Heelson

If you'd met me en femme and you'd insisted in using male pronouns that would have terminated the conversation very quickly indeed.

"Dr" is asexual, no?

They were also available in satin black and denim though the denim ones sold out rather quickly! I know as there are a pair in each colour here ...

Hi all

I spent a little time playing around with shoes (no surprise there), a digital camera, and some image editing software.

Attached are some of the results - the beauty of digital photography of course being that you can take many many many shots at just about zero cost and see the results immediately - so there are lots more attempts at "shoe art" sat on my HDD.

What do you think?

I think the images look a lot better full size - so click on them to see them in full glory!!

H

Hi I now have *4* pairs from Italian Heels - thanks to my wife buying the 3rd pair of boots at Xmas They all fit beautifully, and I couldn't be happier. Great quality, great designs, great fit. And great wife for buying them. (She has way more than 4 pairs from them!!) Just a little word of warning ... delivery took nearly 4 weeks, from posting in Milan (they post registered, so proved despatch date) to arriving here in UK. I did ask them whether they'd consider using a plane-based service rather than donkeys, but apparently donkeys are cheaper. Heelson

My wife says that it's actually easier walking in heels in the snow because the heels sink into the snow/slush and give more grip! And who am I to argue?

All Here's a question for you. I recently got a pair of stiletto boots re-heeled. The tips had worn down to the nail/screw fixing it into the heel resulting in a fair strange noise when walking. I'd worn those boots for perhaps a couple of miles of street heeling - not a lot. Having had them re-heel-tipped, I've worn them for at least as far, and the tips show little sign of wear. Now is this because the cobblers use better quality replacement tips than the original manufacturers, or is it because I'm becoming less "hard" on the heel tips when street heeling? Anyone got views or similar/different experiences? H

All Sorry for the delay in replying but for some strange technical reason I can't log in from my desktop PC and can only sign in from my laptop??!! Replies to the various comments; sscotty727: I think your story is a strong recommendation for going out somewhere busy with more people around. Idiots like the one that you encountered tend to be a lot less brave when there are more people around ... they don't have the self-confidence to draw attention to themselves in a group of people (in case the group tell them to STFU). IT would have been interesting to see her reaction if you'd starting pointing and laughing at her ... my money says that she'd have shut up very quickly. You obviously have the confidence anyway ... I wouldn't wear my heels anyplace that I might bump into someone who knew me. Shafted: Well, I have a lot to thank the rest of the guys on this board for. I actually don't think it's "strange" anymore ... which goes a long way to giving me the confidence to just wear heels. So I'm wearing heels, so what. And I guess that the more people who start to share the belief that it's not strange, then the more people (male) will be out there wearing in heels ... the more that they'll (we'll) be seen ... and the less unusual it will become. Or am I just dreaming there? Secreto: As above, I can strongly recommend Kings Road. I guess Oxford St would be similar - way too may people around to notice anything at all! BTW: very neat boots - I'd not seen Shalimar Shoes before, but they're now on my "favourites" list. What's the quality / fit / sizing like? DawnHH: Thanks for being so supportive of everyone, and taking the time to post so many replies! H

Hi Lorilegs I know how you feel. I felt that way for a long way too. I'd only wear heels outside if I could be 99.99% certain that no-one would see me. That meant going out at night, in deserted places, and never going too far from my car so that I could always get back to it if anyone came along. That sort of behaviour looks pretty suspicious to anyone who does come along. And what other sort of people are hanging around deserted places in the dark? All in all, a high risk approach to heeling. Wearing them out in daylight, in busy streets, where lots of people will see them - if they notice - is a lot safer I decided. And a lot more fun I discovered. As TBG also says ... it's about confidence. So, I'm walking along and I'm wearing heels. So what? I'm happy, I'm comfortable, and I'm not nervously looking back at everyone who walks past to see if they're looking back at me. I don't care if they do! It's not a problem. Like I said in the first post, if anyone has noticed (and I'm sure that they have), they've not said anything to me, and the world in general doesn't seem to have changed very much as a result of me wearing heels. My own little piece of the world is a bit happier and a bit more relaxed though. So not a bad result. Take your heels, and wear them with confidence. Enjoy the feeling. And let us all know how it goes. H

At the risk of getting boring ... I've just done it again!!

