fashionablefun

Thanks for the translation. That helps.

cb17 Thanks a million for that gem of a find!!! Lets go show our support at the blog and add in our own two cents in the comments section.

The response in the comments section seems good too!

That will make a great addition to the myspace bulletin as well. Wonder if there are any spanish speaking members here who can take the time to interpret the passage for us?

Anybody got this translated yet? I'm really curious whether the tone of the article is mocking, deferential or supportive.

KH, you've got to get this on the myspace page. When I Googled "heels on men" I saw that the Mirabella blogger had offered original photo scans to Bryanboy. Maybe she would offer the same to you, which would be much better than the scans from the printed magazine.

I have to admit, I really like these photos. The combination of true heels coordinated with fashionable clothes, photographed with style is unbeatable. These need to be more widely distributed.

Here's a another blogger (with Candy in the name) who has both me and Kneehighs together:

http://hipcandy.blogspot.com/2007/03/style-verdict-hetero-men-in-heels.html

This is the first time I've seen the Holly Candy blog, but it's not the first blog I've seen with my photo on it. I've seen myself in the same photo on a few other blogs. Youv'e probably seen them as well, but I am a bit surprised at how many there are. I sometimes wonder if I'm the right individual, or if, in fact, I want to be the "poster boy" for the movement. I frankly think Kneehighs is much better suited for that job. Nonetheless, I like the idea of congreating the links in this thread. Keep it up Kneehighs.

I agree with Kneehighs AND Flavio. You don't have to like them to be open-minded about things.

I went to out to eat at fast food restaurant in this very outfit earlier this week, with a busy downtown weekday lunch crowd and then off to FedEx/Kinko’s to ship a package. While standing in line at FedEx, I noted a woman copying nearby with basically the same outfit, differing only in jacket color. I purposely positioned myself for good views of each other, though no exchanges were made. In fact, it was all rather uneventful, except perhaps on the way back to my car. Construction was going on in the building lobby and the normal flooring had been removed. The sound of my heels on the bare cement echoed through the cavernous, unfurnished lobby like gunshots. Though relatively empty of people, one gentleman turned to see just whose shoes were making such a racket. We caught only a quick glimpse of each other, but I can’t help but wonder if he was surprised, confused or intrigued. The footwear is fully described in photo number 6 in this thread.

I had a funny experiece last week when I wore a similar outfit to the public library: the same pointy, stilletto boots (described more fully with a different view in Photo 6 of this thread), jeans, but a different jacket. Though I'm pretty comfortable in public with whatever my choice of footwear, I had not been to the library before in heels. So I walked in confident, but very conscious of the boots I was wearing. I noticed a young man working behind a computer with spiky, pink hair and wearing a tank top. A few minutes later I saw the rest of his outfit: white belt and low rise jeans tucked into 4" high, chunky heeled, white platform boots. And that's not all. Attached to the top of the boot was stringy, white fringe, about 5" long, they swayed as he moved. The entire ensemble was so outrageously over the top (at least for a public library, in the middle of the day), that I had to laugh at myself, to even think that what I was wearing would gather inappropriate attention -- or any attention at all. It was a little much for me, but he clearly could care less what people thought. I went ahead with my own business, sittting down at another computer, completely exposing my heels, but not giving an instant's thought to my own outfit again.

This is what I would call a classic (freestyle) fashion look: jeans, white shirt, black jacket and pointy black stilettos. It has the formality of jacket and heels paired together with informality of jeans. Despite the heels, it’s not an attention grabber and when I wear the outfit, no one seems to pay any particular notice. It’s the same boots as photo number 6 in my Fashionably Fun collection thread (where a view of the heel is much more evident than this photo). http://www.hhplace.org/discuss/guys/5763-fashionably_fun_collection.html I wore the exact combination around town earlier this week, as described in the same thread.

