loveheel

Yup, i have been hit by the Dead Sea salt people as well. Maybe seeing the heels primes them for a sale :-)

You should keep in mind that sales people that have worked in the store for a while have likely had men before try on women's shoes. Whenever I get to chat with the store manager I often bring up the question of whether they regularly have men buying shoes and the answer is always yes. My guess is that there are a lot of men buying women's shoes, but few that wear them outside. You only get the startled reaction from the new sales people.

I have had many great experiences at Bakers. The store managers are usually very helpful. On my last trip she brought all kinds of shoes on sale out from the back for me to try on. As I get a bit older I find less and less my style there, but I still buy quite a lot. Probably have about 30 pairs from Bakers. They have the discount card ($25/year ?) which gives you the 10% on all purchases. I used to have it for a few years. It was worth it then.

This is a fascinating thread. I have been wearing heels for several years, but usually with long jeans covering at least part of the heel. Maybe there is something to the idea of wearing them with well business skirts. I have often suspected that people looked more at my long flaring jeans than at the shoes. I think that a great well coordinated look may trump the idea that it is a guy wearing heels. The opposite is true as well. Sometimes I am shocked at the poor taste that some women display in coordinating their style. I that case, heels or not, I dislike it. Maybe we guys just have to work a bit harder at being perfect in this respect.

Definitely try on the patent heels at Macy's. A few weeks ago I bought patent pumps at Nine West and tried them on in the store. Actually the sales lady recommended them to me after I tried on other shoes which didn't fit. If you are uncomfortable at all, just wear a less discernible pair of heels to the store. But do try on the patents. You will love them.

I was wondering how many of you other guys wear girly styles (courts/pumps/mules/strappy sandals/etc.) out in public?

I have worn all of these out in public, usually with long jeans. But long jeans really only provide cover when you stand still. As soon as you walk several inches of the heel is visible. I may get the occasional smile, but nothing adverse. Also lots of positive reactions. There is nothing like wearing strappy sandals with a thin heel in summer. It definitely is another level to wear these very "girly" shoes, as you describe them. But the interesting thing is that after having done it, I occasionally retreat to block heel boots (4 inch) and it makes me feel super comfortable going out in them, like it is nothing special. So I guess it is all in the mind after all

Just one tip: If you are going to wear sandals, make sure your feet look nice.

A skirt is a wonderful garment, in particular on a warm day. This week I had several hours of driving to do and I wore a jeans skirt in the car (above the knee, but not super short either). When I stopped at a rest area I wanted to get something to drink from the vending machine area (which on this rest stop was surprisingly far removed from the main area). So although there were a lot of people at the rest area no one was near the vending area, though it was in clear sight from the main area. So I decided not to bother with changing and just walked out wearing the skirt, got my juice and got back in the car. Overall I was probably out for only two minutes, but that is two minutes more than what I had done in past ! I really like skirts for the convenience. It is not really a sexual thing. In summer they just seem like a more appropriate and comfortable piece of clothing. Millions of men in South East Asia who wear sarongs can't be wrong.

These are two nice pairs of boots. I like the blade heel boot. If have definitely worn boots like those outside going shopping (though never to work). I wear stilletto boots like the ones on the left as well, but not as frequent. Really nice pair though. Looks like the heel is over 4" ?

Mine changes as fashion changes. I guess I am shallow :-)

Currently I am crazy about these pumps that I bought at Ninewest (Lucero)

I have them in patent. I never bought much patent before but when the sales lady brought them out for me it was love at first sight.

I do sandals in the summer. It is a bit more daring, but I love sandals.

... I have tried on many pairs in Kohl's. I also tried on shoes in a Nine West store recently. The young female sales associate was very nice about it and helped me try on several pairs of heels. She even gave me advice on how the shoes would look best on me...without hose and with longer boot cut jeans. The sales associate invited me to come back anytime to shop for more shoes, and I am planning a trip to a closer NW store soon. I have also tried on heels in a Liz Claiborne outlet store. I have also gone into department stores intending to try on heels there in the shoe department, but the few female sales associates I encountered in those stores didn't even acknowledge that I was there. I'm now trying to get to the point where I am comfortable enough to try on some shoes and then actually wear them right out of the store.

