Advice needed.

edited March 2011 in General
Yeah, so I decided I want some new shoes, boots specifically. Sadly all mens boots are brown and/or huge and therefore look shitty.

In other words I'm a guy and I've been looking at womens boots to buy, the two pairs I've found (the first and the second in black) that I want have heels. (The first heel being fairly substantial.)

Here lies the issue, I live in conservative Idaho. I've heard of two open gay guys in my school, but I don't know how much trouble they get. Now I'm wondering, should I buy these or should I avoid doing so just to avoid trouble?
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Comments

  • edited November 2009
    Well, if you're trying to be less conspicuous, the second pair is the way to go, they look more comfortable, too. But if you want to ignore fashion all together, the most comfortable pair of boots I ever had were these:
    5040_reg_Large.jpg
    Though I think it's technically a shoe.
  • edited November 2009
    I assume fashion is something he's aiming for a little bit since he's trying to avoid boots that are brown or big and clunky.

    In this case, if it were me, I think I'd be putting in some extra effort to find a men's style I could live with. They might be hard to find but I can't imagine there aren't men's boots available somewhere that would be acceptable.

    Women's boots might seem like a simpler solution, but I wouldn't be sure it'd be worth any sort of reaction people might have. Maybe you could get by with it in college, but in high school the last thing you need is some asshole learning what the word "transvestite" means and noticing your feminine footwear. You'd never hear the end of it.
  • edited November 2009
    Hah, believe me, I've spent lots of time looking for mens boots that aren't clunky and aren't brown. The best I've found are really sorta emo lookin and I don't like them much.

    Hmm... I already never hear the end of my hair looking like a girls, so I'm not sure the "he looks girly" comments will be a problem.

    I'm more worried about some sort of violent reaction. I've heard stories of it in my english class (we have big conversations, mostly in order to help with our argument formulation and getting us to write better and more succinctly,) and on the class message board there were people who professed almost exceptionally right-wing viewpoints about this sorta thing.


    Also, I'm on the edge about which to get first.
  • edited November 2009
    Yeah, definitely go with the steal-toed boots, then. And start practicing your kicks. If you knock the teeth out of a few guys, you can wear whatever the hell you want.
  • edited November 2009
    What's wrong with brown boots? I wear brown boots all the time.
  • edited November 2009
    I don't like brown....
  • edited November 2009
    Well then you can just GO TO HELL.
  • edited November 2009
    Hell is RED, and is therefore better than brown.
  • edited November 2009
    Describe your ideal boot. Are you just interested in non-black? Or are you also concerned with fashionably non-work-related boots? I know they have man-uggs now... at least I think they do.

    EDIT: Check this out.

    DOUBLE EDIT: HOLYGODDAMNSHITTHEYCOST180DOLLARS. Well, you might not want to go with this BRAND, but you might be able to find boots that look like this but don't make you pay $150 for the brand name.
  • edited November 2009
    It's possible nobody will ever say anything. But then it's possible that it could turn into some bullshit, overblown "freedom of expression" thing.
  • edited November 2009
    Not that I don't support you wearing boots with heels. I'm all for trying to make people realize how arbitrary all their gender labels are, but I think X is right.. it might be more hassle than it's worth.
  • edited November 2009
    Describe your ideal boot. Are you just interested in non-black? Or are you also concerned with fashionably non-work-related boots? I know they have man-uggs now... at least I think they do.

    Concerned with non-brown, black is neato.

    Black or white (though white boots would definitely inspire "girly" comments) I sorta like the heel, but not too high (that three-inch one is pushing it). I like the form around the feet to be FOOT shaped and sized, not an enormous sole like on most mens boots. Lots, preferably excessive amounts of weird details (the second one being a good example.) I suppose my ideal boot is feminine enough to still be considered slightly guyish. (Once again that first one is pushing it, though I still really like it for some reason.)
  • edited November 2009
    I thought the whole point of boots was to be big and brown and clunky.
  • edited November 2009
    What about something like this?
    APM28791.jpg
    http://www.theshoemart.com/rockport-mens-bilodeau-black/pvc-roc-mxsbc-apm28791_roc_m_bilodeau.html

    It has the heel and is black, but not much in the ways of details. This pair is $135, but you may be able to find ones of the same style for less cost.
  • edited November 2009
    I sorta already have boots like that... also those still look a bit clunky....
  • edited November 2009
    The first boots are hideous. The second ones are okay, teenager-cutesy, but the heel? It's a wedge, so it would be relatively easy to walk in, but you're still facing a few inches of heel. Are you short? (If you can fit into women's sizes, I would assume so)

    Heels can mean sore toes and heels, unsteadiness (winter - ICE?), and a closet full of unworn shoes. The heel also gives an obvious feminine shape.

