avidsiman

I was thinking about learning how to make heels and boots as a hobby because rarely do elegant quality heels come in large sizes. When they do, they don't always fit comfortably. With thighboots, for example, either the foot fits right and the shaft is way too big, or vice versa. I'm very good with my hands, so I know I can do the job right, but I need to take a gut-check to see if I'm wanting to do it for the shoes or for the experience of learning how to make something new. With the expansion of cheaper manufacturers like Pleaser, all the mid-level shoe and bootmakers either went out of business or charge more for their work. Basically I have to settle for cheap stuff made in China, or pay mega dollars for quality footwear that I won't wear enough to justify the extreme cost. Already made the latter mistake with 2 pairs of boots from Jean Gaborit. Great boots, but I just don't wear them enough. Finding good looking slingbacks in a large size is tough too. Unlike many tall guys (I'm 6'2"), I don't like 2, 3, and 4 inch heels. I have strong svelte ankles, good looking legs, and like to wear a 5 or 6 inch heel to show them off....mostly 5. I like platforms too as long as they're not trashy or cheap. Finding a good crotch high patent leather boot with 9 inch heel and 4 inch platform is almost impossible without sacrificing an arm and a leg. I'm not a drag queen nor do I have any inklings of wanting to be a woman, but I like the feeling of the women's clothes/shoes in the privacy of the home once in a while. Anyway, I have lots of footwear and clothing sitting in storage that I need to unload. Most of it is in new condition only tried on for size or worn once or twice around the house before deciding the fit wasn't correct and putting it back in the box (I'm picky about fit).

Acrylic paints are good for plastic surfaces as they essentially become part of the plastic when they dry without cracking or peeling. Acrylics are easy to work with, most are water soluble, don't fade over time, come in a huge selection of colors for color matching, and even the best brands are cheap. You can find quality acrylics at an art supply store or a hobby shop. I'd try the hobby shop first as they stock paints intended for plastic, metal, and wood whereas art stores cater to paper, canvas, and ceramics. hobby shop staffs are more knowledgeable too. Look for pre-thinned paints which have the consistency of water so you can paint straight from the bottle. Although you'll get much better results with an aerosol spray or, preferrably, and airbrush. Tamiya makes a good paint as do Monogram Humbrol, Pactra, and Polly-S. The latter two being cheaper and requiring a little manually thinning on the user's part. lightly sand and clean the affected part of the boot with ultra fine grit sand paper and wipe with isopropyl alcohol. Once dry, apply the paint in ultra thin layers letting the paint dry sufficiently between coats. If you screw up, use the isopropyl alcohol to wipe the paint off and start again when the surface is dry. The most common mistake novices make is they try to make the repair in a single coat of paint. You need to work in thin layers to build up opacity without making the surface become gloppy or develop that 'orange peel' look. Acrylics tend to dry very fast, and the thinner the layer, the faster it will dry. So even if you apply many layers, it won't take long. Take your time, do it right the first time. If using an airbrush or spray, consider painting the entire heel instead of just the affected area as doing so may result in a more consistent look. Touchups tend to give themselves away from being of different reflectivity/gloss than the original surface even when the color matches.

leather CPR. Cleans leather and moisturizes. If you have leather soles, it'll clean them up pretty good. May need multiple applications though. Always test on an inconspicuous spot if possible.

wearing heels with sloppy clothes is like putting monster truck knobby tires on a porsche.

a shoe designer who needs a convenient subject to try out the new designs.

looks like the toe either got twisted or she stubbed it on the metal bar when she stumbled the 2nd time. doesn't take much to break a toe.

I think people are overreacting here. Structurally the heel is sound as the heel tip, arch, and relative placement for each are the same as on any other high heel. It just looks weird because you're used to seeing the heel curve the other direction. The shoe looks bigger because of it, but if you cover up the heel and look at the remaining part of the shoe, it doesn't look like anything unusual and probably no more/less difficult to walk in. I don't think it's the best looking shoe, but I don't rate it as ugly either. just takes a little getting used to.

nice

oh yeah, socal. looking forward to many happy discussions.