The High Heeled Ruminations Of Melrose Plant

[Shyheels]

Just listen to the words and phrasings of politicians, businessmen and corporate PRs these days - there is a very definite shift towards American English. Sure, there are some British-to-their-bootstraps types who proudly and defiantly cling to traditional English, but they’re all pretty much nearing retirement. I don’t say that American English will fully take over, r at least not for a while yet, but the lines are blurring right across the socio-economic spectrum.

Edited October 30, 2021 by Shyheels

[Isolathor]

14 hours ago, spikesmike said:

 This is another German I respect . Mike 

She was however not a native, she hailed from a baltic state. But she spoke german nearly fluently, being here many years.

[SF]

With all this discussion about language, this short clip may be appropriate???  ha ha...   sf

 

 

[mlroseplant]

I just gained some further insight as to why most women don't wear heels anymore. In short, it's because they suck at it. Not only do they suck now, evidently they have always sucked at it, but we never knew it. Let me explain:

I had a conversation with my female friend from college (late 1980s), who used to wear heels on a regular basis, but now that I think about it, it was when dressing up only. I do not ever remember her wearing heels with jeans, for example. Back then, we had reasons to dress up on a fairly regular basis, so this probably skews my memory a little bit. Anyway, back then, she would never have worn flats with any sort of dressy clothing, and though it is certain she had more than one pair of heels, the one I remember in particular were plain black pumps wit 3 1/2" stiletto heels. Nothing to write home about, but incrementally higher than the norm at the time.

An aside: 3 1/2" heels? Yes, she left them in my dorm room one night, and I measured them. It seems incredible that they seemed quite high at the time, and they were high compared to what most girls/women were wearing at the time. It must have been sometime around the late '00s when shoes started becoming more extreme. I consider 3 1/2" heels to be mid-heels today.

Anyway, this friend hasn't really worn heels higher than 2" for years, and even 30 years ago, would complain if circumstances presented themselves to cause her to be in heels longer than she'd anticipated. Only now do I understand why. Simple lack of practice. No stamina. However we got on the subject, I mentioned that standing in heels is much harder than walking in heels. She found this bit of truth very surprising. And I was shocked that she found it surprising. I was thinking to myself, "How do you NOT know this fundamental fact of wearing heels? You're a female child of the '80s!" It later came out that she didn't understand that heel tips are wear items, and are replaceable, and should be replaced. The reason she didn't understand this? Because she had only worn 1 or 2 heels down to the nail in her entire life.

I do not know if this experience is typical for the day, but it is another story which reinforces my theory that the reason women hate heels is because they haven't done the preparation to wear them properly.

[Shyheels]

That’s probably quite true - they would have been expected to wear heels for certain occasions as a matter of course and many would have done so out of obligation and nothing more and don’t put little thought or preparation into the matter. That they found heels uncomfortable under these circumstances would have seemed simply par for the course. A fact of life, get on with it.

But for a guy to wear heels requires a fair bit of thinking and self analysis beforehand, and a desire to walk gracefully in them. There is much more incentive and interest in practicing and preparation.

[Cali]

Another thing is looks over function.  Purchasing heels even though they don't fit right, then they hurt. Duh.  I remember a university graduation several years ago and watching women walk down the aisle in high heels and you could tell most hadn't worn heels in a long time.

[p1ng74]

On 10/30/2021 at 3:40 AM, Puffer said:

Interesting, but a little worrying.   I would expect that, regardless of Brexit, there is in Germany and the rest of Europe far more British than US influence in relation to business matters.   And of course there is big German investment in a number of British business sectors (e.g. transport) and individual companies.   Still, I am comforted by the thought that you won't beat us in business unless and until you learn our version (the proper version) of the English language!

I work for a global company headquartered in Germany.  A lot of business is conducted in English, and I have never seen anyone working from Germany use British spellings of words.  Not even "colour" or "theatre", which I like to use, despite being American.  I am guessing there are some prevailing norms in some countries when it comes to the way they teach English in the education system, and it seems in Germany they use American English.  I also work with a number of people from India, and have discovered some English phrases used there that I rarely hear from other countries, like "do the needful", or the word "not" to describe the number 0.  I was so confused one day when someone used "seven triple not" to describe 7000.  

 

6 hours ago, Shyheels said:

That’s probably quite true - they would have been expected to wear heels for certain occasions as a matter of course and many would have done so out of obligation and nothing more and don’t put little thought or preparation into the matter. That they found heels uncomfortable under these circumstances would have seemed simply par for the course. A fact of life, get on with it.

But for a guy to wear heels requires a fair bit of thinking and self analysis beforehand, and a desire to walk gracefully in them. There is much more incentive and interest in practicing and preparation.

I've noticed that much of what is said here about women and heels is sadly also true with many men and... cowboy boots.  Even here in Texas, I talk to a lot of people who own cowboy boots, even multiple, expensive pairs, and rarely wear them.  A lot of people ask me how I wear cowboy boots ever day, since they are so uncomfortable.  They don't have to be uncomfortable, but maybe because of bad fitment or bad expectations they feel like that is normal.  

