The High Heeled Ruminations Of Melrose Plant

[Jkrenzer]

13 minutes ago, mlroseplant said:

 I still don't understand how many women manage to slip into their pumps no-handed, yet not walk right out of them afterwards. That's one of the mysteries of life, I guess.

I'm able to do it with most of my basic pumps. Obviously not with anything with any form of added features

[Cali]

5 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

I am with you about almond toes being my favorite. I don't find a significant difference between the way pointy/almond/round fits, but maybe that's because although my big toe is the longest, it is by a mere millimeter. As far as square toes go, I've never owned a pair in my life of any style. Not even in the '90s did I succumb to the idea that square toes were ok. I think I can probably survive the rest of my life without square toes.

I, also, have not bought men's shoes for a long while, but it has nothing to do with ankle reconstruction. Since neither of my ankles has ever been de-constructed, there is probably little reason for re-construction. My reason has to do with the width, since my feet are both short in length and narrow in width compared to what is commonly available for men's shoes in your typical retail establishment. Other than width (and sheer choice of colors and styles), I have not found a great deal of difference between the way a woman's shoe fits and a man's, if one is comparing similar styles. A men's size 7 Nike athletic  shoe is going to fit similarly to a women's size 9 Nike athletic shoe, except for the width.

Once you get into dress shoes, yes, I will agree there's a huge difference. The man's shoe is constructed much more sturdily, with thicker materials all around. A man's dress shoe will last many, many years if taken care of. Not so with women's dress shoes. I suppose that's ok with us because we like to switch it up a little more often than every 15 years. A woman's dress shoe is just a little wisp of a thing, init? Not very supportive, which is why we have to have stronger feet than your average person.

Pumps did take me a long while to get right, but I think I've found a few pair that are a decent balance between staying on and not pinching my toes. I still don't understand how many women manage to slip into their pumps no-handed, yet not walk right out of them afterwards. That's one of the mysteries of life, I guess.

My toe box has a wide girth and I have thin heels, pear shape.  In men's sizes I have to go to a (U.S.) size 9 - 9.5 EEE just to get my toes in.  Then I have about 3/8+ inch gap on each side of my heel.  So my ankle can slide side to side and I can't plant. That led to hundreds of ankle sprains.  But I fit women's size 10 with no problem.  Toes go in easily and heel does not side.

Flat men's sandals never fit, the ankle strap girth was always too long without the strap itself so could never get them to fit.

Because of my large toe box, the vamp or throat of every pump I have ever tried (and there have been many) cuts into my tendons. I have even tried using padding to hold the vamp off the tendons, but it still hurts.

My podiatrist says I have the highest instep arch she has ever seen and recommends (in writing) that I wear shoes with at least a 2.5 inch heel.  She has seen me in 4+ inch stilettos. 

 

[mlroseplant]

23 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

I'm able to do it with most of my basic pumps. Obviously not with anything with any form of added features

I guess I must be one of those "lucky" people who can't easily wear pumps. Perhaps that is why I prefer mules. They are designed to "fall off" your foot with every step!

[mlroseplant]

Another bit of validation, 18 year old Vietnamese girl. I've never met her in person, but have spent a lot of time with her much older cousin (which is how I was introduced to the youngster), so it's not really creepy or anything. In the beginning of all my contacts, it's all about learning English, but it never ends up that way.

[mlroseplant]

So after the validation came the Big Hit--I actually saw myself on video walking in those insanely high Michael Kors shoes referenced above, and elsewhere.  It was not pretty. I hope not too many people saw or noticed THAT. Not that I CAN'T walk in them, I just need to pay better attention. This particular video was a livestream, and I had a lot of other things on my mind, but it just goes to show you, 45 years of habit and physiology is difficult to overcome, even with much practice.

Edited June 10, 2022 by mlroseplant

[mlroseplant]

For the first time in several years, I actually took video of myself walking in heels. Perhaps this was inspired by the awful video footage of me referenced in the post above (and no, I will not be providing a link), but when I am paying attention, I am not all that bad. I need work, to be sure, but at least I don't make myself wince. Part of my problem is that I am naturally bow legged, which is not a great thing for presenting in heels, but it is a fault that I believe I can overcome.

[Puffer]

42 minutes ago, mlroseplant said:

...

Part of my problem is that I am naturally bow legged, which is not a great thing for presenting in heels, but it is a fault that I believe I can overcome.

