I did something stupid...

[Goose]

  I've been browsing this site for a long time. But after my most recent escapade I knew I'd have to share. I want to make a post detailing my history a bit as I've found other smiliar stories and experiences informative. In the meantime though I will share my boldest public outing. 

  So the plan was simple go out in the early AM in flats. Walk to a remote area change into heels, walk around a bit. Change back, walk home. Easy. My biggest problem though is what pair of heels? I bought some bright pink mary Jane's with a slight chunky heel and a nice t bar strap. About 3 and 3/4 of an inch tall. I only intended to wear them at home because they were so blatantly feminine and bright. But they fit well and I can walk in them comfortably, they also can be walked in without being incredible loud. That is if you walk with good technique. I figured that I wouldn't even see anybody and for some reason I picked them for my walk. So I got dressed. Threw a hoodie on slipped into some old ratty sneakers grabbed my heels and head out the door.

  This was nerve-wracking. But I tried my best to bolster my confidence. Why would I a man be walking holding a pair of bright pink heels? Maybe my GF left them at my house and I'm dropping them off, who knows. These are the mind games I play so I don't feel so awkward about the whole thing. As I walked I ended up at a small stair set. I sat down and took off my sneakers. I slipped my heels on. I took a couple steps and they sound alright and I can walk alright. However I began hearing voices coming closer and closer. I panicked. I frantically tore my heels off and just in the nick of time I was able to get my sneakers back on and as they rounded the corner I began to walk away. At this point my mission felt fubar. For some reason there was a relatively high amount of activity for that time of night. I began to feel discouraged. I also grew paranoid that it was some kind of security and they'd follow me. Thankfully I kept walking and they didn't. I wanted to call it quits but I couldn't turn back and possibly run into whoever that was, so I kept marching forward. Again I saw a man perhaps leaving a late shift or arriving for one. Again the activity scared me. But I doubled down and kept walking.

  I had now made it to a large parking lot and I knew that there would be nobody there. So I found a big set of stairs sat down and put my heels on. I left my sneakers sitting there and begin to walk. If I walked either heel to toe or tried to land my foot evenly my heels weren't too loud on the concrete. I felt my confidence begin to return. I felt comfortable walking and with my jeans partly covering my feet I felt reasonable safe. So in a spur of the moment decision I decided to go back for my sneakers, but not to change back. I picked up my old sneakers and found the nearest trash can and tossed them. Now I couldn't chicken out. I'd have to walk the mile back home in heels. Well unless I wanted to do the walk of shame and walk barefooted on the wet ground.

  I felt relatively confident, I knew the area well and I could navigate the quiet darker places and I'd only have to risk one section on the way home. So things went smoothly, well besides the fact my feet already hurt and I was was only a quarter of the way. I couldn't change my mind now! So I was beginning to reach the tricky portion of my walk. I knew that this was a sort of choke point between two sections of town and I would be more likely to see somone there. Surprise surprise as I was thinking this I rounded the corner and a young man was walking right my way about 20 feet ahead. I had no time to panic or hide. I just kept walking. I even instinctively made eye contact and nodded but they just stared straight ahead and kept walking. I was a hooded dude in jeans and pink heels I wonder if he even noticed haha. Either way I survived and the rest of the walk was uneventful. My worst case scenario happened and it was fine.

  So that was my little adventure. I have more to share in the future. If any of yall got questions id love to hear them. Thanks for reading. Also I've never been very good at writing so hopefully I conveyed this story decently enough and any grammatical stuff wasn't too egregious. -Goose

[CrushedVamp]

That is so awesome, and thanks so much for sharing.

What you did is really a life lesson; sometimes in life we just have to know ourselves and defeat us. Tossing away your sneakers forced yourself to do what you really wanted do. It is how we explore, get out of our comfort zones and really enjoy life.

I once heard, If something scares you but also excites you... do it!

I climb high tension lines, sometimes hundreds of feet in the air and with 345,000 volts and while it ALWAYS scares me, it makes lief exciting too.

[Goose]

3 minutes ago, CrushedVamp said:

That is so awesome, and thanks so much for sharing.

What you did is really a life lesson; sometimes in life we just have to know ourselves and defeat us. Tossing away your sneakers forced yourself to do what you really wanted do. It is how we explore, get out of our comfort zones and really enjoy life.

I once heard, If something scares you but also excites you... do it!

I climb high tension lines, sometimes hundreds of feet in the air and with 345,000 volts and while it ALWAYS scares me, it makes lief exciting too.

