RonC

I voted boots and pumps. My most public outing was in boots for the obvious reason that a pair of 2.75" block heel boots is not very obvious. Christmas shopping at the local department store was uneventful. I much prefer to wear a shoe than a boot, however. I have worn some block heel loafer style shoes, but they were either relatively low heel, or the places I wore them weren't very public. I'm still a bit wary about wearing things that are obviously female in appearance in public settings, though I believe the day is coming. If I truly had my choice, it would be a pair of black patent classic 80's style pumps with a 4" or so stiletto heel, but that's just not gonna happen! While I have walked on pavement in shoes of that type, it was not in places where I could say they were public.

I will admit to being the type that is, I guess, trying to re-create the experience. certainly, the type of heels I choose to wear is a direct reflection of what I like to see women wearing and certainly not what looks good on a man (or at least on this man, lol). I would not be caught dead in a pair of clogs or flip-flops, as those represent everything I dislike in womens footwear. Which I guess is why I'm not much for boots either, as I was never particularly attracted to a woman in boots. I like to see the foot, and the lower the cut of the pump, the better! So while I have purchased some clunkier shoes and a pair of boots at times, it is only so I can wear them outside and enjoy the feeling of wearing heels and a womans shoe without being obvious. If I had my choice, it would be patent leather spike heels pumps and strappy heels for me, as well as for the woman walking next to me! That way I could double my pleasure of getting to observe "the experience"!

While flip-flops have their place in the world of fashion, I agree that they should not be worn with "dress" clothing. I'm sorry, but putting a few rhinstones on the toe straps does not make them "dress" shoes. And while I would prefer to see heels with dress clothes, a low pump can look quite nice as well if comfort is king. But flip-flops with a business or evening wear dress - no freakin way! Casual has gone way too far in my opinion. And to concur with some other posts, those damn rubber things shouldn't be allowed to actually leave the beach..put them on when you get there, off when you leave...lol. Can you imagine how bad those feet must smell after a day in rubber shoes? eeecch

Sounds like another nice outing, Happyfeat. After reading your reply to my comments about the more feminine styles, I do agree that certain clothing does call for a shoe that is less feminine. Actually, feminine is not the right word, more like delicate. A lovely paid of black patent pumps with pointed toes and 4" heels looks great with a dressy outfit, but under the assumption of more typical male clothing, I certainly agree that the more rounded toes and even somewhat thicker heels look just fine. I myself enjoy a pair of loafer style shoes with a thick, but at least tapered some, heel of 2.5 to 3 inches or so. And a rounded toe pump can look just as nice as a pointed toe. I also like the newer "almond" shape which is not blunt, but also not pointed. While not wearing heels while out, I did do some shopping the other day, and was usrprised at how many shoes I did try on. Went to a DSW (warehouse shoes store) and found a pair of Bandolino low cut loafer style shoes with about a 2.75 inch heel. I just grabbed them and walked to a bench, sat down and tried them on. Granted the store wasn't crowded, but that is still a large step for me. I walked up and down the aisle I was in, and alas the shoes were too tight. I move on to anoterh warehouse type store in my area known as Syms. There they have racks of shoes sorted by size, and I tried on at least five pairs there. Almost bought a pair of Nine West t-strap, open toe pumps with about a 4.5 inch heel. Couldn't believe how well a size 11 fit in those, as the other 11's weren;t too good (I mostly need a 12). I just couldn;t justufy the 40+ dollars at the moment. I also tried on a pair of pumps at a Sears store, but they were way too small. Anyway, not quite your level of experience, but it was unusual for me.

Wow, I just realized that the question I answered in the preceding reply was on the first page of this 30+ page thread, and that it likely has no meaning to anyone at this point! Guess I should have started at the newest and read backwards. Oh well, please ignore my staleness!