I am not exactly bow-legged but I do find that I tend to wear my shoe heels down more on the outside back, which is not exactly uncommon.   The effect is significantly greater when wearing heels higher than about 4" and does not help my gait.   I would appear to be 'suffering' from supination, which goes along with high arches, although I'm not sure if my arches are truly 'high'.

I don't know if there is a cure, or any simple way to improve my gait in heels.   Possibly a tapered insole that is thicker on the inside?

I should be interested to know: (a) if you find the same with heel-wear; (b) if the problem is more pronounced with increasing heel-height; (c)  how you think you can overcome it as you suggest.   Maybe others here have a view too? 

 

[Jkrenzer]

Bow legged is natural, not much you can do about it. I'm the same. In my case its my left leg that wears heels faster. Eventually after enough heel tap replacements my shoe itself won't stand up as the heel will be twisted outward at the top, i.e. the heel tip is inside of center. Once that happens I consider the shoes to be worn out. Takes a lot of wear so it just is.

[Pierre1961]

a/I am more or less the same. 

b/ the problem increases with the heel height 

c/ a thicker inside insole ( walk fit platinum works for me ) helps .

initiating the leg movement from the hips makes the bow legs figure less obvious 

The funny thing is we,mem,gives much more cerebral care  to the way we walk than most women. 

[mlroseplant]

Ok, so it's not just me, bow leggedness is harder to overcome with higher heels. I've always felt that this is so, but I can't figure out a good reason to explain it. I wound up taking a number of videos over the weekend, some in 3" effective heels, some in 3 3/4", and some in 4 1/4". And yeah, in the 4 1/4", I cannot physically pull my knees together when standing. If I want to give that appearance, I have to cheat and put my feet in something akin to Third Position in ballet.

Despite being bow legged, I do not have a tendency toward supination. My heels, whether on flat shoes or elevated ones, wear out evenly. My feet also naturally point straight forward when I walk. One thing that I have noticed in the last 10 years is that my work boots last a lot longer than they used to. I used to be a heel dragger, but not any more! And yes, @Pierre1961, I think we do pay a lot more attention to the physical act of walking than do most women. And to be fair to ourselves, most women are pretty bad at it.

I keep threatening to make an instructional video one of these days, and perhaps I've finally gotten off my keester and taken the first steps (pun intended) toward that end. In this day and age, there are so many videos and articles out there, and a lot of them are terrible. Some of them are pretty good, but I have yet to see one that truly explains what it takes to have an attractive walk.

[SF]

My daughters say that when a gal or guy is seen struggling in heels that are the incorrect size or just been on too long, they are doing the "T-Rex walk."  

I have seen it many times, funny and sad at the same time.  smile...   sf

[mlroseplant]

Farmer's Market outfit of the week. The weather has been very strange this year. For the month of May, it seemed like it was either really hot or really cold. We hit shorts wearing weather the second week of May, but then for the next few weeks it was in the 50s for highs (lower 10s C). As a result, I let my legs go for 3+ weeks. That was a tactical error. What is normally a 5-7 minute process turned into a 15 minute endeavor, it was kind of a hatchet job, and it made me run late. At least the farmer's market is not the type of place where people notice that you've missed a couple of patches of hair on the side of your thigh.

I chose to wear mid heels on this particular night, one of my three pairs of Söfft Calvados, which have a 3 inch total rise (3 3/4" heel with 3/4" platform). True to form, they didn't bite back, and it was like working in flats. In fact, when we got home, I didn't bother to change shoes for the unload like I usually do.

Shorts are Banana Republic, t-shirt is by some unfortunate in Vietnam, quite possibly named Baby Three. I only got one comment, and that was from an old lady who was using a walker. I stepped out from behind the table in order to serve her, and she said something to the effect of, "I don't see how you can work this market in those shoes. Even back when I was waitressing, I always wore flats, and my feet still killed me." I kind of deflected the subject a bit, and found out she was working at Costco part time, giving out samples. Next time I am at Costco, I'll have to look for her.

I honestly don't know what to tell people any more. I do bring backup flat(ter) shoes with me, just in case. I've never had to use them in a year and a half of doing this. I guarantee you that if I ever forgot them, or decided, "Nah, I don't need these!", that would be the one time something would go wrong somehow.

