allheel

This happened to me some years ago. My big toe nails became distorted and grew back rather thick, I assumed I had dropped something on each and not remembered what. However I was also wearing hh with pointy toes. Later a middle toe on one foot went a bit the same way. Could it be a side effect? Any comments?

Most wearers of narrow heels have the experience of scuffing and wearing of the back of the heel from the times sinking into softish ground or walking on rocky ground. The leather covering of the heel (when present) tends to get a bit rough at first and later to slightly part company and later part may come off, leaving a white or differently coloured plastic. Can anyone suggest either how to repair the covering and/or how to colour or dye the plastic so that the damage doesn't look obvious.

Perhaps when you don't wish to post a diary, you might use a title like Training Diary #41 - Nothing to Report. Then those avid readers won't expect anything and you can ease them out of expecting a weekly budget of news.

Laurie, being able to wear trainers to work for the odd day without discomfort is a good mark of the success of your training. (And it probably makes the other workers appreciate the heeled days more, they can't be taken for granted.) Those of us who found heels a relief to our feet problems can't wear a day in flat shoes without much discomfort and so we seldom do - even if it means 2 inch heels at a construction site, which is a bit hard on the shoes even if not hard for walking. Congratulations in keeping your feet in 1st class working order.

I was at a grand old house today, refurbished but they had renewed the polish on the floor but it still show the marks of functions held there over the years when we all wore stilettos. I found it was rather an interesting pattern - so many thousands of heels pressing in, not so much damaging the floor as compressing the wood giving it character. I wouldn't want to change it.

The style looks rather suited to a hospital - should go rather well there. I'd like to try it in practice. After all three points will rest firmly on any surface - the reason I find a stiletto heel easier to wear than a chunky heel. If the round ends aren't too wide, this could be the go anywhere shoe. (I've just been in my stilettos to a construction site, good for climbing over rough terrain although a lower heel than these. These heels would be good in wet weather for keeping out of the water too.

If buying sight unseen, take care about diameter of the pin. There are two main diameters in use, they don't look much different, but of course it matters. I've mostly found the smaller diameter pin in the plastic or nylon tip rather than metal so for most of mine I had to stick with metal.

Thanks all for the comments, the orginal comment it seems, fortunately, is not true. We enjoy the finer points of heel wearing.

Congratulations and thanks. I think, Laurie, you've achieved what you set out to do, given us all lots of good advice and comments on the way, and leaving your prints in the snow, with two of you to do that. Its great to widen horizons. If you are wondering about going higher, rather than an arbitrary target like 7 inch, judge on whether you and your admirers think that a higher heel will make you look better. If you've reached the pinnacle that way, and your comments on the 7 inch boots suggest that you have, well enjoy the accomplishment. Thanks.

I have to be careful most days because of the wooden floor where I do voluntary work. A not too small and not much worn steel tip is okay provided I am careful, so for me its the reverse of trying to make a mark - taking care and if I have the wrong pair on, taking them off. Not so long ago, found myself on an old floor which didn't matter, and it seems that the softer the floors are, the more comfortable it can be when standing for a long while. I found too that even the non-steel tips can leave a mark when they wear down as there is a small metal piece concealed under the plastic or whatever the soft and quiet heel tips are made of. I thought I could be quiet (library) and not make a mark but when I discreetly checked, no good.

In the repair forum it was stated that many men enjoy watching women in high heels, stilettoes or spikes, leaving a mark on the floor and that some women enjoy leaving a mark and even fit smaller tips to do so. What do people on the forum think and what are their experiences. I'd like to know rather than just make a generalisation from one comment.

I didn't know about piano wire for heel tips, probably beyond me. Aluminium sounds a bit too soft, wear out too quickly. After removing the old tin including the pin, it is possible to use a nail shortened to the appropriate depth provided the diameter is right, may need filing to ensure it is not too large but a firm fit so it won't pull out when the heel goes into a crack, but not so tight that you can't get it out using pliers or a vice when the tip is worn. The head of the nail is too small, so it needs matching up with a suitable sized nut or ring of steel to match the heel - usually quarter to 3/8 inch or 6-8 mm. (Too wide will be slippery when worn). A good match of improvised pin and tip means you get an even tip (to protect the floors) and after some use you generally notice that the two pieces have welded together. Even though steel tips wear well, try to remember to inspect before wearing so as to replace before it is worn down too far to be able to remove, and also check in case the tip has parted from the pin. Used to be a real problem with the original brass pins and steel tips. You can't tell when wearing them that they are leaving dints in the floor.

