The High Heeled Ruminations Of Melrose Plant

[Jkrenzer]

4 hours ago, Isolathor said:

Definitely the pumps work best! 👍

Agreed, both look good but the pumps are step higher. Glad both are working out for you.

[Cali]

I think there is Pump bias going on here. LOL

[Pierre1961]

Definitely the pumps! 

[Puffer]

I prefer the mules!   

I think that the pumps (courts) have what is often called a 'French heel' - the thicker forerunner in the higher/slimmer heel category to the stiletto.   (I would hope that Pierre1961 is an expert on the history of these!)   Whilst on the subject, to my mind a block heel does not need to be truly rectangular (if only because its back will almost always have some curvature) but is typically a heel that is of the same width as the shoe and has a similar front-to-back length and little or no taper.   But I don't think any heel nomenclature is that precise - many shoes have what are called 'stiletto' heels (simply because they are slim and usually high) that have a shape and/or position that owes little to the classic stiletto.

[Cali]

I have some stiletto-wedges, back of the heel is stietto thin.

[mlroseplant]

I did not expect anything different that the opinions which were expressed. The only surprise was that there was one vote for the mules! Even in the "civilian" world, the pumps got the nod. Perhaps it is the relative formality of the rest of the outfit? It seems that my friends would prefer that I wear pumps more often, but whatever. It seems that my friends would truly prefer that I wear Allen Edmonds, so what's the difference?

To be perfectly honest, the pumps are growing on me. I got the chance to wear both pairs of shoes once again yesterday, enough to wear down my heel tips to where you can't read "SuperTap" anymore. I wore the mules for errand running and grocery shopping yesterday, and the pumps for Christmas caroling. Our church choir spent about 2 hours yesterday visiting shut-ins and singing for them. I'm becoming a fast fan of these pumps. Did I say that out loud?

Edited December 15, 2021 by mlroseplant

[Puffer]

10 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

I did not expect anything different that the opinions which were expressed. The only surprise was that there was one vote for the mules! Even in the "civilian" world, the pumps got the nod. Perhaps it is the relative formality of the rest of the outfit?

...

 

I may have misunderstood.  (If so, I humbly seek forgiveness for almost leading you astray.) 

In the context of your overall look as pictured, the court shoes do look a better 'match'.   But in terms of footwear style/design, I prefer the stiletto mules to the 'French Heel' courts!   

[mlroseplant]

On 12/15/2021 at 3:58 PM, Puffer said:

In the context of your overall look as pictured, the court shoes do look a better 'match'.   But in terms of footwear style/design, I prefer the stiletto mules to the 'French Heel' courts!   

Since this reply, I've worn the French Heeled Courts (I guess we'll call them that, for lack of a better name) a couple more times.  For some reason they seem very natural, even though they are clearly styled as a woman's shoe, and one that is quite possibly a little out of date, at that. See here the semi rounded toe and clearly defined "V" throat.

[Puffer]

Yes, French heels like yours are somewhat out-of-date, although (as we well know) such fashion never completely dies and tends to come back in cycles.   Before the true stiletto heel was introduced, a French heel was about as slim as one would find, and elegant, although not necessarily particularly high.   Look at late 40s/early 50s fashion pics for examples.   One can readily see that it developed into the stiletto (when manufacturing techniques allowed this) and then acquired a more pointed toe with a cutaway throat to become the 'standard' court shoe of the late 50s/early 60s, with a height of anything up to 5" or so.

[mlroseplant]

On 12/14/2021 at 4:39 PM, Puffer said:

I prefer the mules!   

I think that the pumps (courts) have what is often called a 'French heel' - the thicker forerunner in the higher/slimmer heel category to the stiletto.   (I would hope that Pierre1961 is an expert on the history of these!)   Whilst on the subject, to my mind a block heel does not need to be truly rectangular (if only because its back will almost always have some curvature) but is typically a heel that is of the same width as the shoe and has a similar front-to-back length and little or no taper.   But I don't think any heel nomenclature is that precise - many shoes have what are called 'stiletto' heels (simply because they are slim and usually high) that have a shape and/or position that owes little to the classic stiletto.

