Heelster

OK - - - - I'm thinking that's kinda creepy looking - - Hmmmmmmmm

Gotta think on this one - - that's about a US women's 10 - - my size - - hmmmmmm

@kneehighs - - I can understand your frustration, but keep in mind I do believe you see things from a different viewpoint than most of us. You appear to have some involvement in the industry, and we don't. I see what is around me, and that gives me a very limited viewpoint. When I travel, I get to see some differences, but it's still limited. When I was in Linz Austria for a couple days, it was completely different. The fashion trickle down was evident though not drastic.

You mentioned middle class - - The middle class in the U.S. is virtually gone. We have the working class that wishes to work, and the middle class poor. Fashion is determined by the chain stores. There isn't an H&M within 30 miles of me (or more) and a vast majority of retail shopping stores / malls are dying. Matter of fact, buying a good men's suit means I'm gonna have to travel to do so. There aren't many places other than "Men's Warehouse" that carry a half decent suit.

The only store franchise that stocks when they show on the runway is Victoria's Secret. Your not going to find any of the designers from the men's fashion runway in the Midwest. Even if there might be a store in Chicago, or St Louis, - - - Who are they going to sell too. Not the guy who works in jeans and work boots.

It's been mentioned (or hinted too) that the gay guys are more fashionable. One thing my wife and I have noticed, and even discussed with a gay couple at a gay wedding was the fact that all the guys in attendance not married with children seemed to be dresses much nicer. The fellas had an answer - - - they both were working at good jobs, and had more financial means to do so. These two were clearing $75,000 plus a piece, and in the Midwest, $150,000 is a damned decent amount for a couple of guys that don't need a 3 bedroom house in a good school district. The other couples at the table all agreed with the assessment.

So - - The runway isn't realistic for me - - I can't buy it here, I can't afford it, I have nowhere to wear it.

Yes, it's a limited viewpoint, but it's the view from my front window. It's all I have to look at.

13 hours ago, Shyheels said:

It is a start that will go precisely nowhere if they do not speak to the man on the street. Men do not exactly have a history of taking fashion cues from the runway. Secondly, selling the idea of men in heels is not the same as deciding the look this spring should be floaty instead of pants suits, or that chartreuse should be the new black. The social bias against men in heels runs very deep and broad, and strikes at the very core of masculinity. And when it comes to questioning their/our masculinity, men are an extremely conservative bunch - for a whole lot of deeply ingrained reasons, not least of which is the fact that most women have bought into this same social bias.

So attempting to effect a radical change by playing up to the very same weird, gay, or androgynous stereotypes most men want to avoid at all costs - and which most rank and file women would prefer they avoided as well - is not going to succeed. It is not a start. It is merely self indulgence by a few precious fashion designers.

I'm gonna have to agree with you on this in a multitude of ways. I don't see the fashion industry having a positive, or for that matter, any affect on the male population when it comes down too it. Most men don't buy fashion - - Period.

The way to get fashion ideas into the men's world is to get the women to want their men to wear a specific fashion. Get the women to buy into a concept, and then some of the men will follow along. If you get the wife to want to have the husband wearing something new in design, chances are it may happen.

Concept:  His and her kilts - matching shoes (his not as high, but not flat) - Matching shorts - Boots - 

When stores like JC Penney, H&M, Hot Topic(Torrid), and Target get the women of the world to coax the men forward, you'll have a movement. Otherwise, all the fashion on the runway goes nowhere.

Another way - - Get the Cleveland Cav's or the Ohio State Buckey's to wear and endorse a style - - Jackpot!!

4 hours ago, Shyheels said:

Two hundred and fifty years later we have not moved very far.

And in some cases, we are moving backwards.

3 minutes ago, mlroseplant said:

I realize that this is a general poll, but the reason I didn't put public full time is because I simply can't wear heels at work, as it isn't allowed in construction. Otherwise, I'm pretty much in heels all the time.

Same here - - - Steel mills and High Heels just don't work.

Question #3 - I will wear short skirts around the house, but I've limited my outing to items that are more traditional to men even though they may be from the other side of the aisle.

7 hours ago, Shyheels said:

I think you might be being a bit hard on Neanderthals!

The original Neanderthals were most likely more advanced than the current species.

Hate to say this, but I recently discovered I have co-workers from around the country that are so far off the scale, I would never even wear anything not of the proper gender. Up until this week. I have never heard such right wing bigoted racist Neanderthal discussions. I though the locals were bad, but after hearing these guys, and some other travellers at a hotel - - - - lets just say I was shocked. Age range from Vietnam vets to 25 year old guys.

I now have a better understanding as to some of the reasons why Donald Trump just might win - - - 

6 hours ago, Rockpup said:

This is Florida. I've worn a suit 3 times in 15 years, my wedding, a friends wedding, and court

I got ya beat - - - wedding - - 1986

And I'm up North.

Exactly @Shyheels - As long as heels are associated with homosexuality, they will never make it with regular guys. 

On 6/13/2016 at 1:39 PM, robbiehhw said:

Even stylish fast fashion success stories like Old Navy, H&M etc. Tend to market fairly casual but trendy clothing. Still, i see a lot of heels on women and of course boots and ankle boots are very common now. The uptick in boots is a trend that i like a lot.

