FastFreddy2

That takes some believing, but I've bought a cased set of Makita drills and chisels in anticipation. Am quite looking forward to using the chisels if I'm honest .... Your experience?

Part 1 of 2. As many here will know, part of me wearing heels is the pleasure of wearing them during 'regular' social activity. That means, wearing them to the cinema if circumstances allow. To gigs, restaurants, and drinking places. Oh, and to shopping malls, of course. Lack of progress in the refurb programme (aka guilt) and the onerous weather, has kept me away from going out in heels for a couple of months (at least). Hooking up with other male heelers when presented with an opportunity, pretty much trumps everything else. I can do plumbing any day. I can do electrics any day. Meeting another heeler, on average, happens 1½ times a year. I don't have trouble prioritising. An opportunity arose to meet Euchrid in London. Weather wasn't going to be awful, arrangements were made, and kept. I took my walking companion with me, and we all met up around 12.30pm in Oxford Street. I wore >> these << which are quite discreet, and have a wearable heel, given how much walking we might do. On the day, the wind was low, and the Sun was out. So were the shoppers! Once we'd met and said our "Hello's and how are you's?" shoppers in heels started to pass us .... Hopefully, it was a good start to the day. We walked away from where we first met, and towards a large store in the opposite direction to the one that would provide most interest. New Oxford Street is okay, but the bigger stores, and more upmarket stores are in Oxford Street proper. After a short stay we went back on our tracks toward Oxford Street, searching for a café with a view. None found we arrived at a usually great (shoe) store, Topshop. And getting there caused some excitement! Shopping heels! A couple of flights down, we reached the shoe area. In some ways disappointing, as there were only the newer styles; courts and sandals to be seen. Kept us busy for a short while though. Once out we searched again for a café with a view, and had to give up having found somewhere that was just plain convenient. [That would be BHS.] Got seats with a view, but away from the main shopping areas. A good long chat and two coffees later, my second drink spilt by Mr Clumsy (me) we used the toilets and went on our way. Thankfully the staff were very good humoured about having to mop up half their floor covered in my drink. Further along Oxford Street, we did the three bigger departmental stores. The most notable one being House of Fraser, which pretty much has its basement set aside for footwear. I spied these from Jessica Simpson: ... but wear them where? (Candidate for the Oddities thread? ) Euchrid couldn't stop himself, and got into a shoe trying out session. No purchasing done, and not surprising given some of the prices really. £150/£200 not so uncommon. Even some still in the sales [Euchrid Pic 3 and Pic 4] £79. So back out into the street, and further along ....... Until pangs of hunger started to gnaw. Time was cracking on, and the coffees drunk earlier were wearing off. We decided to have a quick walk down Bond Street before a bit of lunch inside Bond Street station. ..........

Playing the Devils Advocate .... (if you'll excuse the inference)..... You'd have gotten your full brownie point quota for paying, if payment had included fitting too, and it had been done 2 years, 11 months and 3 weeks earlier? It's my experience (sonny ) that spouses/girlfriends/SO etc. don't really care who pays. Don't really care who fits it. Don't really care how professionally it's fitted. What they really care about, is the down time from what they had, to getting back to what they had. Ask? My somewhat cynical view (borne of experience) could be wrong. As before, you've plenty of kudos from a fellow DIY'er. But from your (very) patient lady?

Don't forget to send us a link to the You Tube video of you out-and-about, when you find it. I've actually been out with a man wearing patent heels. There may have been folk who didn't notice, but I don't recall seeing them ..... It didn't help the shoes weren't covered, I suppose. And it was during daylight hours ..... But doesn't come 'recommended'.

After a considerable gap since the last meet-up, finally had an 'away-day' with a fellow heeler on Saturday 6th April. More details to follow, including some of the pictures taken of the shopping talent we saw.

Oh those naughty Chinese ..... Had a look at the Bootee section I think it was .... Some amazing similarities to Louboutins there. The included example in the post, seemed quite attractive I have to say. Would have preferred a higher rise, but as a concept, look to have a future? Not for wearing out though, which is in accordance with the thread.

Unless you could use them as part of an elaborate fancy dress costume? It's the 'shiny' part of the style that would get noticed I think. If they were suede say, wearing them in a pub that wasn't empty, might be doable. Not sure about visits to the loo though?