Walked from Sloane Square about 3/4 of the way down the Kings Road and then all the way back again too. Stopped off to have a look round a few shops - tempted in by some really neat looking boots, but frighted off by some really scary price tags!

Then stopped off at Waitrose and wandered around doing some shopping - I have to eat (and drink) you know.

All in these boots;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Unique-Side-Laced-Knee-Boots-5-Heels-5_W0QQitemZ7730972463QQcategoryZ63889QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

(if that link doesn;t work, search ebay.COM for "unique side laced" and you'll see a picture of my boots - incidentally, Bob & Angie are a great eBay seller)

Now - ok - I was wearing them under black jeans and a long black leather coat ... but I think the coat got more second glances than the heels did!!

Yup, this really is as easy as all the streetheeling guys say it is.

So on the upside, that it is as easy, and that I'm doing it.

And on the downside, for why didn't I do it earlier!!

Next I think I'll try a quick pint in one of the pubs.

Thanks all

H

Hi Thanks for posting those pics ... my wife and I are thinking of planning a trip to Italy, mainly to do some shoe shopping ( and the food, wine and scenary too of course! ) ... where was that small town that you visited? It looks like it has some interesting shops, and maybe we could take a trip to the same place!! Thanks H

For the benefit of non-UK Board members, the Kings Road is a semi-trendy mile-long road in south west London ... I personally remember it from the "punk" days (mid 70's) when its shops attracted a lot of the early punks. Anyway ... I spent a most enjoyable couple of hours last week wandering up and down Kings Road (and Sloane Street) in my 4.5" stiletto heeled black knee boots. OK, so most of the heel was hidden under long black jeans, but my heeled height, combined with a definite "clack clack clack" sound as I walked made me feel fairly "obvious". Did I get a second look? Not that I saw. Did I get any adverse comments? Not that I heard. Did the world turn upside down and throw me off? Not that I noticed. Did I have a great time? You bet. Went into a couple of the shoe shops down there - no reaction from the assistants. Its taken me a long time to go out in public as obviously as that trip. It was c5pm and the street was busy with both shoppers and plenty of cars driving by. For all those other readers of this board who are thinking "I could never do that" ... well, that's what I thought for many months. Now I wish that I'd taken that first small step a lot lot earlier! Am I going to become a full-time heel wearer? No - that's not practical given my job / life etc. But I will be walking up and down the Kings Road again a couple of nights next week. This is just too good not to do again and again and again Thanks to all here ... being able to read others' experiences has been a great help. H

These shoes were featured in one of the Sunday paper mags, and my wife pointed them out to me, 'cos she knew I'd love them;

http://www.faith.co.uk/catalogue/style.asp?range=82&subRange=328&curPage=8&style=481300

So I went up to Faith on Oxford St yesterday to get some.

Found them on display in the shop, and as I picked them up, a smiling (friendly, helpful smile) assistant came up to me and asked if she could help.

"What size do these go up to?" I asked - knowing that some Faith styles are available in 9 (my normal size)

"Are you looking for 8 or 9" asked the assistant ...

"Yes" was my answer

"Hang on, I'll just check" ... and off she went to find a stock-check machine. She came back a minute later to report that they only went up to an 8, but "unfortunately we only have a 7 in stock at the moment, they'll probably be a bit too small, though you're welcome to try them"

Faith 8s are usually a little tight (but for this style, I'd live with the pain!!), but 7s are a no-no. Shame.