 

[Shyheels]

It is pretty much the norm now for Europeans who speak English to do so with American pronunciation and spellings. Occasionally you meet one who does British English, but it’s fairly unusual. Not rare, just unusual. 

6 hours ago, p1ng74 said:

I work for a global company headquartered in Germany.  A lot of business is conducted in English, and I have never seen anyone working from Germany use British spellings of words.  Not even "colour" or "theatre", which I like to use, despite being American.  I am guessing there are some prevailing norms in some countries when it comes to the way they teach English in the education system, and it seems in Germany they use American English.  I also work with a number of people from India, and have discovered some English phrases used there that I rarely hear from other countries, like "do the needful", or the word "not" to describe the number 0.  I was so confused one day when someone used "seven triple not" to describe 7000.  

 

I've noticed that much of what is said here about women and heels is sadly also true with many men and... cowboy boots.  Even here in Texas, I talk to a lot of people who own cowboy boots, even multiple, expensive pairs, and rarely wear them.  A lot of people ask me how I wear cowboy boots ever day, since they are so uncomfortable.  They don't have to be uncomfortable, but maybe because of bad fitment or bad expectations they feel like that is normal.  

 

Oh, and I meant to say - the word you are hearing as ‘not’ for ‘zero’ is actually ‘nought’. It is fairly commonly used in British English. As a matter of fact the game Americans call Tic-Tac-Toe is known as Noughts and Crosses over here.

[mlroseplant]

How we Americans managed to get it completely backwards when it comes to words for "zero" is beyond me, but we did. In very specific circumstances, we use the word "aught" to mean zero, when in fact the real meaning of the word "aught" means the opposite of zero, and we probably should really be saying "nought," or even "naught," but we don't.

Wire gauge and firearms continue to use "aught" as designators, as in "Bring that spool of 'four-aught' (4/0 or 0000) over here and set it up." The ammunition size .30-06 would always be pronounced "thirty aught six." Double aught buckshot would be another one, where such things are allowed. They aren't here in Iowa. We have to use a slug.

[Puffer]

1 hour ago, mlroseplant said:

How we Americans managed to get it completely backwards when it comes to words for "zero" is beyond me, but we did. In very specific circumstances, we use the word "aught" to mean zero, when in fact the real meaning of the word "aught" means the opposite of zero, and we probably should really be saying "nought," or even "naught," but we don't.

Wire gauge and firearms continue to use "aught" as designators, as in "Bring that spool of 'four-aught' (4/0 or 0000) over here and set it up." The ammunition size .30-06 would always be pronounced "thirty aught six." Double aught buckshot would be another one, where such things are allowed. They aren't here in Iowa. We have to use a slug.

Interesting.   You will hear 'aught' used occasionally (and correctly, to mean 'anything [at all]') in some UK dialects, but it is archaic to say the least.   For example, 'Have you heard aught of John since he moved away?'

When quoting in speech reference numbers or dimensions and the like, nought is rarely heard nowadays in the UK; 0 is very commonly rendered as O [Oh], or more formally as zero.   I believe that the usage of 'O' derived from wartime practice, to minimise confusion when quoting co-ordinates and times etc over the radio or telephone.   (Using 'fife' and 'niner' for the easily-confused 5 and 9 were other examples.)   Many older people resisted its wider 'peacetime' adoption for a long time; I well remember my schoolmaster telling me sternly (c1959) that the local 601 trolleybus was not numbered 'six-oh-one'.

[Jkrenzer]

James Bond, double zero seven. Just sounds funny.

[Shyheels]

Or double nought

[Cali]

I have a double-Oh-seven phone number and I frequently have to say Zero-Zero-Seven.

[Shyheels]

But you don’t have a license to kill

[Puffer]

3 hours ago, Shyheels said:

But you don’t have a license to kill

Oh dear!   Mr Bond, being a proper British agent, was licensed to kill but had a licence to that effect.   (And he wouldn't dream of drinking red wine with fish, old man, especially not on a train from Trieste.)

Edited November 2, 2021 by Puffer

[Cali]

4 hours ago, Shyheels said:

But you don’t have a license to kill

I can not confirm nor deny.

[Puffer]

9 hours ago, Cali said:

I can not confirm nor deny.

But surely you have some 'killer heels' (dreadful expression!)?   And I don't mean the type worn by Rosa Klebb:

 

[mlroseplant]

It's "Indian Summer" here in Iowa. Why they call it that, I have no idea, but it is simply a period of days during the autumn season that are comfortably warm, occurring after the first killing frost. I don't know why I mentioned the weather, because in any case, I am not done wearing sandals for the year, regardless of the temperature.

