Upper Class - Tumblr Posts
do you see a lot of obvious hypergamy in your circles?
My experience with “Old money”& “New money” in Europe and England 🇬🇧🇪🇺🏛️💰
Europe 🍷📚💼
I come from a young country, so there is no “old money” circle to speak of in the sense of wealth spanning several generations of a family. All money here is relatively recent.
Older HNWIs (my parents' generation) mostly married people from the social circles they grew up in—uni or friends—and they usually became wealthy together. It's also the story of my parents.
In the older generation, I know a few hypergamous couples. Usually, the woman is the second wife/partner to a wealthier older man after his divorce or becoming a widower.
The children of this older generation are my age. Almost all of them are marrying people from the same background/social class. These people are mostly low key and hardworking.
No one is flashy in their everyday life, but you'll eventually find out about expensive cars, boats, yachts, watch collections, numerous properties they're renting out, vacation homes etc.
It's different with people who are the first generation of “new money”, usually self-made men in their 30s and 40s. In these couples who have just entered “new money” circles, I guess hypergamy is more frequent and obvious.
The aesthetic for women in this circle is different flavors of high maintenance. Everyone in this circle, men and women, enjoys showing off to some extent, expensive bags, watches, jewelry, cars, vacations, media appearances.
The “new money” people and children of HNWIs are like night and day, even though we're the same age.
The funny thing is that because pretty much everyone who's rich here made their money in business, these two social classes often intersect, working together as business partners. But socially, there's a very clear divide.
England 🏇🎻🍾
As for my experiences with “old money”, I was educated in England and still maintain ties there. England is populous so there's a huge variation of “new money”, and I won't get into that.
“Old money” English people can fly under the radar of foreigners at first glance because they have all those funny unspoken rules that new stuff and mainstream status symbols are gauche (eg. furniture, electronics, Birkins). Their residences are likely to be falling apart. This is perceived as "character" and "charm" in England.
But then you learn about their niche hobbies such as flying internationally regularly to watch their favorite sports team's matches, hunting in African countries, funding random vanity projects to keep their wayward kids out of trouble (they all give up in a year), and traveling between their various estates to just chill.
I enjoy visiting my English “old money” contacts, they are polite and generous, they can be genuinely sweet. But it's also obvious that they won't ever consider outsiders part of their circle, thus making hypergamy all the more challenging. You don't "network" with these people, the circle is closed.
There's this persistent, slightly sour undercurrent that collectively, they're not taking you seriously at all. Social class is set in stone in England, you don't transcend your station in life no matter how rich you become or what family you marry into.
I detected this undercurrent quite early when I moved to England and it put me off trying to get closer to them in whatever capacity. I didn't feel that it was worth it because I already have money. Hypergamy in this environment, taking into account the cons I sensed, wouldn't be a significant enough life upgrade for me. As an outsider, I could never be sure about their intentions.
Being easygoing and not nosy inadvertently turned out to be the right approach to keep lasting, if superficial connections with them.
There has been some interest of romantic/sexual nature on their side.
An anecdote I can share is once an older gentleman tried to set me up with his “tall and blonde” son. I already knew him well at that point but I still questioned his motive. I was young, sweet and naive, and at the time many wanted to take advantage of these qualities. Or maybe he genuinely thought well of me. Perhaps he wanted to test me, see what I'd do, for pure amusement. Who knows.
In the grip of the upper class.
It is often asked whether Britain would be better off without nobility and a king. Great Britain is famous for its monarchy, castles and aristocrats. In reality, the country has a tough class society. In many areas, poverty is so extreme that people can either afford food or heating. Others reside in huge castles and decide on laws as aristocrats.
Why do the British put up with this?
The king of satire has consistently exhibited these characteristics, and there is no reason to believe that this will change.
Would they be better off without the aristocracy and the monarchy?
It is evident that this is not a viable proposition. The notion that those who are less fortunate in our society can manage with so much land is, at best, naive. What is required is a more nuanced approach that acknowledges the complexities of land ownership and management.