 

 

Lucky dog  - - - 

18 minutes ago, Shyheels said:

Can't we all just dress nicely, and leave the sweats to the gym and the flip-flops to the beach?

The concept is there, but the reality of it has since gone away. Some of the better quality stores such as Macy's as an example would have clothing designs and fashions that would be much more acceptable from your viewpoint, but getting people to wear these styles on a casual basis won't happen at $35.00 a shirt. Granted, there are some exceptional deals out there, but Jeans and a tee shirt are pretty much accepted anywhere. Also consider,  a pair of Nike trainers are rather expensive, but they can also wear them anywhere.

At one time, I worked in an office cubicle farm where men wore shirts and ties. I only saw the same people every day. It wasn't like I was dealing with customers and vendors. As I soon learned, you can dress an idiot up but they are still idiots. At that point, I determined that a dress tie was nothing more than a noose one puts around his own neck.

I was in Linz Austria recently, and I noticed that people dressed much better than they do in the US. No sweats, pajama pants, and crappy anything else. It was definitely different to see, and yes, I saw some nice heels too.

I had to go into town the other day to pick up some items, and I saw sweats, Pajama pants, board shorts, tee shirts, wife beaters, and jeans. Sneakers, and flipflops. Stops I made were Walmart, gas station, auto parts store, grocery store, and a pharmacy. I probably saw 250 people on a weekday after work, and nobody was dressed half as well as the as the Austrians on a weekend.

I don't know how the fashion industry stays alive. the 99% can buy buy a week's worth of clothes for $35.00 at a Walmart and then one pair of sneakers. They are good to go.

48 minutes ago, Shyheels said:

Like they say in that charmingly artless song in Chicago, what ever happened to class?

Walmart doesn't sell class - cheap and easy.

2 hours ago, Shyheels said:

I see guys, and gals, looking like they are just back from the beach or the gym - board shorts, grubby T-shirt, flip flops, cheap polyester sweats. It is just so crass. 

I see that everyday - - - and worse. It's the new norm.

===== Interesting  !!

@Shyheels

Regarding flying .

Thanks to TSA and dumbass terrorists, anything that makes it easier to clear Customs and TSA checks is fine by me. I know a couple women that pack all their dress wear in luggage and wear sweats and slippers - - - easier and faster.

Hard to believe but I had to go through customs and TSA at O'hara recently. I had over 2 hours of layover, and caught my connecting flight with 2 minutes to spare. Peel off your shoes, your jackets, anything in pockets, belts, metal anything, take laptop out of bag - - - 

I wore boots with a full zipper because it was the fastest footwear I had - - - 

Done -----although the questions could have been set up in a better method. Nobody here only likes one style of heel etc. 

Gentlemen:   Let's behave as such.

I will give him all the credit due for his actions as a humanitarian, Civil rights activist, as a boxer, and as a true sportsman. I will not comment on his other actions as he fought his way through our legal system in an honorable way, and those who have to make those decisions have done so.

The measure of his life and actions are no longer ours to determine - - -   

I see a consensus developing  - - 

Will put together a post sometime soon.

3 minutes ago, Steve63130 said:

If you have the time to post pics and brief descriptions of the brand and condition, you might be able to find homes for them here on the forum, especially for those who don't have much money to spend on shoes but would be willing to pay postage. Just a suggestion.

Sorry for your disappointment.

Steve

Ahhh - - - just par for the course lately.

Your thought is a consideration. Will see what my other cohorts have to say.

Well - - the verdict is in - - - @maninpumps - - you've got bigger feet than me. I picked up 10 pair from @Thighbootguy last Saturday morning, and I just tried them on. All 10 are too big for me.

Question is, where should they go from here. Do we list them with pic's and see if anyone else needs size 12 (and a 13), Bring them back south, or make a generous donation to the local Goodwill shops.

Gentlemen - - your call

Welcome to the group. Depending on the park, wearing heels would most likely not be the normal shoe for 'a walk in the park'. I've gone shopping at the big mall in South Bend a few times (can't remember the name) on my travels through there. If your near, I'll let you know if I'm going to be in the neighborhood.

47 minutes ago, maninpumps said:

TBG , I was in a hurry that day . I had to get to a hospital in Louisville . Mom's health was getting worse . She passed a week later . Had it been under different circumstances that day , we could have had a late lunch or headed over to General Butler State Park . They have a lot of paths there . May be a good place to meet up again . Just an idea.... 

I know where that is - - driven by many times. May be within a couple miles of that park in the next week or so.

4 hours ago, Thighbootguy said:

Steve look back in this thread just a bit, this was our second meeting.  I'm sure we will meet up again. 

One of the pair I gave heelster  were these Nine West heels that were just too small for me to wear comfortably:

Don't wait too long to get the shoes out of the trunk.  The potentially high temperatures are really bad for the adhesives holding the shoes together.

 

Lucky for me I live in the woods, but I have already taken them out. Saw the pair your showing, but I haven't tried any on yet. Maybe while I'm working the grill this evening - - - !!

Just now, Shyheels said:

No doubt who they were for, then

---- Bingo---!!!