Man Estimates He Owns 20 Pair Of Women's Shoes - And He WEARS Them

[matcom]

<snip.

When it comes to putting your best foot forward, Albert Bussen Jr. is in a class by himself.

His feet are covered in stylish women's shoes. Mules, pumps, high-heels. You name it, Bussen wears it. He estimates that he has at least 20 pairs of women's shoes.

"My favorites are probably a $600 pair of Italian boots that zip up the back and have five-inch heels," Bussen said.

"Women always ask me if I can walk in them?"

"I tell them, 'Hell, I can dance in them.' "

Bussen, 69, is a retired audio engineer who lives in midtown St. Louis and spends most of his time in the Central West End and bicycling through Forest Park. His family founded, and still operates, a quarry along the Mississippi River in south St. Louis County.

And as if the footwear were not enough to turn heads, Bussen wears his snow-white hair down past his shoulders. He tops it all off with knit berets.

On a recent walk through the lobby of the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, one of his favorite hang-outs, about a dozen people who passed him in the lobby stopped and looked. The flowing mane first caught their eyes, but they quickly scanned down to his shoes: on this day, a pair of black Donald Pliner sandals with 2 1/2-inch heels.

Bussen, who readily admits he likes the attention, had answers before questions were even asked.

"I'm heterosexual. But I have always been a fashion-conscious guy, and women's shoes are light-years ahead of men's shoes when it comes to style.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/everyday/story/4BB20B0B0935AF7C8625707D00326472?OpenDocument

[tonkatoy57]

1. I saw Mr. Bussen at the grocery store once

around Christmas time. I was slightly impaired and trying to find some egg nog in the dairy case. It was a warm day and he had on shorts. It was kind of hard not to stare, but you know, the guy has great legs. For a straight laced town St. Louis does have it's share of characters. There's the guy who dresses in a majorette uniform and twirls a baton as he marches through the Central West End and there's the 6'5", 250lb black guy who looks like a defensive end who's a diesel mechanic in West County. Why is that odd you ask? Well he wears a dress to work.

[matcom]

2. WONDERFUL!

welcome to DU too! :hi:

[skygazer]

3. A man after my own heart

He's right - women's shoes are so much fun. I have about 20 or 30 pairs myself - I can't resist a shoe store. Difference is, I'm a woman and I never wear the darn things! I'm usually to be found in a pair of tennis shoes or work boots. But I sure do love to buy them.

I'd love to run into the guy - I bet he's got some great shoes.