For those of you who have worn high heels in public...

[roniheels]

Have any of you ever seen someone in public that you know while you're wearing high heels that they did not know that you wore high heels? Either someone from your past, present, or even someone from your workplace? Believe it or not, of all of the times I have worn high heels in public, I have not encountered anyone from work, my past, or even anyone I presently associate with that doesn't know about me wearing high heels. I have always preached on this website to be honest. I would tell them that I enjoy wearing them for fun, I'm not gay and I don't crossdress, and they are comfortable to wear for the fun of it. Of course, even as I'm typing this, this is easier said than done. And I know how the law of averages work. As often as I wear high heels in public, I know this will happen. And I will let all of you know if and when it happens. So, has this happened to any of you? If this question has been asked before, I apologize. I've been a member of this wonderful website for three months. Thanks for your indulgence.

[BobHH]

No, but it's only been out of town.

[Bootking]

No, not yet - but it's been very close! I almost met my neighbor walking the dog.

[johnieheel]

Yep! I don't think this has ever been asked before. I have ran into people who didn't really believe it and people who just didn't know. Pretty much the same reaction from both. Either no reaction at all or a what ever floats your boat kinda reaction. No one has really ever said anything to me but they have stood and made small talk for a few minutes before going on there way. No one has ever treated me any differently because I was wearing heels and I like that.

[JeffB]

An intriguing question. Over the years, I've been lucky not to have run into anyone I know (family member, friend, neighbor, co-worker) while out and about in heels. Even though it's a big world, chances are that might happen to all of us sooner or later. It's all a matter of how you handle the situation when it happens.

[fastfreddy2]

How can we be sure if we've been seen?

A friend of mine had a 'dig' at me the other week because I ignored his shouts of 'Hello' when I picked up my wife from work a week earlier. All very light-hearted of course, but it means my friend while only 25 feet away, saw me and I didn't know anything about it. <I was doubtless on the mobile phone at the time.>

Yesterday, I avoided walking around Luton with heels on because I might have bumped into a chap that lives there, who I expected to see socially later in the day. It was a gamble that had poor odds, but there were odds....

Most of my peer groups don't tavel as much as I do, chances of them being around at the same time as me are even smaller. [so we are talking, percentages, of percentages.] But it didn't stop myself and my wife bumping into a one of her work colleagues last year in Ibiza, 900miles/1450km from home?

I currently have no 'escape' plan or routine lined up, so any useful replies here will be welcomed. If they don't let me know they've seen me in heels (ever), I won't mind, but that's not very likely. If I'm seen, I fully expect a public announcement similar to the type arranged for Royal Weddings.

....

[roniheels]

I thought about the concept of an "escape plan" if put in that situation. But in my case, wearing 5" stiletto high heels, how fast and quietly could I escape?

[johnieheel]

In all my experiences, I have found you don't need an escape plan. Just be your self and if they ask, tell them the truth. If you can't be yourself, than who can you be? If they can't except you for that, than they're really not your friend anyway so it don't matter. I know these things I say come easy for me but at one time or another in your life, and the sooner the better you except what you have on your feet and except it is a part of you and the heck with the rest of the world, life will indeed be much more happier.

[roniheels]

I agree that an "escape plan" really would be defeating the purpose of openly wearing high heels in public. When I wear high heels in public, as I have said before, I am telling the world, "look at me and look at my shoes. I am wearing high heels because I like wearing them and I have the freedom to do so." As I stated earlier in this thread, if confronted by an aquaintence that didn't know that I wore high heels, I'll be honest, gracious, and remember the reason I'm wearing high heels.

