La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Yesterday evening, I took the train to Torremolinos to catch the Carrera de Tacones (High-heel Race), which was part of the Gay Pride celebrations. The race, only the second year it’s occurred I think, had a large audience turnout but only 6 participants. I was tempted to help by quickly buying a pair of shoes and joining in, but it’s a very long way to fall.
I did once have a pair of shoes with heels that were absurdly high — for me. Perhaps they were three inches (which is 9 inches when men are measuring). It was 1975 and a couple of friends were getting married. I bought a moss green suit (the rage that year); it was classy (no, seriously, it was). But the only stylish shoes I could find that weren’t old-man shoes had ridiculous heels. I needed them and I bought them. They brought all 6’2″ (188 cm), 140-pounds (64 kg) of me to a stiltifying 6’5″ (196 cm) or more. My dance partner for the wedding was a friend with the nickname Little Debbie. She spent most of her time in 5-inch heels. Without them, she was 4’9″. We were quite the pair. As we passed the band the first time around the floor, they immediately switched to “Put Your Head On My Shoulder.”
I found an exact match for the shoes I wore to the wedding. That’s them above. Imagine!
Speaking of green suits, San Geraldo bought one that year, as well. I told you they were the rage. He still had the suit (in his closet) when we met . Mine was a light weight expensive wool. His was brushed denim and there was something slightly electric about the green. His wide lapels were trimmed with a patterned purple velvet piping. I wish we still had it. It would be brilliant framed.
We plan to go to Torremolinos together this evening to catch the Pride Parade which takes off from in front of City Hall at 6:00 p.m.
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Ayer por la tarde cogí el tren a Torremolinos para coger la Carrera de Tacones, que formaba parte de las celebraciones del Orgullo Gay. Creo que la carrera, solo el segundo año que se lleva a cabo, tuvo una gran participación, pero solo 6 participantes. Tuve la tentación de ayudar comprando rápidamente un par de zapatos y uniéndome, pero es un camino muy largo para caer.
Una vez tuve un par de zapatos con tacones absurdamente altos, para mí. Quizás eran de tres pulgadas (que son 9 pulgadas cuando miden los hombres). Era 1975 y un par de amigos se casaban. Compré un traje verde musgo (el furor de ese año); era elegante (no, en serio, lo era). Pero los únicos zapatos con estilo que pude encontrar que no eran zapatos de hombre viejo tenían tacones ridículos. Los necesitaba y los compré. Me llevaron todos los 188 cm (6’2″), 64 kg (140 libras) de mí a un exagerado 196 cm (6’5″) o más. Mi pareja de baile para la boda fue una amiga con el apodo de Little Debbie. Pasó la mayor parte de su tiempo en tacones de 5 pulgadas. Sin ellos, ella medía 4’9″. Éramos toda una pareja. Cuando pasamos la banda por primera vez alrededor del piso, inmediatamente cambiaron a “Put Your Head On My Shoulder”.
Encontré una foto de los zapatos exactos que usé para la boda. Esos son los de arriba. ¡Imagínese!
Hablando de trajes verdes, San Geraldo también compró uno ese año. Te dije que estaban de moda. Todavía tenía el traje (en su armario) cuando nos conocimos. La mía era una lana ligera y cara. El suyo era denim cepillado y había algo ligeramente eléctrico en el verde. Sus amplias solapas estaban adornadas con un ribete de terciopelo morado estampado. Ojalá todavía lo tuviéramos. Sería brillante enmarcado.
Planeamos ir juntos a Torremolinos esta tarde para asistir al Desfile del Orgullo Gay que comienza frente al Ayuntamiento a las 6:00 p.m.
Note: En inglés, la palabra para “talón” es “heel.” La palabra para “tacon,” también es “heel.”
• Llegué 2 minutos antes de la carrera y esto fue todo lo que vi.
• Corrió a una zapatería y regresó con un nuevo par de zapatos destalonados.
• La maestra de ceremonias en la sudadera blanca.
• Habiendo vivido este infierno muchos días de sus vidas, las tres mujeres eligieron tacones de carrera más sensatos.
• Un participante tardío atado.
• Traté de abrirme camino a lo largo de la plaza para ver el final, pero a nadie pareció importarle.
• La concurrida y fea Calle Miguel, donde se corrió el último tramo de la carrera.
• Algún entretenimiento temprano en la Plaza de Nogaleros. Un poco demasiado temprano (y sobrio) para el tipo de audiencia que necesitaban.
I have been known, long ago, to dance in 3″ heels. Now? I doubt I could even stand in them!
dinahmow:
I had no problem walking or dancing in those shoes, but I felt like an idiot… and I’m all legs to begin with, so looked like I was walking on stilts.
I was kinda scared for the guy in the high purples but he ran like a champ. I suspect, not his first time!
