womenshoelover Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 Has anybody ever used a Halloween costume party as an excuse to go into a womens shoe store and try on shoes that you say you want to wear to a costume party? If yes, how did it go? Nothing beats a great pair of pumps!
chris100575 Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 I haven't myself, but I remember a similar discussion last Hallowe'en. By all means if it makes you more comfortable, but unless you're buying the cheapest pair in the shop it's not going to be very convincing. In my experience shop staff don't mind you buying women's shoes for yourself, they just want to make a sale. In any case, they're not going to give you a hard time and put themselves in a position where you're going to complain to the manager. As for the other customers, they're probably not going to hear your reason for buying them anyway! Chris
Firefox Posted October 7, 2004 Posted October 7, 2004 No, never done that. Besides, being "able" to buy them for only a couple of weeks in the year seems somewhat limiting.
Mickey S. Posted October 9, 2004 Posted October 9, 2004 @whynotheels: I agree. -- But I must admit, I did use 'excuses' like such in the past. Nowadays, I do wear 3.75" and 4.5" heels on a regular basis (together with long flared jeans - yes, they do cover the heels a bit but I think this looks cool and adds to the illusion of heel height) and if I want something new I just walk into a store, check the ladies' section and try stuff out (at any time and season). And if I get asked I reply that I'm alright and if they ask further I turn it around and ask them if a particular style would be available in my size and that I'm looking for high heels for me. Sometimes they got something appropriate, sometimes they don't. And that's all to it. CU! -Mike
jim Posted October 9, 2004 Posted October 9, 2004 When I was in my teen's I used all sorts of excuses, but when ever I did, I never felt comfortable about it. Judging by the reactions I received from the sales girls, neither did they. The clerks always saw through the story and treated me accordingly. They didn't believe the shoes were for "my sister” or the "Halloween party" nor the other excuses I used on them. Nobody enjoys being lied to and I was usually treated with distain. By the time I was 20 my confidence and self worth were rising dramatically as I pushed boundaries and tested limits in other areas of my life. I quickly realized I had nothing to fear from being honest in regard to "who I was" or for that matter, my unusual choice in shoes…. and neither should you. It has been said here by other experienced street heelers, that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. It’s an old adage but it sure is true. May I suggest, when next you walk into a shoe store and find a pair of heels that takes your fancy, ask one of the sales girls for help. No excuses will be necessary, just tell her they are for you and she will I'm sure, be more than happy to help. I bet she will do it with a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her lips and if her service to you is as professional and courteous as I have experienced here, tell her so and thank her for it. I guarantee she will remember you next time…and for all the right reasons. Goodluck jim
hjt101 Posted October 10, 2004 Posted October 10, 2004 I agree with Jim. They don't really care who wears them, they just want the sale. In most cases, I have found that they don't ask who they are for, they just pull out the saize you ask for, if available. Proudly standing in my patent High Heels
Firefox Posted October 10, 2004 Posted October 10, 2004 Actually people in shoe stores come across this all the time. You won't fool many of them with excuses about sisters or Halloween The good thing is they are really receptive and it also gets them even more used to the idea. Especially if you go in there wearing heels as well.
PJ Posted October 10, 2004 Posted October 10, 2004 Although my experience involved Halloween, it was different than what has been mentioned so far. I appeared up close in public for the first time fully crossdressed. I did this as I greeted all of the trick or treators at the door. Walking in 5" stilleto pumps in view of others was a fantastic experience. Although no one made any direct comments, I did get a few wolf whistles from adults accompanying the children. No wonder Halloween is my favorite holiday. click .... click .... click .... The sensual sound of stiletto heels on a hard surface.
genebujold Posted October 10, 2004 Posted October 10, 2004 Absolutely! In fact, when I was first shopping for heels a few years ago, I bought perhaps five pair using that excuse. At first, the sales ladies gave me queer looks, but considering the fact that it was still July... As Halloween drew nearer, the stares dwindled to nothing, and in October, the sales ladies became quite conversational about how I was going to be dressed as a woman, etc. The problem was, I didn't have an answer! So, I began saying, "well, I'm going as Half 'N Half. You know - the bottom half wearing a skirt and heels, and the top half wearing a suit and tie? It wasn't until the next year that I mustered the courage to actually wear something more than a long pair of blue (black) jeans with heels.
JeffB Posted October 10, 2004 Posted October 10, 2004 I agree with Jim. They don't really care who wears them, they just want the sale. In most cases, I have found that they don't ask who they are for, they just pull out the saize you ask for, if available. I second that! Excuses are unnecessary! As long as you're willing to spend good money (or credit), salespeople aren't going to care what you buy as long as you buy something, anything! I don't want to LOOK like a woman, I just want to DRESS like a woman!
Dawn HH Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 Your not the first man to go into a shoe store and buy women's shoes, so I agree with all that has been said here. Show them the style you want, give them your size, pay for them and leave. This is probably more common than we realize these days and the sales people are pretty used to it. Cheers--- Dawn HH High Heeled Boots Forever!