At pleasant function last night, standing comfortably in my heels when I felt the floor give a little. The lady I was talking, after I explained I was wearing high heels said now to worry, a few marks won't hurt these old floors, part of their character, showed my her nice white stilletos, about 3 inch, largely concealed by matching trousers. Only about two women with interesting heels.

I bought my first pair too, ankle boots, 3.5 inch heel, 3 inch suits me best but these are pretty comfortable, sorry I can't show a pic. I like thin heels better. The young woman sales assistant was very helpful as I explained my exacting needs. I was wearing spike heels and as I showed her these to help explain what I wanted, she said she couldn't wear heels like that. I explained they were really easier for me to wear than wider heels. Obviously lots of women doubt their ability to wear spikes. My blades - wider and not super thin - 2 inch wide and just over half inch front to back - will certainly be kinder to wooden floors but I hope I don't have too much trouble with uneven wear. I won't be able to fix heel tips myself like I can usually with spike tips.

Like Nicole, I was about teens when I discovered by chance how heels felt so much better. Like Slim I have flat feet, and it is especially standing that the heels 3 inch help so much. As it was the 1960s it was stilettos I got used to - taking stiletto in the meaning of tiny pointed heel rather than very high and found them much better than anything else. With wider heels they wear unevenly, although sometimes the metal heels come apart like a couple of nights ago, left a tip only 1/6 inch diameter and started marking the wooden floor, fortunately one already with furniture marks and other heel marks.

Agree that the time I started still affects what I wear. I began wearing in 1960s when stilettos were everywhere. For me it has always been a comfort issue, 2 1/2 to 3 inch my perfect range, and the small heel tips don't have the problem of wearing one side unevenly. I like boots best, hide them under long trousers mainly. I've just been away for a week on a bike ride, only rode about 120 km of the distance in stiletto boots, but volunteered for the catering and serving and preparing food, lots of standing, the heels were essential. Surprising how many people have foot problems, and the heels for me were the solution. Had to be careful when standing on the serving and washing platforms with gaps between the boards my heels could slipthrough. None of the others wore heels but several people, men and women, had foot problems, for long standing. I'm so grateful I found the answer, would have collapsed without the heels.

Thank you Dexter23 for the pictures, sorry I couldn't provide any. I think the Dutch must be better skilled chocolate makers, they look superb

Reading the Leprosy Mission Australia News, Martry Cole of the Hobart, Tasmania Auxiliary for a fund raiser created 12 pairs of chocolate shoes, court shoes with an attractive heel, which were decorations on the dinner table for the annual dinner and auction. I think they weren't quite life size but looked to be well styled and quite a drawcard

Had very little reaction lately to my not very obvious stilettoes or fairly narrow heels. At present most women still in block or blade so I'm not obviously copying current women's style - may be that helps? its more distinctly me

I keep enjoying looking at that pic Joak, even though I couldn't even fantasise wearing them. Or high to stand long enough for the picture without resting the heels on the step. I have no heels as thin as that but some tips on wider heels come apart and I'm resting as little as 3 to 5 mm as those look to be. On a good hardwood floor the mark can be tiny and practically invisible I think

Boots every day for me, with a stiletto heel as long as the floor will permit, otherwise a little wider, but I cover up with trousers so ankle high suits me. Block heels never seem to be as comfortable

Joak, they look superb, nice design, nicely shaped.

I've seen a few pictures of those striking heels which end in a thin shiny metal shaft rather than the traditional leather covering or colour matching the shoe. They certainly look attention grabbers but how do they suit your outfits - which do you prefer. I imagine the shiny metal doesn't damage like the leather or colour finish can when your heels sink into the ground a bit.

Laurie mentions getting echoes. I remember in Sydney, St James station there was a long tunnel for pedestrian entrance which ended in steps. Wearing metal tipped slingbacks when tend to fall or drop onto the concrete steps made an echo that reverberated, most noticeable when there weren't many people around to absorb the sound. Metal heels with loose sandals or sling or no backs probably make the loudest sounds, the court shoe or boot makes quite a different or deliberate sound - hard to express it well.

Has any one still got real life 50s - I have a pair of boots - only about 2 inch heel but nicely tapered to a fine metal tip and very pointy toe, comfortable but a bit low, showing wear but can still wear them occasionally - but have to admit they are 60s