I have similar experiences. Great service at places like Nine West or Bakers. In department stores they act like I don't exist. Even at Nordstrom, who supposedly is known for their great service, I have never been offered help, out of four visits.

Going at a quiet time, like early in the morning, is definitely the way to get help from the assistants. I find weekends and late evenings the worst times. In the evenings everyone looks tired and beaten and in the weekends the places are a zoo.

Nine West is one of my favorite brands. Their shoes are very stylish and in general I find them quite comfortable. I have found that most of their sizes are fairly normal, though I have had a few cases where they run larger. My guess is that they get shoes from different manufacturers. I take anything between a 10 and 11. Their closed toe pumps can be a bit narrow up front so larger size in this is better. In boots and sandals I can do a size 10 for Nine West. Just try them on in the store. I have had really friendly people in their stores.

Does anyone know of a source for larger sized heels that are NOT fetish oriented?

I've gotten some nice heels, but the selection is limited for those of us with bigger feet.

Both Bakersshoes and Nine West have started carrying some size 12 on their web site. It is still for very limited styles, but before they never had Size 12

I can confirm that you would have no problem at all in San Francisco. Usually I get good compliments there

I don't think one can answer this question. The rest of the world is not of a single mind. I have had people genuinely compliment me saying that my sandals look very nice on me. The same outfit may draw giggles from other's. I think we are too sensitive to this issue. A women that tries out new outfits regularly is bound to make errors as well. I am sure she gets commented on behind her back by others. And as for teenage girls, remember that they make fun of everything, not just a guy in heels. It is a way to profile their own identity. I have said this elsewhere, but the rules of style are not that different for guys than for women. Shoes that look coordinated with an outfit and with your body will create a good image. Less successful matches may raise eyebrows. I don't think that is any different for women. Just go to a mall and observe the stares a women in mini-skirt and 5 inch heels gets.

These are really nice. I like the detail. A bit of a cross between a sandal and a dress shoe. Congratulations. Hope you have many good times together.

Hi SF, I don't live in San Francisco (am on the other coast) but wear heels (boots and sandals) on every trip to SF. It is such an accommodating and tolerant city. I am curious what styles you wear ? i always have to stop myself from wearing HH stillettos that look more like evening wear, and remind myself that most women don't wear those either strolling through the city

By all means, wear the sandals out. Nothing as liberating as wearing a pair of HH sandals in hot weather. Think about the alternative: boots ? or ugly guy sandals ?

I do mainly boots (in winter) and sandals (in summer). While I have quite a collection of pumps I rarely seem to pick them to go out. As someone else mentioned already it is someting about having a high arch that makes me stick out of the pump. Also, I just love the feel of HH sandals but just can't do it in winter.

I always try them on in the store. it is so much fun. You don't know what you are missing if ou buy by mail. My suggestion is to go when it is not too busy in the shops so that the assistants can give you plenty of attention and help. I have had many times sales people (male and female) suggest different models of shoes. Sometimes i try on 4 or 5 pairs before I buy. Can't wait to go shopping again

I like pic 1. In Pic 3 the short skirt would make an awesome look with the longer boots you are wearing in Pic 2

I have a black clutch purse (one with no straps that you hold in a hand). It is fairly plain black, so it looks OK for a guy. In Europe it never gets any stares. People there seem to be used to guys carrying hand purses. In the US I never see that.

Looks awesome. I find universally positive comments when wearing women's jeans. I think many women like the more fashionable look on men. Even my wife, who is not into heels, loves it when I wear the lower cut women's jeans. general acceptance for the heels will take a bit more time.

Hi Shockqueen, That pic in your avatar, is that you ? Awesome pic

Hi Ben, It sounds like you have a spouse that it quite indifferent with your heal wearing. Praise yourself lucky. I would recommend that you respect her feelings about it and don't try to push the boundaries too far immediately. If she doesn;t want you to wear the shoes all day, then don't. Or alternatively, buy a pair of less extreme women's shoes for the "in-between" days