[benno]

I have been out in some pretty flamboyant outfits which almost always include heels. I have bumped into friends and friends of friends that didn't really know that I dress like that. Never heard anything negative said. Some male friends have said they would like to get some heels like mine but their feet are massive (I'm a UK 7 or 8 and can wear anything I see in shops). When people have lightly confronted me or joked about my shoes. I say they are just shoes, I like wearing them and they set off my outfit. More often than not what people really want to know is how I can stand and walk in them. I often give a response along the lines of 'I have ridden a mountain bike down rock strewn alpine trails, driven 100 MPH go karts and set fastest lap time around Brands Hatch out of a group of more than 40 testosterone fuelled blokes at a track day. So I think I'll be OK wearing some shoes'. It usually does the trick

[johnieheel]

I have been out in some pretty flamboyant outfits which almost always include heels. I have bumped into friends and friends of friends that didn't really know that I dress like that.

Never heard anything negative said. Some male friends have said they would like to get some heels like mine but their feet are massive (I'm a UK 7 or 8 and can wear anything I see in shops).

When people have lightly confronted me or joked about my shoes. I say they are just shoes, I like wearing them and they set off my outfit. More often than not what people really want to know is how I can stand and walk in them. I often give a response along the lines of 'I have ridden a mountain bike down rock strewn alpine trails, driven 100 MPH go karts and set fastest lap time around Brands Hatch out of a group of more than 40 testosterone fuelled blokes at a track day. So I think I'll be OK wearing some shoes'. It usually does the trick

Impressive! Yop have earned the right!

[fastfreddy2]

As I've explained before, I have further considerations beyond myself. I have a wife who prefers the world doesn't know about my 'heeling' interests nor (growing) HH shoe collection. The couple of girlfriends who know, one of whom walks out with me in the evening, have the same need for discretion in their peer groups too.

I don't want them to experience immediate or longterm criticism from anyone, especially their family and friends, and they don't need to hear that type of remark either.

As far as being myself is concerned, I do very well on that score. I get to visit shops and try/buy heels if I choose. I get to wear heels away from home/home town, if I choose. If I had an interest in it, I could wear HH at home too. [i don't wear shoes at home, I wear some ancient worn-out moccasins. ]

About the only thing I don't do that I'd like to improve, is going out socially with heels on. I have some HH cowboy boots that are passable, and I may have just acquired a second pair [bronx ~ Bree style Chelsea boot] that may also be usable everywhere. That's a bit of a 'chicken and egg' situation though, as I don't go out much these days. So I need to expand my social activities to enable the heeling activity to increase [inside buildings/venues] too.

Most of the people I currently socialise with, have had very little experience of the real world, with its potential for diverse taste. I don't know of one other person in my peer groups that have been to the Opera. What chance is there then, one of them will have experienced men in heels and formed a positive attitude toward it?

I have it right to call it an 'escape route' if caught wearing high heels by family and friends. But as Roni correctly points out, how fast am I going anywhere in 4" heels? On this one I have to take the 'head buried in sand' attitude, and just hope it never happens.....

...

[tightsnheels]

I have encountered co-workers on two occasions:

First time was at an all you can eat soup and salad buffet; they were sitting within full eye of me and my family and I was wearing a pair of white strappy platform sandals. Definatly feminine even from a distance. Though they never came up to me/us I know she had to have seen them as she visibly looked at them. I guess I was fortunate that she never said anything to anyone at work. She only cornered several days later to ask where I got the shoes!

Second time was at Wal-Mart where I ran into a co-worker and talked with them for several minutes (long enough to get comfortable) at close range and they never noticed!

T&H

[whynotheels]

I always avoid being seen and it drives me nuts! I just want to strut out in skirt and heels and say hi to my neighbor, go to church, and visit my parents. Once they all knew, it would be a huge relief and go a far way to making it "normal".

[crotchboots-m]

thats all well and good,just remember you can never go back or undo it. the jury will NOT ignore the testimony....

[Danielinheels]

Only the time I wore heels on Halloween. Most people I knew just wanted to know how I managed to find heels in my size.

