How to walk in high heels?

[drtjeckleberg]

The way i learned to walk in heels was i gradually adjusted to them. My first heels all had fairly chunky heels (like probably 1 inch thick stacked wood heels about 3 inches high). Something with an ankle or t strap might also help with stability. They weren't the prettiest, but I could walk stably in them. I would practice walking around in them on my kitchen floor since it is hard not like carpet. Also, this might sound weird but you also have to learn how to walk elegantly, kind of like runway models (but they do an exaggerated walk). A lot of times i will see women clomping along, when what you want to do is swing one foot in front of the other (kind of like you are walking on an invisible tight rope). It makes a huge difference in how your walk looks.

Then I just worked my way up to taller and thinner heels. I thought that I would never be able to wear stilettos because they always made me feel very unsecure like I might twist my ankle if I took a wrong step, but what I realized is that I just needed a pair that was properly proportioned. My first pair of stilettos was a pair of Ferragamo's and I was able to walk in them all night and my feet didn't even hurt after I took them off. I was truly amazed! They were literally the most comfortable pair of heels I'd ever worn. That's when I realized that it was really worth it to invest in a good fitting pair of heels and now I understand why people spend a lot of money on shoes.

But I don't think expensive necessarily means that it will be guaranteed good quality, you need to look at the individual shoes craftsmanship and the reputation of the brand in general. I've seen designer shoes where there was visible glue! For a starter shoe if you want good quality but at a lower price I would look in the $150-200 range and try to get it on sale. I don't own a pair but I think Cole Haan would be a good brand for a first pair of heels. I also like coach heels.

Personally I don't like platforms higher than 1/2 an inch, they make me feel like I'm walking on stilts. I agree with the posters above that wedges would be good starter shoes, just make sure that they are fairly lightweight (some are very heavy). If a shoe is heavy you will feel a lot more tired compared to if they are lightweight.

I don't think I will ever go past the 4 inch mark, I know that many shoes now have 4"+ heels but I just personally think it's kind of unsafe and bad for your bone structure to wear them for extended periods of time. Because even if it's a gorgeous shoe, if it's not comfortable, I'm probably not ever going to actually wear it so I'm just wasting my money.

 

[Macprincessx]

If you're going from wearing flats your whole life to trying heels... then the jump to 100mm heels is quite a leap!! It's more than okay to start shorter. Moreover, there are many fashionable heels in the 50mm-70mm range. (Valentino Rockstud kitten heels @ 65mm come to mind... )

So what's your issue with heels exactly?

Wobbly ankles?
Or wobbly directly over the heels themselves?
Pinchy toes?
Unstable back and forth feeling?
Or unstable side to side feeling?
Unsure of how high you are?
Can't feel the ground under your feet/shoe?

Do you know why you fell down when you wore your heels? Were they too high, too unstable, too tight, too thick of a platform/wedge, etc?

There are so many heels - but they're not all created equal - in terms of comfort, stability, heel thickness, pitch, sole thickness, footbed, depth, etc. While some people are comfortable in any pair of heels, others have specific requirements that make some heels more wearable than others. Figuring this out may help you find a pair that works for you.

Once you find a pair you like, you can practice with them and you can slowly work your way up to higher and higher heels. The confidence you gain in a shorter pair will help ease you into higher pairs.

GL!!

Hi! The issue I have when wearing heels is that my toes and my arch really aches! But the only heels I like are like £20 from a cheap retailer!! So maybe this is the reason and they are very high? Maybe investing in just 1 pair of expensive and comfortable heels might do it? I always stumble get wobbly ankles and can't keep my balance! I need help haha..

 

[newmommy_va]

Expensive isn't necessarily the answer. But... this is tpf... so there's plenty of advice here on which expensive shoes are worth the splurge.

In any case, when I was a beginner in heels, I bought all of my heels for approximately what you've been spending on yours. And many of them were very comfortable! On the other hand, I acknowledge that designer heels are of better quality and construction. Nevertheless, I also believe that one's standards for comfort change when one crosses over to designer brands.

As for the issues you've listed...

If your toes hurt - then focusing on styles with generous toe boxes will help. For toe boxes that are just a pinch too small, you can widen the toe box yourself (or have this done through a cobbler).

Unfortunately - if your arches hurt, when you wear heels - there's not much than can alleviate that. You could try arch inserts or chose brands that cater to comfort. But most heels are not deep enough to accomodate truly supportive arch supports. While brands that cater to comfort, typically don't offer the sleek, pretty styles we prefer in the look of heels... but many such brands include a little extra arch padding.

If you're wobbly and unbalanced - first, chose a manageable heel height. A heel that is too high will feel wobbly and unbalanced - regardless.

After that - ankle straps often provide extra support - even thin, narrow ones are surprisingly effective. Alternatively - the balance differs for every shoe. While thicker heels and heels extending straight from the base of the pad of your heel to the ground - are often balanced - many other heels are balanced too. I'll add that wedges and platforms are not necessarily easier for beginners, since feeling the ground beneath your feet can give you a "sure" feeling when you walk on a single sole.

