The High Heeled Ruminations Of Melrose Plant

[Shyheels]

Now I wonder which prince that might be...

[Cali]

22 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

Even wearing heels, there are not too many people who have to look up to me physically (at least of the male gender). I have come to find out, however, for the first time in my 25 year career, that quite a few people do look up to me existentially.

And you haven't been working on a ladder?   JK

12 hours ago, fashionablefun said:

I teach at the University and I have run my own business. Employees and students have a respect for your fashion choices, that outside of those situations, may not exist. 

Can you imagine your science professor coming into class in knee high stilettos? It's a non-issue after the first class. They soon realize if they pay attention to my heels they will be lost quickly. I have had quit a few women (not only students) tell me they are jealous of my heel height and variety of heel I have.

 

[mlroseplant]

23 hours ago, Cali said:

And you haven't been working on a ladder?   JK

 

If you will excuse me for a few minutes, I will go get a 4' ladder and bite your ankles!

 

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UN-MERGING THE REPLIES

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I have finally managed to break in my second pair of BCBGirls Bonny mules. As I mentioned before elsewhere, my beloved Bonny sandals have become somewhat tired, and a little ratty looking, although they're still not to the point where I absolutely wouldn't wear them out in public. By chance, I wound up buying two more NOS replacement pairs, and I had forgotten how long it took to break in the first pair. The leather underneath the beading is heavy and quite stiff, which is probably why they have lasted so long, despite fairly constant use. Believe it or not, once properly broken in, these are all-day, multi-mile shoes. Admittedly, they're not great for non-paved surfaces, but that is expecting way too much of something like this. I am now working on breaking in the third pair, which is just as stiff as the first two. According to my records, I got the first pair nearly 5 years ago, so it's possible I'll be able to wear Bonnys well into my 60s.

Edited April 27, 2020 by mlroseplant

[mlroseplant]

I guess I am back! I walked over 3 miles in my Bonny mules yesterday, wearing my new Talbot's "Perfect" shorts. Whereas two weeks ago, I would have had trouble completing such a walk in heels, I've built my endurance back up to where it wasn't a problem. In fact, I was still smiling when I returned home. I know I've said this before, but it still continues to amaze me that, despite their looks, the BCBGirls "Bonny" mules really are the perfect walking shoes. You're not going to walk 15 minute miles in them, don't get me wrong, but for normal speed walking, they are good for as long as you want to go.

And now about the shorts. I bought a number of new shorts for this summer, all of them in a dressier sort of style than what I've worn in the past. This particular pair is labeled right on the inside "Perfect Short." I found this somewhat humorous, because they are NOT perfect. For one thing, even though they're size 4P, they are pretty loose on me, even in my current enlarged state. Second, the back pockets are stitched shut, which I can easily rectify, but still. Third, they are a little bit on the long side for my taste. I don't feel like I can wear longer shorts because my legs are short enough as it is, without chopping them off visually in the middle of the thigh. With modification, they might be close to perfect. Time to see my tailor!

[mlroseplant]

I rebuilt my deck two years ago because the wood was beginning to rot away, was not high heel friendly, and needed to be replaced anyway, even without regard to high heels. When I rebuilt it, I butted the boards right up against one another, which is not standard practice, but I wanted to create a stiletto heel friendly deck, and at the time, I was not the only person who might be walking on the deck in stiletto heels. That is no longer the case, but that's another story for another time.

At any rate, in the span of two years, the boards have shrunk, and there are spots that are once again not stiletto heel friendly. The treated lumber I bought was very wet when I bought it, but that's pretty much the case everywhere you go. I don't know what I could have done, except buy the lumber in advance, and let it sit out in the weather for a year or two before using it. I'm not bitching, it's still a very nice installation for somebody who had no idea what he was doing, but once again, I have to be very careful not to ruin my heels!

[Jkrenzer]

Love that shoe, brand and style please. Color looks to be light grey, want a pair. Heels look higher than your normal but perfect for me.

