Master Resource: General Public Discussions of men in heels

[Shafted]

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTINUES TO INCREASE CULTURAL AWARENESS OF MEN IN HEELS

Two of the internet's largest photo based communities, Tumblr and Instagram, are doing for men in heels what 7 years ago, we as a community had to do by "evangelizing" message boards.

Tumblr

So it appears as if TUMBLR, with reports of 30 million unique visitors per month, now also has it's share of men in heels photos.

Warning: self-curating discernment is a necessity when visiting these blogs.

Guys in Heels Blog

Instagram

Statigram, an analytics based user platform for Instagram, at the date of this writing shows some 413 search results for the phrase "men in heels". Instagram reached more than 100 million users in less than half the time it took Twitter. Given the phase out of the blackberry and the rapid rise of smart phone use, Instagram is here to stay.

Here you need an instagram account to view the photos online.

http://statigr.am/vi...arch/meninheels

*Of course, continued thanks goes out to the Publishers and Moderators of High Heels Passion, who for years has been tirelessly updating his blog.

Looking through the pictures was kind of like visiting an art gallery of human form. I don't think many here would be interested in emulating their style, but I may be wrong.

[kneehighs]

Looking through the pictures was kind of like visiting an art gallery of human form. I don't think many here would be interested in emulating their style, but I may be wrong.

So what's your point? (insert friendly voice tone)

I think awareness doesn't have to built within a vacuum of personal style, it can also be built from art and industries outside of fashion too.

[Shafted]

Well, I did say I may be wrong. I do think that someone dressing like the guys in these pics may have a tougher time gaining personal acceptance. I do think I'm being a realist here.

[kneehighs]

Well, I did say I may be wrong. I do think that someone dressing like the guys in these pics may have a tougher time gaining personal acceptance. I do think I'm being a realist here.

Maybe we're on two different pages here. The purpose of this thread isn't limited to how personal style of a man in heels creates acceptance. The purpose of this thread since day 1 5.5 years ago is to show how the general public awareness of men in heels is growing, whether it be via personal style type pictures, art exhibits, or other venues outside of fashion is irrelevent.

The bottom line is that awareness that the phenomena of men who wear heels as men is growing. Whatever vehicle achieves that matters not. I do agree that the style isn't always good though, which is why I wrote self-curating discernment was necessary.

[Shafted]

Maybe we're on two different pages here. The purpose of this thread isn't limited to how personal style of a man in heels creates acceptance. The purpose of this thread since day 1 5.5 years ago is to show how the general public awareness of men in heels is growing, whether it be via personal style type pictures, art exhibits, or other venues outside of fashion is irrelevent.

The bottom line is that awareness that the phenomena of men who wear heels as men is growing. Whatever vehicle achieves that matters not. I do agree that the style isn't always good though, which is why I wrote self-curating discernment was necessary.

Yea, I'll give you that, dude. I guess I was just playing the devil's advocate.

[Bubba136]

To me, I view the pictures presented on the Tunbir site are way to feminine for my taste. They, in my opinion, purpetuate the image that people in general have of men wearing heels. The image of a masculine form posing with feminine mannerisms. If the men in heels community is ever going to achieve a large degree of acceptance, in my opinion, this "stigmaization is going to have to be changed. KH has it right. It doesen't appear to matter what clothing he wears or how he dresses, he still presents himself as a "man.". And, probably will never be mistaken for anything other than that. Perhaps this accounts for his success in attracting the attention of so many desirable females? For almost twenty years I've worn heels everywhere. Always with male clothing, presenting myself just as a man wearing women's shoes. It would be difficult to mistake me for/as anything else. While I confess I don't have the slightest idea of what percentage of people with whom I come in contact accept my wearing heels, I don't even think about it. In fact, I am at the point where I don't even think about what is on my feet as I go about my business.

Edited December 20, 2012 by Bubba136

[Jimnj3]

To me, I view the pictures presented on the Tunbir site are way to feminine for my taste. They, in my opinion, purpetuate the image that people in general have of men wearing heels. The image of a masculine form posing with feminine mannerisms. If the men in heels community is ever going to achieve a large degree of acceptance, in my opinion, this "stigmaization is going to have to be changed. KH has it right. It doesen't appear to matter what clothing he wears or how he dresses, he still presents himself as a "man.". And, probably will never be mistaken for anything other than that. Perhaps this accounts for his success in attracting the attention of so many desirable females?

For almost twenty years I've worn heels everywhere. Always with male clothing, presenting myself just as a man wearing women's shoes. It would be difficult to mistake me for/as anything else. While I confess I don't have the slightest idea of what percentage of people with whom I come in contact accept my wearing heels, I don't even think about it. In fact, I am at the point where I don't even think about what is on my feet as I go about my business.

I have to totally agree with your opinion!

