FastFreddy2

Hello and welcome. Lovin' your avatar picture. Looking forward to seeing and hearing more from you.

I do. To be honest I thought he was a wind up merchant at first, but he went on for so long so earnestly, he was genuinely interested. I've been over to Watford a number of times before in heels, and not gotten much attention at all. It may have been the sound of the heels, I don't know. But previously I've whistled through and not seemingly been noticed? When it's quieter of course, any unusual sound will catch an ear. Previous visits have had me in a much noisier environment, so maybe that's the answer? Thankfully I didn't opt for the higher (girlie) heel! The watchers might have reached for their phones! ...

The weather put me off a London trip last night. (Skies were dark for a while.) Plus it looks like I'm there Sunday anyway. Went to Watford, which is open until 9pm on Thursday. Place was empty-ish. Wore my 'wear everywhere' HD boots that look like cowboy boots. Was quite disappointed at how many people looked at them, as I walked toward them. [Oddly, people with a larger girth?] They must be bored and [ii] had something of a sheltered life. Though looking at one couple in particular, they obviously spent more time in McDonalds, than their bathroom. I was unphased. As Heelman500 suggests, if I am what passes for entertainment in Watford, good luck to them. They need it. No laughing, no comments, just looked [one or two stared as we walked toward each other] at the points of my shoes. They would have had some idea the shoes had a heel, (noise), but these are not 5" stiletto's in black patent or silver glitter. This is what they would have been looking at: Am I 'special'? ......

I will, once, spend an obscene amount of money [£400] on a pair of shoes or boots. Not sure these are the ones, but I have a budget ...... I don't expect to live forever, and rumour has it, you can't take it with you.

Judging by the scuffing marks I've seen on the back of heeled shoes worn by women drivers, most of the damage seems to occur on the back of the shoe, rather than on the heel (that is under the shoe) if you understand how I've explained it? [badly. ] If I understand how the damage is usually achieved, the back of the shoe, (heel of the foot) is rested on the floor. The damage on my boot is possibly from me momentarily letting my boot rest on a sharp stone between pedal pushes. Though thinking about it, the hole looked round? Maybe I'll put a picture up here if I can..... Damage to heels on thin heeled shoes is a continuing problem. I've myself lost one pair (circa 4 years ago) due to a hole in a pavement completely stripping of the finish covering on a heel. I've reported here, damage to a couple of pairs that wasn't terminal, fortunately.... If heels were parallel, tubed shaped covering might well work, but the thicker tops act like a wedge trying to push the tubing off. Might work on the lower portion though ..... Might have to look at that idea .....

You have a plan then. Good. Let us know how it goes. A minute by minute write-up would be appreciated. Good luck.

They are harder work, than the 4" heels I usually wear. Slightly harder on the balls of my feet, and surprisingly hard on one of my knee joints. I think Mrs Freddy is only ever worried about meeting someone we know. She was a bit 'resistant' to going back for my phone, but otherwise fine with everything. If I'm honest we both could have gone back, the only time Miss Ugly had a clear view of the heel was as I planted my foot leaving the car. After that, the heel is pretty much hidden, unless striding forward. Then only the lower inch visible. The real tellers are the sound of the heel [why the middle-aged back packer looked down], and the slowness of my step. That slowness, was some of the reason I asked Mrs Freddy to get the phone. Was quicker. Once away from the car and walking to the shopping area, she put her arm in mine. A nice thing to do. Rather than walk 3 paces behind. In fact thinking about it, she suggested walking between me and Miss Ugly as we left the car, so her view of my heels was obstructed. (Bless her. ) Yes, good positive spin there! Thank you. I'd managed to get out a bit more because ...... 1. Herself is on holiday leave, so later nights are not a problem. 2. Shops and restaurants are open later to try and catch Olympics trade. 3. Weather has improved. The second half of August will have me living as a recluse again. ....