[bluesman]

I've been seen by co-workers on a few occasions. I used to work in an office that was almost exclusively used by traveling staff, so often I was the only person there. As such, I got pretty casual about wearing my boots to work, anything from 3" ankle boots to knee high stretch boots with 4.5" heels and platforms, all of the block-heeled variety. One day I strolled in and was surprised by one of my female co-workers. There was no way to hide the heels sticking out from under my pants leg, so I just greeted her good morning and chatted for a minute. She did comment on my boots although I don't remember exactly what except that it was positive. I do recall saying they were my "stomper" boots and sort of showing her more of the platform and heel. Weeks later I had on a different pair with even higher heels, and she was there again. We chatted several times during the day but nothing was said about my boots. Another time I was out at lunch and in the checkout line at a grocer, wearing 3" block heeled boots. While I'm waiting my turn a woman who works in the same office, who I knew only in passing, got in line behind me. We exchanged hellos and that was it; don't know if she noticed my boots or not. Interestingly, now several years later my wife and I are now very good friends of this woman, and I sometimes wonder if she saw and/or remembers.

[HappyFeat]

I usually go heeling out of town. I have frequented a couple of local alternative night clubs and have run into some people I know from work, but considering the context, it is not a big deal.

[raymond.nl]

I always avoid being seen and it drives me nuts!

While indeed "the jury will not ignore the testimony" ask yourself what really is the worst-case scenario and take it from there. I don't want to risk my reputation with the (large, governmental) businesses my company works for; so I don't (yet) wear heels when I may need to go to clients.

Friends could ridicule me, but then again those wouldn't be real friends: so there's no harm to wearing heels otherwise. And that's just what I've done over the past few weeks. Comments have been either positive or indifferent (if people even noticed)

You only live once*, so make the best of it!

_____________

* or not, depending on what you believe. Still: make the best of this live!

[Bootking]

As I've explained before, I have further considerations beyond myself. I have a wife who prefers the world doesn't know about my 'heeling' interests nor (growing) HH shoe collection.

That really is it in a nutshell for me. My wife will tolerate it on a limited basis at home but that's as far as it goes in her world. My world is very different but working for the government and being active in church precludes a lot of the local heeling. But I was away on vacation and I did my street heeling today (see a different post for that).

[JeffB]

That really is it in a nutshell for me. My wife will tolerate it on a limited basis at home but that's as far as it goes in her world. My world is very different but working for the government and being active in church precludes a lot of the local heeling. But I was away on vacation and I did my street heeling today (see a different post for that).

That's a neat looking outfit. Please tell us more about the footwear. Inquiring minds want to know all about it.

[Bootking]

Hey Jeff,

Colin Stuart almond toe 4" heel, black pu knee high stretch boot, size 11. They are actually a little roomier than I usually find and have to wear trouser socks rather than knee highs or pantyhose to stop my foot from sliding too much. The pants are Mossimo low rise stretch bootcut, tight and comfortable. The top is NY & Co.

Thanks, B

[JeffB]

Hey Jeff,

Colin Stuart almond toe 4" heel, black pu knee high stretch boot, size 11. They are actually a little roomier than I usually find and have to wear trouser socks rather than knee highs or pantyhose to stop my foot from sliding too much. The pants are Mossimo low rise stretch bootcut, tight and comfortable. The top is NY & Co.

Thanks, B

Size 11, eh? Urgh! I hate you! Heh! Envy aside, you looked good in that outfit, more importantly, you exuded that air of someone unafraid to go anywhere in your heels, and that's the key to what we do. You have to look and act confident while out and about in heels, or it just won't work. And you definitely make it work. More power to you, my friend!

[WA10rHeelGuy]

I've been wearing 3-4" heels in St Helens (Merseyside UK) for a few months now - with long trousers - but still 1" of heel showing and you can usually hear the heels. I've heard a few guys making comments behind me but most people aren't bothered. Did have a group of guys-n-gals notice my 4" stilettos recently - started with "oh my" type comments and finished with "but he carries it well". I never turn around just let them be. I heel in work now and on social nights in straight bars. The women are shocked but let me be myself. I try to avoid the guys.