[Gudulitooo]

The image of a masculine form posing with feminine mannerisms. If the men in heels community is ever going to achieve a large degree of acceptance, in my opinion, this "stigmaization is going to have to be changed.

I am sorry I carry on of the subject KH,

I personnaly think these pictures are doing the exact reverse job : By publicly displaying men with feminine manerism, as you say, in the purpose of shocking, they render your image, a regular guy in heels, completely "normal" by contrast. To the questionning people, you can say : remember your stereotypes in you mind, and tell me if I am one of them. The answer will obviously be "no", so your normal.

And I even do not support these men are posing with feminine manerism at all. They are posing in heels.

[SF]

Hmmm... Only saw the tumbler pics, couldn't get to the instagram site. Been wearing heels for many years now. None of the pics are anywhere near to how I look when out in heels. When I go out in heels I take the "low key" approach, but that's just me. I have been photographed a few times, so there are probably a few pics of me out there!!! yipes!!! sf

[yozz]

I think this is very counterproductive. The message here is that men in heels are way outside the norm. That is not our message. Y.

[kneehighs]

Will men wearing heels as men ever be an accepted NORM? I highly doubt it. Trying to make men wearing heels as men an accepted norm only gives alibis and excuses to guys who don't have the confidence to wear heels--excluding those who for occupational reasons can't do so. We've already had the New York Times write an extensive article on it, we've already got mass marketing brands like Jeffrey Campbell repeatedly marketing heels for men to men, we've already got high fashion designers like Rick Owens and celebrities like Marc Jacobs wearing heels as men. Yet, that still isn't enough? This underscores the fact that the battle is not on a broad cultural level, the battle is on an individual local level. Look at Shafted. Look at Thighbootguy. Look at JeffB. You can even go back as far as Firefox, Xaphod, or Calv. Their victories weren't won by affecting some broad cultural change. Their victories were won by just doing their thing on micro-local level.

With that said, let's look at the CONTEXT of the above Tumblr.

1. Tumblr for the younger generation--Tumblr is a creative community which appeals to a younger generation looking primarily for quick visual inspiration which often borders on the non-NORM. User attention is selectively preapproved in the Tumblr dashboard and directed towards creative art and photographic inspiration. The storied experience of photography, art, and creative expression overrides the men in heels anomaly.

2. With the exception of the guy in the white skirt, the other photos are fine and provide creative photographic art and inspiration. They appeal to different tastes in fashion like the Jeffrey Campbell wearer or the Rad Hourani wearer. Photographically speaking, pictures come with non-norm angles, non-norm black and white, interesting architecture, interesting poses, non-norm lighting effects. This is about photography, art, and creative expression, not fashion freestyling.

3. These are not common snapshots of men in heels as men on the street. These are borderline editorial style shots.

4. Internet picture--this means most likely, men in heels is still just an IDEA for the viewer as opposed to a personally experienced REALITY. However, the user has been exposed to the concept with a proper filter of positive photography, art and creative expression.

The real battle is still on an individual level when people can actually encounter the REALITY of a man in heels as a man as opposed to the IDEA of a man in heels.

[Bubba136]

Given the fact, as KH says: "The real battle is still on an individual level when people can actually encounter the REALITY of a man in heels as opposed to the IDEA of a man in heels." -- which I happen to agree with -- and, even though these pictures are designated to be artistic renderings, I truly find them to be repulsive and truly believe that there wide circulation can only harm the wider men in heels community.

Art and creative expression mow a wide swath through modern, current, present day society. What is pure artistic impression excites the sensivities of a crop of appreciaters can also be disgustinglt repulsive to an entire other set of viewers. (Re: Piss Christ and, more recently, Obama in Pee Pee.)

[Puffer]

Given the fact, as KH says: "The real battle is still on an individual level when people can actually encounter the REALITY of a man in heels as opposed to the IDEA of a man in heels." -- which I happen to agree with -- and, even though these pictures are designated to be artistic renderings, I truly find them to be repulsive and truly believe that there wide circulation can only harm the wider men in heels community.

Art and creative expression mow a wide swath through modern, current, present day society. What is pure artistic impression excites the sensivities of a crop of appreciaters can also be disgustinglt repulsive to an entire other set of viewers. (Re: Piss Christ and, more recently, Obama in Pee Pee.)

Well said, Bubba. Although the overall appearance of a few of the 'men' in Tumblr is fairly well in line with the acceptance or aspirations of most of us (as I understand them), I found the great majority to be anything from creepy to nauseating. OK, to the art-lover, there might be a certain appeal (in much the same way as some pornography is supposedly artistic) but, if the purpose of the site is to promote the reality of men in heels, then it fails miserably and is totally counter-productive.

