The Adventures of kneehighs...

[HBheels]

KH are those the Lovefury pumps in your last few pics? If they are how are you liking them? I got a pair and I have enjoyed them so far.

[kneehighs]

KH are those the Lovefury pumps in your last few pics?

If they are how are you liking them? I got a pair and I have enjoyed them so far.

I had to google Lovefury to see what you meant and presumably, you meant the Lovefury shoe by Nine West? The Lovefury's I saw come with a platform, not my cup of tea but enjoy!

[HBheels]

Ahh my aplogies... A pair that you were wearing looked very closely like them.

[kneehighs]

Not a problem

[kneehighs]

...Perhaps we should start promoting high heels as an "investment!"

...Steve

Wearing high heels as a man is a perfect way to make yourself memorable. It's such a novel experience for most people, that it can instantly make the freestyler somebody easy to remember. Heck I remember seeing a girl in Starbucks I had dated years earlier. She clearly recalled me because of the heels. I'd link to both the original date and the reunion posts, but I can't go back in the hhplace.org search engines more than a year. Hopefully, the mods get to my question in the tech forum about this. A similar effect is seen with the door guy at The Standard Hotel roof top bar in New York City. This is the bar that celebrities, A listers, and high B listers from NYC's social scene visit.

The door guy not only recognizes me immediately at the door at the Standard, but he also instantly recognizes me at ACNE store opening party in NYC and while I wasn't wearing pumps that day, the pumps no doubt helped him remember me at the party where I had a beautiful Swedish model with me (social proof that I have hot women with me at "cool parties").

I think it can be borderline "gimmicky", but if the memory is backed with substance, I think it could be a gimmick to help build fame. Just look at stylist Victor Blanco in Spain or Brayan Boy out of the Phillipines (who was at one time a member here). While neither guys may to this date regularly still wear heels, I'm assuming both and especially Brayan Boy are on top of their fame game and living an easier life and earning money easily because of it.

[Steve63130]

KH, You KNOW you have enough excellent points in this thread to write an entire BOOK! I'm sure it would be on the best-seller list in no-time! Good luck on your career as an author! Steve

[Puffer]

... The door guy not only recognizes me immediately at the door at the Standard, but he also instantly recognizes me at ACNE store opening party in NYC ...

As it was at ACNE, surely you were 'spotted' and not just recognised?

Edited June 10, 2012 by Puffer

[Thighbootguy]

Wearing high heels as a man is a perfect way to make yourself memorable. It's such a novel experience for most people, that it can instantly make the freestyler somebody easy to remember

I couldn’t agree more. I know wearing thigh boots with stiletto heels is a little more than just heels when it comes to making a memorable impression but the same idea applies. I do try to conduct myself in a way that my appearance is memorable and is associated with a positive memory.

I have had a number of people open conversations with me with, “I remember seeing you at…”. Occasionally they ask about my footwear but most often the conversation is about the event where they saw me.

If you have conducted yourself well, people remember that when they see you again. My boots serve as a memorable item, but that memory (I hope) is associated with the concept of “nice guy”, at least that is what I have experienced on second and subsequent meetings. I have clerks in all the stores I frequent that go out of their way to wave and say “Hi”, and I don’t notice them doing that for other customers.

This leads to my sermonette:

Freestyling (especially in thigh boots) is not something to do if you wish to remain incognito. If you don’t want folks to see your heels, don’t wear them out in public.

[bluejay]

THBG, Thanks for the sermonette. I 'm with you. If you don't want your heels to be seen, then don't wear heels in public. I like to show off my heels in public, that's why I wear them! Happy Heeling, bluejay

[Gudulitooo]

I agree with you TBG, being recognised is one thing. Being recognised as a a person people can go around with is better. Regards.

[kneehighs]

I couldn’t agree more. I know wearing thigh boots with stiletto heels is a little more than just heels when it comes to making a memorable impression but the same idea applies. I do try to conduct myself in a way that my appearance is memorable and is associated with a positive memory.

I have had a number of people open conversations with me with, “I remember seeing you at…”. Occasionally they ask about my footwear but most often the conversation is about the event where they saw me.

If you have conducted yourself well, people remember that when they see you again. My boots serve as a memorable item, but that memory (I hope) is associated with the concept of “nice guy”, at least that is what I have experienced on second and subsequent meetings. I have clerks in all the stores I frequent that go out of their way to wave and say “Hi”, and I don’t notice them doing that for other customers.

This leads to my sermonette:

Freestyling (especially in thigh boots) is not something to do if you wish to remain incognito. If you don’t want folks to see your heels, don’t wear them out in public.

