The High Heeled Ruminations Of Melrose Plant

[Jkrenzer]

I've had that exact failure twice. Both were less than decent quality shoes. The steel shank that the tips are pressed into doesn't go all the way up. The heels on both of mine broke at the termination point of the shank. No fixing these as suggested, they'll break again. 

[Puffer]

8 hours ago, Bubba136 said:

It,looks like a clean, even break to me.  If it were me, and I liked that pair as much as you seem to, I would probably try to repair them by drilling a hole into both pieces, inserting a metal rod into the hole and putting them together, fastening the pieces together using some super glue.  Perhaps you could get some additional use from them.  Might be worth a try.

You could do this, but the main difficulty will be accurately drilling both pieces so that they are in exact register when re-joined, and with the two holes in the same vertical alignment.   Nothing to lose by trying it!

[Jkrenzer]

5 hours ago, Puffer said:

You could do this, but the main difficulty will be accurately drilling both pieces so that they are in exact register when re-joined, and with the two holes in the same vertical alignment.   Nothing to lose by trying it!

There won't be sufficient depth on either side to withstand the bending moments. Fine if you're just sitting around but Melrose wears his heels in daily manner  

[Puffer]

5 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

There won't be sufficient depth on either side to withstand the bending moments. Fine if you're just sitting around but Melrose wears his heels in daily manner  

I have done this on a heel thinner than Melrose's, inserting a 1/8" steel rod.   There was no issue with strength or bending but getting everything true and in register was the problem, which is why I am doubtful of success.

[mlroseplant]

7 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

There won't be sufficient depth on either side to withstand the bending moments. Fine if you're just sitting around but Melrose wears his heels in daily manner  

 

1 hour ago, Puffer said:

I have done this on a heel thinner than Melrose's, inserting a 1/8" steel rod.   There was no issue with strength or bending but getting everything true and in register was the problem, which is why I am doubtful of success.

There is an additional issue, as Krenzer alluded to, and that is the fact that there is an existing metal rod in the heel that does not extend all the way up the heel. I have not done a full forensic analysis, but it appears that the heel snapped off at about the end of this rod. Even if my measuring and drilling were perfect, there is the issue of how to get rid of that existing rod. You certainly couldn't drill it out, and I don't have the means to press it out, the plastic is 11 years old, has been exposed to extreme heat and cold cycles, &c., &c. I'm thinking this is the end of the road.

I have come to the conclusion that there are no high heels which will last forever, unlike Shyheels' hiking boots. These fell just shy of 200 miles. I figured they would fail eventually, but I figured it would be at the 250 or 300 mile mark. In second place is a pair of True Religion mules, which currently sits at 170 miles. In distant third place is a pair of BCBG mules which only made it to 111 miles, and its replacement has already shown signs of premature failure at less than 70 miles.

My shoes failures tend to fall into one of two categories: Shank failure or what I will call aesthetic failure. I've had several shank failures over the years. Worst case scenario, it involves a limp home similar to what I experienced Sunday. Aesthetic failure just means that the shoes have gotten so ratty looking from hard use that they are not presentable anymore. The amazing thing about the Nine West oxfords is that they actually still looked good after 11 years and nearly 200 miles. Oh well.  .  .

Edited January 30 by mlroseplant

[Shyheels]

Hard to give up on something you really liked. By the sounds of things you got some good mileage out of them.

[Puffer]

11 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

 

There is an additional issue, as Krenzer alluded to, and that is the fact that there is an existing metal rod in the heel that does not extend all the way up the heel. I have not done a full forensic analysis, but it appears that the heel snapped off at about the end of this rod. Even if my measuring and drilling were perfect, there is the issue of how to get rid of that existing rod. You certainly couldn't drill it out, and I don't have the means to press it out, the plastic is 11 years old, has been exposed to extreme heat and cold cycles, &c., &c. I'm thinking this is the end of the road.

...

If (and I repeat 'if') the existing rod could be removed (or indeed partially drilled out from the 'break end'), it should then give a hole that would take a new rod, maybe larger in diameter and certainly longer.   The trick then would be to bore a corresponding hole in proper register in the mating section so that they could be accurately reunited.   Not easy but might be worth a try.   I wonder what diameter the existing rod is?

[mlroseplant]

The existing rod is not very big. Eyeballing it, it appears to be about 4 mm. I agree with you, it could be fixed. Technically, you are correct. However, my general feeling is that it would be very much like fixing my son's 1972 Suzuki T350, which has been resurrected from the dead half a dozen times. I don't like riding that thing to Des Moines, much less anywhere substantial. You can't trust the thing not to break down at any moment.

How would these shoes be any different? Supposing the broken heel were fixed, and fixed well. What is to say the other heel isn't going to break next month? Or what if a shank breaks? I don't want to have the same feeling every time I wear those shoes that I do every time we ride that damned motorbike.

