gwl1

Benno, I think you were just joking, but I find that remark offensive and out of line. Nazis ruthlessly imposed their twisted sense of what society should be on their victims. By contrast, while I find flip-flops repulsive, I don't restrict any persons from wearing them if they want to. I don't impose my sense of fashion on anyone else. I do offer my opinion, and that person can take it or leave it. So I think "shoe Nazi" is much too extreme. GWL HappyFeat, By flip-flops, I mean the cheap rubber thong-type or sandal type shoes you buy for a $1 at a discount store. I don't mean nice leather or vinyl sandals. It's a question of cheap junk versus better quality, fashionable footwear. I think people should wear the latter, except for the beach and the pool. Wearing cheap junk to other social affairs (church, parties, funerals) gives the message, "I don't care enough about this event to take the time and trouble to dress nicely." It's all part of the slobbing down of society. GWL

That was a GREAT adventure, Scott! Thanks for posting it. You're an inspiration! GWL

Great outing, HappyFeat. Thanks for sharing. I'll make one suggestion, though. Your bare legs in the first photo give an unfinished look to the rest of your well-put-together outfit. I would suggest striped or ribbed thin trouser socks to complete the look and carry the theme of stripes from your shirt. A tan or dark brown semi-sheer trouser sock with ribbing would be just the ticket and would improve the classy look you're trying to achieve. Bare skin is not classy, it's casual (at best) and repulsive (at worst, if the owner has blemishes, vericose veins, and other imperfections). Always consider hosiery to complete the outfit, compliment the rest of the apparel you have on, and give the message that you care enought to pay attention to details. In addition, hosiery will protect your feet from blisters, and will prevent or diminish foot odor. You will enjoy wearing those great looking heels much better without both. GWL

Stilettoscot, Kneehighs has given you some excellent advice. I would like to offer some additional comments. His comments about the shirt selection are right on. But I would suggest that there might also be other shirts (pullovers) that could look good, too, so be open and try lots of different types to see what looks good on you. Follow his advice on color, though. You don't want to look top-heavy. I would add a white shirt to the list, especially for a dressier look. It's timeless and neutral and goes with everything. I wouldn't dismiss boot cut jeans as a classy alternative, however. I think the boot cut looks good because it falls nicely over the ankle and heel and can come down closer to the floor in a smooth curved line. Just my opinion. Try some on (get them longer than you would wear with flat shoes) and see for yourself. I definitely agree with Kneehighs on trying pants as a dressier alternative. Jeans scream "casual," which is ok, but you'll look awesome with nicely pressed dress pants. There's a middle ground, too, and that's jeans that aren't denim blue. Black or khaki, for instance, might work with certain outfits to dress them up, more than casual but less dressy than slacks. I agree 100% on the Nine West shoes that Kneehighs suggests. The slightly thicker heel and the rounded toe of the Nine West shoes are timeless and definitely classy, as opposed to the more trendy red shoes you wore. Get a pair like that and wear them with black sheer hose (not to camouflage the shoes, but just because dark hose gives a classy, finished appearance). With khaki slacks you could get away with nude sheer hose. Don't wear barefoot. In spite of the fact that it's trendy, it's an unfinished look and will detract from the overall put-together appearance you're trying to achieve. Wear hose. You have great potential to wear some really knock-out outfits, and without spending too much money, you can really show off a confident look that gets you some real admiration from both genders. Go for it! GWL

Flip-flops are always inappropriate except for the beach or pool. Ugh! GWL

I walked across the P-lot, right past her husband's Porsche (him in it), and made it to my car with a smile. Waited a couple minutes, and watched the lady walk out and get into the car. Husband seemed to turn and look at my car about 3 seconds after....