Thanks alot for reading! Funnily enough I've always been more scared socially then physically. It's funny how our brains excess danger and risk. My brain holds societal judgments higher then physical dangers. I'd also been meaning to chuck those sneakers anyway haha. 

[Shyheels]

Crossing the Rubicon - in heels

[bluejay]

Goose, as you will find out the more you wear heels, the more you'll want to wear them. I love wearing heels and my wife it totally OK with it. I'm not at all concerned about wearing my heels out to be seen. I even have some women friends who are always looking to see what kind of heels, I'm wearing and get compliments many times. So don't be afraid to wear your heels out and about. I do!!!!!!!!!

Happy Heeling,

bluejay

[mlroseplant]

Welcome to the both of you @Goose and @CrushedVamp. It's funny that this subject should come up at this time, because I was just recounting my first time in heels not very long ago. Now, 12 years later, it's a very ordinary part of my life, but for some reason it never gets boring. I wear heels every day to some extent or other. I can't remember the last time that I thought to myself, "I don't really feel like wearing heels today."

[CrushedVamp]

Thank you for the welcome @mlroseplant .

I was on this site years ago, but atlas forgot what my username was so I had get a new moniker. Like then, I hope to add to the forum in a good way.

On 12/16/2024 at 5:39 AM, Shyheels said:

Crossing the Rubicon - in heels

I was mistakenly thinking there was a lady who hiked the entirety of the Appalachian Trail (2190 miles) in high heels, but in checking I was sorry to see two sisters hiked it entirely barefoot. There is a HUGE difference between high heels and being barefoot. A few have hiked stretches of it in high heels, but to my knowledge no one has yet to through-hike it wearing high heels the entire way.

Not to derail this thread but if someone on here wants to make high heel history it is theirs to take!

Maybe that would generate some sensationalism for the high heel? Maybe a heel designer will take on the challenge and adapt a comfortable high heel for such a trip?

What a Victory, to stand on Mount Katahdin 2190 miles later at 5269 feet... AND 6 inches!! 🙂

[Shyheels]

It would depend on the heel and the style - pumps would never last more than a bare few miles. But chunky heel ankle boots if well made might be theoretically possible. Not for the whole journey in one pair. Not even Vibram soled hiking boots would do the entire journey from what I hear. But if you had a big enough budget for quite a few pairs of really well made chunky heeled ankle or knee boots, I should think it would be possible. In theory.

Of course the truth is than many would be through hikers never make it, for loads of reasons. It is not an easy hike. Adding to the degree of difficulty by insisting on doing it in heels might be pushing your luck.

I wore my chunky heeled ankle boot up the towpath the other day. It was noticeably slower going and I felt less sure footed - and that was without a sixty pound backpack. 

[Gige]

@Goose @CrushedVamp Welcome to the forum! I believe that you will find many of the active members to be encouraging and supportive as you progress in wearing heels out in public. I find it to be very comforting to know that what I have and I am currently experiencing, others in this group have also done the same. Thus, that which you share with this group will be very familiar to most everyone and the advice you receive/can find will be very helpful. On that note, allow me to offer a few suggestions.

First, read through many of the threads started over the past year or so. As I started venturing out in heels about a year ago, I, too, had many stories of success as well as many questions. I found the responses, encouragement, and advice in the responses to my postings were invaluable. You may not agree with all that has been offered in the words of each individual but for the most part, I have found that which they wrote to be enriching and rewarding. For me, reading the stories of other men wearing heels in public was the motivation I needed to take that first step, both literally and figuratively. Within a year, I have gone from “Oh god! Someone may have seen me in heels!” to “Someone saw me in heels. I hope they thought my skirt and top matched my boots/heels!” I often receive compliments on my outfits and that never gets old (and/or tired).

Second, be sure to share your stories, thoughts, and comments with the group. Again, many of us can relate to your feelings and will be able to offer tips, pointers, and if needed, cautions about wearing heels in public. I find that writing about my initial experiences of wearing heels in public was very helpful in processing all of it. Likewise, you will always get a response to your posts. Building confidence in wearing heels in public varies from individual to individual. Some can throw on a pair of heels for the first time and head right out in public without a care in the world. For others, it may take a bit, and there will be a few who may still be hesitant for a very long period of time.