But TOP MARKS to Faith and the assistant lady. Completely helpful, friendly and acted as if it was perfectly normal for a man to want to buy a pair of shoes like this. I've been nervous buying heels in shops in person before, but was completely at ease in Faith yesterday - thanks to the assistant.

Would I go in there again and try before I buy? You bet! Will I go back in a week or two to see if they've got new stock in? Absolutely yes. Will I try them on in the shop? Very very likely.

Now, she'd probably seen plenty of men in there trying/buying shoes before, which is probably thanks to the efforts of Firefox et al on their heeled shoe-buying trips. Is it now considered "normal" for us to do this?

Thanks guys ... you're doing your own thing, but it's helping all of us!

H

Hi Mithril BlondeBimbo is absolutely right (as are most people here!) ... try Brighton if you can get there. It's the perfect place for building confidence, and it's a good time of year right now - it's a lot quieter out of holiday season. If you want to wear heels without being seen by loads of people, then a walk along the seafront (between Brighton and Hove) is just about perfect. Not many people around, but enough joggers/cyclists to be "safe" from unwanted attention. Once you build up the confidence, then the Lanes area is the next step. Full of "arty" shops and arty people. Lots of little Lanes/alleys, so you can easily find somewhere quiet to change into/outof heels if you need to. And Brighton is the famous gay capital. You see plenty of less mainstream sights in/around the town, so the sight of a man in heels doesn't usually get a second look. I offer all of the above from personal experience. I've done exactly what I've suggested. No problems. No adverse comments. No bad reactions at all. Apart from a bad reaction from my feet the first few times that I walked in 4" heels for too many miles and hours!!! Do it, enjoy it. Hope this helps. H

Disappointingly, I've always found Faith's 9s to be on the small side. Only time I had the opposite experience was when I found a size of their "Tina" style (remember those anyone??) in size 10 in Milton Keynes. They were way too big for my little (size 9) feets. Still, it was an unusual experience having to say "sorry, they're too big"!! River Island are generally good - their 8s are usually ok, but that might be because the leather is usually good quality so it will give a little more.

Now there's Rocky Horror AND Kinky Boots

I bet preview night is going to be a whole lot of fun ... click, click, click

The whole of the mail is normally a disappointment to me

F; Thanks for the info on the shop. I'm in town again tomorrow (Weds) so maybe I'll get to drop in and check out the stock. IT's also good to know that the staff are relaxed about males trying on their heels . Is Horsham park "safe" for dusk-time expeditions do you think?? Always seems fairly quiet during the day if you avoid the area around the leisure centre. Heelson

Well, you never know .... I just might be able to turn up .... weekdays generally easier, but depends on where I'll be working (which could be just about anywhere!). Not been to Bluewater before

Hi there Can you tell me where "near Trafalgar Sq" that shop is? It's about time I visited some shops other than the usual Covent Garden, Oxford St, High St Ken areas!! 'specially if they're selling stuff at good prices! H

Hey Dr S You don't really expect us to believe that you *only* have 2 pairs of thigh boots do you?? !!

Hi Dr Shoe does that mean that you know of somewhere UK based where they can be bought?? (the first link particularly). Apart from your garage workshop of course!!

Brighton's "reputation" is certainly very well deserved. It must be the most laid-back, relaxed, easy-going place I've ever been to. I've spent many a happy hour, at all times of the day/night, wandering around in a variety of heels. Never a single negative comment. I've had a couple of raised eyebrows (the highest raised by a hotel night security guy who I had to call to let me into my hotel one morning - around 2am - when I was wearing 5" heeled knee boots), but most people just accept it. Anything goes in Brighton. Take a trip down there for a weekend, and don't forget plenty of shoes!!

Stormie ... :rofl:

Hi Yes, I take many of my older heels out in the real world, and with my wife too. She's slightly less comfortable in public, but is getting better! She probably has more pairs of heels than I do, but not a lot more!! I'm in the UK - but haven't met up with any of the other UK people (yet). H