Them's very 'pretty' (girly) heels. You really should take a sideways picture showing off the whole shoe (with your foot inside if possible) and add the picture to the "Girly" shoe thread? After driving back from London last week, I had to 'shuffle' the cars on the drive. We'd been out in Mrs Freddy's car, and I had an early start next day in mine. The towel was in Mrs Freddy's car as I had driven. [she won't drive in London.] I get out of her car thinking that moving my car 20 feet, then back on the drive doesn't need a towel. Wrong! Not sure how I managed it, but I now have what looks like a puncture hole in the back of the heel. I clean my heeled footwear every time I wear it, so I know they'll be clean when I next grab them to wear. Day after the Friday venture and car shuffle, I discover the hole. It's not a biggy as the boots are on borrowed time anyway. But it was surprising how easily/quickly the hole occurred. Obviously, I'm never going to clean the footwell, as often as I clean my heels. ....

This our "English Reserve" coming out?

In these circumstances, the 'risk' seems low, and the excitement of that risk may be quite seductive. If everything goes well, you have no need for concern. In this respect, there is no need to plan for success. My take on these situations is, the risk of failure (in this instance being spotted wearing a heel), and what is the "plan" for what happens if discovered? How to deal with the fall-out from that..... Your heel being seen isn't the only way you might be discovered either. Your height will change? Your walk will change? These are smaller indicators, but they are the ones that get me noticed. [Meaning: my walking style in a higher heel.] At 4 inches, my heel doesn't noticeably affect my walking style. At 4½ inches, my hips roll more like a girls in heels ..... It gets the occasional response [always by women] of them looking at my feet as they pass. As I've said already, I'm not trying to discourage you. [Despite how it might read.] But you ought to be considering your way forward if you are 'discovered'. How will you cope internally (your peace of mind when at work) and how you will cope with negative responses if there are any. Once you have a plan, a route to get through the 'worst case scenario', you'll be fully equipped for any adverse conclusion. If it goes well, and continues to go well, you'll be able to enjoy the experience - worry free! A good idea. Shame it is necessary (prevention), but early detection also helps a faster recovery. Nasty disease, and on the increase here in the UK. Hope the results are negative, as I'm sure they are. .....

Looks like I'll be back up the West End tomorrow night. I'll be parking next to Miss Chuckles workplace, and visiting the restaurant where I got a laughed at, by the sour-faced German woman. Nothing like a challenge, eh?

Very wearable. Buy! Buy! Buy!

I wouldn't, and am not discouraging anyone. BUT, it's a one-way decision. There's no turning back, no undoing. When I got a stare and big grin from Miss Ugly as I left my car last week, my discomfort was short lived and I doubt we'll ever see each other again. If it had been someone I worked with ..... Things would be a whole lot different. This isn't an issue about taking advice, nor having to make a decision really. It's about being able to live with the consequences if the situation goes belly up? If you could cope, the decision is easy, or a whole lot easier. You want to wear your heels, wear them. Lastly, hope everything went well with Mrs Love4heels.

Plenty of chances in the future, to fall off that cliff? Not too sure about heels in the work place. If you upset a friend and they disown you, how much of a friend were they? Upsetting family seems to be 'the norm' [in mine at least.] But unless you change jobs with the seasons, putting yourself in a position you've no control over is a gamble, and one I'm not sure I'm ever going to be prepared to try. Of course, I image wearing heels in the work place, but I know how spiteful/gossipy folk can be. From both ends of the gossiping. In places where individualism is encouraged [creative or art based environments], I'm sure a man in heels would not be a big deal. If it was, then probably/hopefully not for long. In manufacturing, or production, or a sales situation, people are expected to conform to stereotypes. Being realistic, are other 'conformers' likely to encourage or discourage non-conformance? For me, I'd have to do some internal market research, as to the probable response from colleagues. If it was likely to be wholesale disapproval, then I'd stay away from the cliff. If there was a general disinterest ["do what you like"], then I'd give it a go. The last 2/3rds of my working career has involved a lot of first-time meetings. Most I never see again, but some, I see periodically. I suppose were I to shock those I would never see again, would it matter? I think yes, especially with social media being like it is. For example, 30 years ago if on holiday, no-one knew what you were up to until you got home. Only those you had sent a postcard to, knew you'd been on holiday. Thanks to electronic social networking, I know (and our extended family/friend group knows) Mrs Freddy packed enough clothing for 2 people, and she embarrassed herself by spilling a drink while at dinner last night. She's been away one day. What I'm suggesting is, 'gambling' with your livelihood - your income and how comfortable you might be earning it, is something you surely must consider very deeply before making a change to it. Getting carried away with the euphoria of wearing heels in public and at home, may not necessarily transfer so well to the work place. Ooooooh, but if it did?