Finally, do not feel stupid, silly, ashamed, or otherwise if you truly want to wear heels out in public. There are members of this forum who range from just wearing only heels to individuals like me who are either genderfluid or fully transgender (I have started gravitating to the latter) but what binds us together is that we all wear high heels. The how, when, and where you choose to do so is entirely up to you and I hope that you will eventually become like other members (myself included) who prefer heels to other footwear.  At first, yes, it is going to feel as if the eyes of the world immediately fall upon you when step out in heels. With time, practice, and determination, that will change. Again, read through some of the older threads and look at he outfits some of the members have worn out in public. When I first started wearing heels in public, I dreamed of the day I could wear a similar outfit in public. Now, I do and want “everyone” to see it!

If you need advice, encouragement, or the like, always feel free to make an outreach!

Edited Wednesday at 12:46 AM by Gige
Additions

[pebblesf]

Welcome Goose!  Great job chucking the sneaks, no turning back from that for sure.   Sometimes we are way too tough on ourselves for sure.  We assume the eyes of the world will be focused on us when we first venture out in the heels we are so eager to wear publicly.  I think part of this assumption comes from the fact that most of us are keen on noticing the heels others are wearing, but we are certainly in the minority.  Most folks are way too busy to notice our footwear, and most don't really care.  

Good for you buddy, we have all "been there" for sure.  We are eager to here about your next adventures, each outing in heels gets a little easier.  

On 12/16/2024 at 4:14 AM, Goose said:

  I've been browsing this site for a long time. But after my most recent escapade I knew I'd have to share. I want to make a post detailing my history a bit as I've found other smiliar stories and experiences informative. In the meantime though I will share my boldest public outing. 

  So the plan was simple go out in the early AM in flats. Walk to a remote area change into heels, walk around a bit. Change back, walk home. Easy. My biggest problem though is what pair of heels? I bought some bright pink mary Jane's with a slight chunky heel and a nice t bar strap. About 3 and 3/4 of an inch tall. I only intended to wear them at home because they were so blatantly feminine and bright. But they fit well and I can walk in them comfortably, they also can be walked in without being incredible loud. That is if you walk with good technique. I figured that I wouldn't even see anybody and for some reason I picked them for my walk. So I got dressed. Threw a hoodie on slipped into some old ratty sneakers grabbed my heels and head out the door.

  This was nerve-wracking. But I tried my best to bolster my confidence. Why would I a man be walking holding a pair of bright pink heels? Maybe my GF left them at my house and I'm dropping them off, who knows. These are the mind games I play so I don't feel so awkward about the whole thing. As I walked I ended up at a small stair set. I sat down and took off my sneakers. I slipped my heels on. I took a couple steps and they sound alright and I can walk alright. However I began hearing voices coming closer and closer. I panicked. I frantically tore my heels off and just in the nick of time I was able to get my sneakers back on and as they rounded the corner I began to walk away. At this point my mission felt fubar. For some reason there was a relatively high amount of activity for that time of night. I began to feel discouraged. I also grew paranoid that it was some kind of security and they'd follow me. Thankfully I kept walking and they didn't. I wanted to call it quits but I couldn't turn back and possibly run into whoever that was, so I kept marching forward. Again I saw a man perhaps leaving a late shift or arriving for one. Again the activity scared me. But I doubled down and kept walking.

  I had now made it to a large parking lot and I knew that there would be nobody there. So I found a big set of stairs sat down and put my heels on. I left my sneakers sitting there and begin to walk. If I walked either heel to toe or tried to land my foot evenly my heels weren't too loud on the concrete. I felt my confidence begin to return. I felt comfortable walking and with my jeans partly covering my feet I felt reasonable safe. So in a spur of the moment decision I decided to go back for my sneakers, but not to change back. I picked up my old sneakers and found the nearest trash can and tossed them. Now I couldn't chicken out. I'd have to walk the mile back home in heels. Well unless I wanted to do the walk of shame and walk barefooted on the wet ground.

  I felt relatively confident, I knew the area well and I could navigate the quiet darker places and I'd only have to risk one section on the way home. So things went smoothly, well besides the fact my feet already hurt and I was was only a quarter of the way. I couldn't change my mind now! So I was beginning to reach the tricky portion of my walk. I knew that this was a sort of choke point between two sections of town and I would be more likely to see somone there. Surprise surprise as I was thinking this I rounded the corner and a young man was walking right my way about 20 feet ahead. I had no time to panic or hide. I just kept walking. I even instinctively made eye contact and nodded but they just stared straight ahead and kept walking. I was a hooded dude in jeans and pink heels I wonder if he even noticed haha. Either way I survived and the rest of the walk was uneventful. My worst case scenario happened and it was fine.