[Cali]

There's an easier solution to leg hair. I have to tape my legs to do some winter sports, so I have been waxing my legs for a few years. Hair and K-Tape do not work together and I hate stubble. My last wax was in March and you can hardly see any hair.  A combination of the hair getting lighter in color, thinner in size, and less overall.  The woman next to me getting a pedi this pass week remarked how nice and tan my legs were.  And the pain...it gets easier and easier.

Edited June 18, 2022 by Cali

[p1ng74]

I never wear boots that I can't work in.  I climb ladders, move furniture, and unload boxes in my boots with 4" heels.  I don't know if I could keep that up in anything higher so I think that's the sweet spot for me.  

[mlroseplant]

I have worn 4" to work a farmer's market before. In fact, according to my notes, I have done so three times this year. Twice have I worn 3", and the other two times I wore 3 1/2". None of them have been true stilettos, and about half of them were wedges. There is only one pair that I won't be wearing again for that purpose. I doubt that I will go over 4" for this event, although sometimes it's tempting, just to see if I can pull it off.

What I have found is that only the Söfft sandals, pictured three replies above, actually feel like flats. The rest of them, when worn for 5 hours of mostly standing, produce discomfort under the ball of the foot from friction. I believe that this is because there is usually a seam there in the footbed on most shoes. Most sandals, anyway. It's not a musculoskeletal thing for me, it's a skin thing. It's like I've walked too far on concrete barefoot when I'm not used to it, that sort of a feeling. I believe it is simply a matter of toughening up my feet. Ever since I stopped using the treadmill on a regular basis, my feet have gotten soft.

It does seem that as the weeks go by, it gets easier every time, but the Söfft sandals are the only ones where I don't even notice I'm wearing shoes, much less heels. No wonder I have 3 pair--4 if you count the ratty, worn-out pair that I still keep for some reason.

[Jkrenzer]

That's quite the record you have. I have no clue what I've worn or when. After a few days, the memory fades and I've never jotted down my choices. I know which are my favorites and seem to rotate amongst them most.

Sounds to me like Söfft has become your favorite brand based on comfort. 

I don't get the sandal seam placement. Seems if the could move just a bit forward would help. Realize they need the tip to be rounded into the sole unlike pumps for better structural protection, but seam is in a bad place.

[Pierre1961]

Same for me. The ball skin hurts after a few hours. Or a few miles walk. Depending on the material of the socks it could make a big difference. Long distance bare foot is a no way for me 

[Jkrenzer]

4 hours ago, Pierre1961 said:

Same for me. The ball skin hurts after a few hours. Or a few miles walk. Depending on the material of the socks it could make a big difference. Long distance bare foot is a no way for me 

Can't wear socks in sandals.

I don't wear open toed sandals due to my toe nails. At 59, they just haven't held up.

[Cali]

Socks with sandals? Please no.  I only wear socks with closed toe shoes shoes, which was about once in the last two months. At 67 its sandals with pads. I'm lucky, my toe nails are in get (typo should be "great") shape.

Edited June 22, 2022 by Cali

[Jkrenzer]

11 minutes ago, Cali said:

Socks with sandals? Please no.  I only wear socks with closed toe shoes shoes, which was about once in the last two months. At 67 its sandals with pads. I'm lucky, my toe nails are in get shape.

You are  luck at that. You have oddly small nails, that has to help.

[Cali]

1 hour ago, Jkrenzer said:

You are  luck at that. You have oddly small nails, that has to help.

I've had work done. Both big toes have had ingrown nail surgery. I also had a hammertoe bone removal in the second smallest toe and tendon release/realignment in the adjacent baby toe with 8 inch pins inserted.

[Pierre1961]

I never wear open toe shoes either!

[mlroseplant]

21 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

That's quite the record you have. I have no clue what I've worn or when. After a few days, the memory fades and I've never jotted down my choices. I know which are my favorites and seem to rotate amongst them most.

Sounds to me like Söfft has become your favorite brand based on comfort. 

I don't get the sandal seam placement. Seems if the could move just a bit forward would help. Realize they need the tip to be rounded into the sole unlike pumps for better structural protection, but seam is in a bad place.

I don't usually record that stuff the way JeffB used to (and probably still does). I only started writing down what I wore to the Thursday night "big" farmer's market because of two reasons: 1) Since it is a bit hard on the feet, I need to remember what not to wear, and what to wear. 2) Seems I have a bit of a reputation, and I don't want to accidentally repeat too often.