I've surfaced many decks over the now many years and have always butted the planks knowing they will shrink. Luckily now my current home i have a large paved brick patio, no more lumber decks.

[RonC]

Might want to consider the composite deck material next time around.  They supposedly don't have shrink/expand issues and hold up longer than wood decking without the need for staining/sealing/painting.  A few people in my subdivision have re-done their decks with these products (Trex is one name brand that comes to mind) and swear by it.

[Puffer]

In my UK experience, very little shrinkage of treated decking boards has occurred except in the hottest and driest weather - and we rarely get enough of that for a long period!   A small gap (say 1/8" for a 4" board) is about right.   As to composite boards, the limited annual maintenance and clean appearance are plus points but the material can sag or warp and certainly does expand at end (butt) joints rather more than wood.   Its strength may be an issue too - it can be soft (watch those heels!) or prone to breaking away if edges or ends are not properly supported or reinforced.   All told, I prefer wood, and it is typically cheaper to buy.

[mlroseplant]

8 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

Love that shoe, brand and style please. Color looks to be light grey, want a pair. Heels look higher than your normal but perfect for me.

I've surfaced many decks over the now many years and have always butted the planks knowing they will shrink. Luckily now my current home i have a large paved brick patio, no more lumber decks.

They are called Steve Madden Barbb. I have them in black and what they call "bone." I cannot remember when I got the black pair, but it was quite a while ago, probably in 2015 or 2016. Later on, I decided I wanted the bone pair also, and I searched and searched, and never could find a pair. I ended up buying a cheap knockoff pair, I believe directly from China, which are cute, but they're not leather, and they're a couple of notches below on the quality as well. Those are the pair in the middle, a sort of blush-pink patent. Right after I got the knockoff pair, I found the bone pair that I actually wanted in the first place on ebay or Poshmark or some such place.

They are exactly 4 1/2" in my size 8 1/2, and as you can see, do not have a platform. The soles are rather well padded, though. They are not paper-thin. The heels are very thin, however. They are not leather-covered, they are made of some sort of shiny plastic, in contrast to the uppers. Despite their looks, they are super easy to walk in, even for me, as that's about the upper limit of my gracefulness. I have worn them out on numerous occasions, especially the black pair.

A couple of years ago, that particular style of mule seemed to be all over the fashion magazines, so I would think you could find something similar, though perhaps it might be difficult to find something quite that high or steep. If you do find a pair, they shouldn't be all that expensive. I think the brand new asking price was about 100 USD. Hope this helps.

[Cali]

@Jkrenzer Steven Madden makes many kinds of mules, I have about 4 different high mules. My latest are Steve Madden Lure from last season.  Wish I had seen these when They were new.

[mlroseplant]

On 5/1/2020 at 3:20 PM, RonC said:

Might want to consider the composite deck material next time around.  They supposedly don't have shrink/expand issues and hold up longer than wood decking without the need for staining/sealing/painting.  A few people in my subdivision have re-done their decks with these products (Trex is one name brand that comes to mind) and swear by it.

 

23 hours ago, Puffer said:

In my UK experience, very little shrinkage of treated decking boards has occurred except in the hottest and driest weather - and we rarely get enough of that for a long period!   A small gap (say 1/8" for a 4" board) is about right.   As to composite boards, the limited annual maintenance and clean appearance are plus points but the material can sag or warp and certainly does expand at end (butt) joints rather more than wood.   Its strength may be an issue too - it can be soft (watch those heels!) or prone to breaking away if edges or ends are not properly supported or reinforced.   All told, I prefer wood, and it is typically cheaper to buy.

Even butted up to each other, no decking is ever going to be all that friendly to a very thin heel like that pictured. The slightly thicker heels I normally wear outside are still not a problem at all. I haven't had a lot of exposure to the composite decking material, except for one friend I used to visit had it on his deck, and I was not impressed. Although the flooring on the large deck (mine is definitely on the small side) was straight and flat consistently, the whole thing was always covered with a sort of chalky material, which I assume was from whatever-it-was breaking down in the sunlight. I never wore stilettos to his house (though I did wear wedges), so I can't comment on the softness of the material.