Payless sells male, female and childrens shoes, so I wouldn't think that receiving a Payless package would mean anything besides the fact that there are likely shoes inside. Nothing to fear if you ask me. I doubt they stamp "Hey, look what shoes this dude bought" on the outside of the package...lol

Happyfeat, I have enjoyed your postings, and I am envious. I just don;t have the nerve any more (a bit of a heart problem, and the nervousness would likely be a strain). So I will live vicariously through your posts! What I enjoy the most is that the shoes you select are more feminine that many of the guys here wear. For me, it is the thrill of wearing a more feminine heel, rather than just the heel height alone. I applaud you!

Thanks for all the great comments. As to what they could be worn woth, given the color, I'd say a pair of beige slacks would do the trick. If I was really brave, a pair of shorts would really show them off! But that's not going to happen, I'm afraid. To those having trouble with selection at Payless, it is true that you have to find the right store. Im many smaller cities and towns, you'd be hard pressed to find any size 12's at all, and they don;t have much in the way of the true dressy heels. Even in the Chicago area where I am, not all stores carry the larger sizes to any great extent. I don't mean to be the leasy bit racist here, but if one shops in the areas where the black population is larger, you will find a much wider selection of large sizes. It is a simple fact that black ladies have bigger feet than white or hispanic women, so naturally the stores in those areas will carry more large sizes. And also, they seem to carry more of the high heel styles as well. I am looking forward to being able to wear those heels for more than the few minutes I've been able to do so to date.

Thanks Radiodave. I think I will. Wish I could paint my toe nails! That would look great with the peep toes. I also like the small bow on the toe area.

Here is an alternate view showing the heels. They measure about 4".

Hi all, I just bought these today at Payless in a size 12 W (I wear a men's 101/2 US). They fit wonderfdully, and I love that they show a great deal of toe cleavage. Very nice to wear!

TC, being a toe cleavage man myself, I enjoyed those pictures. Does she wear those red heels out? They look like they would be difficult to keep on the foot! Man, those are sexy! Anytime you have more t-c heel shots, please send them along!

This was, unfortunately, a mistake. The style they showed is a womans shoe from the same manufacturer. Alsa, they are not selling heels for men (like that would happen in Chicago!). I can tell you, however, that if you're in to the more fetish type heels, there is a store at about 2200 W Belmont in Chicago called Skyscraper Heels that caters to me as well as women. Most shoes come in size 12 or even larger. This place tends toward the quite high heels (thus the name) but do not hesitate to go there to try on and buy heels. The gentleman behind the counter will even fill you in on which ones he finds most comfotable. I just can't get around too well in those five inchers!

Tough call on this one. Typically, the few times I have worn heels in public have been in male clothing, with pants that pretty much covered the entire shoe and heel. But then again, the only heels I really enjoy wearing are more feminine styles, as the shoe matters to me, not just the heel. I have also gone the full hose, skirt, heels, etc. route, but that was mainly so I could walk down the street in heels without looking like a man in heels. And even then, I did not pick a truly public area where there would be other people except in cars passing by. Given a choice, I would likely pick just a man in heels at this point in time. I sure as hell do not pass as a woman.

I personally have never been a big fan of boots, as I prefer to see the foot as well (in fact, I love toe clevage). But the other day, in my quest to find a pair of heels that I would be willing to wear in public, I actually bought a pair of 2 1/2 inch chunky heel ankle boots. Last night I decided that I was going to take the plunge. SImply wearing a piar of jeans, I put my new boots on and decided to go to a local discount department store for some shopping. I walked in the store with no one noticing, walked through the store, actually looking at some other heels, and enjoyed my time in heels. OK, so they're not the patent leather stilletos that I'd like to be wearing, but the walk about in heels was quite nice, and no one seemd to notice.

I absolutely adore the pair with the bows on the toe! Wish I had them on right now! They are so feminine. Have you ever been out in those?