THBG,

Thanks for the sermonette. I 'm with you. If you don't want your heels to be seen, then don't wear heels in public. I like to show off my heels in public, that's why I wear them!

Happy Heeling,

bluejay

I agree with you TBG, being recognised is one thing.

Being recognised as a a person people can go around with is better.

Regards.

Wearing heels can actually be a peripheral part of developing BRAND YOU, if you so choose. And if you know the other foundational elements to BRAND YOU, your life focus gains clarity. You immediately gain what Napoleon Hill calls a Major Life Purpose, which after interviewing the world's most successful people for over 25 years caused Hill to conclude was the key core ingredient to personal financial success. Surely, it seems like a strech, but wearing heels can be a powerful symbol of someone who is authentically themself and confident of it, regardless of what society has lead us to believe is right or wrong.

So if Steve wants to talk about wearing heels as an investment, then this is one pathway to that.

[FreshinHeels]

but wearing heels can be a powerful symbol of someone who is authentically themself and confident of it, regardless of what society has lead us to believe is right or wrong.

Great posts here and I really like how this sounds

[kneehighs]

I finally pulled together the courage to do pumps with shorts. It started with dinner, traversed to a nearby club, to cabbing on Houston, to the meat packing district.

I'll have to do this again to see if it's really "me" because admittedly, it's stretching my boundaries more than I'm used to doing. In other words, pumps with shorts attracts ALOT more attention than pumps with pants, which isn't an issue for me to wear anymore. I want to carefully weigh the risks vs. rewards and almost want to consult a publicity expert on the matter to see how it might potentially affect my career trajectory.

For more stories, be sure to go to The hhplace 10th Anniversary World Heel Meet in London, where I can share all sorts of details.

[Shafted]

I honestly am not a big fan of heels with shorts for either gender. It's a strange juxtaposition in my opinion. But hey, it doesn't stop people from doing it.

[kneehighs]

I honestly am not a big fan of heels with shorts for either gender. It's a strange juxtaposition in my opinion. But hey, it doesn't stop people from doing it.

I respect that. Whatever works for you and where you live and who you socialize with etc.

In the world of high fashion from New York, Milan and Paris which sets the trends which trickle down to more rural geographic locations and trickle down to mainstream commercial outlets, heels with shorts are a common mix. That just happens to be the world I operate in atm.

[roniheels]

I like the look of shorts and high heels. The only time I have ever worn high heels with shorts in public was when I saw a pair of high heels I wanted to try on and I happened to be wearing shorts. I did try them on and walked a round in them and I know several people noticed me. I didn't buy the high heels because I didn't like the fit. But i also didn't give a thought about trying them on while wearing shorts.

[HenriHH]

I finally pulled together the courage to do pumps with shorts. It started with dinner, traversed to a nearby club, to cabbing on Houston, to the meat packing district.

I'll have to do this again to see if it's really "me" because admittedly, it's stretching my boundaries more than I'm used to doing. In other words, pumps with shorts attracts ALOT more attention than pumps with pants, which isn't an issue for me to wear anymore. I want to carefully weigh the risks vs. rewards and almost want to consult a publicity expert on the matter to see how it might potentially affect my career trajectory.

For more stories, be sure to go to The hhplace 10th Anniversary World Heel Meet in London, where I can share all sorts of details.

I have worn heels with shorts. Last week I arrived at the hotel I normally stay in Shorts and heels. Stayed dressed that way thru dinner and at the lounge till 1030 PM. I had a lady asked where I bought my shoes and I told her "ALDO". That was the only comment from mid-afternoon.

I think that if you are comfortable - Go for it. I enjoy it.

Henri.

[kneehighs]

I have worn heels with shorts. Last week I arrived at the hotel I normally stay in Shorts and heels. Stayed dressed that way thru dinner and at the lounge till 1030 PM. I had a lady asked where I bought my shoes and I told her "ALDO". That was the only comment from mid-afternoon.

I think that if you are comfortable - Go for it. I enjoy it.

Henri.

I've worn heels with shorts before too. In fact, I did it years ago and posted photos of myself with a beautiful blonde (who just landed a solo page in American Vogue as an It Girl) as evidence. They were booties.

But I've never worn pumps with shorts before and to me, it's a personal sticking point. Socially, it's not a problem for me. Professionally however, I'm challenged a little bit in all honesty and I'm not ashamed to admit that.