KH has (as usual) an assertive 'fashion' perspective but does, I think, make some valid points. But they would be better made and digested if not wrapped up in gobbledygook - I am still trying to get my head around this: 'User attention is selectively preapproved in the Tumblr dashboard and directed towards creative art and photographic inspiration. The storied experience of photography, art, and creative expression overrides the men in heels anomaly.' I think he means that 'Tumblr has an intentionally artistic purpose and shows men wearing heels with that emphasis'. Ni doubt he will correct me if I am wrong.

[kneehighs]

////KH has (as usual) an assertive 'fashion' perspective but does, I think, make some valid points. But they would be better made and digested if not wrapped up in gobbledygook - I am still trying to get my head around this: 'User attention is selectively preapproved in the Tumblr dashboard and directed towards creative art and photographic inspiration. The storied experience of photography, art, and creative expression overrides the men in heels anomaly.' I think he means that 'Tumblr has an intentionally artistic purpose and shows men wearing heels with that emphasis'. Ni doubt he will correct me if I am wrong.

hahaha! Love it "gobbledygook"..... You see, when you use Tumblr, you surf the internet through a tumblr dashboard. Tumblr users don't surf the internet through the standard dashboard with the standard horizontal browser bar that includes bookmarks, history, and window on it. They pre-approve sites they want to follow and then look at updates directly through the Tumblr dashboard. In Tumblr, you follow accounts that you have an interest in already. If an account you follow "reblogs" a photo, there's a chance you already share a similar interest in the reblog content because you already have an interest in the rebloggers original content. If that makes sense? Regarding your paraphrase, you are correct to say, "Tumblr has an intentionally artistic purpose...." The "storied experience" is that alot of those pictures actually tell a story in and of themselves. The experience of the pictures is one of a story...or a "storied experience".

Anyhow, since 2005, the times have changed for sure. Let's not forget the Ukrainian band Kazaky. One could easily argue their outfits are counterproductive to overall assimilation of men in heels. Yet, my experience proves exactly the opposite. Girls from Ukraine swooned over me in heels because of the videos and photos they had seen of Kazaky. People here that argue these photos are counterproductive are basing their opinions not on FIELD TESTED EXPERIENCE, but on mere hypothetical conjecture. They have no pragmatic evidence for their belief. They have no evidence their belief is grounded in REALITY as opposed to IDEAS. They are using their IDEA of how men in heels is perceived in those pictures to argue a cause and effect in REALITY. They are entitled to that opinion, but it's nonsensical to me.

My experiences over the last 5 years have brought me into contact with the most influential people from the top of the fashion industry world. This is not an exaggeration. From the halls of Ann Wintur's magazine,to the front row at major fashion shows to freelancing for the NY Times to friendships with the Brit Fash Council President and hanging out with Tyra's TV personalities. And you know what? Outfits as seen in those pictures are common place in fashion and art and yet the fashion and art world is quite accepting of men in heels. In all honesty, no one really gives a damn. I think the online IDEA of seeing a picture is too insignificant an experience to color their perception of the REALITY of a man in heels.

Which brings us back to the REALITY vs IDEA distinction again. But if your reality can't prove with experience that those photos are counterproductive, then you're just using an IDEA to respond to the issue and are just as guilty of applying a false standard as those who choose to oppose men in heels based on the IDEA instead of the reality.

[Puffer]

Thank you, KH, for the clarifications. (I'm still not sure what Tumblr really does or is, but then I don't need to be!)

I do not doubt your fashion-related experience and personal knowledge of what is or is not regarded in such circles as acceptable. But I and most others are not part of that community and our feelings/preferences/comfort levels are probably very different. So, unless we move in the narrow world you describe, we are not going to find the same level of understanding and, quite possibly, a strong measure of rejection (or worse). But I do not suggest that it is only such fashionistas (or offbeat bands) who do approve - only that those who do are, in the aggregate, likely to be a minority of the population as a whole.

[kneehighs]

Thank you, KH, for the clarifications. (I'm still not sure what Tumblr really does or is, but then I don't need to be!)

I do not doubt your fashion-related experience and personal knowledge of what is or is not regarded in such circles as acceptable. But I and most others are not part of that community and our feelings/preferences/comfort levels are probably very different. So, unless we move in the narrow world you describe, we are not going to find the same level of understanding and, quite possibly, a strong measure of rejection (or worse). But I do not suggest that it is only such fashionistas (or offbeat bands) who do approve - only that those who do are, in the aggregate, likely to be a minority of the population as a whole.

ah your welcome.

Three things. First, a few years ago this community was in doubt as to the fashion industry's acceptance of men in heels. I can say with 100% certainty, the fashion industry does accept men in heels. Add the Art Industry as well. That's two industry's better than we were sure of just a few years ago. Things are getting better as I would argue the Tumlr pictures symbolize.

Second, this is still a local level battle, not some broad cultural shift favoring men in heels. Guys will have to wear heels according to the limits of their local circle. Some guys here are in finance and can not wear heels for fear a potential business partner will see them and thus cast doubt onto their relationship. I recently talked with a girl who works at Goldman, and she said the more the guy's name is involved with the internet, the more freedom the man has to wear heels.

