" stiletto heel)

Your blockheels seem to have some wear on them. I guess you wear them outside ? What about the stiletto heels ? Do you take them out ? I have just started buying stilleto boots and while I regularly wear heels to go shopping I have been hesitant to wear my very feminine boots (narrow point, 4.5" stiletto heel)

The kids part is though. My wife knows of my heel wearing and buying, but I haven't exposed my 8yr old daughter yet. I don't really hide my shoes, though they are all in boxes and she hasn't nosed in them yet. But I am sure that soon will come. What worries me about kids is that there is no control anymore who they will tell. You can just as well put it in the paper that you wear heels.

it's as easy as falling off a log.

Uhh ? Actually shoe buying is not nearly as dangerous. I have never injured myself in the process of trying on shoes in a store.

Well, there was this one time, where I wanted to keep my new brand new purchase (4" stilletto boots) on, and walk out of the store with it, but slipped on the marble floor of the mall. Trust me, that generates a lot more attention than me trying on the shoes in the store.

A place where I still find larger sizes (at least up to 11) is Nine West. Sometimes their 11 even feels like a 12. I think many regular shoe stores never carried many large sizes. From talking to the sales people, it seems like many get one 10 and 11 per shipment. So once that pair is sold, you are out of luck. I used to go to a Baker stores where the highest I could get was usually a 10. Then I once met another of the sles girls there and she told me she always bought the size 11 (her size !) as soon as they came in. Mystery solved of why there were no 11's available !

Finally made it through 200. Seems like not a lot after all these years. Wish I had more time to write. Maybe time to post a collection of all my boots and shoes

The mules are my favorite. Very classy. Where did you get buy them ?

I buy one to two pairs a month. I look hard for bargains, so I probably spend about $60 a month.

I used to be chunky heels, but I have gone more and more to thinner and even stilleto heels. They are so cool with the right pants .

Dr Shoe. Now you always have the coolest stories. Way to go.

Hi exitman, I know what you are feeling. I remember having a pair of boots that were women's but completely indistinguishable from men's boots. Even when wearing those out at first I was so conscious about tham and always worried if people were staring at them. Now if I wear anything under 2 1/2 heel height I don't even think consider myself doing anything unusual. I also regularly go out in 4" heels. Started with block heels like a lot of the guys on the board, but these days I have gone to even narrower heels. The key thing to keep in mind is to dress in style (but not necessarily extravagant). I found that I have much more people stare at me when I do some odd match of pants and shoes then when I wear 4 inch heels. With this we all have to experiment a bit. It is all about confidence and wearing the right shoe for the right occasion (as many women would confirm). Good luck.

I agree with Keels. It is so much fun to chat with the sales girls about shoes. I now have quite a few stores where the women know me. In one I even get a special discount on occasion. This has been so much fun (except for my budget since I can never resist buying stuff). Yesterday, I went to one of my favorite stores (Candies) before they close forever next week (they are bought out by Steve Madden) to say goodbye to the sales girl. And of course to pick up a couple of really good bargains.

I hope this is an encouragement for all those of you that want to take the plunge but need a little push. Go for it ! Just make sure you do it all in style and you will find many people like or at least respect your choice. I have gotten addicted to my shoe outings.

Great story, Spikes. I regularly go shopping in heels and understand the thrill you are describing. Wearing myheels in public is sometimes a thrill, but sometimes, it just makes me feel good to be myself and to wear shoes that I really like. The women that came to look at your shoes may have been surprised more than anything. Overall, I have found a lot of supporting females.