As we have wild temperature extremes here in my part of the U.S., sometimes within the span of 24 hours, shrinkage is definitely an issue. Tell you what, I'm just not going to worry about it! I'll just be careful with my very thin heels, which I ought not to be wearing out there anyhow. It will most probably never be an issue to anybody but me, unfortunately.

Edited May 2, 2020 by mlroseplant

[Puffer]

A point I didn't make before (because it is not really relevant in the UK) is that composite decking might well be preferable in those areas of the US (or elsewhere) where attack by insects such as termites or other pests is likely.   And, as mlroseplant says, no decking is likely to be stiletto-friendly, regardless of its composition or construction.

[Jkrenzer]

1 hour ago, Puffer said:

A point I didn't make before (because it is not really relevant in the UK) is that composite decking might well be preferable in those areas of the US (or elsewhere) where attack by insects such as termites or other pests is likely.   And, as mlroseplant says, no decking is likely to be stiletto-friendly, regardless of its composition or construction.

Composite decking is not all that it's cracked up to be. Still need pressure treated framing and the composite material will feather (you'll get rubberized plastic splinters instead of wood) and fade in the UV. You'll have to replace it too. The fasteners and the decking is way more expensive up front for about twice the durability.

[RonC]

I now know much more about composite decking!  Just curious, could they maybe have made advancements in the last few years so that the newer stuff holds up better?  

[Puffer]

10 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

Composite decking is not all that it's cracked up to be. Still need pressure treated framing and the composite material will feather (you'll get rubberized plastic splinters instead of wood) and fade in the UV. You'll have to replace it too. The fasteners and the decking is way more expensive up front for about twice the durability.

 

7 hours ago, RonC said:

I now know much more about composite decking!  Just curious, could they maybe have made advancements in the last few years so that the newer stuff holds up better?  

Agreed on all counts, although I'm not convinced that composite necessarily has twice the overall durability compared with properly-treated and laid wooden decking - but time will tell.   I don't think the products available in the UK have improved much in recent years.

Framing is certainly a key issue - not only properly treated but of appropriate strength and spacing to give adequate support.   Foundations for the framing must be carefully considered too (depending upon the ground or other surface beneath), or the whole decking area can sag or undulate.   I speak from bitter experience having spent a whole weekend last summer lifting the undulating composite decking installed for my son two years earlier (by so-called professionals) and re-levelling the framework with improved foundations (on earth) before re-laying the boards (and providing stronger exposed edges too).   Wooden boards would have been a little stiffer and more resistant to sagging and edge -damage, but that was not his choice from the maintenance viewpoint, understandably.   My own (wooden) decking that I installed at least 15 years ago has shown very few signs of deterioration; it is pressure-washed and re-sealed at no more than 24-month intervals.

[mlroseplant]

4 hours ago, Puffer said:

My own (wooden) decking that I installed at least 15 years ago has shown very few signs of deterioration; it is pressure-washed and re-sealed at no more than 24-month intervals.

OK, so I know what I'm doing this week. And probably in my ratty tennis shoes.

[Jkrenzer]

Pressure washing in heels, been there done that many times.

[Puffer]

7 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

OK, so I know what I'm doing this week. And probably in my ratty tennis shoes.

 

2 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

Pressure washing in heels, been there done that many times.

Crotch-high waders (flat heels) might be more fun!

[mlroseplant]

Not really a high heeled subject, but it sort of is. I went to my tailor friend, who is sewing masks during this time of not working, and picked up some orders for my coworkers. We will be required to wear masks when we return to work, hopefully at the end of the month. The company will supply masks, but who knows what we'll get going that route? Certainly not N95s. Naturally, I couldn't get a normal looking mask. One of the ones I got was this toile-esque pattern, which has as a theme a few fashionable cities in Europe (plus NYC). The reason I picked it was because it depicts a couple of young ladies in high heels, including one riding a bicycle in heels. Of course, I didn't specify how I wanted this thing to be cut out, nor would I--that's just silliness for such a utilitarian item, so the images I really liked are kind of cut off. Here are some photos, just for fun, as well as a very recent shot of the mask maker, who favors high heels with shorts, weather permitting.

