co-worker of mine never shows up in less than 3" heels.

This was me when I worked in downtown LA, except for the last few weeks of my pregnancy.

looks down at feet at 3" heels

And today.

I was very pleased to find out when I switched jobs that people showed bare toes. I love peep toes and sandals and I have very cute toes that are remarkably straight in spite of being badly bent and broken a number of times from things like back handsprings and hiking. (Sox and I once discovered we have the same funny pinky toe passed down to us from our fathers.)

Also, for the entertainment of the teachers/educators here, from my Math Professor sister:

I have to talk with the campus mediator and a student this morning who I flagged for academic dishonesty. He is crying foul, even though on seven (7!) of the problems on a recent stats exam he solved perfectly and in two cases to two decimal places the versions of the problems on the OTHER version of the exam. He is claiming it was just bad luck and he did it by guessing, which he has to say as there is no supporting work for his numbers. Quite a miracle.

Now, these are totally after-work shoes, IMO. Something about the shape of that heel.

Sox, there's a prog called iFlickr (I think) that will let you send pics to Flickr automatically from your iPhone, but you need to have it jailbroken first.

I'm so glad there is no dress code at work. I don't think I could go back to the days of suits, skirts, dressy shoes. So not comfy and so not me.

the same funny pinky toe passed down to us from our fathers.

this may need clarification...

Luckily, there's a conference this week and most of the staff are out, including all the VIPs, so I'm wearing comfy clothes and my sneakers. Also, goofing off on the internets (but I'm also getting stuff done, so my conscience is mostly clear).

We have a written dress code, but it's mostly ignored - some people turn up in, well, inappropriate clothes. And flip-flops when it's warm enough. One person wears Uggs all winter, then switches to crocs and flip-flops for the summer (shudder).

Now, these are totally after-work shoes, IMO. Something about the shape of that heel.

and red patent leather. Ombre even.

Anyone ever work for or heard of working for ProQuest?

I can ask around, Aims. A coworker used to work for Ebsco, a competitor of theirs. We subscribe to a LOT of ProQuest products.

I think that in many/most workplaces, both peep toes and patent leather are now acceptable. Maybe not *red* patent leather. My workplace, we're all in sensible shoes, of course. There's one woman who wears pin heels, but she used to work for a corporation.

Thanks, flea.