  So that was my little adventure. I have more to share in the future. If any of yall got questions id love to hear them. Thanks for reading. Also I've never been very good at writing so hopefully I conveyed this story decently enough and any grammatical stuff wasn't too egregious. -Goose

What did you do that was "stupid"??

[mlroseplant]

16 hours ago, CrushedVamp said:

Thank you for the welcome @mlroseplant .

I was on this site years ago, but atlas forgot what my username was so I had get a new moniker. Like then, I hope to add to the forum in a good way.

I was mistakenly thinking there was a lady who hiked the entirety of the Appalachian Trail (2190 miles) in high heels, but in checking I was sorry to see two sisters hiked it entirely barefoot. There is a HUGE difference between high heels and being barefoot. A few have hiked stretches of it in high heels, but to my knowledge no one has yet to through-hike it wearing high heels the entire way.

Not to derail this thread but if someone on here wants to make high heel history it is theirs to take!

Maybe that would generate some sensationalism for the high heel? Maybe a heel designer will take on the challenge and adapt a comfortable high heel for such a trip?

What a Victory, to stand on Mount Katahdin 2190 miles later at 5269 feet... AND 6 inches!! 🙂

I have barely walked 2190 miles in heels in my entire life on relatively flat pavement, much less in mountainous terrain. I like to think that my extensive walking in heels has got me where I am today, but I am also realistic. Also, again from experience, you'd have to probably have 10 pairs of broken-in heels to complete that trip. And that's if you're lucky.

Edited Wednesday at 12:45 PM by mlroseplant

[CrushedVamp]

3 hours ago, mlroseplant said:

I have barely walked 2190 miles in heels in my entire life on relatively flat pavement, much less in mountainous terrain. I like to think that my extensive walking in heels has got me where I am today, but I am also realistic. Also, again from experience, you'd have to probably have 10 pairs of broken-in heels to complete that trip. And that's if you're lucky.

I bow to your experience and honestly have no reason to doubt anything you say on the matter.

It would be interesting to see what kind of adaption a maker of high heels could come up with for hiking comfortably, but let's be honest, they would probably be incredibly ugly. And then again, why, when there are probably 10 people in the world who would try to hike in high heels.

That being said, this woman Erin is attempting to do Colorado's 14ers, in high heels. I will submit the link but realize fully that this should have its own topic so as not to dilute the momentous first steps and throwing away of sneakers by @Goose .  

Colorado High Heels Mountain Climber

[at9]

There are stories of people climbing Helvellyn (a famous mountain in the English Lake District) in stilettos for a dare. I've no idea if there's any truth in this.

[Cali]

Pre-covid, I walked 1/4 of the dirt mount circle at Avebury in 4 inch booties. It was not that much fun.

Edited Wednesday at 05:39 PM by Cali

[CrushedVamp]

52 minutes ago, Cali said:

Pre-covid, I walked 1/4 of the dirt mount circle at Avebury in 4 inch booties. It was not that much fun.

You are better than me. I was once doing a day hike on the Appalachian Trail and came to a river that blocked the path. It was wide, but not very deep, maybe two feet deep at most. It was the spring of the year and did not want to hike in wet shoes, so I took them off and made about two steps. It was too cold for me!!

I did not find out until later there was a road out around the river.

[mlroseplant]

Sometimes I forget that there is often a big difference between what immediately springs to my mind when somebody says the words "high heels," and what most everybody else thinks. Once I actually watched the video, what I found impressive is not that they're high heels (because they just aren't), but the fact that she would attempt all these climbs in such flimsy sandals of any heel height. Having worn and broken a lot of sandals over the last decade, that would be one of the last styles I'd choose under those conditions.

[Shyheels]

I watched the video too. I think if I was going to climb a mountain in heels I’d be in chunky heeled ankle boots for at least a bit of support - why anyone would choose sandals and especially a pair like those is beyond me. But she made it and evidently had a good time so more power to her 

[Goose]

On 12/17/2024 at 7:36 PM, pebblesf said:

What did you do that was "stupid"??

Haha just the chucking the sneakers part. In other words it was a risky move. 

[pebblesf]

1 hour ago, Goose said:

Haha just the chucking the sneakers part. In other words it was a risky move. 

Risky perhaps, but a big step forward for sure.  Nothing feels quite so nice as wearing the heels we love in public....

[Cali]

Maybe she was sponsored.

[Shyheels]

It's a thought, but I reckon that would have been mentioned.