h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello! I'm Jamie!

I'm not a shoe fantatic but seeing as how you seem to like shoes so much I thought I'd tell you about my Italian boots.
They're amazing! I have never owned another piece of footwear quite like them in my entire life! I mean, you zip them up to put them on - how cool is that? And they're damn shiny too! I have been known to sit for hours gazing at the marvelous shine...

And they say that us guys don't take an interest in our appearance!

So go on, tell me about your favourite shoes, there is much potential for amusement here!

Hello Jamie!

Ooooooohhhh you can't imagine how happy this makes me!!!!!
Somebody asks me to talk about shoes!!!! I've died and gone to heaven!!!!!

Weeeeeeell, I haven't got the time to write about ALL my favourite shoes, so - for the moment - I will only comment on my favourite boots:
They are ankle boots (maybe a bit longer. They do cover more than the ankle and stop just underneath the calf) and are fastened with little hooks.
But the really cool thing is that they are covered in very short (not fluffy) fur. The fur is white and is covered with little brown specks - it rather looks like the fur of a baby-dalmatien (is that the right word? Kind of dog. The ones from the Disney movie...).
The boots have broad heels of about 8 cm (I have no ides how much that is in inch...).
And they are SOOOOO comfortable!!!!! I LOVE wearing them!!!

I remeber buying them: these shoes were waiting for me!!!! I came into that shop just to have a look around and then I saw them ()! It was the last pair they had and they fit me perfectly! They weren't even expensive!!! And my husband likes them too!!!

You say your not a shoe fanatic, but the way you write about your boots sounds almost sensual!
Pleeease go on! Tell me more! What colour are they. How long is the shaft? Do you zip on the side or in the front or in the back?
I want to be able to visualize these boots!!!!

Anybody else here who wants to describe their favourite shoes??? This could become a very interesting thread!!!
(We need a shoe-smiley!!!!!! )

It sounds like you and those furry boots were destined to be together! Although white with brown specks sounds like an unusual colour combination. And how do you fasten them with hooks?

OK, my Italian boots - they are absolutely jet black. Right at the toe the leather is starting to crack a little bit, which is a tragedy (any tips?). On the bottom there is barely any grip, just these microscopic little ridges and it's quite sandy from walking along a sand-track to get to the bus.

The zip - the zip _makes_ these boots what they are! They would not be the love of my footwear life it wasn't for the zip. It's on the inside and you just slip your foot in and *zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzip* - ah, the satisfying noise makes me tingle! Oh, BTW, it's also black.

Hmmm...let's see, what else. Well, the heel is about 2.5 cm high. The rest of the sole is tantalisingly thin - about 0.5 cm. The toe is pointy. A squared-off toe is more popular these days but to hell with that - I like em pointy!

Not sure what you mean exactly by the shaft. I'm not up on all this shoe terminology! If you're talking about how high they are...well, you know that knobbly bit that sticks out of the inside of your ankle? (no idea what the hell that's called either!) They come up a centimetre or two above the top of that.

Hmm....can't think if I've left anything out. Please tell me if I have! And any other ideas for mens footwear to make the mouth (and indeed the eyes) water would be cool too!

We were!!! And yes: these boots are flashy and extravagant!
Sorry, I didn't explain that better: there are little hooks on both sides and you criss-cross fasten the laces around the hooks.

Oooohhhh, now I can really "see" your boots! You described them perfectly!!!
Black, thin sole, bit of heel, pointy (you're right! I don't like shoes that look as if the tip has been cut off with a knife!!!) the satisfying zzzzzzzzzzzzip-sound - sounds like a beatiful boot!!!

BTW, I think "shaft" is the COMPLETELY wrong word. The thing is called a "Schaft" in German - seems I was stuck in the wrong languauge there. "Bootleg" might be a better word (I'm so embarrased!!! I HATE to get things THAT wrong!!!!!)

Basically I like to see "good" shoes on a man. My ex-boyfriend used to have only one (!) pair at a time. He only bought new shoes when is old ones were torn. You can imagine our worlds colliding!!!
And then I like when men wear a bit unusual shoes. Unusual in this context meaning: anything but the black or brown standard shoe-for-men you see everywhere. Oh, and sneakers aren't unusal either!
Ooooooooh and I like it when men wear heels. Not necessarily 10 cm spike heels (although I don't mind when men wear those... ), but a little heel is very attractive.
And generally I like long (knee-lenght) boots with zippers (as opposed to boots that strech). On women and men alike. Unfortunately I have problems buying them for myself - my calves (is at least that the right word?????) are not thin and I usually can't close the boots more than halfway up the calf... . *sigh*

Oh well, my feet are rather small so I'm able to buy shoes without problem - on the whole I can't complain!!!

Come on then! Let's have some suggestions for interesting men's shoes! I need some more inspiring foorwear!

Hi Aurora, you are sweet!

My wife Sabine has some high heels which have some different colours, and I made pictures of her wearing them and nothing else. Waaahnsinn. Real good, how about that?

First of all: Jamie, I'm sorry, I didn't answer for such a long time!!!

I've thought long and hard about men's shoes - something I've never done before. I don't think about shoes I can't wear myself!
Well, to be honest I didn't come up with much. I can only repeat what I posted before: unusual shoes. Not to boring. Not always black or brown. Why not some sort of pattern. And I like it when men wear shoes with heels.

But lets face it: there aren't too many interesting shoes for men. You can get women's shoes in every shape and color but men's shoes sort of all look the same. Pity!!!

I will have a closer look at men's shoes from now on (people will think I'm totally crazy now ) and will tell you if I have any new "revelations" about men's footwear.

Wonko, I think we're on the same wavelenghth! (This is a phrase I translated literally from German! I don't think it exists in English... .)
I had some photos of my shoes taken but then usually only the shoes/feet. BTW: shoes only look really good with a foot inside. Is it possible to upload photos on h2g2? I was thinking of opening a "shoe-gallery" (first picture would be of Jamie's zip-boots!!! ), but I don't think I have the time I would need to maintain such a page... .
But it would be great to have a forum for photos of the favourite shoes of the researchers... .

Ok I'll do that, but I'll have to ask for permission first!

Me too
Whilst in the USA I bought a similar pair to Jamie's. Italian deer skin in a black mottled surface. Worn them all over the world, the leather is soooo soft. looking for another pair soon... maybe a trip to Italy and buy a few pairs