BobHH

When I see CD, I think of a computer disc, not a crossdresser! I suppose that is all literally correct, but to me a crossdresser is one who dresses as a woman or to look like a woman. Wearing one article of woman's clothing such as shoes, or even a skirt, but looking very like a man is not crossdressing to me. I never see the term applied to women who wear flats, or pants, or even suits and ties, as long as they are not trying to pass as a man, and even then the term doesn't seem to be used. It's another one-sided, unfair bit of labeling against men. Women can do whatever they want, but one little step out of line, buddy, and you're tarred with the label. What it really says is that society (generalization) is so insecure about males' masculinity that they can't tolerate any deviation from some largely fictional standard. Side Issue: I do see the term "high heels" used quite often in the press, such as the headline "Hoops and High Heels" on an article about a female basketball coach (and ex-WNBA player) who coaches a men's team. Don't tell me men writers aren't attracted to heels!

It's a trip for Argentine tango study and just fun, supposedly. I was there 9 years ago and learned a little (very little) of their tango, which is different from what we call American Tango. I also visited Stanley in the Falklands 9 years ago. Met a girl from the USA who had gone there on vacation and married a local. Don't think I would want to live there, though - no trees, windy from what I saw.

You always pick nice looking footwear. This was my first Christmas alone, I think, for a very long time. Although I've been without the wife for 9 years now (!!!), our youngest son moved out (for the 3rd time) and moved to the other side of the country for a job. I did get phone calls from the two sons from the second marriage, though. Yes, I bought some heels, too. The Stef wedges I mentioned in the shoe critique thread, plus another pair from Shoes USA. They are really too large to wear, though - generously large to the point they are not staying on. Maybe they will be better in the summer's hot weather.

I'm afraid I don't like the term "crossdresser." It has come to imply something derogatory, or is that just me? It seems to me that dressing as a woman except for some occasion like costume parties, Halloween, etc., implies a desire to be a woman or at least to live as one. That isn't upholding the stud image very well! High heels are such a small part of the total costume, that it doesn't seem to be in the same league as skirts/dresses. (Heels are sort of radically different, though.) Although I have known at least one person who changed clothes, name, makeup, etc. to live as a woman, it seems awkward, at least for a while. I wish shoes would just be referred to as shoes, not women's shoes or men's shoes. I always wonder at the ads which almost always label high heels as women's shoes. Egads, is their doubt in anyone's mind today as to whether they are women's or men's? Now, if they were just labeled "Shoes" and sold in a single department instead of separate men's and women's departments or areas, we might have more men in heels, not to mention more styles and colors.

Sorry, too far away! (USA). Plus leaving for Argentina on Saturday.

Yes, there is lots of activity at HHPlace, and usually enough to read. Over the years, I have noticed a trend among a number of heel wearers to gradually move into more articles of women's clothing - jeans, pants, tops, and then skirts. The latter bothers me, as it is something I would never do.* HHPlace states it does not host TS/TV people, but when is that line crossed? Some of the regulars make no secret of dressing as women at least some of the time. If you look at the blog High Heels for Men, "http://highheelspassion.blogspot.com/", many or most of the pictures posted are of men in dresses and heels, hardly distinguishable from women since the heads are usually cut off or blotted out in the posts. Others are androgynous, many looking like girls with their long hair and makeup and feminine outfits. And another group are sort of way-out show biz types. Many fewer just guys in heels. Good looking girls with nice legs, pretty feet, and high heels are sexy, and I guess we want to experience some of what it feels like to wear heels, which we generally like. But most of us don't look very sexy dressed as a girl. When you see pictures of models or celebrity couples, the men are generally covered up except for the head/face and hands. The girls, in contrast, are mostly exposed, with bare arms, legs, and feet in high heels. Their emphasis with hair, makeup, polish, etc. is to emphasize their sexual attractiveness, which seems to be the way Western culture has evolved today. Sure, we can go a ways with neat clothes and nice feet with pedicures and polish and heels, but for many of us, especially older ones, even that will look out of place compared to society's expectations. But to go farther is really opening us up to more ridicule/rejection, I'm afraid. So, heels4men, how far can a man go in attire and still be considered a man? *I must say that I do like leggings, though, at least for private wear. They are warm and tight against the legs, and I have always liked slim denims. They look good with heels, and they don't get caught between the heels and the shoes when wearing slides or mules.

Fast Freddy2 said: If your S/O or spouse wore high heels most of the time, and enjoyed/took an interest in wearing them, would you still want to wear them too? Absolutely YES! That would just make it sexier.

I have seen plenty of women who have very strong ideas of right and wrong relating to dress and behavior, and little tolerance for any deviations from the "norm." My first wife was like that to a large extent. My second wife was totally accepting of me and what I wanted to do, and vice versa. She liked high heels and wore sexy ones when she was younger, and got compliments from other people. It was still trauma time to raise the issue with her, but she was totally accepting and even encouraging to me. We were very dedicated and supportive of each other and very happy together. But she is no longer with us. Sometime short girl friend, older, doesn't wear much in the way of heels. I gradually broke her in to mine, and when she saw me in stripper stilettos, she said they were very sexy. No problems there, but we are different in other areas. Two other lady friends, both very tall but no heels, are also very accepting, even to going in public. Basically, I would no longer get involved with anyone who is intolerant of variation from norms of dress or behavior. They have to be accepting of me and what I am, and I have to be the same with them. I feel sorry for those who don't have that tolerant, supportive relationship, but people seem to get into those situations a lot.