I have not recently done a shoe inventory, but pretty much all of my low heels are Söfft brand. I haven't had a perfect record with them, but I've had a pretty good one. One of these days, I shall have to do a little segment on that part of my collection.

[mlroseplant]

OOTW. I don't really have an outfit of the day, but I usually have an outfit of the week. The Via Spiga pumps are fitting a lot better after going through the shoe stretcher. I got complimented on my shoes by a fellow musician, one whom I had never met before. I was not in my best form, but she was. That is, as I was reminded again by a sometimes friend, because I don't do music for a living. If I did, I would probably practice more. I also got accused of having man-boobs within the next few hours. I don't know why this bothers me. I only wish they were bigger. Just kidding.

 

[Jkrenzer]

Sharp clean look.

[SF]

Man boobs??  You need to stop pumping iron...  smile....   sf

[mlroseplant]

Farmer's market OOTW. Bruno Magli suede wedges (which are holding up rather better than I expected), Loft shorts, Walmart t-shirt. Did not get any comment on my shoes, but one male customer, appearing to be in his early 20s, complimented my shorts. It is quite possible that he never even saw my shoes. I'm not sure they're visible to customers unless they go out of their way to view them.

Although they appear shorter in this particular picture, these sandals are right a 4" with no platform. I wore them six weeks ago, and by the end of the night, I was ready to get out of them. This week, however, they treated me much better. They were just fine. It's probably more like I'm getting my endurance built back up. And yes, the photo was taken in a men's bathroom.

[SF]

OOTW...   I'm not "hip," (sadly) and had to look up the meaning of OOTW.  Four plus definitions came up.  One was "Operations Other Than War," I imagine that was not your meaning here.  

Nice sandals and I'm not a shorts wearing guy but do like that coral color.  I have a casual shirt that color and it is also my fav OPI nail polish color.

Have fun...   smile...  sf 

[p1ng74]

Engineers are always inventing acronyms, and I think this is one he created - Outfit Of The Week

[mlroseplant]

21 hours ago, SF said:

OOTW...   I'm not "hip," (sadly) and had to look up the meaning of OOTW.  Four plus definitions came up.  One was "Operations Other Than War," I imagine that was not your meaning here.  

Nice sandals and I'm not a shorts wearing guy but do like that coral color.  I have a casual shirt that color and it is also my fav OPI nail polish color.

Have fun...   smile...  sf 

I had defined that abbreviation three posts previous. I am normally loathe to use those sorts of things, but I have read this so often when I receive pictures from my fashionista friend that it now seems normal to me. Only with her, it's always OOTD. I simply don't have a different outfit every day, so I went with OOTW. In fact, I don't know if you could call most of what I wear "outfits." It's more like "stuff I pulled on at the last minute that I hoped wouldn't look terrible."

Operations Other Than War might have actually worked in this case. After all, our operation is quite peaceful there on 5th Street every week.

18 hours ago, p1ng74 said:

Engineers are always inventing acronyms, and I think this is one he created - Outfit Of The Week

I'm going to tag @Puffer on this one, because this is probably right up his alley. I didn't actually invent this "acronym." Or maybe I did. As I'm sure you are quite aware, being a fashion enthusiast yourself, OOTD is as common as dirt on many social media platforms. Like I said previously, I had to change it to reflect one-seventh the frequency.

On a slightly different subject, we call these things "acronyms," but they are not truly acronyms. That definition may be changing as people, including me, slightly misuse it, but what we really mean is "initialism." To be a true acronym, the initials must form a sort of word that you say, kind of like "LASER, SCOTUS, SCUBA," that sort of thing. An initialism is an abbreviation where you say the letters, like "FBI, DIY," and quite possibly "OOTD." OOTD is an interesting one, though, because at least as I use it, it's only in writing, as "Outfit Of The Day" rolls off the tongue quite easily, perhaps rather more easily than saying, "oh-oh-tee-dee." "Eff-bee-eye" is obviously more handy than saying "Federal Bureau of Investigation" every single time.

I could go on to examine the fact that Americans will call air-conditioning "A/C," whereas Brits will tend to say "aircon." Both are shortened forms, and some might point out the the initialism "A/C" might be mistaken for "Alternating Current," whereas "aircon" cannot. However, in real life, this never happens. Y'all ave a good day.