He was obviously just interested in your Porsche. LOL

GWL

I'd be as far away as possible. Maybe get a job in the woman's shoe department of an upscale department store...that way I could be a patron of the bar rather than an employee! GWL

I was a late bloomer - college! I grew up with a brother, no sisters, and a mother who never wore heels, so I had no chance of trying them on as a kid. In college, the roommate of my gf asked me to take some clothes to the recycling place one time. A pair of burgundy strappy sandals with a 3" straight heel about an inch square was at the top of the bag. Needless to say, the sandals never made it to the recycle bin. I was hooked from then on! GWL

Good story! Those are the kinds of inspiration many of us need here. Not only did the bartender like your boots, her remarks to your wife reflected very well on you and your taste. Thanks for posting that! GWL

Yeah, I had a pair of Scholl's wood sole sandals. They weren't the flat heel ones for men, they were the 1.5" heeled ones for women, and I got them in size 10, I think, which was the biggest size I could find back in the 70s. I really needed them in 11, but I got by wearing them ok. They were fun but I couldn't walk very far in them. I eventually gave them away, with no regrets. I also remember a dark brown men's mule I bought with a 3 or 3.5" block heel, a 3/4" platform, and a very rounded toe. They didn't fit very well - my foot was always pushing into them too far, so I probably needed a smaller width as I have narrow feet. I eventually gave them away, too. I loved the high heel men's fashion back then, but never had great success finding shoes that fit and were comfortable. I'm doing far better today with masculine style women's loafers, slingbacks, clogs, and mules. GWL

I would agree with kneehighs. I agree that darker colors are best. Black is always classy. I think jeans could work, but they need to be a little longer and a boot cut would be the best. Black jeans or dress slacks with a wide flare would be good, but don't go for tight legs - they are fine for a slim guy like kneehighs, but they wouldn't fit in with your larger frame. A shirt with vertical stripes would be better than a solid or one with horizontal stripes, and a shirt with a collar might give your look a little more formality than a collarless one. I'm thinking a nice dark dress shirt with vertical pinstripes might look cool. For additional effect, wear the shirt untucked, so there is more of it showing. It will give you the appearance of slimming somewhat. Maybe it's just the angle, but the shoes just don't look right for your build. First of all, the stiletto heels just don't look appropriate for you. They wouldn't look right on a big woman either. I would suggest a slightly thicker tapered heel would look more fitting. Secondly, I know long toes are trendy and fashionable, but the way they kind of point upward looks a bit awkward. You can see where your real toes end and the extra long toebox starts. I think a much better look would be a pump wth a shorter toebox with perhaps an almond toe or an even more rounded toe (but not a baby-doll toe). Finally, I would recommend real leather instead of shiny black patent. Patent is too dressy for the casual outfit you have on, and even if you dress it up a little, I still think a natural leather is more classy and less slut...er, fetishy. :-) One more comment. It looks like you are wearing sheer black nylon stockings (or knee highs or pantyhose). If so, that's a very classy look and very appropriate. Opaque tights or knee highs would be good, too. If it's just the dark shadow as a result of the photography, I would suggest that you in fact DO wear black hose (sheer or opaque) as it gives a finished, put-together look to the whole outfit. These are just my suggestions and you can take them or leave them, but I think if you follow at least some of them, particularly with regard to the shoes, you'll leave people smiling and thinking, "Ya know, that's a classy looking guy, and the whole outfit really looks great on him, heels and all!" You don't want them laughing at you and thinking "What a clown!" So put your best foot forward and strut your stuff. You have my complete admiration and best wishes for some great outings! I would be glad to be seen with you! GWL

I would suggest that you shave the hair or wear dark stockings. The macho foot and the femme sandals clash. Just my opinion. Anyone else agree? GWL

Back in the 70s when heels for men were popular, I owned a pair of men's thong sandals with a 2 or 2.5" block stacked heel that was slightly smaller than the back part of the sole it supported directly above, which I always felt was a bit "femme." They had about a 1/3" thick leather sole, a 2" wide strap over the instep, a 1" heel strap, and a thong of leather that descended from the instep to between the big toe and the next toe. I loved the look, but there wasn't any arch support and walking in them soon rubbed the skin between my toes raw. I just couldn't wear them much. I was really disappointed, and eventually gave them away. I have never tried thong mules or sandals since. In fact, being the klutz I am, I never wear sandals at all. I can stub my toes too easily. Besides, I like to wear nylon hosiery (I really can't wear shoes comfortably without hose), and I'm not crazy about showing hosed toes. GWL

