The Adventures of kneehighs...

[kneehighs]

There was an interesting article in the NYT a few months ago titled "well YOU try to live on $500k in this town". .....

Fact is that in Europe in many places 20kEUR makes you pretty poor, but at, say, 50kEUR lifts you into the well-off bracket. That does not include London, Zürich, Luxemburg, Switzerland, much of the Nordics and a few other pockets, but generally it holds. In the NY area though, $30k makes you pretty poor as well but $100k does not make you rich. Unless you are pocketing hundreds you won't stand out, so the spread is much wider....

Ugh! I need to go to bed, but alas, I was "partying" ala networking at the Soho Grand tonight.

Anyhow, Arctic, I love how articulate you are! You write so well and don't even deny it...

That NYT article IS sooo true! What's considerably topical to this discussion is the quote, "But in New York, where a new study from the Center for an Urban Future, a nonprofit research group in Manhattan, estimates it takes $123,322 to enjoy the same middle-class life as someone earning $50,000 in Houston" Sooo, so true!

And I liked the following quote about social circle acceptance too, "“People inherently understand that if they are going to get ahead in whatever corporate culture they are involved in, they need to take on the appurtenances of what defines that culture,” she said. “So if you are in a culture where spending a lot of money is a sign of success, it’s like the same thing that goes back to high school peer pressure. It’s about fitting in." Who said peer pressure disappeared after high school?

Time for bed! Oh, and you should've seen the heels at the Soho Grand tonight! Delicious!

[Maximilian]

Naturally when I mentioned the 6 figure salary, I was thinking about a higher end salary, not 100+, more like 500+ lol. There's no way that you'd be considered lower upper class in Manhattan with anything less than 1 million a year. Here in Edmonton I could live comfortably with 100K a year. In most parts of the world I'd be considered upper class with a wage like that. Funny how that works. Is it frustrating to live/work in a place where money not only talks but so many people have astronomical amounts of it? I guess women automatically expect the men living/working in Manhattan to be wealthy. Back to topic kneehighs. Since you're a photographer working for a very respected establishment, do you bring your camera with you when going out? If you do, it would be great if you could capture some of these gorgeous women in gorgeous heels. I cursed myself for not bringing my camera with me yesterday while going out to a trendy lounge in Edmonton last night. Dress code was enforced so men had to dress sharp. Most women wore evening dresses/short skirts. 90+ percent were in heels, the majority of those were stilettos. Why do women wear stiletto pointed toe pumps that look like a size or two too large? I've seen many women with beautiful shoes yet the gap between the back of the foot to the back of the shoes was huge.

[kneehighs]

...

Is it frustrating to live/work in a place where money not only talks but so many people have astronomical amounts of it? I guess women automatically expect the men living/working in Manhattan to be wealthy.

No, you become desensitized to it. Frankly, I could care less about how much money other people make or have. Heck, most of the time I don't even think about how much I have.

For a lot of New Yorkers, it's the thrill of the playing the game that keeps them ticking. Just get in the game and you'll be accepted regardless of whatever socio-economic class you belong to.

As far as the ladies go, even if they assume all men have wealth (which they don't), when you are busy showing them the best time they've ever had , laughing, flirting, teasing, talking, connecting, and can show them that you live comfortably--wealth doesn't matter. Wealth may open doors for men like beauty does for women, but it doesn't keep the door from closing shut.

Back to topic kneehighs. Since you're a photographer working for a very respected establishment, do you bring your camera with you when going out? If you do, it would be great if you could capture some of these gorgeous women in gorgeous heels.

99.99% of the clubs I go to don't allow camera's inside. They do it to entice the A, B, and C list celebrities to come and party in peace, absent the presence of paparazzi and press. (it also protects the underground drug culture...there was a club in the West Village called The Beatrice Inn that recently closed down. It was notoriously difficult to get into--not even money could buy you past the bouncers. Why? Because the club had an "in house" drug dealer. It was so obvious. The ladies decked out in Balenciaga and Chanel. The dude selling slumped like a beached whale on the leather recliner at the front in baggy jeans with the waist down to his knees, NY Yankees cap, and Neon hued high top Nike's...5 models going into the bathroom at the same time and spending ten minutes in there. The club owner going to the kitchen with his gang....) google it if you don't believe me.

