What an amazing post.
I have not mixed high heels/skirts with work. I have worn block heeled boots under my slacks but that’s as far as I’m comfortable pushing the envelope at work.
In
your first post you said you were running a consulting business with two partners. Your style must not be affecting the bottom line or I suspect you would get some push back from your partners. I’m not sure how I would react to a male consultant in a skirt and 5” heels in a business setting, especially in a first meeting. (I’ll have to think about what I just wrote.) You must be good at what you do.
As for keeping pace with folks that take long strides, try getting them to slow down by talking to them while your walking along. Most folks won’t walk away from someone there listening to or get so far away they cant talk back. Is it possible your partners were having a little sport at you expense by seeing how fast you could walk?