[Shyheels]

The latest fashion accessory...

[Cali]

I have some leopard print ones on order to go with my leopard print outfits.

[mlroseplant]

Today, I have a not so nice story to tell. Earlier this week, I was delivering some masks to somebody I hadn't seen in a while, and I hadn't been to her house for more than a year. We talked for just a little bit when the neighbor girl, who looked to be about 12 or 13 years old, came outside to empty the garbage. It was then that my friend told me that the last time I was there, evidently the neighbor doesn't think too highly of me. I have little recollection of the event, but apparently when I was there last time and was introduced to him, he told my friend not to bring me over to his yard again. When she asked him why not, he replied that he didn't want to have to explain me to his kids. I have no idea what I was wearing at the time, but chances are it was shorts with wedges. That alone might do it for a person of a certain persuasion. While my experiences have been largely positive, and continue to improve as time goes on, it's a sobering reminder that jackwagons are everywhere!

[Bubba136]

Well, you do have to admit that men wearing heels is still an “abnormality” in “normal” society. While we don’t see anything out of the ordinary about the practice, others, especially parents of young children, just might view the practice as slightly out of the ordinary and have difficulty explaining the situation to children still trying to sort out the differences between girls and boys. I really don’t get very fussed at people that don’t approve, I try not to take it to much to heart because in this era, we that are walking to a different tune are out of “sink” with most every one else.  

[mlroseplant]

Yesterday was the first day in a long time that I didn't wear heels at all. I was working on a car pretty much all day, and I have just gotten to the point that I don't do that in heels anymore, if the project has any length to it. After the project was finished (successfully, I might add), I didn't bother to change my shoes. Today, however, is another day!

[Jkrenzer]

Just spent 4 days re-roofing by detatched garage, no heels. Today all heels all day.

[mlroseplant]

I have nothing to say. Neither does anybody else, from the looks of things.

[chesterx]

12 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

I have nothing to say. Neither does anybody else, from the looks of things.

Yeah, it just isn't worth taking the time to post these days. I still wear my heels most every day, but at a half-hour or so for outing and those being non-eventful, it's not worth the time to journal them.

[mlroseplant]

I haven't worn bootcut jeans in forever. Years ago, I wore them exclusively in an attempt to make my heels not so obvious. By accident, I happened to get out a pair this morning. Maybe I'm rethinking the look. I'm sure I will change my mind just as soon as I actually go anywhere, and re-experience the problem of getting my pantlegs caught on the backs of my heels, and constantly having to pull them down. I don't miss that at all.

[Cali]

It's funny that you wrote about this.  I found a pair of bootcut jeans hanging in my closet last weekend.  Can't even remember when I got them or even if I ever wore them.  I put them on and they fit extremely well, size 8 curvy  .  I  wore them that night to an outdoor graduation celebration and two other times already. They are not going replace my skinny jeans and legging but they are going to get used more now.

[mlroseplant]

It is funny how two supposedly identical pairs of shoes can be so different. I have been trying to abandon my old pair of BCBGirls Bonny mules in favor of the new pair, but it's difficult. The new pair has now gotten loose enough to where my foot is sliding too far forward in the shoe, on that slick shiny gold material, creating the dreaded toe overhang. That was never a problem with the old pair for some reason. I decided, after some experimentation, to add a pair of cushions, as shown. It seems to have fixed the problem right up, although I have yet to take the shoes for a true test spin. The old shoes are coming apart, and I have to decide whether to glue them back together (again) and get them reheeled. Included just for fun is how much the soles of the old pair are worn compared to the new pair.