I would say you've a ways to go yet. 3 years with a broken extractor ....... Then the 'hunter gatherer' allowed his wife out to buy the replacement...... As slow as I am, in your place, I would have been handed a bit of rope at the end of the job as my usefulness would have run out when the replacement was completed..... Sounds like you did a great job though. You get plenty of points from fellow DIY'ers.

I can get Mrs Freddy in heels anytime, just as long as I'm treating her like she's special. That means she doesn't have to walk anywhere, (no prospect of it either), and I make a fuss of her while she's in them. We'll do something she likes, food out is a favourite. A special occasion perhaps, when I'll offer to not only do the driving, but make sure I get her to an entrance without any leg/ankle stress. After herself read this (not my intention) she has mentioned that it helps that she likes dressing up in heels. I have remarked to a friends girlfriend (who doesn't much like heels), no woman puts them on expecting to look worse than before? Take a look at the girls/women at Aintree. Going out on an expensive, cold/wet/windy day ...... Flats or heels? It doesn't take a mind-reader or psychoanalyst to work it out. Women know they look better (read 'more attractive') in a heel. Flattering and rewarding a heel wearer, can only increase the chance of seeing them worn again? .......

Back on thread (again) ......

Yeah, bit tempted myself.

Right ........ Due to the fact I don't sleep much, my memory isn't as shot as I sometimes claim, and I fancy myself as a bit of a Sherlock Holmes ...... I have the answer to the 'mystery'. Little Shoe Box begat ..... Burleque Blue and Leatherworks UK Burlesque Blue (retail) as has already been mentioned, has moved to Scotland, and a link is provided above. Leatherworks, died but rose again as ........ Fabulously Fetish (London). And if there was any doubt about that, their contact address details include "Southgate" as mentioned before. The new price range suggests a fundamental change in marketing though. Around 30 years ago, the shoes in the link were typically sold for something like £30 a pair. At the time, I might have been earning around £120 per week. [To give the ratio some perspective.] For a similar ratio today, I would need to be on £720 a week or a little over circa £3000 per month. £180 for a pair of courts too high to wear out? Not in this life. .........

Ok. Have a gander at these .......

You've picked some winners there! I'll see if I can find some to add tomorrow night.

Sounds like fun. My fav, Tramps and Tarts.

I think you assume too much. While the likes of you and I have confidence enough to strike up a conversation with a stranger (or strangers), it's not for everyone. The first of the two men I've met who were in heels, and who I approached, reacted like the proverbial "rabbit in the headlights". A very disappointing response. Although I too had heels on, he was not interested in conversing. It occurs to me; the pressure of keeping our interest a secret, must make us more secretive, more insular? And may explain the continuing reluctance for Men in Heels to socialise with each other? .....

Possibly he was watching because he has shoe tastes like us? Unless you saw a camera (or phone) being waved around? Sounds like you scared him off in the end anyway. Naughty boy!

