Strut – Heels and how to walk in them

For this weeks’ column, instead of writing about fabulous shoes, inspired by stumbling’s in stilettos, I  decided to do an article on how to walk in high heels.  I’ve also included some stiletto-secrets that I’ve picked up a long the way, to help you not only love your shoes, but love wearing them to.

A great pair heels does so much more than simply showing off a fabulous shoe.  Heels accentuate and elongate the legs, enhance your curves, boost your confidence and ooze sexiness.

When strutting your stuff, you want to look graceful, almost like you’re floating on air – not like you’ve had one too many and falling all over the place.

To help you put your best foot forward and ace walking in heels, here are some helpful tips, straight from above:

Perfect your posture

Before attempting to walk in heels, make sure your posture is perfect.  There are a few simple ground rules to bear in mind, whether you’re in heels or not.   Tuck your tummy in and stick your chest out.  Now I’m not saying push your chest out so that you look unnatural, but just pull your shoulders slightly back, contract your abs and your chest will automatically lift and open naturally.

A good posture is vital for walking smoothly in heels, but it’s even better for your overall fabulousity.  Don’t slouch and aim to keep you body aligned.  To achieve  good alignment, from a side view your ear, shoulder, hips, knee and ankle should be in line while standing up.

1,2,3 Now Strut

If you’re new to the high heel world – practice, practice, practice.  The more you practice (and wear heels) the easier wearing them becomes.  Follow the 1-2-3 rule – 1. Heel, 2. Ball of your foot, 3. Toes.  Don’t make the mistake of walking on your tippy toes, or you will end up tumbling forward – not to mention, you’ll look like an idiot.  Another thing to bear in mind, is to make the 1-2-3 move seem effortless, not like you’re consciously saying “heel, ball, toes” – because it will come out in your strut and you’ll look like a bicentennial man.

Distribute your weight evenly and maintain good balance. Relax your hips, thighs and knees and lean slightly back.  Allow your hips to go forward a little and walk with one foot in front of the other.  Doing this will help you to glide as you walk and also gets those hips moving in a sexy swing.

Stairway to success

When walking up stairs, the heel, ball, toe rule is out for obvious reasons.  Always walk on the balls of your feet and hold onto the railing whenever possible.  If you’re terrified of coming down the stairs, the safest and easiest way to do is to walk sideways, one step at a time.

Plan your footwear

Always choose your shoe based on the event and more importantly, where the event is being held (in door/ outdoor).  If you’re planning on spending the night busting up moves on the dance floor, try to wear heels with an ankle strap.  Strappy heels will keep your foot steady, whereas slip-ons could end up being a murder on the dance floor.

If you’re attending an outdoor function that will be held on grass surfaces, don’t what ever you do wear stilettos – they will sink into the ground and you’ll look less fabulous and more drunk.  Wedge heels work best for walking on grass surfaces.

Tips from above

• If you’re planning a long night, keep a pair of “party-flats” handy for when your poor feet just cant handle the dizzy heights anymore.  Ballet flats don’t take up much space, and can be folded or slotted into your handbag.  Go for a metallic or tan pair, as they go with just about everything.
• If your feet hurt in certain areas, for example toes, heels, or balls of the feet, Scholl’s has some amazing little cushioning pads you can insert into your shoes for extra comfort.  Whenever I go out, I always use Scholls‘ Party feet, gel grips – they are lifesavers and reusable.
• If you suffer with swollen feet, keep anti-inflammatory’s handy in your handbag and take them before you go to bed. Be smart though, and don’t mix medication with alcohol.  Also bear in mind that certain anti-inflammatory medication may cause drowsiness, in case you decide to pop it while still out partying.
• Sandals heels are great, but if you’re planning on a long day, look for shoes with a platform in the front as these will be more comfortable.
• Break your shoes in.  Never wear a new pair of shoes for a full day’s event.  If you simply must, walk in them the day before to open them up.

Ok now, off you go. 1, 2, 3 STRUT