Third, guys are still responsible to look their personal best. This would apply to any industry, not just fashion. Arguably, there is value in creating beauty through clothes for the balanced pursuit of pleasure that one experiences from the beauty that clothes creates is in it of itself an end and "good".

[Shafted]

Third, guys are still responsible to look their personal best. This would apply to any industry, not just fashion.

A point I can't hammer home enough. I hope I didn't quote this out of context.

[kneehighs]

A point I can't hammer home enough. I hope I didn't quote this out of context.

Sarcasm?

[SleekHeels]

My initial reaction (looking at the Tumblr ones) is that some seem to deliberately play on the stereotypes of men in heels emphasizing their "shock" value with a kind of "freak show" intent that I don't find so engaging, while the ones that sneak the heels in more subtly are the ones which have a more positive impact for me. Maybe that's just a reflection of my personal relationship with heels, and that'll be different for everyone. I wonder how many consumers of mass media would see diversity in those pictures, or whether they'd just generalise and assume that all guys in heels relate to all the pictures.

[JeffB]

Men in heels as performance art. Hmm! Interesting. Looking over the Tumblr photos, I did find them to have been rather exotic and eye catching, I won't deny that, and while I understand where kneehighs is coming from, most of us, including myself are too staid and conservative in how we present ourselves when wearing heels in public. And yes, I'll admit to being something of a hypocrite on that score since I wear skirts and dresses. I could be wrong, but I also suspect that age might be a factor in relation to that mindset as most of us here are in our 40's or 50's or older and are just too----wizened and set in our particular ways to be bold and fierce and "out there" like the younger men in those photos. And while the art and fashion industries are openminded enough to accept men in heels, we, as ordinary Joes don't walk in those circles, so were more inclined to come across criticism from a public that might view us as odd or strange, no matter how tastefully we might be dressed. But I'll agree with kh that we have to present the best possible image when wearing heels in the outside world, regardless of if it's plain, or fantastical. Just saying.

[Curt]

Men wearing heels is very commonplace in high fashion. Fashion designers in milan have mens and women strutting down the catwalk in the same high heel boots. How cool is that! That should give everybody here enough motivation to strut they're stuff in public no problem. Wearing heels as a man is no big deal. Men wearing heels is very commonplace in high fashion. Fashion designers in milan have mens and women strutting down the catwalk in the same high heel boots. How cool is that! That should give everybody here enough motivation to strut they're stuff in public no problem. Wearing heels as a man is no big deal. Men wearing heels is very commonplace in high fashion. Fashion designers in milan have mens and women strutting down the catwalk in the same high heel boots. How cool is that! That should give everybody here enough motivation to strut they're stuff in public no problem. Wearing heels as a man is no big deal.

[Puffer]

Very well said, JeffB. Age and natural conservatism will certainly be major constraints on many of us, whatever our inner desires. There are other considerations too. My wife does not like my avatar boots and, last time she saw me in them, said that I looked effeminate and would likely be considered gay. We all know that the heels-must-mean-gay link is a very tenuous one but, alas, is a commonly-held view and (whatever one's own views of those of alternative sexuality) is not a label that I and most other hetero men would exactly encourage. So, we each need to keep our overall appearance and conduct within whatever bounds are reasonably acceptable for our particular lifestyle - and that is unlikely to be as blatant as that favoured and accepted by the Tumblr set and their supporters.

[JeffB]

My wife does not like my avatar boots and, last time she saw me in them, said that I looked effeminate and would likely be considered gay. We all know that the heels-must-mean-gay link is a very tenuous one but, alas, is a commonly-held view and (whatever one's own views of those of alternative sexuality) is not a label that I and most other hetero men would exactly encourage.

And yet, women who wear flannel shirts and jeans aren't considered dykes. Ridiculous! You're right, Puffer, that antiquainted and just plain incorrect mindset, equating men in heels with sexual preference is still very much prevalent to the uninitiated and ignorant today, and that's the perception we have to fight hardest to dispell.

[Shafted]

Sarcasm?

Not at all. It was in reference to what I removed from the quote.

[ilikekicks]

A couple things, not nitpicking, but just a perspective.

I believe a HUGE impact of the whole idea of ' men in heels ' right now is buried.

KH:

"User attention is selectively preapproved in the Tumblr dashboard and directed towards creative art and photographic inspiration. The storied experience of photography, art, and creative expression overrides the men in heels anomaly. "

Photography, Art and Creative Expression outside of its inner circles isnt given a shat about right now ( its unfortunate from a musical standpoint so I know how you feel ). I speak of this from doing studio musicians work. With the way times are, and so many people looking for employment, school shootings, budget problems.. they totally disregard it as theres a lot more to worry about.