Daniel, My experience is the same. The "high heel" gene which we all have is not predominant in any age, race, ethnic, religious, or other group of the population. (The "nylon gene" for those who like to wear legwear is the same way.) They're just preferences we're born with and they can manifest themselves at any time in our lives. Once we're aware of it, we're stuck with it from then on, and it's hopeless and frustrating to try to live without giving in to these urges. So don't fight them! Go with the flow and enjoy your heels (and hose) and celebrate that we were LUCKY enough to be born this way! GWL

Yes, but beauty or lack of it is in the eye of the beholder. Most of us, I would predict, would not laugh at a guy in heels, because we do it often ourselves, see ourselves in the mirror, and we're used to the idea. But consider that most of the world would see a stark contrast that they couldn't figure out. "Hmmm...a guy dressed in male clothes, yet wearing obviously women's shoes. What's with this guy?" The resulting confusion can often be expressed as laughter, not meant to deride the wearer, but just as an expression of the unexpected contrast. So, just beware that what looks good to us might not look good to others - maybe most others. Not yet anyway. In 5 or 10 years, as more and more of us get seen, it will become less uncommon to see a guy in heels, and a person who laughed the first time might not laugh the next time. There will exist a pigeonhole in his/her mind that stores the image and experience from the first time. As an analogy, remember when you first saw a guy wearing earrings? Your mouth probably fell open. Maybe you laughed? You certainly stared. Not so after seeing them a couple more times and today, who hardly even notices? It's pretty common, right? GWL

Go to a library or newstand and get some men's fashion magazines. Thumb through them and get some ideas of what you like or don't like. Imagine the photos with heels on, or better yet, search the shoe stores on the internet to find some pics of heels in various orientations, print them out on your printer in various sizes, and paste them over the shoes on the magazine photos (or scan the mag photos and do it all in Photoshop or similar program). Then go shopping, either at upscale places where you can get the shirts, pants, sweaters, and so on, or at an economy place like Wal-mart, or a middle ground, like Target or Penney's. You might also consider heels that taper but aren't pencil-thin stilettos. They might be more stable, safer (won't get caught in cracks and grates) and be a little less femme, so they don't contrast so much with the trendy menswear. In other words, it might look more thoughtfully "put together," whereas stilettos, which usually scream "girlie," might not blend as well. As far as colors, remember that contrasts are eye-catching. If you wear dark pants and light shoes, that will attract attention. Red will attract attention. Black shoes (except black patent) won't attract attention unless they're stilettos with white skin showing above the vamp. Black stockings or tights are always more classy looking than bare skin or light colored hosiery. Just some ideas. Hope this helps. GWL

Weird is in the eye of the beholder. While most of us think heels look great (i.e., non-weird) on guys, there are a lot people in the world who are very narrow minded and can't imagine heels on a guy, less accept it when they see it, so to them it's weird. Who cares? Wear what looks good and feels good to you. GWL

First of all, welcome to this forum, Blacksmith; glad to have you aboard. It always amazes me that people think their own family, neighborhood, ethnic group, tribe, or clan is the most intolerant of all when it comes to accepting fashion that's different. "I live in a small town (or big city) that's too redneck (or too conservative). I could never wear heels around here." We hear that all the time. Well, guess what? It ain't so. The grass is brown on BOTH sides of the fence! So ignore those demons in your head and wear what you want to. The folks around you are no different than those anywhere else. It's a mixed bag - some will notice and others won't; some will be intolerant and others accepting; some will say something (mostly immature teenage girls who giggle a lot when they're in groups), and others (most people, actually) won't. So, as Shakespeare said, "Be true to thyself" and wear whatever pleases YOU.

I frequently visit another forum, Legwear as Unisex Fashion, which advocates that tights, pantyhose, and stockings are ok for men to wear also. They agonize over many of the same issues we do here. It's amazing how similar the posts are in many respects. There's no doubt that men are more insecure than women when it comes to apparel. Take a look, if you're interested, at:

http://forums.delphiforums.com/legwearuf

Another source of interest is Comfilon's web site at www.comfilon.com -they sell nylon hosiery and loungewear for men. Under the tab Customer Support there are FAQs and then OAQs (Occasionally Asked Questions). Scroll down to the OAQ called "Will people think I'm gay?" and read it. It's the best answer I've ever seen to this issue of why people think men who wear items of women's clothing are gay, and you could easily substitute heels for legwear. I especially like the "conversation" at the end. Memorize it and use it on the next person who questions your sexual preference!

