Latest experience, good and bad, same day!

[hiddenheels]

Hi!

Haven't been here in ages. Been busy, and in general been pushing myself to wear heels more and more, but a lot of anxiety has gone away and have been enjoying a lot of my outings. My outings tend to be about once a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. Usually to a nearby caffee shop, restaurant, or mall. I try to wear heels whenever I possibly can, but family cannot know, so it takes planning. A few years ago I tried mini-skirts, and now have quite the collection of minis and (ladies)kilts, all of which I love. But it was minis only. One or the other, either a mini, or heels, not comfortable with both. Recently though, for whatever reason, I bought a maxi skirt, down to my ankles, a nice flowy-one, nothing tight. Went outside in it and just loved how the wind picked it up and fluttered it around my legs, and I didn't worry about it blowing up and showing something I didn't want shown. And it was cool, meaning in the hot weather!

That outing, in a maxi flowy skirt made me realize I have been missing out and given the length, I would actually be comfortable wearing these with heels! So I did. 

The day in question, I ended up wearing an ankle-length maxi skirt, black, with some buttons on it. I also wore a 4" pair of leather pumps (oh so comfortable!) and a nice white t-shirt. It looked good! I loved it!

So, I enter the mall, not anxious but a bit reserved as this is new territory for me. Went to a store, browsed around looking at skirts, trying on a few things. It was fun. Then I decided to go the other end of the mall, grab a coffee and do some work. As I'm walking along, I notice a loud group of teenage girls in a store, and as I walk beyond them, one yells out "Love the heels, girl!". I didn't know what to make of the "girl" part (as I have stubble on my face, and am clearly a guy). Smiled at them and kept walking, walked right into a washroom (nature called). Did my thing, and as I am starting to exit, I see the same teenage girl pop her head in (into the male washroom!), and go away giggling. Her friends were yelling at her that it's the male washroom. I didn't feel comfortable, so stalled a bit, and then exited, hearing that they went into the female washroom. Then I made my way to my destination, (on purpose) walking by some security guards, just in case. Did not feel comfortable at all, and was questioning my choices. It has never actually happened to me, and I have worn heels to these types of places now countless of times. So am somewhat   at this point.

I bought coffee, sat down in the food-court, pulled my laptop and went to work for an hour or so. People came and went, I'm pretty sure some people looked, intensely, but whatever. After I was done, I started to head back through the mall to my car, and popped into a store that I frequent, because I love the stuff they have (sort of gothy, a bit on the fringe of fashion). Was checking the sales, specifically hoping a skirt I have been eyeing has gone on sale (unfortunately not), when one of the sales-ladies walks up to me and starts talking:

Her: "Excuse me, but every time you come into the store..."

Me thinking: oh oh, what did I do to deserve scolding?

Her: "the sales-people are always very curious what sort of heels you're wearing, and checking them out." Instead of talking about with the other sales-people, she told me. "You always seem to be gliding around the store in heels"

I thanked her, took that as a massive compliment, especially while wearing a maxi skirt and heels for the first time. Before I could follow up, she was interrupted by another customer, and went away. I browsed around a bit more, and had to leave. 

 

So... Good and bad experience. I'll chalk up the bad experience to teenagers trying to show off to one another and sometimes behaving shamefully especially when in a group. On the other hand, seems like people do notice, and remember... Thanks for reading!

[Shyheels]

Sounds like an interesting outing to say the least. I was never interested in skirts in the least, but a woman I know who’s into heels, and knows I like them too, convinced me to give one a try, suggesting I go for a pencil skirt - her own particular favourite. I really don’t care for mini skirts so that was never going to be an option, but I have always liked the look of longer skirts. I bought a midi pencil skirt and loved it. I was really surprised at how natural and comfortable it felt.

i wore it while doing some landscape photography very early one morning a few weeks ago and encountered a woman photographer. She came up and started chatting, very naturally, and never mention the skirt or gave any sort of double take. We chatted for about twenty minutes about photography and the light - it was a great morning to be out there - and she went on her way. Completely natural encounter. There’s no way she couldn’t have noticed I was wearing a skirt. She was clearly open minded about such things, while I felt comfortable wearing the midi skirt and knew - or felt - I didn’t look bad in it.