It's been a long time since I bought Mrs Freddy's shoes. She has enough money to make her own choices, and will buy what pleases her. The only influence I have these days, is to suggest I wouldn't go out with her in a particularly unattractive pair of shoes. She only has the one pair, so it's not a big issue. [i really dislike a 'kitten' heel, and in fact prefer a completely flat shoe.] When we first got together, her shoe wardrobe was about 5 pairs deep, and that was just about every pair she owned. Me providing funding to double that, wasn't a hardship. Now, the collection is much much deeper. She's a thing for flip flops, and likes a bit of bling. Consequently she now has something like 40 pairs. There are styles of every shape, most colours, most sole thickness's, and most heights. There have been times in the past when it was almost impossible for her to go out without buying a pair. I can even remember one occasion we took two pairs back to the stores, only to come home with three new pairs. Thing is, we tend to go out in better weather. Not had much for a couple of years, so she's not been out in heels a lot, and I think her interest is on the wane. The two foot injuries she sustained continues to be a problem, which doesn't help. Consequently, I'm less inclined to take her to ALDO (who's 'fit' she doesn't favour anyway), and get her to try on the high heeled sandals, because it can't go anywhere? Mrs Freddy would own them, and unlikely ever wear them. Three years from now, I'd be putting them on the auction site.... Some will be thinking; 'bedroom slippers'? Well, there's plenty of those already, including some I've funded as they might have been particularly attractive. A very high heel, 4½ - 5 inch in a UK6 isn't a walking shoe. Mrs Freddy has always been happy to wear a very high heel, provided she doesn't have to walk anywhere. eg. Being driven to a restaurant, or theatre, mostly sitting with a little standing perhaps. We live a 12 minute walk from a street full of pubs with music and restaurants. Or a 12 minute walk in a different direction for a theatre, cinema and more restaurants. In driving terms, possibly 4 minutes to each and an embarrassingly short cab ride. We have (or I have) yet to resolve the conflict of paying £5 rather than taking that 12 minute walk. Especially since that might be a 12 minute walk I could be making in heels..... On balance, owning those rather attractive shoes would be better if bought in my size, as there would more chance of them being worn rather than being sold on - unworn. But I've already got more than enough high heeled footwear, including some recently acquired wedge sandals I've yet to photograph. Possibly I could be tempted, but not in a sandal. There are already 3 Kurt Geiger styles calling with louder voices ....... I think the only way around this, is some 'incentive' ..... ? An obvious solution is to have her pay fro them, and you do a Pay-As-You-Wear scheme. Say 20% of the purchase value every time they're worn? Wear them 5 times, and they're a free addition to her collection? Might need to downgrade the percentage on a P-A-Y-W scheme for 'bedroom slippers' though. .......

All true. I try to be ever mindful of folk around me. If there's someone behind 'pacing' me, I'll stop and observe until whoever was behind has passed. Phones are a problem, and it's almost impossible to know if someone is reading a text or taking a photo. Some phone cameras have LED illuminators, so that helps with a tell. Movement doesn't help someone taking a photo (as I well know) so I tend to hide my heels when I stop moving. [back to a wall, or stand in a corner.] Despite my precautions, I still believe I got 'papped' in an Oxford Street store while queuing for a refund on one of Mrs Freddy's clothing returns. (While she was off finding other stuff to buy.) Not a teenager, but maybe one of us, or at least someone with an interest in heels. I'm not famous, so maybe I was quick enough off the mark to avoid any video or pictures being taken. Was a mighty odd situation though.

I'm worried you might be right. Got car insurance coming up soon, and a car service. [That's a combined £500 bill.] So as much as I'd like to .......

While these don't tick every box (no stiletto heel) they are Jimmy Choo, over the knee, and very very wearable by men too. Two little snags ...... Availability. (Virtually sold out. I said they were popular. ) And price!!!!

Went out for my first time in heels for quite a while, yesterday. Was at a large shopping mall from 2.30pm until just after 8.30pm. Did a lot of walking in my Topshop go everywhere boot. Did get spotted (or heard) by at least one store door man, but he got a longer stare from me. Given they have a leather upper, and the mall wasn't overly warm, my feet got surprisingly clammy Made my hose rotate around my foot (I usually wear two thickness's of ankle highs to avoid blistering) which meant for a while, I was walking on seams. Thankfully, stopping to eat meant the sore ball of my left foot got a rest, and I could straighten my seams. Other than that, it was all uneventful. Despite something like 10-15% of the shoppers there being teenagers?

If the black ones had black piping rather than blue (????) I too might prefer the black. But blue piping? And whatever the price, I think they are just about unwearable for men. A large/long flare in a trouser or jean would be needed to keep these anything like discreet, and even then they probably wouldn't be. But, on a long tanned womans leg wearing shorts ...... oooohhhheeeee!

Waved a picture of these past Mrs Freddy, and let her have a brief read ..... about the 'summer' remark. No positive noises .... probably means she'd sooner I wore them, than she did. Shame really, as I would much prefer she owned them. Though she's not a fan of ALDO sizing nor fit. As we haven't had a day out together for a couple of months, perhaps we should have one soon? Then probably stumble across a store for her to try a pair for size and fit? No, not worth the effort. It'll only tease me, and I get enough of that already.

In the news today ....... As mentioned before; money and taste (aka style) don't always walk together ..... From article >> Clicky <<