The Earl of we do not want to share our land and our power
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In a brazen display of arrogance, the Earl of Leicester has the audacity to claim that welfare recipients are lazy and deserve poverty while being interviewed on a vast estate.
It's always remarkable when people who have everything and haven't worked for it, but only maintain and increase it, believe they are high performance!
Oh yes, and that the rest are simply too lazy..... bloddy hell
A truly insightful documentary into a political influence system dominated by the classes, which continues to defend its privileged position to this day and will continue to do so in the future.
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Too bad that this is only in German
Ascension to the upper class is rather rare, but then you are one of us.
As one of the richest families in the UK, exempt from inheritance tax on property and having amassed large collections of art and jewellery over the centuries, the Windsors are known for being extremely secretive when it comes to financial matters. The process was apparently used to change a transparency law in the 1970s so that the Queen did not have to disclose her private assets.
It is unlikely that a person of modest means who has made a considerable fortune by selling unapproved cocaine derivatives to the idle upper classes and bankers will be able to retain their assets in the form of privacy.
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It should be noted that this text was written at the behest of communist shareholders of the underground movement. The intention is to establish a new nobility, rather than to perpetuate the existing order. This is the genuine sentiment of the authors.
🌐7 Circles Location Aesthetic: Nexis 🌌
The 7 Circles story begins in Nexis, the first of four districts that make up the Halcyon empire.
Demonym: Nexan, Nexi (derogatory)
Species: Demons in 7 varieties; Pride, Greed, Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth
Vibes: Perfect skin, clean streets, gilded birdcages, gothic library, jewelry for horns, intricate embroidery, marble floors, painted ceilings, stiff collars, showcased plant life, dinner parties, grand balls, fanged smiles, vast gardens, ice sculptures, fantasy skyscrapers, magic technology
Common Beliefs:
We fought our way to the top, we have earned the right to be here.
Other species/districts cannot be trusted with the responsibility of keeping Halcyon safe.
Others should be grateful to Nexis; Nexans are the stewards/protectors of the earth.
(Feel free to comment or ask questions! I own none of the pics, I simply arranged and edited them.)
7C Taglist: @gioiaalbanoart @biblicallyaccuratefruitbat @katenewmanwrites @pencilpusher1000 @lychhiker-writes @autism-purgatory @wyked-ao3 @cowboybrunch @zackprincebooks @smellyrottentrees @fortunatetragedy @aalinaaaaaa @the-golden-comet @urbiggestfan-01 (To be added, please go here. Message me to be removed.)
SECOND COURSE - KITCHEN
(or at least the main parts i recognized)
mads mikkelsen and lydia hearst for "euroman", april 2010 by kenneth willardt.
1. GE Monogram 36" Rangetop
First up, the rangetop. Unlike a cooktop, which sets into a pre-cut space in a counter or island, a rangetop overflows the sides and extends beyond the boundaries of the counter with front-facing knobs. This unit in particular is the GE Monogram 36" Rangetop (ZGU366NPSS), with an MSRP of $3400, reversible grates, and six 18,000 BTU power boil burners.
2. 30" GE Monogram Tri-Zone Counter Depth Integrated Refrigerator
Next, a dual installation of 30" GE Monogram Tri-Zone Counter-Depth Integrated Refrigerators (ZIC30GNHIl, shown with optional custom panels for seamless appearance). With an MSRP of $6999 each, these units are made more shallow, known in the industry as counter-depth, to integrate properly with standard cabinetry. Featuring fridge, freezer, and convertible middle-drawer climate zones, this unit has a capacity of 14.09 cu. ft. overall, per unit. It has two separate sealed systems for constant temperature control, and uses the first HFC-Free refrigerant, which has a lower global-warming impact.