I’m still trying to cleanse my mind of “moss green” being “all the rage.”
Bob:
Yes, clearly all three guys had some experience with heels. I was shocked when they ran by. My green suit was beautiful. I wish I had a picture. But, no, I would not wear a moss green suit now.
Makes me feet hurt to think about it. I had a pair of platform shoes with about a 2 inch heel. It was the 1970’s.
David:
Being so self-conscious about my height and slender frame, those were the only high-water shoes I ever owned. I think I wore them one other time after that.
The most impressive heels are the fetish boots worn by the drag performer!
Debra:
Those are amazing aren’t they? I wondered if they would qualify for the race. They really don’t have a heel. Just a whole lot of sole.
I really enjoyed looking at those photos. I can’t even imagine taking a few steps in those heels! The heeled shoes in the top photo resemble ones I had in the 70s. Somewhere at my mother’s house is a photo of me and two of my friends in front of some fountain in Paris. I was wearing those shoes and red, white and blue plaid pants. Good grief! I wouldn’t be caught dead in something like that now!
mcpersonalspace54:
Ooh, the red, white, and blue plaid pants. You need to find that photo and share it!
Maybe when I visit my mom this summer I can unearth it.
My favorite shoe story came about when I went into Hahn’s (a DC shoe store way back when) in my early 20s and tried on a pair of five inch rich brown leather heels. They were a gorgeous, sleek, supple leather–classics. All 5’2″ (when I first get up and before the vertebrae compress) of me stood up in them. The shoe salesman took one look said (in his kindest voice), “Lady, those’ll give you a nose bleed.” Clearly, he didn’t need the sale and I didn’t buy the shoes. Saved me from a broken ankle, I’m sure.
Mary:
That is wild! Good he didn’t give you the hard sell. How did it feel to be that tall, momentarily?
Looks like a lot of fun for the participants!…..good sports that they are!
I will not share here what I wore in those early 70’S. Oh my….and I got away with it!! lol
Much along the lines of what you and SG wore but a LOT brighter. OUCH!!
Jim:
I was mostly hippy in those years. By 1975 I was a little less so, but the wedding suit (and ridiculous shoes) was a major change for me.
That looks like a good way to break a leg! (The race, I mean.) The guy in the pink heels should have won an award just for showing up. Those heels are INTENSE.
I wish you still had SG’s green denim suit with purple velvet piping. It sounds so mod and would probably be all the rage at parties now!
Steve:
I, too, wish we still had that suit. The first time I saw it, I simply thought it was hideous. I don’t think it even moved with us from Boston in 1982. He loved it and was so proud of it. I forgot to mention: The wide tie matched the purple piping!
¡Fabulosa! We’ve never been in Torremolinos for Gay Pride, but I’m sure it’s loads of fun… Jx
Jon:
I get the sense you would have a lot more fun than we do.
You know me…I know absolutely nothing about high heels or wearing them. LMAO!!!! Every year in New Hope they have a High Heeled Race and it gets usually around 80 contestants, and the fair hamlet would be packed.
Mistress Borghese:
Have you ever done the high-heel race? Those three guys clearly had some experience. I probably would have broken my ankle on the first step.
Someday I should try heels. I have never been in any really.
Urspo:
Seeing that race gave me the bug to try a pair. But I know I’d regret it.
Your statement about the 3″ vs 9″ made me laugh. When I learned to fly, my instructor (who was a man) told me women made better pilots than men for that exact reason! 😂
Maybe I’m crazy, but I loved fashion in the 70s.
Kelly:
Smart pilot! I also loved fashion in the ´70s. In the ´80s I found it embarrassing. Now I miss it.
When I graduated from high school at the end of the 1970s, I wore a moss green sportscoat with big golden buttons and tan pants. Of course, it was hidden under the robe but it needn’t be as it was considered “in style”. About ten years later I was invited to a wedding and was going to wear all that again when I was told it would look terribly out of date. So I went out and bought something else, a dark blue sportscoat, which stayed in style for a much longer length of time.
Kirk:
Dark blue blazer and tan pants never go out of style. Don’t you wish you had the green sportscoat now?
I remember heels for men back in the 70s. Of course I had a pair, being a short guy. I looked ridiculous. I’m glad that fad passed.
Walt the Fourth:
Imagine how ridiculous it looked on a tall skinny guy. My best friend at the time was 5’4″. He would never wear platform shoes because he said the women he picked up would be disappointed when he took them off.
Ahhhh, the look on the face (in the video) of the guy with the gorgeous green slingbacks, is priceless! Ha!
Happy Pride Month, Mitchell!
Judy C:
Isn’t his expression priceless (and so immediately likeable)? I had to slow the video to 25% of original speed to capture anything.