Tacchi Alti

I've been looking for ages for a pair of wedge loafers or lace-ups with a heel at least 4 inches and no platform. My size is UK 8. Ebay, Amazon, Ali Express, DHGate.... no joy. Colour not important as I can dye them. If anyone can track a pair down I'd be eternally grateful.

I have a dozen or so pairs of stilettos of various sorts but have to be careful about wooden floors! I wear thicker heels most of the time although I love the feel of stilettos.

I was wearing my 4.5 inch wedges yesterday when our son made a surprise visit. I chickened out and took them off before he saw me, but I'm not sure how he'd have taken it. Earlier I'd had a business planning meeting with one of my wife's friends. She knows I wear heels, as I've worn them to company conferences, so no problem there, although I think it embarrasses her a bit. It was evident she saw them yesterday but she didn't say anything. There will be another such conference in a couple of weeks - 5000 people there. I'll probably be travelling with her and her husband (who also knows) but can't make up my mind whether to wear the same boots again or try some block heel oxfords, which would be a bit cooler but more obvious.

On 21 December 2015 at 0:16 AM, FastFreddy2 said:

When the two closest members of our family visit, I have to be a bit careful about what shoes I leave lying around. I don't always find every pair, but so far, no-one has asked any potentially awkward questions .... It's even worse when the grandson stays, because like most young people, he wants to know everything about everything... Not only do all my shoes/boots have to be hidden, some stacks have to be disguised too. It's a PITA. 

Today, we three went to London to take a look at the Christmas lights in the West End. It might have been 'four of us' but his mum had things to do at home. I had already decided I would wear my very passable cowboy boots. They have a 4 inch heel, fairly slim shaft, and come up to just under my knee. There is decorative stitching over the toe box, and they are a bit 'pointy'. They look like a mans boot, right up until you see how high and slim the shaft is. 

 

 

While preparing to go out, I walked past everyone several times wearing the boots. This afternoon/evening, I spent 5 hours walking around with my grandson and Mrs Freddy. So far, not a single comment. I'm hoping there might be some remark, to draw out any feelings about them (good or bad)  but I wouldn't be surprised if no-one noticed or dismissed my choice of footwear as "me being me". (ie. Eccentric.) I'm not expecting to be judged, nor do I want to encourage false enthusiasm, but it would be nice if I didn't feel so compelled to 'hide' my interest from those so close to me.  

I'm probably not alone with that sentiment?

 

Those are quite similar to a pair I have, with long pointed toes. To me they look masculine EXCEPT for the very long toe box. My wife is fine with me wearing them when I'm with her, but she's also accepting my other styles, including ones I wore last evening when we both went to a business meeting - 4.5 inch wedges with a fairly thin heel.

29 minutes ago, FastFreddy2 said:

 

So you find the same?

If the heel is placed as far backwards on the shoe as it will go, it is harder to walk in? 

Yes. I find it a question of balance. If the heel is set in (which is what I meant but used the opposite expression...) it makes the whole walking process much easier. I'm sure there is a mechanical reason but in practice I find it very difficult with a set-back heel to walk without slapping the sole down, and that also makes your gait much more jerky and thus more noticeable.

8 minutes ago, FastFreddy2 said:

 

Are we referring to 'set-back' as the same thing?

Set-back, is meant (as far as I understand it) to mean the heel is at it's most rearward position possible, like this: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obviously not, then. :-)

Just that the site doesn't format properly, so it's difficult even to read the posts and impossible to post anything. It's the browser that's the problem, not the version of Android.

On 31 December 2015 at 1:36 AM, FastFreddy2 said:

Position of the heel is not significant until motion (walking) is involved. As long as the shoe does not flex while motionless of course. I suspect the shape or rate of the rise (lift) is more meaningful in your analysis.

For example: I had a pair of ALDO heel with a 5" heel (as near matters) that had a lengthy slope (rise/lift) that pretty much produced what I would describe as a 'lazy L' foot shape. Another pair, Schuh Lois with 5" heel but a shorter shoe, that was achieved by compressing the rise (lift) using more of a flattened S shape. The compression on the shoe profile, produced the need for the instep to more arched than in the uncompressed style. For me, it made the heel feel higher and made walking more difficult, because my foot could not flex as much as it would like. "In theory", the S shape might be more comfortable for standing, as the heel section of the shoe might be more horizontal? But again, speaking as someone who has had to stand fairly still in a heel for well over 2 hours (when I weighed less too) I found it was agony, meaning I have my doubts there is such a thing as a comfortable heel for standing still in. For the record, I wore the same shoes for a night out with no issues at all, but standing still for the better part of 3 hours felt like someone had hammered nails into the balls of my feet.     