3. 30" GE Monogram European Convection Double Wall Oven
A 30" GE Monogram European Convection Double Wall Oven (ZET2SHSS). An MSRP of $5300, with two 5.0 cu. ft. capacity oven cavities. With easy-to-clean all-glass interior door panels, both self-clean and steam-clean options, ten-pass baking elements, and two True European Convection ovens, these units boast convection bake and roast features with closed-door broiling as to not overheat a kitchen, and a built-in temperature probe for perfectly cooked roasts. It also offers a proof mode to assist dough-rising for avid bakers, convection conversion as to not overcook standard recipes, can be monitored remotely with use of a smart phone and GE's WiFi Connect app, and is programmable in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
4. GE Monogram 240v Built In Oven with Advantium Speedcook Technology
Behold, the GE Monogram 240v Built In Oven with Advantium Speedcook Technology (ZSC2201JSS).
This bad chicken has an MSRP of $3200 and has settings for Speedcook, microwave, convection, and warming. What the hell is Speedcook? It's a combination of microwaves and convection, delivering results up to eight times faster than conventional cooking, and without the need for pre-heating. This thing can reheat, microwave, toast, brown, bake, and gently warm to your heart's content, and has the ability to remember custom recipes.
5. 30" GE Monogram Warming Drawer
Next up, the 30" GE Monogram Warming Drawer (ZW9000SJSS). With an MSRP of $1600, this drawer has a 1.9 cu. ft. capacity, and has variable temperature settings of anything from 75*F to 230*F, and humidity controls from crisp to moist. Gross. It also has a half-rack so you can store more on the inside, and has ball-bearing glides so it pulls out and closes smoothly while making that soothing whoosh noise.
6. 24" GE Monogram Undercabinet Wine Reserve
We also have the 24" GE Monogram Undercabinet Wine Reserve (ZDWR240HBS). With a cool MSRP of $2000, undercabinet wine refrigerators are notoriously tricky because of their front-facing venting needs. If you suffocate refrigerators, even small ones, (like humans) they die.
This fridge features cooling settings suitable to red or white wines, full-extension sliding racks with both horizontal and vertical storage, and has a capacity of 5.5 cu. ft, or 57 bottles.
Hannibal also, apparently, does not believe in dishwashers-panel-ready, drawer-style or otherwise.
What he does believe in? Is coffee, apparently:
7. Royal Paris Vacuum Balancing Coffee Siphon by Royal Coffee Maker
This, dear Fannibals, is a Royal Paris Vacuum Balancing Coffee Siphon, specifically noted by Bryan Fuller to be crafted by Royal Coffee Maker.
Handmade by artisans with affordable materials such as genuine Baccarat Crystal, malachite, copper, obsidian, azurite, and plating of silver and 24k gold, these start at the low, low price of approximately $15,500.
Hannibal's model is the Royal Classic finished in silver, on a Piano Black base. It is, perhaps surprisingly or unsurprisingly, the most tasteful and least ostentatious of all available models.
This brings the approximate total of all Hannibal's kitchen appliances, plus or minus a few of the minor ones, to $45,000.
8. Additionally in his stolen borrowed home in Florence: La Cornue 43" CornuFé Range
In 1908, in the heart of Paris, Albert Dupuy ignited the flame of elite cuisine. It was there that Dupuy premiered the world's first convection oven. At the time, most ovens were mere flat-topped cavities that held racks suspended over a fire. The majority of people simply considered cooking to be heating food to eat. But Dupuy pondered: "What does it really mean to cook?" He developed his oven with a vaulted ceiling to usher heat around the food, rather than trapping it to burn beneath. To enable optimum precision, the oven drew upon the city gas lines that were winding their way to homes and street lamps throughout the City of Light. Dupuy christened the oven La Cornue after the French term cornue - the system for refining the gas that warmed the new creation.
Each range is made by hand and the labor is intensive. Each worker is a specialist, understanding the greater goal.
However they are not just craftsmen, but companions to each range along its journey from inception to crated final product. They are experts in steel, copper and brass, inspired by great design, working as a team to create an inspired tradition.
True excellence can only be achieved when every step in the process is in pursuit of perfection.
For over 100 years, La Cornue has continued to build upon Albert's initial convection innovation and they've expanded the designs and introduced new styles. As a result, the name La Cornue is supposed to represent a renowned spirit.
Hannibal's version runs about $10,000.