I went to out to eat at fast food restaurant in this very outfit earlier this week, with a busy downtown weekday lunch crowd and then off to FedEx/Kinko’s to ship a package. While standing in line at FedEx, I noted a woman copying nearby with basically the same outfit, differing only in jacket color. I purposely positioned myself for good views of each other, though no exchanges were made. In fact, it was all rather uneventful, except perhaps on the way back to my car. Construction was going on in the building lobby and the normal flooring had been removed. The sound of my heels on the bare cement echoed through the cavernous, unfurnished lobby like gunshots. Though relatively empty of people, one gentleman turned to see just whose shoes were making such a racket. We caught only a quick glimpse of each other, but I can’t help but wonder if he was surprised, confused or intrigued. The footwear is fully described in photo number 6 in this thread.

Not excepting the intricacies of trigonometry, I think it might be more interesting to know both height and shoe size. Inasmuch as there is certainly a relationship, we might guage how different we are from the norm. For instance, I'm 6 feet, and take a size 9 (US men's) or 10.5-11 (US women's). I think that's small for my height, but I'm not certain.

As others have mentioned, I have almost never had any of my footwear repaired. They go out of fashion; I toss them and get something new. There was an exception just recently however. I decided to repair a pair of riding boots I’ve had for 13-15 years. When I took the boots in for repair I was wearing new, brown, round-toed, 4-inch, thick-heeled boots. You can see the riding boots in my Fashionably Fun Collection photo #17 and the boots I was wearing in #18. http://www.hhplace.org/discuss/guys/5763-fashionably_fun_collection-6.html#post120007 A stylish, older woman was being helped at the counter. She first looked at the riding boots I plopped on the counter and then glanced down at the brown boots I was wearing, then up to my face, and back down to the floor again. She didn’t say anything -- but I think she liked them (or at least I choose to think so). The shoe repair guy certainly thought nothing of either pair of boots.

I like the way the brown sweater coat fits beneath your sport jacket. It creates a nice white "V" shape near your waist and near your chest, which looks great. Plus, the whole layering effect is coordinated well.

Great outfit.

Thanks Kneehighs. I always like to show my belt. The sweater with the zippers going both directions allows that. For similiar reasons I ilke short shirts and jackets that reveal the belt -- particularly when the belt is coordinated with the footwear.

I mentioned to Kneehighs, when we went to dinner together a few months ago, that I was interested in pair of round-toed, sturdy heeled boots (though at the time, we we’re both wearing stilettos). I had found these at Nordstrom’s soon thereafter and had them with me at the Halloween New York Heel Meet, where I was in town attending a conference. I tried to hook up with the group, but we didn’t make connections. Nonetheless, I strutted through Grand Central Station in the exact outfit you see here: slim, straight, black jeans from Express, brown sweater and jacket and my new brown, 4-inch boots. I took the subway down to SoHo and shopped around for a couple of hours with no one even taking a second glance, as far as I could tell. Went into a few stores and tried on a few outfits to see how it looked with the new boots. I like them with the slim jeans, where they are much more visible. Under boot cut jeans, the boots just seem invisible. These are brown, 4-inch heel, size 10, B.P. brand, which is Nordstrom’s house brand. I tried them on in the store, first asking for a size 11, but to my surprise they were too big and bought the 10.

Here’s a tucked-in-pants outfit I rather like with my riding boots (that I describe in detail in photo #17 in my Fashionably Fun Collection thread), but here paired with a sort-of military looking jacket. I’ve worn the boots in public, tucked in as shown, but haven’t yet paired it with the jacket – but I’m sure I will.

This #17 from the Fashionably Fun Collection is one of very few that I’ve had for a long time. These riding boots are 13-15 years old and they were replacements to other, similar pairs I’ve had before. I recently decided to repair the worn heels and try them out again. The boots come up high on the leg, but the heels are only half-an-inch high. I doubt that I would ever wear 4 inch heeled boots tucked into jeans (though I regularly wear them otherwise). These flat boots are another matter, however.

I remember tucking them into my pants years ago. I recall when I was in a fraternity in college (which was, indeed, years ago) I wore riding boots tucked into a pair of corduroy pants at a fraternity meeting in our frat house. During the meeting, I was called to the front door of the house to respond to two attractive females who had come to personally ask me out to a sorority party. I distinctly recall being very conscious of my footwear and the perceived attention there from, only to be all the more spotlighted, as I strode up to the front door to talk to the two young women in my completely exposed boots.