It's great for everyone to say "just go anywhere", but for many of us, it just simply is not that easy. For a 50+ year old man, a bit overweight too boot, to be wearing 4" spike heel pumps in public is just not something those of us living in areas like the midwest u.s. are going to do without batting an eye. In many places, you could probably still get arrested for doing that! I agree that it would be wonderful if there would be a place where one could go and just be yourself while enjoying the sensations of walking about in your favorite heels. I think for most of us, it's just not going to happen. I have worn a few pairs of heeled loafers on the street, but only after dark and not in populated areas. Paranoid? Damn right I am, along with what I would bet are the majority of males that like to wear heels. If the number of high heels sold to men in the US was say 10,000, if you said that 10% of those shoes ever saw the light of day, I'd take the under! So if anyone would like to develop say a shopping mall where on Tuesday nights, shopping would be limited to men in high heels and anyone else that would have absolutely no problem shopping with men in high heels, I'd be sure to shop there! LOL

Just curious, some mentioned earlier that fashion says hose with sandals is a "no no". I'm wondering when this came about??? For years and years, women wore stockings with all types of shoes, including the age of the re-inforced toe and heel. A woman was not "dressed" without hosiery. Now, women hardly ever wear hose, no matter what type of shoe they are wearing. Personally, I like a stocking encased leg and foot better, but if the shoes are nice, I'm looking there first anyway! I just think that, especially for those women who toes tend to splay out in sandals, a nude color and sandal foot style of hose makes the foot a whole lot better looking.

I just bought these last week. I was feeling brave, so not only did I try them on in the store, I walked out of the mall in them. I was freaking out, but I don't think anyone noticed (except the sales girl at Naturalizer, of course). They are a bit snug, but the heels are nice, and they make just the right amount of noise, not real loud, but definitely the sound of a heel. They look like this:

http://www.naturalizeronline.com/zoom.asp?img=60019&div=NAT&pn=ANTHEM

I hope this works.

I happen to be a toe cleavage lover, and the shoe needs to stay on the foot. I find nothing more annoying than seeing a woman in pumps with the shoe flapping around like a fish out of water. Fine for mules, but not pumps. In terms of toe cleavage, the shoes at Classic Pumps are what I prefer. Those at Lovely Shoes go a bit too far in most cases.

Thanks for the support gang. If I could figure out how to do it, I'd post a picture of the shoes I wore!

I actually went out in public in heels yesterday! Bought a pair of loafer style shoes with heels of about 2 1/2", not real high, but they were womens heels. After trying them on in the local Kohls store, I went to the car and changed into a pair of black trouser socks and slipped on the heels. I went back into the mall and walked through Sears and JC Pennys with them on. I don't think anyone even looked, and if they did, I didn't make any eye contact with anyone, so I don't really know if anyone notices. Hey, they weren't 4" stilletos, but they were obviously higher heels and more fem looking than a mans shoe! I was nervous but loved it. I actually walked around the womens shoe section at Sears with several other women trying on shoes at the time!

I actually went out in public in heels yesterday! Bought a pair of loafer style shoes with heels of about 2 1/2", not real high, but they were womens heels. After trying them on in the local Kohls store, I went to the car and changed into a pair of black trouser socks and slipped on the heels. I went back into the mall and walked through Sears and JC Pennys with them on. I don't think anyone even looked, and if they did, I didn't make any eye contact with anyone, so I don't really know if anyone notices. Hey, they weren't 4" stilletos, but they were obviously higher heels and more fem looking than a mans shoe! I was nervous but loved it. I actually walked around the womens shoe section at Sears with several other women trying on shoes at the time!

Well, it was 50-50 that I was definitely a woman. I do like the use of the word definitely, when the level of certainty was only 50%. Good thing the other 50% was male, 'cause last I looked, that thing was still there!

I finally have a chance to wear some heels today! I have on a pair of beige pantyhose, a black straight skirt that belongs to my wife, and a pair of black patent 4" spike heel pumps made by Carressa! Yes, it does feel quite nice!