So I'm doing some shoe shopping and would love to hear from some of you on high heels.
I'll be honest, I do love the look of a 5-6 inch stiletto but my logical side says you'll break an ankle Tracie 😆. I have zero experience wearing heels outside of wearing mom's as a kid and those I think topped out at a couple inches max. What size/style heel do y'all recommend for a 6' girl just getting her sea legs? I already have some pretty flats.
I have no interest in stilettos. However there are many fans of them.
I would stay away from anything that may be called high heels, that is, those shoes with the very thin heels. But that is just me talking.
Let us see what others say.
I prefer to be a well grounded person!
I do wear at times shoes that do have a couple of inches of a wide heel, going all the way across the back of the shoe. Like most men's shoes' heels.
Chrissy
Quote from: ChrissyRyan on October 03, 2024, 05:38:08 PMI do wear at times shoes that do have a couple of inches of a wide heel, going all the way across the back of the shoe. Like most men's shoes' heels.
Chrissy, my practical side says you are right and yet... 😊
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 03, 2024, 05:49:59 PMChrissy, my practical side says you are right and yet... 😊
Tracie,
You know you can try them at home, and with lots of practice, you may not fall head over heels.
Or maybe you will. You could tumble or you could become smitten. Or both. Beware of twisted ankles.
Chrissy
Quote from: ChrissyRyan on October 03, 2024, 05:55:33 PMTracie,
You know you can try them at home, and with lots of practice, you may not fall head over heels.
Or maybe you will. You could tumble or you could become smitten. Or both. Beware of twisted ankles.
Yes, I think I need at least one pair of sexy stilettos to at least wear around the house. Who knows, maybe I'm a natural on stilts 😊
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 03, 2024, 07:20:42 PMYes, I think I need at least one pair of sexy stilettos to at least wear around the house. Who knows, maybe I'm a natural on stilts 😊
It is possible!
I don't.. I really don't get the appeal. I am probably missing something important. I don't get why being raised up on your tiptoes is sexy. Maybe it's a ballet thing? Must be hell to try to walk in these kinds of shoes?
For 4-5 inch stilettos you really need to be flexible in your feet, being able to stretch them fully straight and beyond without any effort. I can't. I do have a pair of stilettos, but they just hurt and I have never used them for longer than 5 minutes.
I can walk comfortably in shoes with heels up to 3.5 inches, that's where I top out. I find that 3 inch heels still look very good and are promoting a more feminine walk.
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 03, 2024, 04:24:17 PMWhat size/style heel do y'all recommend for a 6' girl just getting her sea legs? I already have some pretty flats.
Two inches is plenty to begin with particularly with stilettos. The main problem is learning to balance on a very small area of heel and how to walk on surfaces with low grip - this is easier to master with lower stilettos than with higher ones. The other problem is that heels tip your foot forward so you are balancing on the ball of your foot with your toes at an angle increasing to 90 degrees as the height of the heel goes up - which is uncomfortable over long periods.
Whatever it pleases you to wear on your feet, is what you should buy, but my memories of getting used to heels were that learning to balance was the biggest thing.
Day to day, I mostly wear some kind of sneaker because I love cars and sim racing and women's sneakers are better to wear for it than almost any racing shoe I have tried.
Wedges are more stable and may be a good way to strengthen the muscles you need to walk in heels.
The more you weigh and the taller you are the more stress on your feet.
Many of my older big and tall friends have back issues.
Quote from: TanyaG on October 04, 2024, 03:15:12 AMTwo inches is plenty to begin with particularly with stilettos. The main problem is learning to balance on a very small area of heel and how to walk on surfaces with low grip - this is easier to master with lower stilettos than with higher ones. The other problem is that heels tip your foot forward so you are balancing on the ball of your foot with your toes at an angle increasing to 90 degrees as the height of the heel goes up - which is uncomfortable over long periods.
Whatever it pleases you to wear on your feet, is what you should buy, but my memories of getting used to heels were that learning to balance was the biggest thing.
Day to day, I mostly wear some kind of sneaker because I love cars and sim racing and women's sneakers are better to wear for it than almost any racing shoe I have tried.