I’ve worn them again since repairing them just last week. This photo shows the exact outfit I wore to breakfast at local bagel restaurant on Thursday. The boots are black, size 11, from a (perhaps now defunct) women’s store called Pappagallo. The jeans are white, a slim and straight model from Express, paired with a black jacket. Not surprisingly, no comments from anyone in the restaurant. Not certain if anyone even noticed.

Thought it’s time to upload a couple photos for the collection. I’ve got some newer ones that I haven’t shot yet, but theses are a little older and I’m not certain I even like them anymore. This Number 15 in particular is a little odd—some kind of combination athletic shoe and high heel, I guess. Last year we were remodeling our kitchen and every time I visited the place making our countertops I wore a different pair of heels (#6, #3, #. I never got any response until about the fourth visit when I was wearing this pair. The guy helping me, about a 45 year old male, said “Those are some cool shoes” as he strained to get a better look. I just said thanks. They are Dollhouse brand, size 11, bought and tried at a Journey’s shoe store in the mall.

These are a pair I bought on a whim at for only $5 at a Famous Brands help-yourself style shoe store. They are suede, round toe, size 11, some meaningless brand. I was trying them on in front of everybody so when I went to the cash register to pay for them, I was sure the young male clerk was going to ask me about the boots I was buying when he said, “Can I ask you something?” Sure, “I said.” “Where did you buy your jeans?”

I too enjoyed our dinner and conversation, but after reading of your experiences after we parted, I would hardly call our dinner the highlight of the evening -- you indeed had fun. If I only I were young and single again...

Thanks for the defense at the Fashion Spot!

Did you know that membership there is now "by invite only?"

Your welcome Kneehighs. Your post at The Fashion Spot wasn't getting much traction, so I thought a bump would help it. I didn't know it now requires membership. Maybe it's good we got in when we did (though I don't post often.)

I’ve got a few more photos coming, but first a story. This past weekend I was in Hollywood for a conference. After the conference was over, I spent a couple days shopping and sightseeing, much of it in heels. I brought a couple pairs with me for that very purpose. I mostly wore my black stiletto Nine West boots (#6), together with my Seven jeans (# 2 & 5) black blazer (#9), white dress shirt. I feel when wearing heels, it’s appropriate to be a little more dressy, even when paired with jeans. I walked up and down the famous sidewalk of stars, who’s names are embedded in the cement, just clicking my way right over the top of all of them. It was early evening, not yet dark, but very crowded with people. As others have pointed out, when it’s crowded, even fewer notice. There are just too many people in the way.

I did go into an Express store to try on some skinny jeans with my heels. A female sales associate helped me locate my size, but a male sales associate was running the changing rooms. After trying on my first pair of jeans, I walked out of the changing room to show them to the sales associate and asked him for another pair in a different fit. He didn’t blink an eye as he looked at the fit (and obviously my heels) and retrieved my request. I didn’t end up liking the skinny jeans – just too tight around the ankles. I thought the straight or mild boot-cut were better. Just for fun I also went into a Hot Topic, a gothic store and asked if they had my size in this round toe, black patent, 4 inch heel:

http://www.hottopic.com/store/product.asp?LS=0&ITEM=397167 But they didn’t. A 9 or 10 years old boy in the store was the only person I saw all day that took any note of my footwear, with a double take or two.

The next day I went shopping at the Beverly Hills shopping mall with the same outfit, but with a T-shirt instead of the dress shirt. I got to the mall early; not realizing the stores didn’t open until 11:00. I first bought some food and sat at a high stool table. All the better to see someone’s shoes – but no one seemed to. I had more time to kill, so I walked over to a couch, sat down and called someone on my mobile phone. I also couldn’t help but notice a tall, attractive female sitting on the same couch wearing heels. I intentionally sat down just opposite her while carrying on my phone conversation. My heels were in full exposed view, just a few feet away. After I was done talking on my phone, I thought she might say something about our mutual footwear, because we did have a short conversation while I relaxed for a few minutes -- but we only talked about when the stores would be opening up. She was certainly friendly, very fashionably dressed and couldn’t have missed what I was wearing, but no comments.