Some of it has to do with the fact that EVERYWHERE I go in New York City, I know someone. I'm not anonymous. I'm not famous by any means, I just know a good number of people. Thus, there will be ramifications for me. Mostly, I've concluded that people will assume I'm gay. Beyond that, my primary concern is the potential effect it will have on my career trajectory as I'm planning on expanding my influence to beyond just the fashion industry to include other industries as well. And in other industries where TRUST is the key determinant of long term professional relationship success, wearing heels matters to a "young guy" like myself.

So while as a person I'm socially comfortable wearing pumps with shorts in public places around other people, I still have to be mindful of the possible unintended consequences such style may bring upon myself.

Edited June 25, 2012 by kneehighs

[Bubba136]

Like the old saying: you pay your money and take your choice. Or, as my father used to tell me: "Actions have consequences. Be sure your shoulders are broad enough to bare the consequences of your actions." It's a crap shoot as you know. Do what ever you decide and sort it out later. And, as well as you obviously prepare, I'd be surprised if any decision/action you take would be totally unsuccessful.

[kneehighs]

Thanks Bubba! One thing I was just thinking back on: In my heeling history, I've been threatened three times with the escalation of physical violence. If I could go back in the archives and search beyond one year, I could link to the posts. I was trying to analyze the common denominators for each incident: standard night clubs, girls, and my heels. By standard nightclubs, I mean clubs that don't have a strict velvet rope policy. I've never had any issue with higher status clubs with an exclusive door policy. But in each of the three cases, I was at a standard NYC nightclub that only had a moderately tough door. In each of the three cases, women were present. In the first case, a guy told me to leave the premise and it turned out, he didn't even know the girl I had started a conversation with. In the second case, a group of guys approached me as I was leaving a club with two girls. And in the third case, a guy pulled my shirt on the dance floor when I was dancing with a girl I had gone to the club with. In the first case, I was wearing skinny jeans and stiletto pumps. In the second case, I was wearing skinny pants and stiletto pumps, and in the third case I was wearing oxford heels with shorts. I think beyond alcohol being involved, the most significant contributing factor to the room for violence was the non-exclusive door. Thoughts?

Edited June 26, 2012 by kneehighs

[Heelster]

Thanks Bubba!

One thing I was just thinking back on: In my heeling history, I've been threatened three times with the escalation of physical violence. If I could go back in the archives and search beyond one year, I could link to the posts.

I was trying to analyze the common denominators for each incident: standard night clubs, girls, and my heels. By standard nightclubs, I mean clubs that don't have a strict velvet rope policy. I've never had any issue with higher status clubs with an exclusive door policy. But in each of the three cases, I was at a standard NYC nightclub that only had a moderately tough door.

In each of the three cases, women were present. In the first case, a guy told me to leave the premise and it turned out, he didn't even know the girl I had started a conversation with. In the second case, a group of guys approached me as I was leaving a club with two girls. And in the third case, a guy pulled my shirt on the dance floor when I was dancing with a girl I had gone to the club with.

In the first case, I was wearing skinny jeans and stiletto pumps. In the second case, I was wearing skinny pants and stiletto pumps, and in the third case I was wearing oxford heels with shorts.

I think beyond alcohol being involved, the most significant contributing factor to the room for violence was the non-exclusive door. Thoughts?

I think you have nailed. I would also tend to believe the more exclusive locations tend to allow, for lack of a better term - abstract options as long as the intentions are still genuine. The clientel probably has a somewhat better education, financial status, and a more worldly view - - not always, but seems to be in most cases.

[JeffB]

Kneehighs: I'm not the clubbing type, but I would agree that any social establishment that will let pretty much anyone and everyone in the door will lead to the sort of behavior you described from trolls who love to stir up trouble for no other reason than because they can. In such instances, caution is most definitely the watchword.

[Steve63130]

I would agree with that, especially the alcohol part. Men can be the most insecure species on earth sometimes! When their manhood feels threatened by someone they perceive as openly gay (even though you're not and have a woman or two on your arm), they can get jealous, belligerent, vocal, and lose all sense of decent behavior. You probably triggered that reaction in those three incidents, and I'll bet the perpetrators were homophobic deep down inside! They'd never have gotten through an exclusive door in a different club. What was your response? Did you walk away? Try to calm them down and talk your way through it? Hit and run? Or what did you do and how did you react? I don't remember reading of those incidents on your posts. In fact, I thought you had a perfect record of success wearing heeled pumps as chick magnets without any trouble, so your disclosure above is a surprise to me. Steve

Edited June 27, 2012 by Steve63130

[kneehighs]

I think you have nailed. I would also tend to believe the more exclusive locations tend to allow, for lack of a better term - abstract options as long as the intentions are still genuine. The clientel probably has a somewhat better education, financial status, and a more worldly view - - not always, but seems to be in most cases.