Looking at the time stamp, I'd say I'm too late to offer an opinion. [Which would have been "don't" - you can't put the genie back in the bottle.] So, did you, or didn't you?

Wow!

If you take the trouble to look for the photostream, you'll find more pictures of a man in heels, and a couple of his wife in heels. [Wearing attractive shoes.] You'll also understand the where and why's of custom heels made in the Philippines. [Enlightenment.] The personal web site is interesting, and informative. Put that together with all the other photo's, it's worth taking the trouble to spend 4 minutes on a search as the results are a pleasure to see and read. [Entertaining.] I was trying to be subtle. Was too subtle, obviously.

I had thought you might not be very mobile at all. I have to say, this is a welcome [pleasant] surprise. I guess I was lucky in that until I reached my middle thirties, I still carried no weight so enjoyed being a ladies size 7 until around 1990 at least. It meant all the time I was living at home, I had the same size shoes as my mother. I didn't wear them a lot, but she had two pairs of white wedge - what Americans call slides- or flip/flop type mules I really liked. They had some straps or leather webbing over the toes, that allowed the back of the shoe to come back up against the heel, like a flip/flop might. But these were leather, and quite dressy. I used to stack one on top of the other, to get some height. As with you, I tried other stuff too. I wasn't really into being femme, but liked the constriction aspect of some of the clothing. Oddly, I particularly liked wearing support stockings, which may also have had something to do with them hiding the hairs on my legs. As a route to wearing heels in social situations, I did have a period where I would dress up. I enjoyed that, but I had such a thin shape I could just about get away with it. Plus I had a hairdresser for a girlfriend, so had had quite a head of hair. My nails used to grow long with no help from me. Dressing up was easy, and opened a lot of doors. Not sure why you should want to lay low. You've nothing to lose here, only opportunities for gaining (sharing) I would have thought? Glad to see you back.

Bit of crossover here .... but girlie pink pumps from Steve Madden. Not the best link, and the colour is a bit off. They are bright pink when seen in the flesh and have a 4½" high heel.