Pictured here are what are possibly my girliest pair of shoes, my D & G mules with the flower, probably previously featured elsewhere on this forum in the "New Shoes" section.  I bought them some time ago because, except for the flower detail, they are just totally me, and I guess I have gotten beyond caring about a little thing like having a flower shape on the front of my shoes. What I can tell you is, these shoes are awesome! They fit me well, they're easy to walk in, they don't tire me out, what can I say? I wore them pretty much all day long yesterday, both to church and for shopping for the week.

One thing I can tell you for sure, is that they are obnoxiously loud. In theory, I kind of like that. In practice, I wish they were a little quieter, but hey, whatever. I did not realize how loud they really were until I went to the grocery store, as the portion of the church where I do most of my standing/walking is carpeted.

I do not at this moment recall the exact stats on them, but they are close to my very usual 5 inch heel with a 1 inch platform. And they're loud. Did I mention that they're loud?

[Cali]

Indian summer is 70 + temps after a frost.

[mlroseplant]

Indian Summer is over as of today, but I am happy to report that I have everything safely put away in the garage (barely), and am sort of halfway ready for winter. If we can get a couple of projects done over the winter, there should be much more garage space come spring. One of the projects is to figure out why my truck transmission blew up, and to hopefully fix it. And that's one of those things I could actually do in high heels, without it being too impractical.

[mlroseplant]

So, the weather has turned to crap rather suddenly here. It actually snowed a bit, but it didn't stick. However, there was a high wind that made it feel like it was actually cold.  I needed to go to the grocery store to purchase some comestibles. I decided to use this circumstance to try out my new knee high boots, chronicled somewhere above on this thread, and perhaps elsewhere.

There are two things I noticed. I got more looks wearing those boots than I've gotten in a long time. You would think that a 50-some year old guy would get more looks in tiny shorts, but at least on this day, it wasn't true. I was definitely being stared at for pretty much the entire time I was there, which was not as much as 10 minutes.

The other thing I noticed was that there are two snaps on these boots which annoy me, and there's no way to get rid of them without it looking bad. They really don't serve a function, they are decorative, and I guess they're kind of cool, but given the way I walk, they tend to catch on each other, as my ankles pass very close together with each step. I have spent years developing this style, and now I have to change it for these stupid boots. The things you don't notice until later.

[Shyheels]

I don't know why you'd be stared at in knee boots - I wear knee boots quite a bit, over my jeans, and nobody seems ro notice at all 

[spikesmike]

shyheels : Maybe you need a nicer pair of jeans . 😃 Mike

[Shyheels]

I’m not really about being noticed - simply wearing a style of boots and jeans that I like. Both are tasteful, and unexceptional - in the good way

[Cali]

Most of the time I when wear my shorts most people don't notice my heels, except when I wear my lace ups with a 6+ inch wedge. But put your knee highs over your jeans and it is a different story.  People will notice a block away.  Get use to it.😄

Now is it because the women are envious and wish they had worn a pair themselves and the men wish they could do it, secretly want to wear boots like that?

Edited November 15, 2021 by Cali

[bluejay]

I wear knee boots over skinny jeans and with leggings. Love the look and yes I do get some looks, but I'm so confident in what I'm wearing. Do get some compliments from both the ladies and yes even men.

Happy Heeling,

bluejay

[Shyheels]

I've only ever had compliments, when I hear anything at all, but by and large no reactions at all - which is just as it should be. 

[mlroseplant]

 

On 11/14/2021 at 10:44 AM, Cali said:

Most of the time I when wear my shorts most people don't notice my heels, except when I wear my lace ups with a 6+ inch wedge. But put your knee highs over your jeans and it is a different story.  People will notice a block away.  Get use to it.😄

Now is it because the women are envious and wish they had worn a pair themselves and the men wish they could do it, secretly want to wear boots like that?

 

On 11/14/2021 at 11:48 PM, bluejay said:

I wear knee boots over skinny jeans and with leggings. Love the look and yes I do get some looks, but I'm so confident in what I'm wearing. Do get some compliments from both the ladies and yes even men.

Happy Heeling,

bluejay

 

On 11/15/2021 at 12:35 AM, Shyheels said:

I've only ever had compliments, when I hear anything at all, but by and large no reactions at all - which is just as it should be. 

I shall have to try it again to see if I get the same results. If I were truly interested, I would try it alone, with my son, and with my wife to see if THAT made any difference. I made a quick run to the store last night in nondescript jeans wearing some rather low heeled but patent leather sandals that kind of stand out to those who bother to notice. Four teenaged boys followed us into the store, and they were laughing hysterically. As it turns out, it had nothing to do with me.

Edited November 16, 2021 by mlroseplant

[Cali]

Wearing knee high boots over your skinny jeans or leggings is empowering.

[Shyheels]

I went out to speak to a road crew who were repaving the footpath in front of out house. I was wearing grey suede OTK boots (low heels) and nobody gave my boots a second glance - had a chat about how long before one could walk in or drive over the footpath and that was that.