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I think the Fates are having fun with you. To round it out perfectly let's imagine she is a size seven but the damned fools at Zara sent her an eight, which she is having trouble walking in but she likes them too much to send back...

Those shoes are bound to be copied by someone soon - you must have heard of 'The Pirates of Penzance'. They do look high, but the platform (effectively hidden) is claimed as 1", which reduces the arch to a piffling 4". The heel shape/position and overall silhouette is very acceptable though. It would be interesting to have the true measurements - and to know if they vary much between (say) a 5 and a 9.

Freddy: I don't think we were/are at cross purposes regarding the style of 'long boots' or their wearability. I too was assuming a 'moderate' male boot up to the knee and of much the style you now illustrate. I can see no objection whatsoever to them - except for the existing convention that men simply do not wear boots much above ankle-high, unless for obvious protective reasons. Rubber wellies - fine; leather wellies (as the good Duke popularised them) - no! As for women wearing boots in warm weather, I was merely commenting on their perversity. Yes, it is 'fashion' (and therefore acceptable conduct in certain circles) but I cannot see the sense in it. And as for boots with open toes, or any other openings apart from at the top (in any weather) ... I see what you mean about the tight clothing above the boot top being an inefficient insulator; thanks for the clarification. A good reason to wear one's boots crotch-high! Jodhpurs may be the practical companion to knee boots, but I'm not sure that I like the look. If I recall correctly, Ewbank (the boxer) favoured such styles - a right prat he looked too imho.

Suede is lovely. it would be really difficult, I think, to wear pull-on otk boots under jeans. I am sure it could be done But you'd really have to put in an effort. I rarely wear mine out, but that's mainly because I rarely go out myself - unless it is to travel, in which case the places I go are not really suitable for nice suede boots. For example in the next three weeks I will be travelling on assignments in Africa and Central America. When I get home I tend to pull up the drawbridge. When I have gone out I do not know if I get looks as I don't pay that much attention - usually jetlagged or otherwise off in my own little world.

I was 30 years younger once...