I 100% AGREE with you that things are now on a personal or individual level, but theres no complexity at all to it. We either put on what we want to wear, or we dont.

An example from Bubba:

"Art and creative expression mow a wide swath through modern, current, present day society. What is pure artistic impression excites the sensivities of a crop of appreciaters can also be disgustinglt repulsive to an entire other set of viewers. (Re: Piss Christ and, more recently, Obama in Pee Pee.) "

I heard of the Jesus in piss a while back, but they did one of Obama? I didnt even hear of such and the folks around me would have said something if it happened so I doubt it was such a popular thing. What makes it even more ' funny ' is I have now met 2 other ' guys in heels ' openly in public without and arrangements of any kind.. yet I heard nothing of the ' creative ' things you speak of. I dont know of teh effects of either ' piss ' related items as they ' werent important ' to anyone I know.

Puffer :

"I do not doubt your fashion-related experience and personal knowledge of what is or is not regarded in such circles as acceptable. But I and most others are not part of that community and our feelings/preferences/comfort levels are probably very different. So, unless we move in the narrow world you describe, we are not going to find the same level of understanding and, quite possibly, a strong measure of rejection (or worse). "

The rejection is there but its limited. People are going to believe what they are going to believe. They will support what they choose to go with. Im quite sure if I didnt know some of the people whom have seen me in heels, they would have laughed at such a thought. Now? They might have a different perspective. I dont think people really will give a thought to a man in heels until someone they know does it. The internet pictures and fashion industry could be seen as anything ( laughable, artistic, good.. bad.. ) but thats as far as it will go till someone actually experiences it.

I believe its individuals doing the work, nothing else right now as the rest really doesnt matter in present times.

Sleekheels:

"My initial reaction (looking at the Tumblr ones) is that some seem to deliberately play on the stereotypes of men in heels emphasizing their "shock" value with a kind of "freak show" intent that I don't find so engaging, while the ones that sneak the heels in more subtly are the ones which have a more positive impact for me. Maybe that's just a reflection of my personal relationship with heels, and that'll be different for everyone. I wonder how many consumers of mass media would see diversity in those pictures, or whether they'd just generalise and assume that all guys in heels relate to all the pictures. "

What you have said is the very point on why I feel things wont make it to the point of wide spread wearing.

Theres a certain ' stigmatism ' to those photos. Most people just flip through and see the ones in the wedding dresses, the corsets, the ' feminine ' type ones. They probably would remember those but not the pic of the guy in the thigh-high boots sitting there with Jeans on. Funny, but thats teh ohysically largest item of footware in all of the pics too!

THAT is the way to bring things to the forefront and slide right in. Put aside the whole ' shock ' factor. Keep things simple. ' I wear a type of shoe ' and move up from there. None of us are really trying to be a flaming drag queen or someone whom needs so much attention that we stand out ( not that Im aware of, correct me anyone if Im wrong ).

I sent the link to those photos to friends that I have gone out with on many occasions in heels. Most of their reactions were ' WTF ? Are they trying to be in some music videos? ', they didnt even recognize ' men in heels ', they did recognize ' outrageous ' as a theme to them. They didnt even mention the words ' artistic ', ' photography ' or ' fashion '.. They thought with me being in the studio that I was helping with a music video or something.

Jeff :

"Men in heels as performance art. Hmm! Interesting. Looking over the Tumblr photos, I did find them to have been rather exotic and eye catching, I won't deny that, and while I understand where kneehighs is coming from, most of us, including myself are too staid and conservative in how we present ourselves when wearing heels in public. "

There have been men in heels doing performance art long before any of us on this site were born. Still not ' uncommon ' yet to see a guy in heels. Im using a defined term of ' uncommon ' as ' Yes I have seen a guy ONCE wearing a pair of heels and it wasnt halloween or a costume party ' and ' Nope, never seen this at all out and about '.

KH was correct that its now upon us as individuals to just go out and do as we do. You and I already do this, Shafted, Bubba.. theres many people. Weve all even read about ' rookies ' on here going out in public with heels for their first time.

I think Pumpcat hit the viewpoints right on the head though :

"Men wearing heels is very commonplace in high fashion." followed later by "Wearing heels as a man is no big deal.".

I would have to say the ' common place ' of the ' streets ' or general populace really could care less about the whole ' fashion industry ' as a whole until something hits their local shelves. With the price of things going up due to currency value declines, school shootings.. ' Fashion industry what? Whats that? '.. People dont care and probably really couldnt sit down and write the top5 brands out there.

They COULD identify seeing a guy out in heels if enough men did just go out as Pumpcat said. It really is ' no big deal '.

[kneehighs]

A couple things, not nitpicking, but just a perspective.

I believe a HUGE impact of the whole idea of ' men in heels ' right now is buried.

