roniheels Posted April 10, 2011 Posted April 10, 2011 The other day I spent the entire day on a fun but rather routine outing in high heels. Even though the weather was rather warm (although it sprinkled rain most of the morning), I wore my nave blue suit, light blue dress shirt (no tie), and blue sweater vest, and my Bamboo black leather pumps with 5" stiletto high heels and 1/2" hidden platform. As always I stopped by my nearest convenience store to pick up a newspaper before I went to breakfast. There were only a few people in the store and the young woman who took my money simply raised her eyebrows and thanked me for my purchase. The other patrons just stopped and looked at me and then went about their business. This is the usual reaction I get when I go into this store wearing high heels. For a change, I decided to go to a different restaurant for breakfast in a different part of town. It was a seat-yourself diner and I sat in a booth in the back and waited for the waitress to take my order. Maybe she just didn't notice my high heels or she just simply didn't react (she seemed determined to get my order correct). And when she brought my food to me, she was still very friendly and courteous to me. As I finished breakfast and read my paper, The restaurant began to get busier and most of the patrons were blue-collar (construction workers and handy-man types) workers who, many knew each other, and seem to be regular patrons. As i got up to pay my bill and leave, one man asked me if there was anything good in the newspaper. I told him just the same bad news we hear in the media. At that point he looked down at my high heels, back up at me, and just gave me a blank stare. As I walked out after paying my bill, and my high heels clicked across the tile floor, there was a sudden hush in the place and it seemed like all eyes were on me. I walked outside with another man who was leaving and he just looked at me as I got into my car. I heard no comments, whispers, or chuckles, but I'm sure at this restaurant, no one had seen a man in stiletto high heels before now. The food was very good, by the way. I next headed to Walgreen to pick up some vitamins and aspirin that I was low on at home. It wasn't very crowded and as I walked around the store gathering my items, there were a few looks but no comments as I went to the counter to pay for my items. The young salesgirl was nice and cordial to me and smiled at me tho entire time as I thanked her and left the store. I next went to Petco to pick up some dog and cat food and the man that works there (about my age) greeted me as I entered and he was talking to another man he seemed to know who also was about our age. I came to the counter to pay for my items, got my receipt, and walked toward the exit. The other man watched me leave and I heard him say, "...takes all kinds, I guess." The clerk told him that I was a regular customer and that is all that was important. I went to several "dollar" stores to pick up some generic items I needed and I really didn't get any negative reactions at all from any customers or clerks. A sale is a sale, and people have a lot of other things on their mind besides a man wearing high heels. I happened to drive by a Best Buy. JeffB recommended visiting them while wearing high heels and I needed a new set of headphones so I thought I would stop in to look around. I guess because they were not busy at all when I went in there, and there were so many clerks doing virtually nothing, as I walked into the store, again a sudden silence. As I walked back toward the headphones and looked around, there was just an uncomfortable silence in this big store. Usually someone comes over to ask if I needed help, but no one did. As I looked around the store, clerks would look at me, then turn their looks away. I didn't find what I wanted so I left the store as I viewed some clerks looking and whispering as I left. I'll try it again in the future when they are much busier and examine the results. I went to my favorite spice store to pick up some coffee and jelly. The woman that always waits on me and is so nice to me and compliments me on my high heels was not there that day. As I selected my items and went to pay for them, the woman that took my money said loudly, "I remember you. You always buy our different jellies here. Good to see you again." I thought she might make reference to my high heels, but she didn't even seem to pay attention to them. I next went to Burlington Coat factory to see if they had any new styles of high heels in my size. There was one shoe that caught my eye but they didn't have my size. I tried on a pair in one size smaller, but they were too tight. A young male clerk asked me if I needed help with anything, and I told him if they had this shoe one size larger, he would have had a sale. He just gave me a faint smile and went about his business. I next went to the public library to see if there were any videos available that I had not seen and I always check out a few CD's to listen to at work. The library was not crowded and there were no reactions at all to my high heels. I retrieved my items and checked out without any reaction or incident. I went to lunch at an Asian restaurant and just had a small order of chicken fried rice and an egg roll. My waitress was very nice to me, noticed my high heels, but did not react and took good care of me. There were two other young Asian women who worked there and they were giggling with each other as they saw me in my high heels. My waitress went over to them and said something sternly to