Now back to heeling. All this money talk is making me ill.

[Bubba136]

Hmmmm! It takes money to "get" the finer things in life....so they tell me! By the way, I read an article today that reported Tokyo to be the most expensive city on the earth. Much more expensive than New York City. So, KH, if you happen to get an photographic assignment to Tokyo, be sure to take at least three suitcases. One for your camera equipment and clothing and two to carry your money.

[Maximilian]

Hmmm. I was in Tokyo a couple of months ago and don't recall easily spending 250 dollars a night while going out (excluding the hotel room price). I would have spent close to that amount per day as a tourist but not in a few hours going out for drinks/dancing. A decent hotel (3-4 stars) in the good spots in Tokyo would cost about 200-250 dollars US a night (I split the price with the person I went on the trip with). I've eaten well with a 50 dollar daily budget. The train system is so efficient you don't need taxis although if you go out I'd say a ride from one end of downtown to the other would cost around 20 dollars. A club would cost around 20-30 dollars to get in. Alcohol was 30-50 percent cheaper than it is here in Canada so drinks cost less. There is no tipping in Japan so that saves you 15-20 percent. Tokyo is definitely not cheap but I didn't find it outrageously expensive as some articles claim it to be.

[Bubba136]

For anyone that is interested, here are the top 5 most expensive cities to live in according to Mercer's 2009 Worldwide Cost of Living survey released on July 8th, 2009.

World's Top Five Most Expensive Cities To Live

1. Tokyo, Japan

2. Osaka, Japan

3. Moscow, Russia

4. Geneva, Switzerland

5. Hong Kong

The article appeared on Yahoo News, Real Estate yesterday. The entire article, and list of the top 20, written by Sarah Lynch, forbes.com. can be read at Most Expensive Cities

[Dawn HH]

Kneehighs:-) After discussing the costs of entertainment from place to place around the world, it still appears to me that you are very successful in what you have set your sights on and seem to be achieving it to your liking, and wearing heels while doing so. Congrats! Cheers--- Dawn HH

[kneehighs]

Tonight's plan: Dinner in Tribeca at Industria Argentina, malbec, chorizo, baked provoleta, entrana skirt steak, 4.5 inch Nine West bootie heels and the grey mini dress I posted about in the fashion pics section last week. Lounge life at the Tribeca Grand. Electro, and The Golden Filter Live! Another club stop in Brooklyn if all works out as planned

[Dawn HH]

Go Kneehighs, GO! And we will all enjoy reading about it later. Cheers--- Dawn HH

[kneehighs]

Ahh, it was a good time, but it's time to move on. It was a Day 2, and things about this girl that I didn't realize on Day 1 came out on Day 2: 1. she has zero fashion sense--she wore this faded black t-shirt with a gold tiger on it (think metal head) and rolled up the SHORT sleeves a bit on the side. No blazer, no jewelry to dress it up. It looked really tacky at the "upscale" restaurant and at the Tribeca Grand--both venues where appropriate fashionable dress code is the expectation. We weren't going to a music festival or rock concert! The first time out she wore this hideous baby doll dress with flip flops too. ugh. She also has this annoying layer of peach fuzz facial hair ...a pet peeve turn off of mine. 2. personality wise, she's a Thinker and therefore takes an objective approach to her decision making. Personally, I prefer Feelers, which balance out my objectivity resulting in better chemistry. Couple that objectivity with her "rough around the edges" mannerisms and. Well. you know. time to move on.

[Tech]

Ahh, it was a good time, but it's time to move on. It was a Day 2, and things about this girl that I didn't realize on Day 1 came out on Day 2:

1. she has zero fashion sense--she wore this faded black t-shirt with a gold tiger on it (think metal head) and rolled up the SHORT sleeves a bit on the side. No blazer, no jewelry to dress it up. It looked really tacky at the "upscale" restaurant and at the Tribeca Grand--both venues where appropriate fashionable dress code is the expectation. We weren't going to a music festival or rock concert! The first time out she wore this hideous baby doll dress with flip flops too. ugh. She also has this annoying layer of peach fuzz facial hair ...a pet peeve turn off of mine.