I agree boots are less obvious, but I find them less comfortable for wearing for an extended period. I have large ankles and calves compared to most fashionable boots, so cannot zip up even knee highs. Measurements really increased with lots of working out at the gym. The wide calf, large size boots I have seen don't have very high heels or look real stylish. But one thing stops me the most right now, and that is lack of a companion. The sometime girlfriend is only about 5'1" compared to my 6' 2", so adding to my height with heels really exaggerates the difference, and she doesn't wear much in the way of heels. I've tried.

The Stef wedges went on sale after Christmas for 75% off at 6PM.com, now only $13.75! I took a chance that the ones I bought back in July were marked with the wrong size, being two sizes under the labeled size, and ordered a pair. The only ones left in USW 12W were tan, but at the price, OK. They came and although slightly on the small side, they are not as small as the July pair, and are wearable and comfortable!

One more comment on pants - there is a lady at the gym who works out in flip-flops (a no-no) but you hardly see them because she wears flared pants that drag on the ground. I have worn booties with 3 in. thick heels out a few times. They sort of look and sound like cowboy boots. Also some wedge sandals worn with socks a year ago. The only high ones are the Karo high wedges that are discussed under this thread. The salon girls are not wearing heels this winter, though, and I haven't, either. I hope they will when the weather warms up. The salon has expanded and there are many more people there than there were a few months ago, and they all look, I think. Several men customers from time to time, but no one else with heels or polish. My most expensive shoes are the Karo wedges, Shoes USA heels (close to $200), and a pair of men's loafers at around $170. On the other end, I have some Jante heels that were on sale for $10 and some men's casual loafers that were around $20. Oh, yes, good dance shoes run around $150.

The way to hide your heels is to wear pants that drag on the ground. I see both guys and girls who do this. Erin wears pants that drag when she practices, but once in a while she steps on her pants, which isn't too graceful. I can't bring myself to do this - seems mistreating the pants pretty badly if you are outdoors. Of course, torn jeans are high fashion, but not with me. I don't have any stairs in my place, which is fine with me. Heels on stairs can be deadly - I know two girls who fell down flights of stairs that way, and it took both of them some time to recover, though I don't think they broke anything. One was on concrete stairs, which was pretty bad. I too tend to be a collector, usually going overboard. I have done this several times - match covers, pens, high heels - usually going overboard when I latch on to something. I got every color and style of stiletto platforms for a while, but later realized they are too hard to walk in on uneven or rough ground, and gave almost all of them away. Now I still have too many mini-platforms, which are my preference, but am weeding them out to ones that are really comfortable and that I will wear. I generally only get them during sales or with discounts. I kept one pair of glow-in-the-dark stiletto platform sandals, which actually make great night lights, and that is what they are, now!

So what's wrong with the 150 boots? Too radical for public wear? They are certainly attractive looking, and high! I would like to see some pictures of guyinheels - his description of himself is pretty interesting, but not that many posts recently. Roniheels also sounds interesting, and of course thighbootguy over at HHPlace is out and about quite a bit. Personally, I don't do much out because I have been here too long and am too well known to get away with much. Right now it is a little cold to wear the wedges to the salon, and the house is cool enough that I often wear warm stuff at home. Girls seem to be used to having their legs and feet exposed even in cool weather. Erin the dancer was happy barefoot today at 66F in the dance studio. And the neighbors boys were out barefooted in 50-60F weather. As for me, I would rather be hot than cold. Off to the salon in the morning, but the forecast is for 40s/50s F temperatures, so it will probably be Emus!

I look in often to see if there is anything new, but generally there is not. It's all over in HHPlace, whereas much of it could be here just as well. Not being a prolific poster, I don't help much.

I'm about as far from you as I can get (West coast of U.S.), but I notice the limited sizes, once again, of most mainstream shoe brands/styles. It doesn't pay to be big or have big feet.

I bought a pair of Gabriella Rocha "Stef" wedges - about a 4.5 inch heel, slip on or slide style, and very attractive looking, but ... I got size 12, their largest, and they were WAY too small. Not even close! I gave them to a lady who wears size 10s and they fit her perfectly. Very disappointing that they could be that far off.

And how did her feet do in your shoes?

Forgot to say my favorite mention of Iowa was in the Star Trek movie about the whales. When Captain Kirk was trying to get information out of the cetacean expert from the aquarium in San Francisco and he kept getting interrupted by his communicator, but wouldn't tell her anything, she said "I know, you're from outer space." He replied "No, I'm from Iowa. I only work in outer space."

Not a lot of traffic here, as you can see. Tell us more about what kind of heels you wear and if out of the house anywhere.

Wow, that's not just a stitching failure, it's a material failure. Hard to fix that, and who's to say it won't happen again, unless it was a defect.

Rubber or soft heel tips and soles - probably not stilettos. Wedges tend to be quieter.

More details? What brand, where bought, do you like them?

Divine 440 or Romance 313

The Diesels are very attractive looking, but look more like a bootie than a mule.

They are public wear if you don't mind being known as a little eccentric if they are seen a lot.