Moving forward, right after I broke the heel, I put together this ensemble for church, which included my Steve Madden Daisie pumps in tan patent.

[Shyheels]

I think you’re wise. You’d never trust the heel not to snap again and the unfettered enjoyment of wearing them would be irretrievably compromised. You’d be salvaging them simply because it was technically possible to do so - maybe. Not the best reason. Good to move on.

As to the pics, a nice look. As always a textbook example of making heels for men presentable 

[Bubba136]

The only way you can consider those shoes as “men’s” shoes is to say that they are mine and I am a man.  I know because I’ve done that.

[Shyheels]

2 hours ago, Bubba136 said:

The only way you can consider those shoes as “men’s” shoes is to say that they are mine and I am a man.  I know because I’ve done that.

I use the same logic - and it’s incontrovertible. My boots are my boots. They belong to me. I am a man. Ergo: they’re a man’s boot.

[Puffer]

15 hours ago, Shyheels said:

I use the same logic - and it’s incontrovertible. My boots are my boots. They belong to me. I am a man. Ergo: they’re a man’s boot.

Thus demonstrating the difference between 'a man's boot' and 'a male boot'.   I suppose too that one could say about a heel-wearing man: 'one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind'.   (A pity that Neil Armstrong spoiled such an apt quote by saying '... for man ...'.)

[Jkrenzer]

2 hours ago, Puffer said:

Thus demonstrating the difference between 'a man's boot' and 'a male boot'.   I suppose too that one could say about a heel-wearing man: 'one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind'.   (A pity that Neil Armstrong spoiled such an apt quote by saying '... for man ...'.)

He said "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind'.

The quote is accurate as he is a man and the term mankind is gender less. 

[mlroseplant]

2 hours ago, Puffer said:

Thus demonstrating the difference between 'a man's boot' and 'a male boot'.   I suppose too that one could say about a heel-wearing man: 'one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind'.   (A pity that Neil Armstrong spoiled such an apt quote by saying '... for man ...'.)

Cut him a little bit of slack, for he was working under slightly demanding conditions. Also, I do not take small steps for a man with 28 inch inseams.

[Shyheels]

I believe he did say “for a man” - there was something about this in a documentary a couple of years ago. The transmission isn’t really clear though

[HappyinHeels]

Mlroseplant,

Firstly I’ll echo others’ praise for your fine representation of men in heels. As ZZ Top said, you’re “a sharp-dressed man”. 
As to fixing these heels and the length of the shank I have an analogy with knives.  I like to cook and have done it at home, in other people’s yards and in two restaurants. Knives are really important and you shouldn’t skimp on quality. So many knives are inexpensive but closer scrutiny shows handles made from something other than wood and the blade doesn’t go to the bottom of the handle. About 15 years ago I spent $650 for a complete set of knives which I still have. Cutco knives made in New York State not ordinary crap made in China. Many of the shoes we buy are mass-produced for the masses at reasonable prices. The surprise is that some last as long as they do. Probably more to do with care exercised by the wearer. Since you are a bit shorter than I a figure of 2800 steps per mile seems reasonable for you. 200miles is 560k steps divided by 11 gives 50-51k steps/yr. I then used a figure of 3500 steps per outing with heels on. That’s shopping, going grocery, clothes, hardware or just walking through some mall somewhere so that equates to some dozen outings for that pair of heels assuming only that you had them on the entire time. Honestly that’s outstanding for the price paid.

As to the shoes if you really really like them them have a pro fix them. If you had a certain car you really liked the have it completely overhauled. I did this in 1997 with an 1985 Grand Marquis had the most comfortable seats of any car I ever had. Sure, the cost of fixing the shoes will exceed the price paid but who cares. They are important to you so you need not justify anything to anyone else. I wish you the best whatever you decide. HinH

Edited February 1 by HappyinHeels
Words omitted

[Puffer]

12 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

He said "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind'.

The quote is accurate as he is a man and the term mankind is gender less. 

11 hours ago, Shyheels said:

I believe he did say “for a man” - there was something about this in a documentary a couple of years ago. The transmission isn’t really clear though

I have heard and read otherwise, more than once, although I agree that there is some doubt.   Armstrong has often been criticised for (apparently) saying 'for man' (which equates to 'mankind' and is therefore a tautology) - although one can forgive him in all the circumstances.   If he had (correctly) said - and been clearly heard to have said  - 'for a man', there would have been no need for comment over many years.

Edited February 1 by Puffer

[Shyheels]

Neil Armstrong was an intelligent and very cool headed man. I'm inclined to think he said "a man" and that the transmission was unclear. It's distinctly how I remember hearing it as a child, when I was watching breathlessly on our Zenith black-and-white TV. And as a space-obsessed ten year -old, shortly to turn eleven, I was hardly watching and listening with an ear for grammar!