And this is why I posted. I think starting at two inches and maybe working my way up is the way to go. Baby steps 😊
I also like the idea of buying a pair of women's trainers for exercising at home. Something a bit more feminine than my current men's pair, assuming I can find some size 13.
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 04, 2024, 07:16:42 AMAnd this is why I posted. I think starting at two inches and maybe working my way up is the way to go. Baby steps 😊
I also like the idea of buying a pair of women's trainers for exercising at home. Something a bit more feminine than my current men's pair, assuming I can find some size 13.
Try Zappos perhaps for larger shoes.
Sneakers are great!
Women's hiking shoes too! They will fit you at REI stores.
Quote from: ChrissyRyan on October 04, 2024, 07:20:50 AMWomen's hiking shoes too! They will fit you at REI stores.
Ooh I love this idea. How'd you know I liked hiking Chrissy? 😊
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 04, 2024, 08:01:45 AMOoh I love this idea. How'd you know I liked hiking Chrissy? 😊
I did not know but there are some cute hiking shoes, I know that.
My shoes are either trainers or boots. The boot heels are all about 2", but I do have some which are about 4". I did have some 5" and 6" heel shoes, but those are now gone. And they're gone because my balance isn't as good as it used to be and also because I'm currently gender fluid, so only androgynous clothing.
Nowadays women here seldom wear stilettos or high heels. Sneakers, or athletic shoes, are popular, even with formal dresses.
I occasionally wear stilettos with 4 or 5 inch heels, but I soon found that only I wear them in public places.
There are various designs and sizes of stilettos, and you may eventually get ones you can comfortably walk in by trial and error. I mostly purchase them from temu.com or aliexpress.com. Adding 1 or 2 to the average size of your flat shoes would be better.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mg5mQun2jds
Cheers,
barbie~~
OMG that video, I am so scared straight 😂. And by that I mean I am backing off extreme heels.
Quote from: barbie on October 05, 2024, 01:21:46 PMI occasionally wear stilettos with 4 or 5 inch heels, but I soon found that only I wear them in public places.
Thank you Barbie, I am definitely going to go slow with the heels. Love having all y'all's input 💗
Weight is distributed over your feet when wearing sneakers as compared to when you are wearing heels as your weight is is likely distributed more towards your heel.
Seems to me that the lower the height level for the heel, that would be better for safety, foot care, and pain levels.
I suppose a podiatrist (who is not a MD) or an orthopedic medical doctor may be able to conform this, but it makes sense to me.
It also seems to me that the less time walking in high heels, the less opportunity for all those bad foot issues.
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 05, 2024, 02:32:24 PMThank you Barbie, I am definitely going to go slow with the heels.
For the same stilettos, sandals are more comfy than pumps to walk in. I can even run in the sandals with 4.7-inch or 12-cm stilettos.
https://youtube.com/shorts/bWDm5X6nrck
Cheers,
barbie~~
Quote from: barbie on October 06, 2024, 04:15:55 AMFor the same stilettos, sandals are more comfy than pumps to walk in. I can even run in the sandals with 4.7-inch or 12-cm stilettos.
Thanks Barbie, sounds like a good compromise. You look fabulous in your stilettos girl, and you are obviously race ready. Hmmmmmm Steletto racing, new Olympic event? 🤔😃
Yes. I sometimes see news on highheel racing. For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3sPJM6d14g
Of course, it is hard to run on stiletto pumps with 4.7-inch heels, but I can run on 4-inch stiletto pumps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpi7nghcHTA
Cheers,
barbie~~
Quote from: barbie on October 06, 2024, 07:11:59 PMOf course, it is hard to run on stiletto pumps with 4.7-inch heels, but I can run on 4-inch stiletto pumps.
Really impressive Barbie. I'll settle for being able to walk gracefully. Any training suggestions?
You look amazing in your fabulous shoes Barbie. Very sexy ♥️
I've probably got 20 pair of shoes, maybe more. I'm not a shoe hoe, although I do understand the vice since acquiring so many shoes.