 

 

Since the only A level I studied was Maths, I'd go for Geometry homework, regarding shape. Then, Applied Mechanics when the shoe is used for walking, as that would include a working (human) foot, where there are pivots and axes involved. Since we are not concerned with motion as an expender of energy, nor need to provide comparisons against absolutes, perhaps we can send Physics home early for today?    

I can not agree with Russ on the 'apparent' height of the set-back heel. Unless I'm completely wrong (it's been known,  ) the raison d'etre of the set-back heel, is to create the illusion of a higher heel by making the heel breast as high as possible without compromising the integrity of the heel on the shoe.

 

  

For Russ, who may not be having the sense of déjà vu that Puffer and I are enjoying .... (Previously, on 'ebay and shopping' )

Back up the thread circa 6 months ..... >> clicky <<

 

What I meant was that with an identical height and slope, a set-back heel is easier to walk in than one that is perpendicular to the back of the shoe. My experience...

I don't like the set-back heel. It looks unbalanced and actually looks lower as there is not the same perceived angle. I can quite imagine that it's harder to walk in as it would throw all the weight onto the toes rather than support the whole foot through balancing between toes and heels. I like the superarch shoes for aesthetics. I've never tried them, unfortunately, but the profile is much more like the shape of an extended foot, and I expect that would give ultimate support.

I can't open this site properly in the Android phone browsers I've tried. Any recommendations? It's a bit of a pest being reliant on a computer as I'm not always able to log on via one, particularly over the holiday period.

Further to this, my only flat boots are wellies. In flat shoes I go for slip-on loafers (no laces) and toe-post sandals, so my heeled footwear is at variance with this quite a bit, but mainly from the desire not to draw undue attention to myself when I'm in heels and from the dearth of suitable heeled (preferably wedge) versions of my usual footwear.

The second pair have arrived - they (like the first, of course) show as 8/41, so a small 8. Some, as we all know, show as 8/42. Indeed, I have some 8s which are too big.

I agree with people about the look - it's not a look I would choose in flat footwear - but they are a means to an end. I'm looking everywhere for a loafer with a 4+ inch wedge heel and no platform, but have not yet located any. I have ankle boots which are pretty much ideal for this, but want something a bit cooler for warmer days.

Just a twist on this: I have some cowboy boots with 3.5 inch heels and a very long pointed toe. My wife says these are the boots she prefers to see me in if I have to wear heels, but in my opinion the toes on them are too pointy!

I'm here... Just ordered a second pair while they're still available. They go up to an 8UK, which fortunately fits me. They were a bit snug to start with but have loosened up. I wear them to work, shopping locally, even at home with other people around. I prefer other heels but these are far better than none at all, and they help my back.

I know I've become less and less worried about what people think, but that is an almighty hurdle for most of us. My wish to do just whatever I want is tempered with a desire not to embarrass or harm anyone close to me. My wife has known about my love for heels for most of our married life, but until a couple of years ago I hardly ever ventured out in public wearing them.

She will now come out with me when I'm wearing block heeled boots or wedges, and I know I'm very very fortunate in this. However, I believe the biggest problem with most of us is the six inches between the ears. We're worried that everyone is staring at us and laughing at us, and terrified of meeting someone we know.

One of my wife's friends and a couple of others in the same business as me know about my heels and are completely OK with it. I went on the train to a company conference last Saturday in 4.5 inch wedges under a business suit. Seven hours in the train and walking between trains, seven hours at the conference with over 5,000 people present. Loads of people must have seen them, but I got not one comment, not one sign of amusement or disgust, apart from a giggle I heard from a teenager behind me, but even then it might not have been at seeing my heels.

My reason for wearing them, if anyone asks, is that they are a miraculous cure for backache. My back aches if I stand or walk around for more than a few minutes, but heels are an instant cure. I'm not the only one who finds this, as this article shows: http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/four-inch-heels-cure-mans-bad-back-now-he-cant-stop-wearing-them-for-charity-11363970352666

The fact that I absolutely adore wearing them is another matter...

Anyway, that's me. I have about two dozen pairs of heels, from two inch cowboy boots to 7.5 inch stilettos, but recently I've been more and more interested in street heels of at least four inches.

Thanks. I'll be glad to get to know more heel wearers as it can get a bit lonely out there!

Just been told my application has been approved.

Hello everyone. I wear heels regularly in public and am slowly getting more and more confident in them.