[mlroseplant]

Although it's not exactly as far as the moon, I will be on a jet plane bound for Vietnam in a matter of 48 hours. I doubt I'll have anything worth posting between now and then, at least as far as photos go. I will be able to check in and post text easily for the next two weeks, should the opportunity arise. The reason I say this is because:

I am considering not taking my computer this year. It's an extra pain in the neck going through security, and I can't really think of any reason why I can't do everything I want to do with a phone, with the possible exception of posting photos on here. I'm really trying to recall why I thought it was worth dragging that thing along with me every other trip previously. I wonder if my wife will want to take hers this time. She has a fancier phone than I do.

[Shyheels]

I know the feeling about taking a laptop when you travel. In my line of work I nearly always have to but when I have the option I will always leave it home. It’s so liberating and simplifies the whole travel/airport scene, Have a lovely trip . I don’t envy you the long flight although being in Vietnam will be nice! Have fun!

[dww]

I can remember the 20th of july 1969 very well, I was an apprentice at Goonhilly downs earth statalite tracking station, I remember Neil Armstrong saying one small step for man, one giant leap mankind, and I watched it live.

David.

Update one giant leap for mankind.

[Puffer]

17 hours ago, dww said:

I can remember the 20th of july 1969 very well, I was an apprentice at Goonhilly downs earth statalite tracking station, I remember Neil Armstrong saying one small step for man, one giant leap mankind, and I watched it live.

David.

Update one giant leap for mankind.

Perhaps we only heard the 'for man' version in the UK, where we care more about correct use of language and so had something to discuss over the years!   Interestingly, the official transcript is undecided whether the 'a' is included or not.

[dww]

Would love to know what would be said today, with all this can't say this or that and things have to be correct like cannot say man has to be person or persons, or maybe they might want to known as goldfish or oranges etc.

[mlroseplant]

As I've gotten older, I care less and less about absolute correctness, and more about whether the thought was understood. Perhaps this is because I've been married to a non-native English speaker for 16 years. I am quite sure that everyone who heard the quote understood his meaning, whether he actually said "for a man" or not.

What I have great objection to nowadays is that many young people write so poorly that one can't understand the meaning. My 15 year old may not always put a period at the end of a sentence when he sends me a text, and the capitalization may not be 100% there, but at least he writes in complete sentences. I've never had to ask for a rewrite to understand what he is saying. I've had some bosses at work about which I cannot say the same.

13 minutes ago, dww said:

Would love to know what would be said today, with all this can't say this or that and things have to be correct like cannot say man has to be person or persons, or maybe they might want to known as goldfish or oranges etc.

Oh, that's an easy one! It's still elegant, but is gender neutral.  "One small step for a man, one giant leap for humankind." You're still allowed to be a man, after all.

[Shyheels]

Today it would be - as he took a selfie for his personal Instagram account (four zillion followers) - “that’s one small step for ME, one giant leap for humankind …” 

[Cali]

Then someone would make a meme of him stepping off then on then off ... the ladder and post it on TikTok.

[mlroseplant]

Hello all from Hanoi, Vietnam. It has been a mostly joyous trip, as this is the first time we’ve visited since the pandemic. When I get back, I might tell some stories and share a few photos, many of which have nothing to do with high heels. In the meantime, I will share a photo of my fashionista friend, wearing her boots which are convertible from knee high (shown here) to thigh high. Haven’t actually seen that yet.

 

The stiletto heels on these boots are not super high, but she and I, having no ruler in our possession at the time, estimated them to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-9 cm. I *can* say with certainty that she has improved her walking technique in heels substantially in the last 10 years. We have a plan to go shoe shopping (for the both of us) possibly tomorrow. Whether that actually happens remains to be seen. My main obligation while I am here is to my family and particularly my mother-in-law, who is not in good health. But y’all enjoy this picture!

[Shyheels]

What a lovely photo! Your friend looks vivacious and fun, and I’ve no doubt you’ll have a great time going shopping together. It would be such fun to go shopping with a friend like that. You’re very fortunate. 

I’ve been to Vietnam only once, but I really enjoyed my time there and would go back in a heartbeat. I’m sorry to hear your mother in law is unwell. Hopefully that will resolve itself.. I’m so glad you’re having a nice time.

[mlroseplant]

Hello all, here are some more boots for all you boot people. True 10 cm/4 inch heels on these. Shoe shopping was a bust. Current styles these days are frankly hideous, and kind of low, too. My friend agreed. Plus, I really don’t really need to buy any more shoes. Anyway, a good time was had by all. I’m ready to come home. More details to come later. 

[Shyheels]

Very nice boots! At least you had a good time going out shopping even if the styles were hideous. The fun is in the company and the outing. Acquisition is secondary, especially since you didn’t need to buy anything