A number of years ago, Payless Shoe Stores announced a going out of business sale and I thought it might be a good time to get a pair of shoes or two. They started at 20% off and over a few months they eventually got to 80% or more off. In the early part of the process, I picked up some "practical" shoes, nothing flashy. I figured they would sell out the quickest and didn't want to miss out. As the discount got better, I made more visits to some of the stores. I was lucky enough to be in town on the last day of the closing, at the last store open.
The gal closing up the store was actually taping brown paper up over the windows when I came in. She motioned towards a small rack and said in a consolatory voice "All I have left are women's shoes in size 11 and 12". Well, that was perfect. They were $1 a peace and I walked out with 5 pair. Some, under other circumstances, I would never have bought but how can you resist for the price. One pair was a gloss white sandal with 2-inch heels and diamond rhinestones on the center strap. Another was a lite blue suede sandal with 3-inch heels. I don't wear the very often but I love it when I do.
What I learned from having a very wide range of shoes is:
- With 2 inch and lower, and one-inch-wide heel size I can walk like I normally would in my "normal" shoes.
- With 3 inch and higher, and ¼ -inch (0.6 cm) wide – I'm walking on my toes. No real weight on the heel until the ball of the foot is firmly on the ground and I balanced on it.
- Shoes that fall between the above are a mix of "normal" and "walking on your toes". I do have some 4" sandals with 1.5- to 2-inch-wide heels that I can almost walk normal in. YMMV.
- When trying on heels you should wear them around the store for a good 5 to 10 minutes. Your toes will move forward in the shoes and if you have any discomfort get a larger or wider size. It will only get worse. If you can't wear them in the store, only wear them on carpet to they won't show any wear, so you can return them.
- Women's shoes are like all other women's cloths, sizes very from manufacture to manufacture. I have 11, 11W, 12, and some 12W.
I do have a pair of stilettos, black gloss, pointed toe, 6 inch high and ¼ inch wide heels. They were like $20 at Goodwill and I should never have bought them, but they were just too damn sexy to pass up.
20 years ago, one of my best friend's wives had a closet full of shoes and I thought she was crazy. I still think she's crazy, and so am I.
Paulie.
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 06, 2024, 07:35:56 PMI'll settle for being able to walk gracefully. Any training suggestions?
Start low with widish heels or low wedges, get used to the different balance. Then build to low, narrower heels and work up. Women's shoes are designed with a different fit - with a tighter feel than most of us grew up with, particularly around the ball of the foot and at the heel. So with some you end up using your toes as levers to keep them on. It is not entirely good for your feet, nor are heels that are too high, but unless you wear shoes like that all the time, it does no damage. I've been wearing low heels for many hours a day for 45 years plus and have no bunions or other shoe related changes.
I have just done a count and if you include calf high boots, which I adore, I have 57 pairs. I can't remember buying that many, maybe some came to stay because they liked it here.
Quote from: Paulie on October 07, 2024, 01:09:10 AM20 years ago, one of my best friend's wives had a closet full of shoes and I thought she was crazy. I still think she's crazy, and so am I.
My kinda crazy Paulie. Thank you for sharing. Very helpful
Quote from: TanyaG on October 07, 2024, 02:31:45 AMI have just done a count and if you include calf high boots, which I adore, I have 57 pairs. I can't remember buying that many, maybe some came to stay because they liked it here.
Call me jealous. As always, thank you for the thoughtful advice.
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 06, 2024, 07:35:56 PMAny training suggestions?
I would rather suggest just getting used to wearing highheels. Stiletto pumps are especially hard to walk in because of the very thin, needle-like heels. Thick heels or ankle straps, which stiletto pumps do not have, make it easier to keep balance and walk. As in the highheels race of the YouTube video, anybody can run in square heels with ankle straps.
Too tight stiletto pumps can make my feet painful. A little bit loose pumps are easier to walk in. My shoe and high heel sandal size is US women's 10 (265 mm), but I order 12 or 13 for stiletto pumps.