The next day, Friday, Olympics Opening Ceremony! We sourced Mrs Freddy's camera, oddly at John Lewis. Looks like the item we'd priced up, was a kit. The camera alone falling nicely into budget. Going out in the moderate weather again, not an opportunity to be missed. We to Brent Cross and the store with the camera. Turns out Mrs Freddy had some JL vouchers, hence the continued interest in that particular store. This evening would be spent closer to home, so I wore >> these <<. Not so girly, and less of a problem if we encountered someone we knew. The plan .... visit Brent Cross, and if time allowed, we onto Westfield White City and possibly another meal out. We arrived at Brent Cross later than expected, as the threat of heavy traffic going to the Opening, suggesting we wait until the traffic load had reduced. Once there, we had to find some help, as the section was busy. After a short wait, we were helped. Only to find they didn't have the camera in stock, but the Oxford Street branch did. The place we visited the previous night. All this going on with me in heels. We to Oxford Street, via a route that includes Finchley Road. While we were parked at traffic lights, an almighty roar occurred that rocked the car. It came from the sky, and was obvious to me, the sound of a [military] jet. We looked up, to see a number of residual vapour trails. Even with less than an hour to the Opening, they were way too early to be involved with the Opening, or so we thought. It was actually a Red Arrows flypast over the Olympic Stadium timed for ...... 20:12. I've seen a great picture of it somewhere .... but can't find a link to it. (And I've looked. ) So we on to Oxford Street, and the same parking space! No 'charmless' cook to contend with either. Into JL, with minutes to spare. Got the camera, which annoyingly, was the one we looked at yesterday, that had been put out with the wrong pricing information. Even the assistant couldn't be sure until we got to the till, but assured us we would get the right price, which we did. A journey completed that we could have avoided, [or this part of it] if the labelling had been correct yesterday. Back to the car via the bouncing JL floor. Seemed to be much less noise today. Although Mrs Freddy thought it too late to bother, I drove us to Westfield. We got there in time to watch the part of the Opening Ceremony where the Queen appears to jump out of the helicopter. It surprised everyone watching it on the big screen there, and everyone laughed, including us. It was too late to get home to watch it, so we had a quick look in a couple of shoe shops (for more sandals!) Ten minutes from the stores closing at 10pm, we decided we didn't want another late dinner, so opted to share a sandwich and drive home. On leaving, we purposely walked out the farthest exit, and then walked right along the Southern Terrace which is like a promenade along one side of Westfield White City. Back home an hour later, and started to watch the dreadfully slow conclusion to the Opening Ceremony, where the athletes walk into the stadium. The last 15 minutes were spectacular though! Another night out in heels. Managed to visit 3 of my usual haunts in one go, with this time, no interest at all in my heels. Epilogue: While we were about to get ready for bed, Mrs Freddy realised she'd bought the camera with cash, rather than using the vouchers..... Apparently I should have noticed. Plainly, neither of us has much of a memory. ......

Didn't go to London Wednesday, went Thursday. Just happened to be the same day the Olympic torch went down Oxford Street. (Duh! ) We travelled by car along a route that would have indicated heavy traffic, but none was present, so we just kept going South. Some roads were blocked to move traffic around the West End, but a route was left if you knew where they [Police] left it. I found it, so all was good. A lot of traffic had stayed away. Driving around the West End was simple, and parking not too hard to find. We were maybe looking for bargains, but had a need to buy Mrs Freddy a camera too. We parked behind Debenhams. Although it was after the torch had been and gone, I expected the place to be busier than it was. I had already decided I would wear >> these << despite us arriving early enough to enjoy at least two hours of daylight while there. They are a little high, but my jeans cover the heel. Not when leaving the car though .... Having gotten a favourable spot, I was reluctant to move. As we parked, a rather unattractive female bar worker (cook), and a second male cook sat outside their place of employ for a cigarette. They were perhaps 30 or 40 yards away, practically opposite on the other side of a wide street. As soon as I put a foot out of the car, she started watching. She produced a big grim that stopped short of a laugh, and motioned her (disinterested) male colleague in my direction. He wasn't at all for looking and his phone took his interest. My walk was perhaps 25 yards to a corner that would put brickwork between us. With her watching and grinning widely, I was keen to get around that corner, and away from her stare. It took no time at all, but put me in a 'wary' condition I'm not used to. If it had happened on the way back from the venture, I wouldn't have cared, but at the start? Once around the corner, having had a middle-aged packpacker look at my feet as I walked, I realised I'd left my phone in the car. Miss Ugly would still be sucking on her fag, so I asked a very reluctant Mrs Freddy to collect my phone so I could avoid entertaining the lady cook a second time. Very soon afterward we made for a store. I've mentioned John Lewis before regarding cameras. Great place to shop, as they will price match any other retail store. Their Oxford Street store has a suspended floor though, and every step meant my heel 'clonking' so everyone within 20 paces could hear me. Had I been alone, I'm sure many more would have looked, but the bulk of other shoppers, probably expected it was Mrs Freddy's feet they could hear. We got in, and had a good look at some cameras. One there was of interest, but was slightly over budget. [Mrs Freddy only wanted a point-and-shoot camera for her holiday.] We elected to check some local stores before purchasing, having found a model that fitted the brief. Next store was House of Fraser. I'd been there a couple of weeks ago with Heelman500, so was expecting little of interest to me. The male assistant who spotted me and Heelman500 last time, spotted me again. Herself spotted some (holiday) sandals straight away, seen >> here << from Hobbs. While on sale at £35, with one sticker suggesting a starting price of £89, they were a bit tatty. We checked if a fresh pair were available and as a pair was, they were tried on. "Ca-chink" Sale done. As herself had found a pair of Steve Madden 'stupidly high' court shoes she quite liked the last time we had visited (and tried on while I was in the toilet ), I directed her over to the Steve Madden concession. Still in sandal mode, >> these << appeared. [in white and yellow.] "Ca-chink". Another sale then? We left the store minutes before they closed at 9pm. The only store open later was Selfridges, so we walked the 4 or 500 yards to the store. Having been in my heels for a couple of hours by this point, my confidence had returned. We made straight for the womens shoe floor, expecting to see sale goods out. How wrong were we? Only new lines, and full priced goods. Makes sense I suppose. You make more money on full price goods, and if you have extra shoppers, why sell (sale) goods with no margin? Did see a pretty slim tall young women trying some of >> these <<. If only I had a camera? Disappointed, but still with two bags with sandals in them, we left for some food. Had an interesting encounter when a girl in heels turned around to check my heels as I turned around to check hers. Into the restaurant and ate. Had a little scare when 4 huge young fellas [rugby players perhaps] and one girl sat in the booth next to us, between us and the exit ...... They'd been to the Hyde Park after-torch-party, and wanted another drink. To get that, they had to buy food, and it looked like they would be watching me clip-clop past. As luck would have it, they ate as fast as they drank, and left before us. Even though it was after 11pm, the place had more people in it when we left, than when we arrived. Had a good walk back to the car. Had gotten dark, and the pavement seemed to be even busier than before. I can only assume groups had been leaving the Hyde Park gig slowly? We got home at 12.40am. A very pleasant/successful night out, despite the unfortunate start. .....

