Fashion Lifestyle

How to Walk In Heels | 10 Tips | South Africa

Find me a woman who can resist a gorgeous pair of heels and I’d be stumped. A great pair elongates your legs, instantly takes your outfit from drab to fab and gives you the illusion of killer calves. Heels have even allowed us to call our everyday track pants and sweatshirt combo Sports Luxe, WIN! That’s the good part.

The bad part is that for a good chunk of us, walking in heels can be more than awkward, more than painful; it can be a dreaded experience turning the always-short hallway into a mile long nightmare (starring you, the baby giraffe, walking past a silent crowd who watches on awkwardly).

Marilyn Monroe famously said “give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world”. Obviously she meant heels, obviously. But wait, what if you can’t walk in heels? Well that ruins any chance of conquering your many conquests, don’t you think?

We’re here to save the day, with our 10 tips on how to walk in heels comfortably which will have you runway ready in no time:

TIP #1 Size matters

First things first, make sure you’re wearing the correct size shoe. This seems like a no-brainer, but we’ve all been in the situation where we grab a pair of heels even though they’re a size below yours just because they’re so dreamy! A size too big won’t hug your foot the way you need it to, and you may end up slipping. A size too small will leave you so uncomfortable you won’t be able to walk, and may result in blisters. Ladies, let’s not squeeze our feet into narrow or small shoes. They may look pretty on the shelf, but they sure won’t feel pretty.

Make sure you find the shoe that fits you perfectly, Cinderella. 

TIP #2 Stand up straight

As we learnt from our fairy God Mother – the Queen of Genovia – a princess never slumps: “We drop the shoulders, we think tall, we tuck under and we transfer the weight from one foot to the other”. Engage your abs, this will give you full control of your body and immediately lengthen and straighten your upper body.

BONUS: This will tighten your core (Hello summer!)

TIP #3 Start low and aim high

We’re pretty sure trends are on our side with this one. Lower heels as well as block heels are back, making walking and looking good easy. If you’re not very comfortable with heels, even if it is a block heel and more stable, try a smaller heel before working your way up to the most killer high heels.

TIP #4 Walk heel to toe NOT toe to heel

It’s a total rookie error to put your whole foot down at once the way you would if you were wearing flats. Instead, with each step, place your heel on the ground first and follow with your toes. Light, fluid treads are what we’re after here as opposed to heavy thumps. This will give you a natural walk.

TIP #5 (and this one goes for most things in life) Take baby steps

When walking in heels your stride becomes shorter than usual, so you’ll have to take an increased amount of smaller steps to go the same distance. We’re not saying take actual baby steps, but we’re not saying resemble daddy long legs either.

TIP #6 Don’t rush

How to walk in heels for beginners 101: Don’t rush. It looks quite awkward seeing someone try to walk quickly in heels; it usually looks like they’re going nowhere really fast. Along with smaller steps, it’s best to take your time as you strut your stuff. Slow and controlled movements give off an air of confidence, and we’d suggest this when walking in heels.

TIP #7 Lean back slightly

If you’re trying to walk faster than your heels will allow, chances are you’re craning your neck forward to compensate and retain balance. This can look really strange, so it’s best you lean just the teeniest tiniest bit back when walking in heels as this will stop you from your inclination to slouch forward.

TIP #8 Walk on an imaginary straight line

Walk towards your goal point, and visualize a straight line going towards this point. You’ll look oh so graceful, as long as you don’t stare at your heels as you’re walking.

TIP #9 Quality over quantity

When it comes to high heels, pick quality over quantity. We cannot stress enough the importance of a quality pair of heels. There is nothing worse than trying to walk in heels which are blistering your precious feet every step of the way. If you’re wondering how to walk in heels without pain, quality over quantity is your motto. You don’t want to wear flats every day following just because you ruined your feet wearing a bad pair of heels.

TIP #10 Find your rhythm

Relax both your hips and knees so that your walk flows gracefully. Find your rhythm. Do not walk with stiff, locked knees as this looks unnatural and we can’t imagine it being comfortable either!

Whether you’re short or tall, we’ve all encountered situations where we’re socially pressured to wear heels. Whether you wear heels on special occasions only or choose to wear it every day, keep in mind that learning to walk in heels is like learning any new skill: it takes practice and a whole lot of patience, you’ll get there. Everyone struggles now and then, even those on the runway.

 

GOALS: Rihanna casually gliding over a New York city subway grate in sky-high stilettos, without slipping through. Ladies, it’s not impossible. Instead of asking yourself, “why can’t I walk in heels?” take our 10 tips, channel your inner Carrie Bradshaw and go forth and conquer!

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