[mlroseplant]

I too have been harassed by teenagers, though not for a long time. What I find it that when you engage them in a friendly way, they tend to melt pretty quickly. It's also nice to know that people actually pay attention to outfits you have gone to a great deal of trouble to create.

[bluejay]

I like wearing skorts with my heels especially in the summer time.I like the short versions of the skorts that show off my legs and I've had compliments over the years from mostly women but an occasional one, from a guy. I don't like maxi or midi skirts. Just my opinion.

Happy Heeling,

bluejay

[mlroseplant]

@bluejay, I seem to recall some stories about how you have been harassed about your fashion choices in the past. Perhaps recounting one of those would be helpful in this situation. I don't think you're the type of person to put up with it much.

[HappyinHeels]

Hiddenheels,

Very well described indeed. Seems a realistic representation of what one may face as you venture out semi-dressed en femme. The girl peering into the men’s bathroom is crossing a line I mean imagine vice-versa you’d hear screams! Just keep getting out there and enjoying your own fashion. I bought my first maxi dress a few years ago and wore some Bakers “Peyton” pumps with it and loved the look. I should post it sometime. Thanks for your stories. HinH

[hiddenheels]

Thank you everyone for the support! I will keep doing my thing. 

If you have stories, HinH & Bluejay, please post. Would be curious how you dealt with more "difficult" situations.

 

[pebblesf]

Teenage girls are the worst, especially to one another!  Just the nature of their age and competitiveness.  My worst experience was going up an escalator at a mall with teenage girls behind me, they were all giggling.  "Never let em see you sweat".  Like MLP says, engaging young girls usually disarms them pretty quickly, making it obvious you are not intimidated.  For me, one geniune compliment usually cancels ten unpleasant encounters.  I have reached the age where I don't care much about what others think, I like the way I look in boots, even if I am older.  That being said, I do enjoy and appreciate compliments, it is nice to have my choices in boots validated.  

The only other lousy situation I had was when the heel gave out on my Zodiac boots!  I had to walk back to the hotel dragging one foot to keep the heel/sole from flopping around!  

[mlroseplant]

14 hours ago, pebblesf said:

Teenage girls are the worst, especially to one another!  Just the nature of their age and competitiveness.  My worst experience was going up an escalator at a mall with teenage girls behind me, they were all giggling.  "Never let em see you sweat".  Like MLP says, engaging young girls usually disarms them pretty quickly, making it obvious you are not intimidated.  For me, one geniune compliment usually cancels ten unpleasant encounters.  I have reached the age where I don't care much about what others think, I like the way I look in boots, even if I am older.  That being said, I do enjoy and appreciate compliments, it is nice to have my choices in boots validated.  

The only other lousy situation I had was when the heel gave out on my Zodiac boots!  I had to walk back to the hotel dragging one foot to keep the heel/sole from flopping around!  

I've had it happen to me twice where I basically didn't have any choice but to walk home barefoot. It's funny you should mention being more mature and not caring what others think, but carrying a pair of heels while walking barefoot adds a whole new layer of self-consciousness for some reason. I felt like I wanted to hang a big flashing sign around my neck that said, "MY HEEL BROKE."

[Shyheels]

That would not be much fun at all. One of the reasons I am hesitant about going out in stilettos is the fear of just such a thing happening. The heels look so precarious - so easy to imagine breakage and the aforementioned barefoot walk home. That's one of the drawbacks to being a creative - a vivid imagination. It's why I am not a great downhiller on my bicycle. I can envision all too easily the consequences of missing my line or a loose piece of gravel

[Cali]

First I have had my heel (either foot bed) break twice. Once I just had to take them off and go barefoot.

Shyheels where's you need for speed? I had several trilling down hill rides, several where you had to get into the fast lane to exit, and you have a car on your tail, at about 45 mph.