KH:

"User attention is selectively preapproved in the Tumblr dashboard and directed towards creative art and photographic inspiration. The storied experience of photography, art, and creative expression overrides the men in heels anomaly. "

Photography, Art and Creative Expression outside of its inner circles isnt given a shat about right now ( its unfortunate from a musical standpoint so I know how you feel ). I speak of this from doing studio musicians work. With the way times are, and so many people looking for employment, school shootings, budget problems.. they totally disregard it as theres a lot more to worry about.

In all honesty, the latter is why I don't participate here like I used to. One I'm busy. Two, there are bigger fish to fry. With the holiday's though and a slow time in fashion, I have some extra time to do a little reflecting.

To say that photography, art, and creative expression isn't given a shat about is nonsense. These industries affect the larger global economy in ways you just might not be aware of. American Express, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, DHL, The New York Times and a whole host of other corporations often seek inspiration for advertising and creative marketing through work that originates within the photo, art, and fashion industries.

I 100% AGREE with you that things are now on a personal or individual level, but theres no complexity at all to it. We either put on what we want to wear, or we dont.

The complexity is coming to terms with your own personal fashion statement. This is often a process lived out through experimentation that in my exerience, evolves to maturity in roughly about 2 years. The additional complexity is fighting your own personal inhibitions as evidenced in the complexity of the thousands of thread topics that constitute the body and source of this forum.

The rejection is there but its limited. People are going to believe what they are going to believe. They will support what they choose to go with. Im quite sure if I didnt know some of the people whom have seen me in heels, they would have laughed at such a thought. Now? They might have a different perspective. I dont think people really will give a thought to a man in heels until someone they know does it. The internet pictures and fashion industry could be seen as anything ( laughable, artistic, good.. bad.. ) but thats as far as it will go till someone actually experiences it.

Agreed.

THAT is the way to bring things to the forefront and slide right in. Put aside the whole ' shock ' factor. Keep things simple. ' I wear a type of shoe ' and move up from there. None of us are really trying to be a flaming drag queen or someone whom needs so much attention that we stand out ( not that Im aware of, correct me anyone if Im wrong ).

This is why I started the Share Your Best Freestyle Fashion Pictures here thread over 7 years ago. The thread now has a life of it's own perpuates independent of my direct participation.

I sent the link to those photos to friends that I have gone out with on many occasions in heels. Most of their reactions were ' WTF ? Are they trying to be in some music videos? ', they didnt even recognize ' men in heels ', they did recognize ' outrageous ' as a theme to them. They didnt even mention the words ' artistic ', ' photography ' or ' fashion '.. They thought with me being in the studio that I was helping with a music video or something.

That's an unadulterated non-sequiter, also done within the statistical confines of your sample group, as if that were to reliably generalize to the average population.

I would have to say the ' common place ' of the ' streets ' or general populace really could care less about the whole ' fashion industry ' as a whole until something hits their local shelves. With the price of things going up due to currency value declines, school shootings.. ' Fashion industry what? Whats that? '.. People dont care and probably really couldnt sit down and write the top5 brands out there.

Because they don't care doesn't mean it's not affecting them. The truth is the runway is a future indicator of what you will see in Top Shop, Zara, Target, H&M, and Mango SIX MONTHS in advance. For both men and women. The creative teams and buying directors at all these organizations take their direction cues from the runway and high fashion. This is TRUTH.

I still hold that given the exponential reblog power of Tumblr, that many of the positive pictures in that blog will reach people otherwise not aware that guys might wear heels. All this negative outcry is discounting the positive and focusing on the negative. The advertising campaign for Jeffrey Campbell shoes, which incidentally is a mass marketing corporation successfully marketing heels for men to men for 18 months now, is in there.

In fact, this TUMBLR is like giving people a multiple choice test. The viewers choose, by virture of REBLOGGING, which pictures they like best. Look at which pictures are reblogged most and take your cues from there. It's a perfect unadulterated public opinion of what works and what doesn't work. Yet everyone here is so blind to what Tumblr does, through the lens of their own personal bias, that they discount the positive and maximize the negative of what this blog does.

[ilikekicks]

In all honesty, the latter is why I don't participate here like I used to. One I'm busy. Two, there are bigger fish to fry. With the holiday's though and a slow time in fashion, I have some extra time to do a little reflecting.

To say that photography, art, and creative expression isn't given a shat about is nonsense. These industries affect the larger global economy in ways you just might not be aware of. American Express, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, DHL, The New York Times and a whole host of other corporations often seek inspiration for advertising and creative marketing through work that originates within the photo, art, and fashion industries.

The global economy is in shambles my friend. I wish it werent but unfortunately, many people are turning their interests away from all the ' creative ' things. Those companies you mentioned.. AMX and Benz, their in hurt lockers and their projections are down thus far. NYTimes has a serious subscription loss as people dont care for printed media and the NYTimes has grown ' stale ' in its supposed ' journalistic ' morals.