    Consider that you are male, and women's shoes are made to fit women's skinny little feet. And if your feet are above a women's 9, good luck finding anything, especially on sale. If you do find it, they'll only have it in brown.

    You are 16. Are your feet done growing? If not, consider the amount of money vs. how long they'll fit for.

    If you've really got your heart set on women's boots, find a style that is androgynous. You'll be more likely to wear them, and unless a girl owns the exact same ones and points it out, you're all right.

    Lastly, embrace brown. Consider the dark-brown colour that Aldo sells.

    Some women's boots that may work:
    rideline - I own some in brown
    alescio - snow bunnyish
    sniffin - doc marten on the bottom, edgy on top
    chaingang - similar to male motorcycle boots
    Hazel - simple snow bunny, flat sole
  • edited November 2009
    No ice this year, global warming an' all that, I'm really not expecting there to be any next year either.

    I dunno, I think the "teenager-cutesy" looks neato, so whatever, and I'm not too worried about sore feet, I did ballet for like 6 years, I'm sorta' used to it.

    I suppose I'm damned to being a weirdo outcast since I basically only like the "girly" ones. Though I'm basically as nerdy as one can get, so that's nothing new.

    Hah, thanks for the help though! I'll think about it som'ore...
  • edited November 2009
    www.redwingshoes.com

    They're expensive, but they're really damn comfortable. Good quality, good reputation, everything.

    For example, here's a good men's pair I just found after clicking around (link embedded in the photo):

    923.jpg
  • edited November 2009
    I think those, again, are too clunky for Graeme. He wants something kinda fashionable.
  • edited November 2009
    These are fashionable! They are warm, comfortable, and they look good. Well, either way, check around Redwings' website, they have plenty of men and womens shoes.

    As for breaking gender stereotypes, I dunno. Normally I would say to just do whatever you want and to hell with people who judge you, but I'm afraid if I do so then I'll eventually read about your upcoming ass kicking at school and its clear ties to Obama's hardline gay and anti-family-values radical agenda when I get my daily dose of truth from Fox News in the morning.
  • edited November 2009
    http://www.americanuniform.com/Military/Footwear/ABUF600ST_content.htm

    That's what I wear for work. I wear them when I help people move, too, because of the steel toes. They're good for hiking - you can blouse your pants into them to prevent bugs from getting in. They are NOT clunky. They're very form fitting. Minimal padding around the ankle and foot. This particular model I linked to is steel toed, but if you go back to the main page you can find non steel toed.

    If you want boots, buy boots that the military uses. We know boots.
  • edited December 2009
    This is a sort of thread necromancy, but not really...

    At any rate, I've decided to ignore ALL of the supremely respectable and intelligent advice given to me and order these. Wish me luck aye?

    Edit: Ok, so not only did the price rise to $140 from $90 today, but my mum won't let me buy 'um because she would be "too worried." I suppose I can't blame her but I'm still a bit miffed...
  • edited December 2009
    Best of luck buddy. Way to be independent. I have respect for people who say fuck you to societal norms and wear what they feel comfortable in.
  • edited December 2009
    Form over function, yay! Sadatay, baby.
  • edited January 2011
    Necro-thread, hellz yeah! Right, well I stopped being a moron and ordered these.

    Yes yes, I ignored most if not all of your advice, but y'know, what're friends for?
  • edited January 2011
    We're just glad to be here for you as you doom yourself to the fate of all who fail to heed our advice!
  • edited January 2011
    Those look incredibly uncomfortable with that narrow heel. They look pretty good though. The 12" ones look bad-ass.
  • edited January 2011
    Yeah, I wanted to get them, but as you might've noticed there's a sale on that site and they're out of my size of that boot. I decided I'd save money rather than buying them for 40 dollars more somewhere else.
  • edited January 2011
    You will now be wearing a pair of shoes more feminine than any pair of shoes I've ever owned, lol.

    I avoid any shoes with heels because I don't want to be 7' tall.
  • edited January 2011
    Haha, very reasonable. It would be a worry for me but I'm only about 5'10'' which is fairly short for a guy of my age, being barely boosted into the six foot range will hardly be noticeable.