I'm afraid we're going to have to change the name of my new pumps, now that I've gotten used to calling them the "French heeled courts." I thought so at the time, but didn't have the time to dig it up, but I didn't really think my shoes looked like they had a French heel, despite the catchy name. A French heel, as I suspected, is curvy, both at the front and the back, whereas my shoes have straight sided heels. Here is an interesting article:

https://blog.americanduchess.com/2012/08/v234-what-kind-of-heel-is-that-quick.html

If we can take this woman at her word, the closest I can see in this article to the shoes I've got is a Spanish heel, although it's an imperfect fit. The problem is that all of these names are historical names, and my shoes are relatively new by comparison, with much higher heels than any of the shoes pictured (or in several cases, not pictured) in this article.

[Puffer]

Interesting material there, albeit incomplete.   I doesn't however agree totally with other references I have seen in relation to 'French' (and other) heel shapes, although as you suggest there is limited correlation between some of these historic designs and more modern footwear, including yours.   See below for one rather crude reference - you can see the difference between what are called there French, Louis and Spanish heels - with the French being most similar to yours imho, although I don't have the advantage of seeing your shoes in close-up detail .   

But, logically, the French (or Louis) heel ought to be of the type pictured in your article, with pronounced curves/flares, although I think that with higher heels that curvature is minimised.   I do agree that the Spanish heel pictured in your article is similar those on to your shoes, albeit lower.   At the end of the day, the name doesn't really matter - we know what we like to see or wear!

[mlroseplant]

14 hours ago, Puffer said:

  At the end of the day, the name doesn't really matter - we know what we like to see or wear!

At the end of the day, you and I just like to talk, so none of it really matters. That's what my wife would say.

[Shyheels]

Interesting chart though…

[mlroseplant]

I actually voluntarily wore boots yesterday! Sorry for the grimace. It was awfully bright outside, what with all that snow.

[bluejay]

Nice pic mirose. Just a question, what are you wearing for pants under your top coat. Are you wearing skinny jeans or something else. Last night when I went to my 6 PM church service I wore a pair of blue knee boots with navy blue leggings. My coat was shorter and one could see that I was wearing leggings. I like wearing leggings and I do so alot, whether with boots  or shoes. Heels of course.

Happy Heeling,

bluejay

[mlroseplant]

20 hours ago, bluejay said:

Nice pic mirose. Just a question, what are you wearing for pants under your top coat. Are you wearing skinny jeans or something else. Last night when I went to my 6 PM church service I wore a pair of blue knee boots with navy blue leggings. My coat was shorter and one could see that I was wearing leggings. I like wearing leggings and I do so alot, whether with boots  or shoes. Heels of course.

Happy Heeling,

bluejay

In this case, I was just wearing jeans, which I suppose you could have seen if I had taken a picture without the coat. It didn't occur to me to do that, since it was right around 0º when I took this picture. I have worn leggings to church before, but not very many times. Usually I wear some dressier pants that are skinny-ish, but didn't on this particular day.

[mlroseplant]

I haven't written on my little thread in a while, and there's really nothing to tell. We are in the throes of winter, and I don't do a lot of recreational heeling at this time of year, but I did have one experience last week worth telling.

I got a compliment last week from a supermarket cashier. That in and of itself is not worth telling, and I often don't bother to recount compliments I've received, because they've become commonplace enough that they are usually not noteworthy. In this case, it wasn't the compliment itself that got me to thinking, but the fact that I was wearing my Nine West Sizzles. I have received more compliments on this particular pair of shoes than any other. I haven't counted, of course, but I'm sure this is by far at the top of the list.

This is where statistics start to get a little bit murky. Yes, I have received more compliments on these shoes, but according to Amazon, I bought these on Jan. 4, 2013, which means I've had them for 9 years. They have also proven to be my most durable shoes as far as number of miles walked, and they still look pretty decent. Given that, is it the shoes themselves that suit me, or is it the fact that I have worn them a lot, so therefore have the statistical opportunity to be complimented with a greater frequency? Or, could it be the fact that when I am wearing these shoes, the rest of my outfit tends to be more conservative, and therefore I am more approachable?