2. personality wise, she's a Thinker and therefore takes an objective approach to her decision making. Personally, I prefer Feelers, which balance out my objectivity resulting in better chemistry. Couple that objectivity with her "rough around the edges" mannerisms and. Well. you know. time to move on.

lol, on this occassion its a case of "Sorry love, its not me, its you...."

[Maximilian]

Ahh, it was a good time, but it's time to move on. It was a Day 2, and things about this girl that I didn't realize on Day 1 came out on Day 2:

1. she has zero fashion sense--she wore this faded black t-shirt with a gold tiger on it (think metal head) and rolled up the SHORT sleeves a bit on the side. No blazer, no jewelry to dress it up. It looked really tacky at the "upscale" restaurant and at the Tribeca Grand--both venues where appropriate fashionable dress code is the expectation. We weren't going to a music festival or rock concert! The first time out she wore this hideous baby doll dress with flip flops too. ugh. She also has this annoying layer of peach fuzz facial hair ...a pet peeve turn off of mine.

2. personality wise, she's a Thinker and therefore takes an objective approach to her decision making. Personally, I prefer Feelers, which balance out my objectivity resulting in better chemistry. Couple that objectivity with her "rough around the edges" mannerisms and. Well. you know. time to move on.

"Off with her head then" lol

[Bubba136]

Like the old saying goes....."if the shoe doesn't fit, don't buy it...." While some pairs might be "stretched" to size, they are not really comfortable. Best just to leave them on the shelf for another customer.

[HappyFeat]

...personality wise, she's a Thinker and therefore takes an objective approach to her decision making. Personally, I prefer Feelers, which balance out my objectivity resulting in better chemistry. Couple that objectivity with her "rough around the edges" mannerisms and. Well. you know. time to move on...

Kneehighs, I think a woman with facial hair would transcend "pet peeve," for you...but tactfully put anyway.

As for the thinker/feeler, you wouldn't be dropping the old Myers Briggs types here would you? If so, the good thing is that about 70% of women usually come out as feelers. Makes the odds better...

As I have found on many occasions, day 2 is so often different than day 1...

[BobHH]

The most beautiful girl I know also has peach fuzz on her arms and face, but it's really more than peach fuzz - it's long but almost invisible unless in silhouette. I tend to ignore it as she is so gorgeous otherwise, not that it does me any good. It's a professional relationship, though we are friends to a greater rather than lesser extent. She also likes shoes and heels, though I almost never see her in heels except for dance shoes (dance partner).

[kneehighs]

...

As for the thinker/feeler, you wouldn't be dropping the old Myers Briggs types here would you? If so, the good thing is that about 70% of women usually come out as feelers. Makes the odds better...

Yes, that's exactly it. It's my favorite tool for "cold reading" girls and therefore demonstrating authority and value in their world. I can usually discern someone's MBTI accurately within an hour. In the cold read, I go into the generalities that make up the SP, NT, SJ, or NF combo.

Had another date tonight with a Manhattan Attorney. Forgot how much I enjoy the company of highly educated women. Personally, I believe there's a correlation between high levels of formal education and tolerance if not outright support for men in heels. Not only was she attractive, socially calibrated, and dressed appropriately, but she was entertaining too! Oddly enough, I had a run in with the girl from last night going to meet this girl tonight! haha, she looked hideous as usual, only this time she was wearing a camflouge t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. Yeah, okay, that's a sexy outfit for a stroll through the High Line Park or a Sunday night in the Meat Packing District. puhleeez

Tonight's date consisted of 6 appetizers, caipirinhas in the sunset of the High Line Park and a stroll to the new Jane Hotel Lounge for drinks. It's funny how on the drink menu there, they offer the Jane Hotel Room. Guess it's for those that really want to live in the heat of the moment. Of course I wore my 4.5" Nine West heels, UO skinny jeans, Calvin Klein satin blazer, and a white Women's Zara shirt. The one thing I'm personally proud for tonight was not that I wore heels, but that I really, carefully observed this girls mannerisms like Abraham Maslow on speed. I have her nervous nose scratch down to a science, playfully teased her about it tonight, and now have an inside joke with her on it that I can refer back to later. A useful tool for re-installing attraction at a later date. With the proper facial gesture, I'll just be able to scratch my nose without saying anything and make her feel all those great feelings again. My dream is to learn how to re-install attraction by clicking a stiletto heel on the pavement.

