While putting together my case studies, it has struck me that one of the keys to all the guys who have been in touch is the degree to which discretion is vital

 There is no way that anyone wants any possible chance of being publicly identified as a wearer of elevators. In fact, this element puts off a lot of guys from even setting out to do what they want and add height. And I get that. But within reason, there are ways that you can help stop things in advance from being a problem. I have talked before about lifestyle being the key to what you can get away with. Here are some hints as to how you can reinforce your discretion.

At home – always remove lifts after taking shoes off

Discretion starts at home. Whether you are adding a discreet couple of inches/5cm, or a whole 6”/15cm, do NOT leave your footwear lying around with obvious lifts in them. This may seem obvious in some ways, but it’s just too easy to casually and accidentally take stuff off and leave it lying around. The GuidoMaggi lifts are made to fit very well in the footwear, like they are part of the structure, but importantly they are separate and can be removed (and should be when you are not wearing them!). So if someone then happens to look in your shoes, they see something that looks basically normal – if you have removed them. And with added lifts not designed for the shoes you are wearing, or separate shoelifts, it really stands to reason that they be removed. Keep them in some neutral place, in a dark bag or box with other stuff. Just concealed and where no one looks. It’s a useful discipline.

And do this even if you put your shoes under the bed or in a cupboard.

In the event that your partner knows or might be aware, then STILL do not leave stuff lying around, or they can assume that you do not mind ANYONE knowing.

‘Shoes-off’ homes

In the UK where I live, it is a rarity to be asked to take your shoes off when going in to someone’s home. In fact, we tend to regard it as a bit unhygienic on balance. We don’t want your smelly feet wafting around our homes. It is also regarded as slightly ‘suburban’ (a snobby type of criticism, I suppose). When you are dressed up for a party at a smart home, the last thing you want to be doing is padding around barefoot or in your socks, male or female. You are dressed to party and the shoes are part of the image. Of course in some countries it’s the other way round, where people want you to remove your shoes so as not to traipse in the dirt of the outside world. One gets that, in parts of the world where mud and dirt are the norm.

There is no one right or wrong way on this because both courses are somewhat similar in outcomes and possibilities, and are cultural. Of course if you are wearing elevators you simply do NOT want to remove your footwear. Curiously, and completely separately to the business of wearing elevators, a friend of mine once went to the home of his girlfriend where it was the thing to do, removing the footwear. He said to me: “I couldn’t. It wasn’t because I was wearing socks with holes in or something dodgy like that! It was because I had broken my toe and needed to avoid any form of contact. So I told them it wasn’t possible.”

The logic is clear, there are exceptions – if this is thrown at you, then an excuse like that is easy to make if said firmly and with great apology and conviction. Of course, what you CAN also do, assuming this is about not bringing dirt inside, is to have another clean pair with you to change into. And make this clear.

The thin insoles – actually a great disguise/double bluff

You know those thin insoles you get to put in the bottom of shoes. Never really completely quite understood what they were for, but I assume to absorb shock and to support. Well I have always suggested to guys that you should openly and obviously make it somehow clear that you have to wear them for support (but subtly if you get my meaning, when it is logical and the time is right). It draws away attention to a degree from the idea of lifts for added height. If a mate sees you buying a pair of those thin insoles in a pharmacy or supermarket and you say “Really annoying, I have to wear these – my doctor says I have to because of my feet”, it kinda neutralizes something and diverts attention from the real issue of adding 10cm to your height! It makes it also seem like you have no issues.

Downplay your height and any interest

This is very very important. Whatever you do, do not show interest in height. Your own or others’. Learn to not be aware of it even if you are! Now anyone reading this is way more interested in height than the average guy (and the average guy IS very interested in height, I know this from stuff I have seen and learned). By this I mean, for example, if anyone asks you how tall you are, you simply “haven’t measured, OMG, since I was 13 at school. Must do it some day”. I have this more because I am already tall, and I make myself extremely tall, but I have been told it happens quite frequently among guys who are shorter as well. Have your reply ready. And do not show jaw-dropping awe or amazement at some huge guy that comes in. Just the usual kinda agreement or even acknowledgement if someone says they wish they were that tall: “I suppose it is a plus, but some people who are very tall tell you they worry about being too tall. I have a mate like that”.

Sock lifts…

At home if needed you can get sock lifts. Now I remain a bit unsure of these and I haven’t given them a proper go even though I bought several pairs, but I will. Basically they are designed to go into socks and give you about an inch or so. They are worth bearing in mind as a possible to keep up an image of added height in the home. I have two contacts who wear them and say they are great when they have to take off their 8cm boots at home. The drop is not as great as going straight to flat, and no-one notices.

First timers – a hint

So you have decided to buy your first pair of elevators. In a way I hope you have been using lifts for a (little) while already, even from time to time, to just get an inch or so added height in preparation. I had years of adding lifts beforehand. But if you have NOT done this, and have decided on elevators, then get yourself some lifts asap. And also possibly try occasionally wearing some things like Timberlands or Doc Martens or the thickest soled Air Max sneakers as these add over an inch in their own right. In a way you are preparing people (but more particularly yourself) for being that added height. Whatever you do, even if you go from flat, trust me, it seems weird but others will not really notice if the addition is up to about the 3” (8cm) mark. But you yourself are the most important stakeholder! And you need to feel that you have added height with no-one noticing…