When the stores opened up, I went into the Nine West store (wearing my Nine West boots) and asked to try on a pair of 3.5 inch high-heeled loafers that I saw. They only had them up to a size 10. I tried them on, but the fit was tight. The female sales associate offered to search for a larger pair on their computer and happily provided me the results of where I could get my size. It was so normal you’d think guys were always shopping in their (women’s only) store wearing 4-inch heels.

I visited a few other convenience stores in the same outfit. It was all fashionably fun.

I recall once I was wearing 4" stiletto boots with long jeans, while stopped in the middle of a downtown crosswalk awaiting the light to change. On the opposite side was a young man with a surprised expression looking at my footwear. As the signal changed and I started to walk forward, I saw him pull out his phonecam and click a picture. I was headed a slightly different direction, but came within 10 feet of him. No further exchanges between us occurred, but I've often wondered if his photo turned out and what he would ever do with it.

I bought these at Aldo’s. I went in to the store last winter and saw two pairs of boots that I was interested in. Both of them black, tall boots, both with a stiletto heels. I asked to try them on in a 10, but one of two I couldn’t even get my foot inside and the other was too tight for comfort. The female sales associate said larger sizes were available on their website and I could return them to the store if they didn’t work out. So I ordered both pairs online. When the boots came in, I decided I only truly liked the pair you see here. I thought it might be interesting to wear my preferred boots back to the store as I returned the unwanted pair. I did so and while there, proudly pointed to the pair I was wearing, explaining that I was keeping these. The two female sales associates seemed to think nothing of the situation, but a male sales associate was fascinated by my footwear. Though he never said anything, he followed me around the store, looking at my feet the entire time and was still catching glimpses as I left the store and strolled into the shopping mall. They’re a Euro size 41. They have a 4-inch heel, but the outsole gives them a more androgynous appearance. Here worn with Seven jeans, T-shirt and black jacket.

Thanks for the nice comments. I’ve got more (quite a few more, actually).

This is a heeled loafer by Bandolino, black, size 11, with a rounded toe, worn here with a suit from Express. The round toe gives it rather normal appearance from the front, although making a rather small footprint. I like the look, though. I’ve worn these shopping at the mall and even sat down with crossed legs, allowing everything to be easily observed. As is typical, however, nobody seemed to notice.

The winter before last I was obsessed with a desire for a low-heeled boot. I found these at Nordstorm department store. They’re a Stuart Weitzman, black, ankle boot, with an unusual splayed heel shape. As I often do, I saw them first but came back on another day to try them on. When trying on shoes in the store, I prefer to choose my outfit for the day, appropriate for the shoes I’m interested in. I figure it’s unusual enough for the sales associate; I ought to try to make the whole outfit work together. I came back to Nordstorm wearing the same pair of long dressy trousers shown here. I got the attention of young, attractive female sales associate and asked if they had them in a size 10. She brought them out and I simply said, “I’d like to try them on”. She helped me do so, but they were a little tight, which is often the case with size 10’s for me. But inasmuch as larger sizes are not always stocked, I like to start with a 10, because sometimes they work. The sales associate said she’d be happy to order me in a 10.5 or 11, without obligation and I could come back later. I said, sure and gave her my phone number. A couple weeks later she called and they were in and I went in and tried on both sizes and walked out with the 11. The interesting thing about a shorter heel, as I think Kneehighs pointed out once, is that they actually show more so than a higher heel. But their a nice alternative to 4 inchers.

Stuart Weitzman

Here’s an easily worn ankle boot, Candies, tan, size 10. The square toe and block heel make them pretty innocuous, in my opinion. On the other hand, I was wearing them in an American Eagle clothing store on one occasion, when a teenage female asked me the “Are you gay?” question. To which I responded, “No, why do you ask?” She said, “Oh, I don’t know, I ask a lot of people.” I was certainly going to act as if everything was absolutely normal. We just went on with our mutual shopping.

These are a good choice, when I want something fashionably heeled, but not stilettoed (is that a word?). They are pointed, with a nearly 4 inch heel which is thin, but not chunky, but with an outsole. I wear these most anywhere. Not long ago to lunch with a relative. Of course, not even noticed. They are Candies brand, black, size 10, purchased at Macy’s a couple years ago.