them, and they both retreated to the back and I didn't see them again before I left. The older Asian man at the counter took my money and was very nice to me as I left. He took one look at my high heels and then went back about his business. I went to the movie theater to see "Battle: L.A. There were very few in the theater and the few who worked there viewed my high heels, but no real noticeable reactions. I enjoyed the movie as it was myself and one other man in this big theater watching the movie. As I left, there still were very few people in the lobby and those who saw me gave no real reaction to me or my high heels. I finished the day by going to our art museum to view the "New York City" exhibit. One of the women who works there on a regular basis greeted me and told me exactly where the exhibit was located. I took my time and viewed the exhibit as there were many people at the museum at this time. Again, no reactions from patrons or staff as my high heels clicked across the marble floor. The staff always greets me and is cordial to me as they have now seen me many times there in many different pairs of high heels. It was a breath-taking exhibit, especially some photos taken after 911. They were very sobering. I went to my lady friend's boutique to wait for her to close so we could go get a bite to eat. We ate supper in a small cafe and as always, got a few looks from patrons and staff with me wearing high heels, and her not wearing high heels, and the two of us just chatting away. It was a fun day, as always, out-and-about in high heels. I was just a little disappointed that no one at all commented on my high heels. I usually get at least a "nice shoes" or "how do you walk in those" from someone. But everyone has a lot on their minds with all that is happening in this country and the world. I have a new digital camera that I got as an award at work. It is still in the box, but as soon as I get it going, I will submit pictures of me prior to my outings.
HappyinHeels Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 roniheels, Your post reads like a short story and I felt like curling up on the couch! I think this sums up what most could expect. Don;t know where you live but I suspect it is an area of the Midwest just not as close to large cities as me (between Milwaukee and Chicago). As far as an art exhibit goes I saw some photography in 2002 of pictures taken during the Sept. 11 attacks. The one of people jumping to their deaths was absolutely heartbreaking and gave wet eyes almost immediately. I'm travelling West next month and maybe I'll meet an hhplace member or two. HappyinHeels
Steve63130 Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 Roni, You left out one important detail - were you wearing hosiery/socks or not, and if so, what color? If your skin is light and the shoes and pants were dark, the contrast would have been a lot more noticeable than if you were wearing dark hosiery or socks. Please tell us what you were wearing. Steve
SF Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 Roniheels, Wow, what you do in a day I get done in a week!! Nice story. Like you, I wear heels in public a lot - have since 1996. Mostly I wear sandals and like your story, my experiences have been very typical. No one seems to notice, women seem to notice more than men and usually nobody cares! I do get some stares, giggles or muffled whispers but those generally are the exception. And I have even gotten a few compliments. Last weekend the wife and I spent two days at a casino and I wore hhsandals the entire time (didn't even bring any "regular" shoes) and only once did some gals - employees - stop and look at my shoes, but never said anything.... I am in central CA, what part of the country are you in?? Thanks for the story, sf "Why should girls have all the fun!!"
roniheels Posted April 12, 2011 Author Posted April 12, 2011 Roni, You left out one important detail - were you wearing hosiery/socks or not, and if so, what color? If your skin is light and the shoes and pants were dark, the contrast would have been a lot more noticeable than if you were wearing dark hosiery or socks. Please tell us what you were wearing. Steve Yes, I did forget to mention that I was wearing dark blue knee-high hosiery.
roniheels Posted April 12, 2011 Author Posted April 12, 2011 I am in central CA, what part of the country are you in?? Thanks for the story, sf I live in the midwest between the Bible belt and redneck country. Where I live is primarily blue-collar territory but not entirely. That is why I run into so many construction workers and professional laborers when I am out-and-about in high heels. Thus, getting some long looks, but no harassment.
beaztheelz Posted April 12, 2011 Posted April 12, 2011 Just wish I had the courage to do that. Wearing heels is my absolute passion.
Histiletto Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 Hey! roniheels, Once again you have had a great day. I enjoyed following the experiences you posted. The situation at Best Buy may have been effected somewhat by your heeling, but I find that most audio/visual stores are a bit snobby unless you seem to exude a desire to spend a wad. I went to a store to buy a camcorder and the sales people hardly gave me a nod, until I expressed wanting to get some information about a few of the displayed models. Hope your return to the store has better results in finding a set of headphones. It seems that people interested in the arts are more open to the sight of a man wearing high heels than the general public. All in all, thanks for sharing.