People arent becoming interested in music as they were either. Theres fewer and fewer kids today learning music.

To be honest, people are worried.

The complexity is coming to terms with your own personal fashion statement. This is often a process lived out through experimentation that in my exerience, evolves to maturity in roughly about 2 years. The additional complexity is fighting your own personal inhibitions as evidenced in the complexity of the thousands of thread topics that constitute the body and source of this forum.

I'll be honest. I wake up.. hit the shower, grab something to eat and then get dressed in something off the hangers. I seldom give a thought to ' will this work with the other.. '. Im married and my friends all know me quite well. I dont feel this greater need to impress anyone ( I never really have now that I give a serious thought to it ).

This is why I started the Share Your Best Freestyle Fashion Pictures here thread over 7 years ago. The thread now has a life of it's own perpuates independent of my direct participation.

Its a good read.

That's an unadulterated non-sequiter, also done within the statistical confines of your sample group, as if that were to reliably generalize to the average population.

What your not comprehending is they arent special.. they ARE the ' average population '. Just joe-schmoes whom work a job and go out on friday nights.

Because they don't care doesn't mean it's not affecting them. The truth is the runway is a future indicator of what you will see in Top Shop, Zara, Target, H&M, and Mango SIX MONTHS in advance. For both men and women. The creative teams and buying directors at all these organizations take their direction cues from the runway and high fashion. This is TRUTH.

The truth is, the runway will be empty in the future as people will be worrying about food and if they have a job.

The people I spoke to and sent the link to are mostly ' contractors ' and small business owners/laborers. I posted a link to the pics on a forum I visit. With it being winter, and most contractor work being seasonal in the North East US, many had time on their hands to actually reply.

The unfortunate thing is 45% of all contractors are now out of work. Of those 45%, many are giving serious consideration to not opening up their doors in the spring. The TRUTH is, a lot of people dont give ' fashion, music, art ' a second thought these days because they are in a hurt bind. Fashion isnt effecting their lives at all.

I understand the Fashion Industry is your life, but you should take a wider view of everything before the long ' complex ' responses so you can understand the perspective of the ' statistical confined '.

I still hold that given the exponential reblog power of Tumblr, that many of the positive pictures in that blog will reach people otherwise not aware that guys might wear heels. All this negative outcry is discounting the positive and focusing on the negative. The advertising campaign for Jeffrey Campbell shoes, which incidentally is a mass marketing corporation successfully marketing heels for men to men for 18 months now, is in there.

Ya need a job and income to buy heels. Heels come after food, fuel and the other necessities mate. The runway and ' high fashion ' along with Music and arts isnt a priority at all right now and probably wont be for sometime.

In fact, this TUMBLR is like giving people a multiple choice test. The viewers choose, by virture of REBLOGGING, which pictures they like best. Look at which pictures are reblogged most and take your cues from there. It's a perfect unadulterated public opinion of what works and what doesn't work. Yet everyone here is so blind to what Tumblr does, through the lens of their own personal bias, that they discount the positive and maximize the negative of what this blog does.

Mate.. People arent ' blind '. I would go as far to say people are really ' focused ' right now as of the hard times ahead ( and presently for most ). ' High Fashion ' is a real run off as it makes others feel like someone is flaunting their ' well to do ' 1500$ CL shoes when there are those whom are struggling to keep their roof over their heads.

Its more likely someone whom sees another person wearing expensive ' designer ' clothes will think ' I could probably pawn or Ebay that stuff if I jack them! ' or ' Rich a$$hole! ' then ' Wow, good looking clothes! '.

I know that all sounds negative, but sometimes reality is negative.

I really dont believe ' high end ' fashion will be as it was in past decade. Its going the way of the ' Recording studio '.

[Jimnj3]

ilikekicks, So true that the average person is worried about more important things in life than high fashion. I enjoy your post's and have to agree with your outlook most of the time. I know High Fashion is an industry but wonder how many folks can actually afford to buy these things and would actually wear them.

[kneehighs]

The global economy is in shambles my friend. I wish it werent but unfortunately, many people are turning their interests away from all the ' creative ' things. Those companies you mentioned.. AMX and Benz, their in hurt lockers and their projections are down thus far. NYTimes has a serious subscription loss as people dont care for printed media and the NYTimes has grown ' stale ' in its supposed ' journalistic ' morals.

I know about the state of the globale economy. This doesn't answer my initial theme that alot of major corporations employ fashion and photography industry people for the advertising and marketing which is widely distributed and is thus seen by the average population.

People arent becoming interested in music as they were either. Theres fewer and fewer kids today learning music.

To be honest, people are worried.

That's too bad about music.