[Phoenix]

Have any of you ever seen someone in public that you know while you're wearing high heels that they did not know that you wore high heels? Either someone from your past, present, or even someone from your workplace?

Believe it or not, of all of the times I have worn high heels in public, I have not encountered anyone from work, my past, or even anyone I presently associate with that doesn't know about me wearing high heels.

I have always preached on this website to be honest. I would tell them that I enjoy wearing them for fun, I'm not gay and I don't crossdress, and they are comfortable to wear for the fun of it. Of course, even as I'm typing this, this is easier said than done. And I know how the law of averages work. As often as I wear high heels in public, I know this will happen. And I will let all of you know if and when it happens.

So, has this happened to any of you? If this question has been asked before, I apologize. I've been a member of this wonderful website for three months. Thanks for your indulgence.

I wear Guess Rhapsody boots with 4 inch heels with jeans as standard winter footwear. I have run into former neighbors, former colleagues from work, students my wife has taught at college, and friends of my kids. None know I wear heels. Most don’t even know I’m wearing heels when I have run into them. They get a hint because I’m taller. Some even look a little puzzled because I am looking them in the eye. Usually have no problems because I act normal. The most interesting looks and comments I have gotten have been from the 7-12 age group kids. They are shorter and see everything and aren’t afraid to look and comment – “Mommy that man has your shoes” was the one I liked best so far.

[fastfreddy2]

I've been wearing 3-4" heels in St Helens (Merseyside UK) for a few months now - with long trousers - but still 1" of heel showing and you can usually hear the heels.

I wear Guess Rhapsody boots with 4 inch heels with jeans as standard winter footwear.

I doubt either of you two are the 'shy retiring type' ..... so please don't be afraid to add piccies to your posts.

As a street heeler myself, I find reading about others doing the same helps keep me enthusiastic. In fact both of you seem to be doing a lot better than me 'trailblazing', which in turn is making me want to push my own boundaries a bit further..... No bad thing, if a little scary at times....

But understanding what "look" I should aim for, would be helped enormously with pictures of your own outfits, I could then use for guidance.

.........

[sabotalot]

If enough of us could get together in our "meets", we would no longer seem "off-beat". I wear hh clogs almost everywhere, includnig my dentist. Pumps are o.k., but I still like HH clogs. I'm also totally bald by choice;; at one time reluctant to appear so, but three years ago said "why not?". Looking forward to meeting:clap: in October & maybe sooner. Wing tips & loafers stink.

[WA10rHeelGuy]

I doubt either of you two are the 'shy retiring type' ..... so please don't be afraid to add piccies to your posts.

As a street heeler myself, I find reading about others doing the same helps keep me enthusiastic. In fact both of you seem to be doing a lot better than me 'trailblazing', which in turn is making me want to push my own boundaries a bit further..... No bad thing, if a little scary at times....

But understanding what "look" I should aim for, would be helped enormously with pictures of your own outfits, I could then use for guidance.

.........

I've got some pics on my blog (see my signature) but I'll add some new ones when I get a chance.

I was very shy and quiet when I was younger and if it wasn't for my girl friends I doubt I would have found the confidence that I have now. I've still got some way to go but defo getting there.

[sabotalot]

My goal is to go somewhere with the most exceptional style of HH, either by car or by air, and have no alternative footwear for back-up. I don't wear pumps as often as HH clogs, but I think that they would do it.

[Bootking]

If I'm going out in heels, I do not have any kind of backup as I have made my decision. Today (in full daylight) after work, I got gasoline at a very busy gas station and then went to Target, browsed, bought a few things and then went home.

I went into the men's room (wc for our British friends) as soon as I entered Target and immediately thereafter, two Target employees who I had seen outside, entered and went about whatever they were doing. Coincidence - I don't think so; did they get something to see - sure did! I was wearing 3 1/4 inch Steve Madden pointy toe black leather ankle boots with a stiletto hell with at least 1" of the heel showing under very tight (women's) jeans.