I'm sure someone here is wondering if I told her about my heels. Again, the answer is a flat, resounding "no". In fact, she didn't notice until about 4 hours into the date. I figured this was going to happen. And when she finally did notice, it was no big deal. I didn't have to explain my sexual orientation, my non desire to have sexual re-assignment surgery and double D breast enhancements (though if I was going to be a woman, I'd want to be Pamela Anderson in a heartbeat...I've always wondered what it'd be like to balance around knockers like hers on spindle thin legs and stilettos), that I wasn't a full out crossdresser. i.e. it would have been more socially akward for me to carry on about it.

When we left, I sat in the main lounge and waited for her to finish in the restroom. Some blonde girl walked by and said, "my favorite shoes" and pointed at mine. When I walked out with my date, she kept staring, even though she was with another man.

fun, fun.

[HappyFeat]

Yes, that's exactly it. It's my favorite tool for "cold reading" girls and therefore demonstrating authority and value in their world. I can usually discern someone's MBTI accurately within an hour. In the cold read, I go into the generalities that make up the SP, NT, SJ, or NF combo.

I fellow member of the "cult of personality", huh? I actually went to a week long training about ten years ago to become qualified to administer and intrepret MBTIs. I have done over 2000 assessments in over 400 sessions since then. I too am pretty good at quicky determining type and find it useful and fun. The four temperments you discuss are a pretty quick way to sum up about anybody and for me it really can help in relating to people in general.

I also see that you dropped Maslow latter in your post. Here's a question - do you think that people are more fashion conscience as they approach self actualization? What has always struck me as funny is the idea of "dressing for success." This always made me think that people who dress for sucess or to impress, are lower on the heiracy of needs, still looking for something to meet a love or esteem need, where as more self actualized people move into the realm of "style" which I define as more of a personal statement and not tied to the more base needs described by Maslow.

...Personally, I believe there's a correlation between high levels of formal education and tolerance if not outright support for men in heels...

I think there is a correlation between educated people and tolerance in general. Though I have come to discover that people's education level does not directly correlate to the amount of schooling they have. I work with people with a lot of education who would freak if they ever saw any man in heels. However, Lincoln had little formal education, but as an adult taught himself geometry from reading all six volumes of Euclid. I think education can really open people up, but they have to be willing to go the rest of the way.

You pose some really good hypothesizes in this post and described a pretty wonderful night out! What fun!

[kneehighs]

....

I also see that you dropped Maslow latter in your post. Here's a question - do you think that people are more fashion conscience as they approach self actualization? What has always struck me as funny is the idea of "dressing for success." This always made me think that people who dress for sucess or to impress, are lower on the heiracy of needs, still looking for something to meet a love or esteem need, where as more self actualized people move into the realm of "style" which I define as more of a personal statement and not tied to the more base needs described by Maslow.

Never really thought about it to be honest, but for me fashion and style while intellectually separate ideas, are actually deeply intertwined ideas which reinforce each other in practice. One discovers a relatively consistent dress code they feel best about over time (style) and subtly modifies that dress code by adding from the current trends (fashion). I wear women's blazers for instance. That's my consistent "style". Zara now sells women's blazers with built in pre-rolled up sleeves (fashion).

Dressing for success is actually thrilling and in my opinion, a version of self-actualization, because being well dresssed is a principle based action for me. It's about being ready for that "date with destiny". As Coco Chanel so aptly put, "I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny." I can see your point thought about creative self expression and wearing heels relating to self actualization.

I think there is a correlation between educated people and tolerance in general. Though I have come to discover that people's education level does not directly correlate to the amount of schooling they have. I work with people with a lot of education who would freak if they ever saw any man in heels. However, Lincoln had little formal education, but as an adult taught himself geometry from reading all six volumes of Euclid. I think education can really open people up, but they have to be willing to go the rest of the way.

You pose some really good hypothesizes in this post and described a pretty wonderful night out! What fun!