[Isolathor]

On 1/14/2022 at 12:09 PM, mlroseplant said:

Or, could it be the fact that when I am wearing these shoes, the rest of my outfit tends to be more conservative, and therefore I am more approachable?

Next time you could try a decent hat instead of the cap, to me that would add even more style to this outfit. 🎩

[CHRISPAP]

Maybe because this model corresponds the most to a ''men's heel'' in the mind of the people, unlike a Pump / Stiletto or a open shoes

[mlroseplant]

On 1/17/2022 at 6:31 AM, Isolathor said:

Next time you could try a decent hat instead of the cap, to me that would add even more style to this outfit. 🎩

I agree with you! To the point where I wouldn't actually wear this particular outfit out in real public. This photo does not depict what I actually wore when I got the compliment, except to show the shoes that have gotten the most compliments. This photo was taken after one of my morning constitutionals, and this particular outfit happens to be convenient and comfortable for that purpose in certain types of weather. Nobody, or next to nobody, sees me at this time of day anyway.

As an aside, I would rarely post any pictures of myself, except that so many people have requested it. Occasionally, I give in.

16 hours ago, CHRISPAP said:

Maybe because this model corresponds the most to a ''men's heel'' in the mind of the people, unlike a Pump / Stiletto or a open shoes

Perhaps. This is about as close to a boot as you can get without actually being a boot, and boots seem to be manly. I'll have to keep better track of what shoes get the compliments in the future. I know I have some silver colored sandals that got two enthusiastic compliments last summer, but memory is a fairly unreliable thing.

[mlroseplant]

I got another compliment a few days ago, but this one was a little more subtle, because it was at work, and I was not wearing heels. So it was like, a million degrees below zero that morning, and we all stumbled into the building to begin our work day, in a numbed state, and this one fellow says to me, "Have you got any joint problems at your age?" I replied to him, "Not really, but my right hip has been giving me a bit of trouble lately. It feels pretty good today, however!"

I had no idea where this was going, but then he said, "Man, you walk good! You don't even walk. You just gliiiiiiiide!" He is from Louisiana. You have to imagine the accent. Many things went through my mind at this moment, but I simply said, "Well, I guess it's just practice." Before that answer could be questioned, somebody else interrupted our conversation with a morning greeting, thank goodness!

As y'all know, I do not go out of my way to hide my heeling, but I also do not mention it at work. This compliment caught me off guard.

Edited January 23, 2022 by mlroseplant
Because I wanted to write a reason for the edit.

[spikesmike]

mlroseplant : Your coworker may not have been complimenting you . He/she may have thought you are a little lite in the loffers. Just saying, be aware.    Mike

[mlroseplant]

Me and the wife went to Costco yesterday. We do this about once a month, and I cannot think of the last time I went to Costco in flats, because why would I do that to myself? I write this today, the morning after, not because the outing was noteworthy, but because our cashier went on and on about my shoes. In an admiring way, as I'm sure you're all familiar with. "Oh, I could never wear heels that high!" You know, I don't mind the attention, but it is my true desire to be left the hell alone.

This is exactly how I appeared, including the mask. Yes, I still wear a mask in public. I am not sure that I will stop, even when this public heath issue is over. I think I look better with a mask.

[Shyheels]

I can understand the mixed feelings - nice to be complimented but nicer still not have men in heels not that big a deal. My heels are not as high as yours, but my boots are much higher, and worn outside jeans, but nobody seems to be overly exercised about my wearing them. No compliments, but no catcalls either. 

[mlroseplant]

26 minutes ago, Shyheels said:

but no catcalls either. 

I'm thinking it has been nearly 7 years since I've been openly called out on the street. Oh, wait.  .  . I forgot about that time 5 years ago when I visited Dahlonega, Georgia. But that doesn't hardly count.