SF Posted April 13, 2011 Posted April 13, 2011 Beaztheelz... The only way to get your "confidence" to wear heels in public is to just do it. Roniheels and I are about the same age (old guys - for me at least - ha ha) and as I get older I don't really care what others think. You are still young - lucky guy - so you just have to build up the courage to get out there. I wish more guys wore heels in public, out here in CA I have NEVER seen another guy in heels or girls shoes, amazing. Based on posts here, there are hh wearers out here, but few and far between. I mostly wear sandals with heels up to 2 1/2 to 3 inches. My reasons are for fun, comfort and to make a statement that yes a guy can wear heels and it's no big deal!! "Why should girls have all the fun!!"
roniheels Posted April 13, 2011 Author Posted April 13, 2011 Beaztheelz... The only way to get your "confidence" to wear heels in public is to just do it. Roniheels and I are about the same age (old guys - for me at least - ha ha) and as I get older I don't really care what others think. You are still young - lucky guy - so you just have to build up the courage to get out there. I wish more guys wore heels in public, out here in CA I have NEVER seen another guy in heels or girls shoes, amazing. Based on posts here, there are hh wearers out here, but few and far between. I mostly wear sandals with heels up to 2 1/2 to 3 inches. My reasons are for fun, comfort and to make a statement that yes a guy can wear heels and it's no big deal!! SF, So well said. And as I have suggested to many potential public heelers who have not done so but have wanted to, take your time, go to a place at a time, and don't put pressure on yourself. Remember, this is supposed to be something fun to do.
alan Posted April 19, 2011 Posted April 19, 2011 roniheels,reading your post has finally helped me to step out in heels. I have been out every night over the last week (at about 11pm)to a quiet area in my home town to walk in my heels. I ve been wearing peep toe wedge boots with a 4.5 inch heel and 1 inch platform. I drive to this spot in my male shoes then change in to the heels and walk with the dog for about half an hour. It is fantastic! I m hoping to step out in heels during day time soon. I intend to go to a quiet area to start off and to build confidence. My partner is very supportive and stepped out with me the first two nights i went for a walk. Thanks for inspiring me
danielp6406 Posted April 20, 2011 Posted April 20, 2011 The other day I spent the entire day on a fun but rather routine outing in high heels... Greetings roniheels :-) What a nice post this was to read and a busy day wearing heels ! It must be very strange to enter an empty and quiet Best-Buy store wearing heels ! BTW, I hope you are keeping a backup of all your post. Someday you may want to write a book about your street heeling adventures ? Just wish I had the courage to do that. Wearing heels is my absolute passion. Don't worry. Give it time and you will also do the same !
roniheels Posted April 20, 2011 Author Posted April 20, 2011 roniheels,reading your post has finally helped me to step out in heels. I have been out every night over the last week (at about 11pm)to a quiet area in my home town to walk in my heels. I ve been wearing peep toe wedge boots with a 4.5 inch heel and 1 inch platform. I drive to this spot in my male shoes then change in to the heels and walk with the dog for about half an hour. It is fantastic! I m hoping to step out in heels during day time soon. I intend to go to a quiet area to start off and to build confidence. My partner is very supportive and stepped out with me the first two nights i went for a walk. Thanks for inspiring me Thank you for the kind words. Others here have inspired me. So if my posts have inspired you, I'm glad I could help!
StormClaw Posted April 20, 2011 Posted April 20, 2011 Just wish I had the courage to do that. Wearing heels is my absolute passion. Dont worry,I was the same.This site and posts like this helped me a lot.Even though I wear jeans over my 4inch wedge boots,Im still out there wearing what Ive always wanted.So just take that leap of faith So thanks for sharing this post Roniheels.Im actually planning on going to "carnival" with rides etc in my boots and my friends are cool with it.
radiodave Posted April 21, 2011 Posted April 21, 2011 Nice outing Roni, and enjoyed reading it. I miss public heeling myself, need to get back into it. I think you once said I helped a little to encourage public heeling; I think you may have helped me a little.
zyx152 Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 Thanks for your story. I hope you will include a few pictures next time.
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