JeffB Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 Show them the style you want, give them your size, pay for them and leave. Dawn HH And while not everyone might be as bold (that depends on how comfortale you'd be with the eyes of other shoppers upon you), but it would be advantageous to try, yes, TRY shoes on to see if they'll fit properly before you buy, otherwise, you'll be making a trip back to said store to exchange them. I don't want to LOOK like a woman, I just want to DRESS like a woman!
Dawn HH Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 Quite right, JeffB. Cheers--- Dawn HH High Heeled Boots Forever!
genebujold Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 And while not everyone might be as bold (that depends on how comfortale you'd be with the eyes of other shoppers upon you), but it would be advantageous to try, yes, TRY shoes on to see if they'll fit properly before you buy, otherwise, you'll be making a trip back to said store to exchange them. Definately. I used the "pay and run" method of buying heels and mostly would up returning them. Guess where most people are in most shoe stores? At the register. When you're trying on shoes, your feet are mostly hidden by the chairs, racks of shoes, your long pants, etc. You might catch a few stares, but perhaps not as many as you would catch while returing a pair at the register, unless you catch them in a slack time with no customers. Regardless, try before you buy will save you time and money - well worth it.
Dawn HH Posted October 11, 2004 Posted October 11, 2004 Genebujold:-) Excellent advise, Gene. It's always better to make one trip than two and maybe get caught with a more populated store. A lot less embarrassing also. Cheers--- Dawn HH High Heeled Boots Forever!
ward Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 Yes, I used to use that excuse a lot, for buying womens' shoes. I have not used that excuse for a very long time. The most memorable experience I have had involved a shoe sale at Daytons' (now marshall fields). I had seen some shoes in the sale ad in the newspaper. I went in to the ladies shoe dept. and found what I was looking for. I asked sales associte if they had these in size 13 or 14. He became very flustered and left to get his supervisor. Super came over and told me that they did have size 13, but 14 would have to be ordered. I asked for 13, tried them on and as they fit, bought them. ward High heels forever, ward
jim Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 I agree,trying the shoes on before buying them is a prerequisite. Shopping for them is a load of fun and trying on different styles and sizes is just part of the whole experience. Besides, there is nothing worse than finding out the shoes you have just bought and paid for don't fit properly. jim
Firefox Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 My number one tip is to wear heels when you go to a shoe shop to buy. As soon as they see them, the sales people realise immediately you are a serious customer who is quite likely going to provide a sale. $$$ signs light up in their eyes. Of course you may well be a serious customer and not want to wear heels outside. That's understandable, but then it's up to you to distinguish yourself from all the spyers and time wasters they must get. As soon as you wear heels in the shop, all that process is done in one glance by them, without you having to say anything. It's like magic. The other piece of magic is, it is then very easy to sit down among other women on the chairs provided to try on a new pair. They can also see immediately that you are wearing heels already, and this is your typical footwear so you become part of the club without having to say anything. If you act fertively and try some shoes on in a corner or ask to "take some round the back" you'll get a lot more stares. Generally the shop assistants will still be very accommodating, but why bother? Fortune favours the brave in this scenario. Guaranteed.
genebujold Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 Excellent observation, Firefox! My wife and I just watched The Italian Job last night (new one with Charlize Theron and Mark Wahlberg), and she kept saying how much of a "creepy pervert" the bad guy was. Great acting, but his character reminds me very much of how you described those who lurk... Straightforward confidence is definately better. How you act, particular when doing something different than most, says everything about your intentions. Wearing a pair with calm confidence while browsing and buy definately sets you apart from those who would pull a pair off the shelf and sneak into a corner before quickly trying them on... Like none of us have yet to do anything like like!
Dawn HH Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 Ward:-) Great show! You really shook up the sales-person, but the supervisor attained a cooler head. He must have handled that type of problem before, whereas the salesman may have been new and this was the first time he encountered that problem and wanted to see how his supervisor would handle it. At least you got what you came in there for, and they fit. Mission accomplished. Firefox:-) Evidently you are talking from experience with this. A great piece of advise that we all can follow for the future. Cheers--- Dawn HH High Heeled Boots Forever!
flipflop klipklop Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 I think a lot of sales clerks are use to it by now that men sometimes come in to buy ladies shoes for themselves. It's only the ones just starting to work for the first time may give you a stare a few seconds longer. I had a girlfriend that worked at a lingerie store. She thought it was cute that some men would come in and tell them the size they needed or asked to be measured. It was the nervous ones that would tell stories, while standing there sweating, would be the ones that gave her the creeps. She just wanted to help those ones as fast as possible and get them out the store. It made her feel that uncomfortable. Yes, it's beautiful isn't it?