Of course, I wasn't implying formal education was sufficient in it of itself to correlate with acceptance, nor did I mean to imply that formal education was a necessary route to achieve education either.

[boots4ever]

Dressing for success is actually thrilling and in my opinion, a version of self-actualization, because being well dresssed is a principle based action for me. It's about being ready for that "date with destiny". As Coco Chanel so aptly put, "I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny." I can see your point thought about creative self expression and wearing heels relating to self actualization.

to break the rules, you have to know the rules.

i dont´t think that "men & heels" is the problem. i belive it is the way these men are presenting their passion. what is "well dressed?" in some cases the "uniform of mainstream", in other cases the "going for the extra mile". so this leads to the point where you have to ask yourself: on which stage am i acting?

imagine: studio 54. a stylish skinny outfit and state of the art heels mixed with the right body and attitude...... no problem. a gothic party. all girls trying to impress. a guy in heels mixed with a gender-crossing style...... no problem.

now: daily business. adding some pink 5 inch pink heels to your 15 years old grey suit.... ? going to a local hillbillie party and adding some overknees to the bootcut jeans, mixed with your local football team suppoter t-shirt.....?

[vector]

1. she has zero fashion sense--she wore this faded black t-shirt with a gold tiger on it (think metal head) and rolled up the SHORT sleeves a bit on the side. No blazer, no jewelry to dress it up. It looked really tacky at the "upscale" restaurant and at the Tribeca Grand--both venues where appropriate fashionable dress code is the expectation. We weren't going to a music festival or rock concert! The first time out she wore this hideous baby doll dress with flip flops too. ugh. She also has this annoying layer of peach fuzz facial hair ...a pet peeve turn off of mine.

2. personality wise, she's a Thinker and therefore takes an objective approach to her decision making. Personally, I prefer Feelers, which balance out my objectivity resulting in better chemistry. Couple that objectivity with her "rough around the edges" mannerisms and. Well. you know. time to move on.

OK, but enough about all that. How big were her....

eyes?

[kneehighs]

^hahahaha

[Pam]

mmm ... i'm also not a big fan of the classic "mustachio and flip-flop" combo on a girl ... not my cup of tea!

[Thighbootguy]

I do not have the education to follow all of the previous discussion about MBTIs (not even real sure what that is). But the discussion did generate a few thoughts I’d like to share.

Happyfeat's comment, "I think there is a correlation between educated people and tolerance in general. Though I have come to discover that people's education level does not directly correlate to the amount of schooling they have." got me thinking.

Education and schooling, as has been mentioned, are not the same things.

I think there is a correlation between tolerance and world experience. If the only thing you experience is a small closed society which has a narrow view of what is correct, it is not likely you will want to tolerate anything that differs from that narrow view because you are not comfortable with it. On the other hand, if you experience a variety of social ideas, you will be more comfortable with the concept of variety if not the ideas themselves. You will tolerate things with which you are comfortable.

After writing that last paragraph, it occurs to me that what you experience is driven by your capacity for curiosity. If you have the capacity to wonder about things and you have a measure of self confidence, you will be driven to experience more things.

Schooling finally comes into play when it prepares the mind to be able to grasp what curiosity feeds it. One of the major things schooling can give someone is confidence.

The result of joining curiosity, tolerance, and experience is education.

Sorry for going off the deep end... and now back to The Adventures of Kneehighs

[kneehighs]

^ Love the analysis! Great stuff.

[Tom-NL]

I do not have the education to follow all of the previous discussion about MBTIs (not even real sure what that is).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator

hth, hand

[kneehighs]