I can not run in 4.7-inch (12 cm) stiletto pumps, but can walk if they are loose. The following is with size 13 (280 mm) https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32986916938.html
https://youtu.be/IWSQYVTZj8Q
Actually, my wearing stiletto pumps are mostly for taking videos or selfies. Beaches are a good excuse to walk in stilettos while wearing a bikini.
barbie~~
I've added a beginner's guide to women's shoes (https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,249221.new.html#new) in the How To section. I hope it helps!
Quote from: TanyaG on October 07, 2024, 07:59:33 AMI've added a beginner's guide to women's shoes (https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,249221.new.html#new) in the How To section. I hope it helps!
I am confident that it will be a helpful writing Tanya.
Quote from: TanyaG on October 07, 2024, 07:59:33 AMI've added a beginner's guide to women's shoes (https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,249221.new.html#new) in the How To section. I hope it helps!
I love your how-to guides. I find them extremely helpful. Keep them coming please 😃
They are very comprehensive.
Quote from: TracieCarolinaGirl on October 07, 2024, 06:41:56 PMI love your how-to guides. I find them extremely helpful. Keep them coming please
Give me some ideas (anything but makeup, which is well covered here). The trouble is that I'm at the stage where its hard to remember what I had trouble finding out early on, if you know where I'm at!
Hello
I like heels and you feel great in them especially the "dolly parton" feeling when you take them off after a few hours. Sexy as vampy pointy heels are I stick with the round toe Mary Janes often with a strap.3 to 4 inches is a nice comfy height to.
Look online at bigger retailers and get some heels that women might wear to work they tend to be comfier and more practical.You won't regret though, they elongate your calves, make you feet look more feminine and you feel really pretty.
Rachel x
I went by the local Goodwill today to see about getting a couple of skirts I'd seen the day before. I ended up not getting the skirts, but I did pickup 2 pair of Heels. One was a mat black closed toe shoe with 2 inch heels. kind of an everyday wear to work shoe. They had a couple of small scuffs but no real wear. The other was a name brand ankle boot in black leather with 1.5 inch heels. They look like they've never been worn. I found the ankle boots on line for $129.
I really wish I could wear heels more often.
Quote from: Paulie on November 15, 2024, 12:07:52 AMI went by the local Goodwill today to see about getting a couple of skirts I'd seen the day before. I ended up not getting the skirts, but I did pickup 2 pair of Heels. One was a mat black closed toe shoe with 2 inch heels. kind of an everyday wear to work shoe. They had a couple of small scuffs but no real wear. The other was a name brand ankle boot in black leather with 1.5 inch heels. They look like they've never been worn. I found the ankle boots on line for $129.
I really wish I could wear heels more often.
Paulie,
Seems like a good find!
Chrissy
I am not yet accustomed to wearing high heels. Be cautious when wearing high heels.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fMbg3POhaz0
Cheers,
barbie~~
Quote from: Sephirah on October 03, 2024, 11:51:37 PMI don't.. I really don't get the appeal. I am probably missing something important. I don't get why being raised up on your tiptoes is sexy. Maybe it's a ballet thing? Must be hell to try to walk in these kinds of shoes?
For me there's nothing like a 4" open toe-heel paired with stockings. It's the ultimate in Femme providing you master that walk! There are loads of training vids out there but it does take quite a while to smooth out the gait, certainly doesn't happen over night. 4" is my limit before it just becomes too laborious because of my natural height. I'm just sorting a lot of my collection out now as it happens, have to let a few pairs go, especially the boots. I really wouldn't be without them.
Tracie, most women do not wear high heels daily. 2-3" mainly, unless for special events. Stiletto's are definitely out for beach wear, as in the video.
There are plenty of large size pumps available that should give you that feminine feeling.
Eileen
Wide heels. 2 1/2 or three inch height. I got a pair of strappy sandals and a pair of ankle boots with zippers on the side with those heels on them. I really like both pair they're easy to walk in.
I'm also a big fan of heels. I recently treated myself to a pair of ankle strap shoes with a 5 inch heel. They looked great, with my white nail polish. Then I stood up and although I managed to walk, staying balanced was a challenge. I have newfound respect for those glamorous women I see strolling along effortlessly in their high heels!