I get asked rather alot about how to walk in high heels. For some people it's second nature - I have always worn heels, even as a kid I insisted my shoes have a heel. But some people need a little help. So here are my tips on conquering heels!
Slow And Steady Wins The Race
The sooner you accept the fact that you will never get anywhere fast when wearing heels, the better off you'll be. Wearing heels effectively means you must build in an extra half hour for going anywhere. You might not exactly win the race, but at least your reach the finish line in one piece!
Make Like A Horse
And trot. Many a girl has fallen victim to the totter, under the misguided belief that she will get to her destination much faster if she takes lots of small, quick steps (see above). This can be a costly error in judgement. Not only does tottering look beyond ridiculous, you are dicing with death because by concentrating on taking small, fast steps this means you are not able to negotiate your surroundings for topple potential. No, you must trot. This involves taking larger strides, in slower motion and you lift your foot slightly higher than normal. Imagine the street as a catwalk and you are a model. Trot with your head held high. Not only will you look graceful, you posture will mean you look much taller and leaner (obviously the heels help!).
Know Your Enemy
It's true that any surface that is cobbled, broken, cracked or uneven could spell complete disaster for you, but a much stealthier enemy awaits you, ready to take you by surprise and take you down! The side sloping pavement. The SSP is one of those pesky traps where the slope is not the length of the pavement, but the width (so it is essentially higher at one side that the other). This tricky beast has caused many a high heel soldier to be wounded in battle. You rarely see the SSP coming, it's only once you're on it do you realise your error, but by that time it's too late to go back, you just need to press ahead. Should you find yourself on an SSP, then the best thing to do is walk along the bottom end of the slope...slowly.
Know Your Limits
This may seem rather obvious but many a girl has been seduced by a pair of 5" stiletto's only to be reduced to tears after wearing them for 20 minutes. Whilst heel height limitation should be always be considered, you must also consider the heel type. A pencil thin stiletto may look gorgeous, but unfortunately they are the most lethal of all heels. I have come to realise that most heights can be accomplished providing the heel is reasonably thick. A thick heel will provide you much more stability for negotiating uneven terrain. Platforms are also a godsend. Not everyones cup of tea, but it's worth noting that a platform shoe not only affords you the ability to go higher, it also makes your legs look thinner. That can only be a good thing, right?
Don't be fooled by wedges though. You may think that because there's a whole lot of sole there that you will be most steady on this type of shoe - that is not always the case. If you find yourself on an uneven surface then a wedge will mean that you can only rock over the surface, whereas on a heeled shoe the heel can find itself steadied by pressing itself in between the offending uneven surface, which will give you more balance.
Call For Backup
Whilst I simply love high heels, I know that as long as I have rushing around to do I will always need to have a pair of flats handy. Back in 2007 BD (Before Dogs), I would wear flats going to work and carry my heels in my bag. I'd then change into my heels at work and just take them off when I was heading home (rushing to catch the bus). I could wear my heels when out for lunch because I knew I wasn't walking far. Now I have the dogs I have to rush home every lunch time, so my heels are confined to wearing in the office.
Well, that's pretty much my heel wearing advice. Everyone will have their own ways and how-to's but these simple rules have always worked for me. Good luck soldier!
Queen Michelle
