Back on My Heels

My wife is still in rehab. I was hoping she would be home for her birthday on Friday, but it looks like we will be singing stolat in the rehab center. She is improving, but she still needs more rehab, so I think she will need another week to ten days before she comes home.

My total knee replacement surgery was six months ago and except for the slowly disappearing scar, it is a non-issue. Using my knee without any pain is a blessing – I don’t even think about it anymore. I am even getting around in heels again and plan to go out en femme in heels real soon now.

Coincidentally, I received an email ad from Vivian Lou extolling the virtues of their high heel insole inserts for people who have had knee surgery.

You don't need to worry about your knee joints or high-heel induced strain if you pair your heels with Vivian Lou Insolia weight-shifting insoles.

 

Designed by a podiatrist and engineered by a rocket scientist, our Vivian Lou Insolia weight-shifting insoles ever-so-slightly rotate the heel bone up and back to shift weight off the forefoot and stop the feet from slipping forward in shoes.

 

This shift in weight correct the center of balance and shift body weight to the heel resulting in proper knee extension and significantly less strain on the knees.

The ad concludes with reviews from people who had knee surgery and were able to get back on their heels by using the Insolia inserts.

I have been using Insolia inserts for years and I am a satisfied customer – before and after knee surgery. 

Insolia inserts are different from other inserts I have tried (and discarded). Instead of adding padding to the shoe, which is basically what those other shoe inserts do, Insolia inserts shift weight off of the ball of the foot back to the heel by placing the foot in the optimal position for high heels.

As a result, high heels are comfortable longer than they would be sans the inserts. They really work and since that time, I automatically buy a new pair of Insolia inserts whenever I buy a new pair of high heels.

Wearing Ann Taylor

Jared Leto femulating in the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club

In the Nude

Stana's Nudes

Honestly, the only time I feel confident ‘in the nude’ is when I am fully clothed and wearing my nude patent leather pumps. :)

From nude kitten heels to a classic nude pump, here are a few reasons why nude shoes make a perfect wardrobe staple. 

Simplicity

A nude shoe can be paired with more outfits than your classic black pump. You can pair it with browns, grays, blacks, patterns, colors. It can be dressed up or dressed down. It transitions from day to night and season to season. Wear it with shorts, jeans, pants, skirts, dresses - really anything!

Elongate legs

Because a nude shoe doesn’t break the visual line between the leg and the foot, it provides the illusion of longer, more slender legs. And who doesn’t want that? 

Timeless

While some consider the nude shoe a trend, fashion experts claim it won’t go out of style anytime soon.

And hats off to Christian Louboutin, who has expanded the number of nude shades featured in his collection to match our numerous colors of nude.

With Louboutin leading the charge, you know it won’t be long before brands at all price points follow suit.

To help you feel more comfortable in the nude, don’t forget to add Vivian Lou weight-shifting insoles to your shoes.

Ideal for any style and type of shoe with a 2 inch heel or higher, Vivian Lou insoles help you wear the shoes you love 4x longer without pain.

👠👠👠

The above came from Abby at Vivian Lou. I could not have said it better myself.

Last count, I own eight pairs of shoes in the nude. That shade is my go-to shoe color. Whenever I wear nude, I feel confident that my shoes will match my outfit.

One day shopping at the Lancôme counter at Macy’s, the saleswoman loved the nude pumps I was wearing and said they were “classic.” Compliments like that encourage me to wear nude shoes all of the time!

And all my nude pumps have Vivian Lou weight-shifting insoles. I won’t leave home without them! 

As I wrote here back in February, Vivian Lou insoles are different from other inserts I have tried (and discarded). Instead of adding padding to the shoe, which is basically what many other shoe inserts do, “Insolia Inserts shift weight off of the ball of the foot back to the heel by placing the foot in the optimal position for high heels.”

As a result, high heels are comfortable longer than they would be sans the inserts. They really work and since that time, I automatically buy a new pair of Insolia inserts whenever I buy a new pair of heels.

Wearing Boston Proper. Note the nude pumps with the blue dress. 

Miami Beach High is the home of this Halloween femulator 

Darren Trumeter femulates in a 2010 episode of television’s The Whitest Kids U'Know

Ouch!

The latest addition to Stana’s wardrobe

“A study conducted by The College of Podiatry revealed that it takes an average of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 48 seconds for high heel wearers to start feeling foot pain.

“And one in five women (20%) say they start feeling pain within just 10 minutes.”

Abby at Vivian Lou passed along that painful news, but she also offered some assistance.

Strengthen and stretch feet with a few simple exercises

Make sure you are wearing the right size shoe (88% of women routinely wear shoes that are too small)

Use Vivian Lou Insolia weight-shifting insoles

Problem with the second suggestion is that shoe sizes are all over the map. You may think you are buying the right size shoe only to learn that the shoe manufacturer had something else in mind. I personally own shoes in five different sizes that fit!

Regarding the last suggestion, I use Insolia insoles. They are different from other inserts I have tried (and discarded). Instead of adding padding to the shoe, which is basically what many other shoe inserts do, “Insolia Inserts shift weight off of the ball of the foot back to the heel by placing the foot in the optimal position for high heels.”

As a result, high heels are comfortable longer than they would be sans the inserts. They really work and since that time, I automatically buy a new pair of Insolia inserts whenever I buy a new pair of high heels.

Wearing New York & Company

Zakes Mokae (second from right) femulating in the 1991 film A Rage in Harlem

Today is Tuesday

We Will Miss Dress Barn

Heather informed me about this interesting Vox article "When I couldn’t tell the world I wanted to transition, I went to Dressbarn." I'm sure many of you can relate to this piece as did I.

Stairs and High Heels

This how-to from Abby of Vivian Lou Insolia insoles fame is worth reviewing even if you read it before.

While it's quite empowering to dress up and get out and about, I've been reminded (on more than one occasion) to be careful on the stairs!

Let's quickly review the 'how to' of stairs in heels.

Going Up

:: Visualize a straight line going up toward your end point, rather than looking down at your feet as you climb.

:: As you walk up the step, place your body weight on the ball of the foot. This means that the back of the heel will most likely hang off the step.

:: While ascending, place one foot right in front of the other on the next step.

:: Hold on to the railing if necessary.

Going Down

:: Hold the railing for support. Keep your grip strong, but relax the rest of your arm and shoulder. Gently glide your hand down the railing as you descend.

:: At first, you may need to look down at the stairs to determine depth and steepness. After a few steps (if possible), visualize a straight line going toward your end point, rather than looking down at your heels.

:: Place as much of the shoe (heel and front of the shoe) on the step as possible. Depending on the depth of the step, you may want to push your shoe back until it touches the back of the step to make sure as much shoe as possible is making contact.

:: If the stairs are narrow, you may try tilting your body at a 45 degree angle feet and stepping down on an angle. Place one foot in front of the other on the next step down. This method definitely takes practice!

:: Go slow. Take your time heading down stairs in heels. Better to be safe than sorry!

As with most other difficult tasks, the more you walk up and down stairs in heels, the easier it becomes.

Finding the Right Eyebrow Color for Your Hair

Women like us can switch hair color faster than you can say "Henry Margu." When I switched from blonde to the brunette-red mix I wear today, I noticed that my eyebrow color did not look right. Did I need to go lighter or darker?

This article from InStyle would have helped and will help you if you make the switch.

Me on YouTube

I appear at 1:57 in this YouTube video collection of photos from Hamvention.

Wearing Venus

Yours truly wearing Venus