Thanks for your reply Heelster!

Kneehighs: I'm not the clubbing type, but I would agree that any social establishment that will let pretty much anyone and everyone in the door will lead to the sort of behavior you described from trolls who love to stir up trouble for no other reason than because they can. In such instances, caution is most definitely the watchword.

Thanks for your thoughts Jeff!

I would agree with that, especially the alcohol part. Men can be the most insecure species on earth sometimes! When their manhood feels threatened by someone they perceive as openly gay (even though you're not and have a woman or two on your arm), they can get jealous, belligerent, vocal, and lose all sense of decent behavior. You probably triggered that reaction in those three incidents, and I'll bet the perpetrators were homophobic deep down inside! They'd never have gotten through an exclusive door in a different club.

What was your response? Did you walk away? Try to calm them down and talk your way through it? Hit and run? Or what did you do and how did you react? I don't remember reading of those incidents on your posts. In fact, I thought you had a perfect record of success wearing heeled pumps as chick magnets without any trouble, so your disclosure above is a surprise to me.

Steve

It's still a good record of success! Two incidents I wrote about originally here, but I think they were before you were active on the forums.

In the first case when the guy told me to leave, the girl and I just moved to another table adjacent to where I was originally told to leave. So in terms of fight or flight, it was flight. In the second case, I can't remember my exact words which is why I wanted to reference my original post. I do recall I diffused the situation though by just not really paying any mind to the guy. I was standing outside rummaging through my bag to make sure I had everything before getting into a cab with the girls. The guy tried to start a fight by telling me, "you are wearing heels" and then went on with "that's my territory" with regards to the girls. And in the third case, I just told the guy "it's no big deal" and eventually moved to another spot in the club with my date. These incidents are few and far between and not nearly enough to justify further fear to wear heels out.

Like you said though, guys get jealous and feel threatened by another male who is getting "their" girls. Even when heels aren't involved this type of response happens in clubs, sometimes resulting in violence. Imagine their inner turmoil when they realize they are "losing" to a guy in pumps, ha! I'll say it again for other people reading this, these incidents are few and far between and not nearly enough to justify further fear to wear heels out.

Edited June 27, 2012 by kneehighs

[Shafted]

I'll second kneehigh's. These incidences has only happened to me once in my 7 years of public heeling. It was so worth it.

[Bubba136]

I seem to remember one or two of these posts and, remember thinking how cleaverlly you handled the situation. disarmingly well.

Edited June 29, 2012 by Bubba136

[kneehighs]

I seem to remember one or two of these posts and, remember thinking how cleaverlly you handled the situation. disarmingly well.

Thanks Bubba! I know for a fact I did make passing mention of an incident, but I didn't blow it up in my content, because frankly that isolated incident didn't define my entire evening's experience. Nor do these incidents, like Shafted states, define the overall experience of any street heeler--unless one chooses to focus on the negative.

Edited June 29, 2012 by kneehighs

[HappyinHeels]

kneehighs, Articulate descriptions of your encounters of the trolls or "jagoffs" as these types are called from Pittsburgh to Wisconsin. Seems like your actions were adequate at the time. This, I believe, is one more reason you should have one more thng available in your response to possible trouble. I fully support, particularly any woman's, right to carry firearms for their own protection or to protect someone else from the thugs of the world. Women are usually more vulnerable to these types of incidents but usually are more cautious too. When you wear high heels you also become more vulnerable. My reply, if in heels, to such an incident: "I 'll either call a proctologist to remove my 6" stiletto from your ass or I'll arrange a personal meeting with Sturm Ruger and Company." I have met such a-holes in other situations and my traning always kicked in as advertised.

I do think your analysis of the type of customers in "anybody gets in" clubs from those that pick and choose who gets in is right on. Consider the difference of shopping at Walmart versus shopping at Macy's, Nordstrom's or Lord and Taylor. I would sexy footwear would almost be a guarantee of getting into a higher-caliber club as you are walking the walk and those places want like-minded people. Thanks for sharing kneehighs, you are very aticulate and contribute mightily to advancing this website and it's mission. HappyinHeels

[kneehighs]

Sexy Jimmy Choo pumps on my lap at an Interview mag party last night....swooon

Edited July 19, 2012 by kneehighs

[Shafted]

Downright gorgeous pumps if you ask me KH.