Puffer Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 There's another angle on the potential for embarassment when men buy women's shoes. Many men like to buy shoes for their wife or GF (when she isn't present) and, in my experience, it doesn't cause a problem in the shop - but may be a risk if returns are not possible because the style or fit is wrong. But I can see a difficulty if the woman's shoe is in a size that would be appropriate to the male purchaser; the seller may believe that they are for the man to wear, whatever he says! For once, those with large male feet are at an advantage: I have sometimes read the shop assistant's thoughts, e.g. 'These obviously won't fit him; must be a present for the GF'. (Exit happy customer, but wishing he could wear them too.)
chris100575 Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 I've not tried on a pair of womens' shoes in a shop, but as I seem to be a standard ladies' size 8 I think I've only ever exchanged two pairs. I've never said who the shoes were for, just asked for the size I wanted if they weren't on display, and checked that I could return them if they didn't fit. I've never had a shop assistant be anything other than polite and helpful, and I'm pretty sure that most of the time they know I'm buying for myself. I've even been complimented on my choice. Chris
JeffB Posted October 12, 2004 Posted October 12, 2004 Several years ago, I've tried on and bought a pair of pumps at Nordstroms on a busy Saturday, sat down with other shoppers about, the whole nine yards, and it didn't bother me in the slightest. Yes, people stared, big fat hairy deal! I knew that going in, so it didn't scar me emotionally, and the the salesperson who waited on me was quite professional. After all, he was making a sale, relieving me of my hard earned money, so it was only fair he give me the kind of service everyone else got. It was a great experience. However, Nordstroms rarely caries 13 wide in the stores these days, and the prices are a bit too pricey for my taste, so I've gone elsewhere. Still, trying and buying shoes in person CAN be done! I don't want to LOOK like a woman, I just want to DRESS like a woman!
Dawn HH Posted October 13, 2004 Posted October 13, 2004 Chris100575:-) Being a standard woman's size 7½ M in a heeled shoe and a size 8 M in a heeled boot, I have done similiar things as you. Mickey and I go into the store, choose a pair, ask for my size, pay for them, and try them for fit at home. It's been rare that I have to exchange anything. Lately, we have been buying through store catalogs, and I have only had to return 1 pair of round toe heels for a slightly smaller size. Buying my normal size with a round toe-box left too much space at the heel and I couldn't stay in them. I usually buy a square or a pointed toe-box and the fit is fine. The next time that I buy a round toe-box, I must remember to order a smaller size. JeffB:-) If the shoe salespeople have been in the industry long enough, no matter what you say or don't say isn't goin to make any difference to them. They are savvy and they know whether you are buying for yourself or someone else. So you may as well tell them the truth. I haven't tried any shoes or boots on in the store yet as the system described above has worked out for us beautifully each time. All they are interested in is making a sale no matter who will be wearing them. Cheers--- Dawn HH High Heeled Boots Forever!
flipflop klipklop Posted October 13, 2004 Posted October 13, 2004 Wow, Dawn, you've got the perfect size for women's shoes. You can pretty much select any pair you want, as those are the most common sizes mfg. make. Yes, it's beautiful isn't it?
Dawn HH Posted October 13, 2004 Posted October 13, 2004 FlipFlop KlipKlop:-) Yes, I'm right in the shoe and boot size range of the average U.S. woman and buy right off of the shelf or rack whether it be in the stores or out of the store catalogs. Usually when men wear women's shoes and boots, they need to get a wide size. Notice that my foot width is the same as the average woman's using a medium width. Of course, I had nothing to do with my foot size and I'm lucky to have a small foot for a man. I lucked out on all of this. My women's clothes are a misses size 16 or 18 depending on the manufacturer and again are easily obtained straight from the rack or shelf whether in the store or through the store catalogs. I even have a fur coat for wintertime. The wife and I swap blouses, skirts, and dresses from time to time because we are the same size. This makes for a very interesting wardrobe with a lot of possibilities. I just recently purchased my first ever black lined leather skirt and fell in love with it immediately. I plan in the future to buy other leather garments when I can get a good price on them as I did with the skirt. That skirt looks very well with knee-high and above the knee boots as well as with pumps and Mary-janes. Cheers--- Dawn HH High Heeled Boots Forever!
JeffB Posted October 13, 2004 Posted October 13, 2004 Well, Dawn, you're most lucky to be able to buy right off the rack. I envy since since I can't. However, in retrospect, perhaps that's a good thing. If I were say, a size 9 or 10, I wouldn't have any money as I'd probably have a whole room full of shoes! :rofl: I don't want to LOOK like a woman, I just want to DRESS like a woman!
Skirted-UK Posted October 13, 2004 Posted October 13, 2004 I never buy shoes in a shop as I take size 12. I buy all my shoes on the Internet, usually at www.haywayshoes.com because they specialise in high heels in men's sizes. I know the brand well and their service is outstanding. Buying skirts used to be a problem, I used to be very apprehensive, but now I know the retail outlets that I buy them from, I go in there chose the size and length that I want and buy it. Sometimes the shop assistant will asked me if I have got the right size and I just say, " That is the size that she asked me to get." Some years ago when I was buying a straight black skirt in M&S the shop assistant who was folding it up to but in a bag, smiled and said, "I'm sure you will look lovely in it" I assumed that she was joking so I laughed. But a girlfriend that I had in the 80's, who used to work in M&S told me that they could always tell the men who were buying women's clothes for themselves. "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave ! " The Eagles, "Hotel California"
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