[Shyheels]

There’s always going to be somebody…

[Cali]

Costco is a funny place. Since I am almost always in heels I get recognized upon entry. There is one membership checker that will always compliment me on my heels. I usually have at least one other encounter every time I visit Costco. Last visit it was two shoes encounters (posted in CailWorld) and another one where a women blocked my entrance into a chill room to tell me she loved my chetah hoodie and mask.

[mlroseplant]

So here is the reason why I don't wear generously cut full legged trousers anymore. For some, I suppose it would be a reason to wear them. I did clean up the shoes somewhat before I wore them. It's been a while.

[mlroseplant]

It is time to bite the bullet and cull some shoes soon. I haven't done a full shoe inventory in over a year, but I did a quick count a few days ago. Evidently, I have 90 pairs of high heels. Or 85, depending upon how you count, because 5 pair are definitely low heels, but they still take up the same amount of room in my life.

Last time I went through this process, it wasn't difficult. I got rid of several pair which were unsuitable for public consumption for various reasons. Some were simply worn out to the point of no return, some had never fit me quite right, and some I had just never worn for whatever reason. This time, I need to make some hard choices. First to hit the chopping block are probably my Vera Wang loafer pumps. I have them in 3 different colors. I love them. However, I have to admit that the design of the toe box does not fit my personal foot very well, and they make my toes numb after a time. This is after giving them years of chances to straighten up and fly right. They should probably go.

Then there are those Aldo platform oxfords that I bought maybe 2 years ago, and have worn twice. The reason I don't like them is because when I have seen photos of me wearing them, they're ugly. Theoretically, they're cool, but they don't really look all that great on me. Now we're getting down to harder choices--what about those Shoedazzle rainbow mules I got last year? Those things are SO cool! However, after only a few wearings, they have stretched out to the point where I have to have ball of foot inserts AND wear of those thong toe ball of foot pads to make them work. They are still viable, but 99% of the time, I find myself choosing something else because of this "feature."

Then I've got the giant Sam Edelman clogs in black and brown. They are so comfortable, comfortable to the point where I've gotten one of the pairs reheeled, but I have not worn them even one time this winter. Why not? It seems I have reached for my BCBG clogs of a similar, but less huge style every time. Or, if I need something way more practical, my Dansko wedge clogs.

Speaking of wedges, I could probably stand to get rid of a few of those, as well. I just don't wear them, even though there's nothing wrong with them. Would it kill me if I got rid of the two Michael Kors wedges I own, which I have worn at most a half dozen time between the two of them? I need to be ruthless!

[mlroseplant]

I did it. Here are the first 5 pairs to go. You'll notice that three of them are identical except for color. I've finally decided after messing around with these Vera Wang "Talli" shoes for 6 years, yes, that's 6 years, they are never going to straighten up and fly right, so I'm getting rid of them. This despite the fact that they are in possibly my favorite category of closed shoes, namely high heeled loafers. It's not that they're unwearable, but they have just never stretched out like I thought they might. I think the problem lies in the fact that the toe box is not big enough in the vertical dimension, causing my toes to go numb after about half an hour, and I don't know of anything you can do about that.

Michael Kors wedge: Digs a hole in the side of my ankle unless I wear a band-aid. Not a big wedge fan anyway, and with these in particular you have to actually go to the trouble of buckling up every time you put them on, and unbuckling when you take them off, not really my style. Plus, they're kind of clompy when you walk. Gone.

Aldo platform oxfords: Just flat-out too small. Euro 39 does not translate to U.S.W. 9 like many conversion charts proclaim, especially with Aldo. I should know better by now. Besides, they kinda ugly. I have seen videos of myself wearing these. I was a bit taken aback by their lack of charm.

Since this picture was taken, I have culled another pair, unfortunately another loafer style pump. I believe this is Michael Kors also, and it's just too small. This one's a mystery--it's size 9, I've had plenty of other MK shoes over the years in size 9, but this one's too small.

On edit: I guess I should read through some of my previous posts before posting again, as I seem to be repeating myself. At least I did what I said I was going to do, and for the reasons stated. But now you have pictorial evidence!

Edited March 4, 2022 by mlroseplant