I'll be honest. I wake up.. hit the shower, grab something to eat and then get dressed in something off the hangers. I seldom give a thought to ' will this work with the other.. '. Im married and my friends all know me quite well. I dont feel this greater need to impress anyone ( I never really have now that I give a serious thought to it ).

That's fine, but fashion isn't just about vanity. One, it communicates to people what you think about yourself. Two, it communicates to people what you think about them. Three, it communicates to people what you think about the event.

What your not comprehending is they arent special.. they ARE the ' average population '. Just joe-schmoes whom work a job and go out on friday nights.

It's nonetheless too small a sample to generalize a conclusion, as my initial statement affirmed.

The truth is, the runway will be empty in the future as people will be worrying about food and if they have a job.

That's nonsense. The luxury goods sector is one of the most economically resilient sectors. Just look at the 5 year stock charts of stocks like Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors. These are just examples.

The people I spoke to and sent the link to are mostly ' contractors ' and small business owners/laborers. I posted a link to the pics on a forum I visit. With it being winter, and most contractor work being seasonal in the North East US, many had time on their hands to actually reply.

The unfortunate thing is 45% of all contractors are now out of work. Of those 45%, many are giving serious consideration to not opening up their doors in the spring. The TRUTH is, a lot of people dont give ' fashion, music, art ' a second thought these days because they are in a hurt bind. Fashion isnt effecting their lives at all.

You'd be surprised. Fashion makes their choices for them. There is an illusion of choice when one shops at Zara, H&M, Target, or Steve Madden. Those choices about what to put on the racks are influenced by the design and buying teams which are INVARIABLY influenced by the runways.

I understand the Fashion Industry is your life, but you should take a wider view of everything before the long ' complex ' responses so you can understand the perspective of the ' statistical confined '.

Fashion is not my life. I work in it, but it doesn't define me as a person. The stastically confined is not an ad hominem against the people from which you obtained your information. The conclusion is statistically weak, that's all.

Ya need a job and income to buy heels. Heels come after food, fuel and the other necessities mate. The runway and ' high fashion ' along with Music and arts isnt a priority at all right now and probably wont be for sometime.

That doesn't negate my initial statement that high fashion makes choices for you and the average person that they are not even aware of. Stated again, buying teams and creative directors of many mass production companies like Zara, or H&M and Forever21 take their directional cues from the runway.

Mate.. People arent ' blind '. I would go as far to say people are really ' focused ' right now as of the hard times ahead ( and presently for most ). ' High Fashion ' is a real run off as it makes others feel like someone is flaunting their ' well to do ' 1500$ CL shoes when there are those whom are struggling to keep their roof over their heads.

Its more likely someone whom sees another person wearing expensive ' designer ' clothes will think ' I could probably pawn or Ebay that stuff if I jack them! ' or ' Rich a$$hole! ' then ' Wow, good looking clothes! '.

I know that all sounds negative, but sometimes reality is negative.

I really dont believe ' high end ' fashion will be as it was in past decade. Its going the way of the ' Recording studio '.

High fashion isn't going anywhere. The luxury goods sector is economically resilient. And if anyone is blind, it's my fault for lack of communicating my ideas clearly. The Tumblr blog is like watching a cultural anthropological study evolve without our direct involvement. Someone puts up a post and people nod their approval by reblogging or liking the posts. The posts with the most likes and reblogs are the posts with the most value to this community.

[ilikekicks]

ilikekicks,

So true that the average person is worried about more important things in life than high fashion. I enjoy your post's and have to agree with your outlook most of the time.

I had my first ' married argument ' tonight due to a negative response I gave when someone asked for an honest answer.

I was wearing my favorite NineWest Booties and Darians brother and I started discussing ' why would a guy wear womens shoes '. The guy is a practitioner and.. lets say he has little to no social skills at all. Makes all kinds of money, drives a Mercedes and doesnt even know how to put air in the tires ( Its true, shit you not! cant air up his tires. He probably COULD but ' doesnt feel its up to his level of success ' ).

Basically, I joked about being pissed about there not being any Zombies on the 21st and he called me a ' doomsday prepper fearful type '.

Things escalated from there about my storages of food, a fresh water spring I had put in out on the ' farm ' and some other things. My retort was ' When the markets dont have food, YOU will become food ' and he just laughed.

I did do a short stint in the service and have seen some other places. There are some things that arent nice right now. There are somethings we ALL should be concerned with. Right now, clothing isnt in the spotlight at all endless its a parka for the cold weather we presently have.

I know High Fashion is an industry but wonder how many folks can actually afford to buy these things and would actually wear them.

All of the ' Hollywood types ' can and they are on TV. There are some people whom would go without on some items in life in order to have certain kinds of clothing ( or something else ) instead of going for the basics. This happens with a LOT of people. *I* am guilty as sin in those regards from my younger years. I bought so much music equipment and didnt pay other bills.. I was a complete Idiot in my own opinion of myself.

Now, not so at all.