GWL

We've really got two situations here and I think some analysis might help sort them out. 1. Some of us like to wear heels more for the appearance and presentation, and we get our satisfaction from the mindset that we're mimicking the female form (or at least presenting our legs and feet in a way that usually only females do). To those of us in this camp, it's all about looks, fashion, style, and (our personal vision of) beauty. 2. Others of us wear heels more for the feeling than the appearance. I'm in this camp. I don't want to look female. I don't have many feminine characteristics, anyway, and I would never pass as a female. I've never crossdressed, but I do enjoy wearing heels (and hose) and I wear the more masculine styles in public. But not to look feminine. I just like the feeling. I like what higher heels do to my arches, I like the extra 2 to 3 inches in height, I like the fact that women's shoes usually have a full smooth insole, a nylon-hosiery-friendly soft interior (often padded fabric or supple leather), I like their lighter weight, and I like their varied heel heights. If they made such shoes for men, I'd gladly wear them. I don't care if the shoes are women's. I wear what I like and heels happen to be made for women in today's era. It wasn't always that way though. Fashion isn't static. It changes and that's what many of us here want to see! Men's shoes are flat and boring. And where there are two camps, "the truth is often in between." I'm sure there are many who wear heels for BOTH reasons, in various proportions. In summary, there's a whole spectrum of why we like to wear heels, not just the two choices above. GWL

Hey, Crotchboots, go easy on Anakin_Heels. He's a new member, only posted twice. Don't flame or bash him. Welcome him with a smile and be polite. He's probably nervous and inexperienced, and may not have the confidence that you and others possess in pushing the envelope. I thought your comeback was impolite and uncalled for. This board is supposed to be a support group, and your response was anything but supportive. I would like to see you apologize. To Anakin_Heels: I'm sorry your inquiry post was met with such disdain, but to the question you posed, you will get as many different opinions as there are members who reply. "Girlie" is in the eye of the beholder. If you like those shoes, wear them. Your opinion is the only one that counts. My opinion, for what it's worth and that's not much, is that they're not too girlie, but they're way too flat (for me). I prefer heels, as do most of the guys on this forum (which might have something to do with the name "High Heel Place."). Anyway, welcome to the forum and don't be afraid to post again. GWL

Bravo! You did very well. The choice of those pumps was excellent. They look great - not too feminine for your frame and yet quite clearly are high heeled pumps. The jeans are the right length, too, in my opinion. The fact that the pumps are a "menswear" style wasn't lost on you! My only suggestion (and this is just my view) would be to wear dark brown or black stockings to subdue the light skin showing. Dark hosiery is classy looking on men as well as women. Did you wear sheer hose or go barefoot? Were your feet tired at the end of the day? Anyway, you look great, and we look forward to next week's installment. GWL

Yep, I love clogs and mules. Clark is my favorite brand, but I like many others as well. Any ones with a high front that look like boots and a 2-3 inch block or tapered heel look unisex and are easy to wear in public anywhere, even with shorts. I have never gotten any strange looks. I have some mules that go up to 4". They look good under long jeans or slacks and with practice I have mastered a confident, natural stride without any hint of awkwardness. There is something about backless shoes that I find very attractive (as long as they're not flat), but I also go for slingbacks, too. I have several dozen pair of clogs, mules, and slings in my closet and I love them all! They're great fun. GWL

My guess is that most people who say "suitable for CD, crossdresser, transvestite, etc." are just using those terms as key words for people searching Ebay using those key search words. I overlook that silliness and just decide whether I'm interested based on the shoes themselves, never basing my decision on such descriptive words. I also ignore words like sexy, beautiful, awesome, lovely, fabulous, comfortable, etc. They're totally subjective. What's sexy or beautiful to the seller might not be to me. And how would the seller know if they're going to be comfortable on me? What REALLY annoys me most about Ebay sellers is poor photography - when you see a photo that's way too dark ("black cat in a coal mine with natural light") or a background that matches the shoes so they're camouflaged, or (worst of all) a pose (usually a top view) that doesn't show the heel! I usually just move on to the next item. GWL

Sabotalot, I sent you a private message. GWL

I would be interested. GWL