Quick update on Sunday night's event, which started out at The Mercer Kitchen on the corner of Prince and Mercer. I sit waiting for my company to arrive. Outfit for the evening is socially versatile, meaning that I can fit in at a High End boutique style lounge or fit it at some younger and hip Lower East Side bar: Calvin Klein blazer, grey mini dress with built in scarf, UO jeans, and 4.5" Nine West cone heels. In came my company, teetering in peep toe Manolo's and a gorgeous dress. Wow. We chatted over champagne and got to know each other a bit. "So if I was to ask you to think of a really positive memory right now, and look at that image in your minds eye--you don't have to tell me what the image is--as you see that image, I'll bet I can tell you how you are thinking about it." Her blue eyes start to get a bit hazy. "Now, is the image bright or dim?" "Is it small, or is it lifesize and large?" "Is is close to you (I take my finger and flirt by putting it really close to her body, just the act of putting my finger close to her was enough to stimulate the chemistry) or far away from you (I hold my hand way back away from her this time)" "Color or black and white?" "Now I bet I can tell you exactly how you answered every one of those questions..." So I told her and hit the nail on the head each and every time. If anyone else is reading this and actively thinking about a positive memory, you probably answered that the image is lifesize more than small, in color as opposed to black and white, and brighter than it is dim. Needless to say, this girl who has been on a major national tv show and is a publicly recognized figure was loving it. We bounced to a Lower East Side party. Few people were there. Some friend of mine who is styling an Absooooolute Vohdka campaign with Kate Bhekinzale was there. I introduced her to him. We chatted till the place closed down and the only people left were me, her, and the bartender. On the walk back home, we discussed the difference between how a man experiences a walk in heels versus how a woman experiences it. She likes the natural hip movement, I don't emphasize that in my walk. But I did give her my best runway walk for her entertainment. She was cool with heels, claiming to it's "rock star" references. Good times overall. Will I ever see the girl again? Possibly. Will the heels come in the way? To tell you the truth, it doesn't matter to me if they do. She may be beautiful and a 9, but I'd rather be true to myself and wear my heels. There are other fish in the sea for me and she knows that.

[kneehighs]

I have two dates scheduled tonight so sadly I'll have to cancel one of them. But one thing I've been imagining lately is a conversation with a girl that goes something like this, presuming we have deep rapport and good relaxed conversation. "So think of the most amazing feeling you've ever had in your body. You don't have to tell me what it is, just experience it for a moment and take notice of it's movement or lack thereof...notice where that amazing feeling is located...and how bright or dim the feeling is....and if you were to experience this feeling as a symbol or color what would it be?....if you were to begin to experience this sensation as a symbol or color what would it be...again you don't have to tell me what it is....just notice it's brightness, it's movement, it's color.... And now as you notice the shoes on my feet (makes sure she sees my pumps/stilettos/heels and again, good rapport would be key)....you can begin to send all of this intense energy into my shoes...and my shoes begin to glow brightly with this energy...and as you focus your attention on my shoes but pay attention to my voice..you will notice that everywhere I trace your skin with my shoe, it will leave a trail of that great amazing energy along your body (flirt with my shoes along her legs, even place her hand on them)...you can feel it tingle (as I rub my shoe along her calf)... And I invite you to notice what it's like as my shoes stop touching you. Now notice as when they touch you again, you can reexperience all that great color and energy again, only this time it's even more intense...and as I pull me shoes away from you, the color and energy fades...." I'm wondering if something like this would work to get a girl to really associate some really positive emotions with you wearing heels? This would all have to be done in a deeply relaxed conversation, no alcohol. Presuming that she's open minded...and my state of mind is playful and relaxed, I think I could pull it off...

[Thighbootguy]

I remember as a kid sending of 50¢ for the book How to Hypnotize. I don’t remember the techniques being particularly effective, but then it would have been easier to hypnotize a brick than dolts I grew up with. I by no means under estimate Kneehighs considerable charm with the ladies but I think, “Look deeply into my… shoes” is a bit too much.

[Dawn HH]

Kneehighs has quite a reputation with the ladies, but the last couple of stories has me wondering. Cheers--- Dawn HH

[kneehighs]

I remember as a kid sending of 50¢ for the book How to Hypnotize. I don’t remember the techniques being particularly effective, but then it would have been easier to hypnotize a brick than dolts I grew up with. I by no means under estimate Kneehighs considerable charm with the ladies but I think, “Look deeply into my… shoes” is a bit too much.

ROFLMAO!!!

You are probably right.

The idea is to get the "best body sensation ever (we all know what that is)" transformed into a "symbol" and then link that symbolic energy to seeing me in heels. In a utopian world, the result would be for her to lust for me in heels the same way we as men lust for women in heels. The symbol could be a rose, a diamond, a pearl. I'll have to test it out on a few girls, assuming the right environmental factors are in play.

haha, it's fun learning though...