Sorry to go over old ground, but it fits to add direct links here too, rather than add cross-links to other threads..... While wearing heels outside, and any shoe for me if I'm honest, I prefer 'simple' over ornate. For wearing heels, simple equates to discreet. No garish colours ("any colour as long as it's black") and no sparkly styles either, so patent is out too. I do quite like a patent shoe, though it isn't a preference. So while I can't see myself wearing a court shoe out -at the moment at least- it hasn't stopped me buying some. A couple of pairs I no longer like enough to keep, so they have a date with an internet auction site, but some I would like to keep as long as I can still get my feet in them. As a reminder: About £10 from Priceless >> here << I have two pairs. Great fit, feel comfortable on, and look good on. They are PU [at that price what else would they be], and are what I consider to be the perfect 'work' shoe, if ever I got a chance. Not too high, but high enough. These are keepers. This >> set << were £50 each originally, from Schuh. I will never sell the red pair, not while my feet will get in them anyway. The blue and the slate (grey) pairs ..... I just can't see me wearing out? I bought them because they were going to be training shoes for home use. BUT, I live in a building site. The rise in the shoe is very sharp creating, a very curved arch, making walking very difficult. A good challenge for somewhere flat to walk. Not so clever on loose floorboards, or in a dusty environment. The black ones of course, should be a must because they are black, and likely could be street wear in the right circumstances? There are two "buts" though. Again, the short rise and the difficulty in walking correctly, the other, is the competition: My super favourite pumps, >> ALDO Ariane << which are a pair I waited some considerable time to own. MUCH easier to wear than the Schuh style, though practically nothing in it >> height wise <<. Love these shoes. My only regret, I don't have a red pair too. So it's not like I don't like a pointed court with a stiletto, not like I don't own some ...... But where to wear? And wearing out, is my only reason for owning, at least my only justification for owning? ....

I would recommend taking the trouble to search for the photostream. An exercise in enlightenment, and quite entertaining.

And as if by magic, >> this news item << appeared here today, about a film première in the US. If the link does not work for the folk abroad, please indicate this is the case, and I will download the pictures directly here. [Again.] A local search for Rachel Weisz and The Bourne Legacy, might come up with even better pictures....

Ouch!