I thought a photo on my vintage Vespa would look cool. These are a pair of Nine West high boots, with a center seam in front, (not really visible in this shot) as opposed to numbers 1 and 6 (which are both Nine West ankle boots without a center seam). These are about 3 years old and an early move away from the chunkier styled boots that were more popular before (which I still have, but don’t wear much).

Here’s a little action shot of something Heel-D might like: a pair of flats from Nordstrom (house brand), red, size 11. I remember wearing these to lunch last summer, when someone sat near me and introduced herself, saying she recognized me from another occasion she saw me with someone she knew. Her unusual outgoing personality made me wonder if she was going to say something about my footwear. But she didn’t. I suppose that’s only normal.

Although I’ve previously posted these first four photos in the Freestyle Fashion thread, I decided to start a new thread with numbered pictures. I’ve shot over 20 photos of my footwear collection and decided it would be helpful to reference each with a number. I’m posting a few at a time, as I get them ready. Inasmuch as I’m interested in the total look, I’ve shot photos that show how each shoe or boot coordinates with the rest of the outfit. Some I’ve mentioned before on the board and I’ll link back to my original posts when appropriate. I’ve worn everything you see in public many times, although I mix them up with other genderless footwear.

Nine West ankle boot, blood red, size 10.5, bought about 1.5 years ago. I mentioned the purchase in this post:

http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?p=74451#74451

Also talked about these same boots in a post about shopping for jeans:

http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?p=74731#74731

My attempt at walking ‘catwalk style’ in the same boots:

Antonio Melani (Dillard’s house brand) tall boot, tan, size 10, 2 years old. I posted an interesting exchange about these boots when I visited my dry cleaner here: http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?p=85659#85659

Also mentioned these same boots in a post about eating out in a fast-food restaurant:

http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?p=72897#72897

Here’s the kind of thing I wear anywhere, with anybody. Banana Republic ankle boot, black, size 10, about 3 years old

This is a new purchase, Nine West stiletto pumps, dark brown, size 11. I shot this photo just before wearing this exact outfit to an outdoor shopping mall Saturday evening: Seven jeans, a white blazer from Express, white knit shirt and the pumps. I’m little less confident wearing pumps than boots, but I’m getting better. While walking up and down the length of the shopping mall I thought about Kneehighs recent video clip. It was about the same time in the evening and there were a lot of people around, but no one was actually paying any attention to what I was wearing. It would have been fun to see a video of me. I stopped outside a new women’s shoe store. I was interested in going in to see out what they had, and perhaps generate a comment on my own footwear, but I chickened out when I noted the number of male shoppers inside the store. I’m more confident with females. I came back again later, but the store had closed by then. The whole time, I saw only one person, turn back to get a second glance at me. I also wore this same outfit to lunch the other day, which I mentioned in an earlier post:

http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?p=110271#110271

These are another pair of Nine West ankle boots, size 10.5, black, same model as the red boots in photos 1 and 2. I’ve worn these out and about many times, including to the hairstylist mentioned above, more often with jeans, but occasionally with dressy trousers as shown here. I previously spoke about these boots in long post about shopping in a high-end SoCal mall:

http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?p=84925#84925

And again while standing in line at Wal-Mart:

http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?p=78746#78746

Here’s a casual outfit with a pair of plain cowboy boots, exactly as I wore to work last week: Bakers brand, tan, size 11. Bakers is the women’s shoe store found in many malls. I tried these on in the store as I generally do when shopping for footwear. I was debating between these and a pair of stiletto cowboy boots. The female sales associates recommended these. Although perhaps not as high fashion, I like them and can wear them anywhere. I also mentioned these boots in an earlier “Good Comments from Women” post about a visit to my hairstylist:

http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?p=105703#105703

Loved the video clip, Kneehighs. You looked like a natural. After watching it, I immediately decided to slip on my new pointy 4" Nine West stiletto pumps and went to lunch at Quizno's. I was wearing Seven jeans, a new white blazer from Express and a white knit shirt. I strolled into the restaruant like I owned the place, stood in line to order with a lot of people in front and sitting all around. I got the food and chose to sit at the high tables with stool seating to provide a better view of my heels to anyone who looked my way. Of course, no one did. But I enjoyed it and was certainly motivated by Kneehighs video.