A balanced heel - at the right height for you - with an adequate toe box for toe comfort - will not feel wobbly to you at all. The only way to know which heels are comfortable and balanced for you - is to try different heels. This can be exhausting, but if you enjoy shoe shopping, then you'll certainly come across some worthwhile pairs!!

Good luck!!

Hi! The issue I have when wearing heels is that my toes and my arch really aches! But the only heels I like are like £20 from a cheap retailer!! So maybe this is the reason and they are very high? Maybe investing in just 1 pair of expensive and comfortable heels might do it? I always stumble get wobbly ankles and can't keep my balance! I need help haha..

 

[Macprincessx]

The way i learned to walk in heels was i gradually adjusted to them. My first heels all had fairly chunky heels (like probably 1 inch thick stacked wood heels about 3 inches high). Something with an ankle or t strap might also help with stability. They weren't the prettiest, but I could walk stably in them. I would practice walking around in them on my kitchen floor since it is hard not like carpet. Also, this might sound weird but you also have to learn how to walk elegantly, kind of like runway models (but they do an exaggerated walk). A lot of times i will see women clomping along, when what you want to do is swing one foot in front of the other (kind of like you are walking on an invisible tight rope). It makes a huge difference in how your walk looks.

Then I just worked my way up to taller and thinner heels. I thought that I would never be able to wear stilettos because they always made me feel very unsecure like I might twist my ankle if I took a wrong step, but what I realized is that I just needed a pair that was properly proportioned. My first pair of stilettos was a pair of Ferragamo's and I was able to walk in them all night and my feet didn't even hurt after I took them off. I was truly amazed! They were literally the most comfortable pair of heels I'd ever worn. That's when I realized that it was really worth it to invest in a good fitting pair of heels and now I understand why people spend a lot of money on shoes.

But I don't think expensive necessarily means that it will be guaranteed good quality, you need to look at the individual shoes craftsmanship and the reputation of the brand in general. I've seen designer shoes where there was visible glue! For a starter shoe if you want good quality but at a lower price I would look in the $150-200 range and try to get it on sale. I don't own a pair but I think Cole Haan would be a good brand for a first pair of heels. I also like coach heels.

Personally I don't like platforms higher than 1/2 an inch, they make me feel like I'm walking on stilts. I agree with the posters above that wedges would be good starter shoes, just make sure that they are fairly lightweight (some are very heavy). If a shoe is heavy you will feel a lot more tired compared to if they are lightweight.

I don't think I will ever go past the 4 inch mark, I know that many shoes now have 4"+ heels but I just personally think it's kind of unsafe and bad for your bone structure to wear them for extended periods of time. Because even if it's a gorgeous shoe, if it's not comfortable, I'm probably not ever going to actually wear it so I'm just wasting my money.

Thank you for so much information! I have checked out coach shoes and they are really cute!! I think I might consider them as they are fairly cheap compared to most! Would you say they are a good start for a beginner?

 

[Macprincessx]

Expensive isn't necessarily the answer. But... this is tpf... so there's plenty of advice here on which expensive shoes are worth the splurge.

In any case, when I was a beginner in heels, I bought all of my heels for approximately what you've been spending on yours. And many of them were very comfortable! On the other hand, I acknowledge that designer heels are of better quality and construction. Nevertheless, I also believe that one's standards for comfort change when one crosses over to designer brands.

As for the issues you've listed...

If your toes hurt - then focusing on styles with generous toe boxes will help. For toe boxes that are just a pinch too small, you can widen the toe box yourself (or have this done through a cobbler).

Unfortunately - if your arches hurt, when you wear heels - there's not much than can alleviate that. You could try arch inserts or chose brands that cater to comfort. But most heels are not deep enough to accomodate truly supportive arch supports. While brands that cater to comfort, typically don't offer the sleek, pretty styles we prefer in the look of heels... but many such brands include a little extra arch padding.

If you're wobbly and unbalanced - first, chose a manageable heel height. A heel that is too high will feel wobbly and unbalanced - regardless.

After that - ankle straps often provide extra support - even thin, narrow ones are surprisingly effective. Alternatively - the balance differs for every shoe. While thicker heels and heels extending straight from the base of the pad of your heel to the ground - are often balanced - many other heels are balanced too. I'll add that wedges and platforms are not necessarily easier for beginners, since feeling the ground beneath your feet can give you a "sure" feeling when you walk on a single sole.

A balanced heel - at the right height for you - with an adequate toe box for toe comfort - will not feel wobbly to you at all. The only way to know which heels are comfortable and balanced for you - is to try different heels. This can be exhausting, but if you enjoy shoe shopping, then you'll certainly come across some worthwhile pairs!!

Good luck!!

Thanks for your help!! I have measured my current shoes and no wonder I couldn't walk in them!!! They are 6 inches!!! Oh my days!! :-/ I will defo take your advice and the other suggestions 3 inches to start to be the most!! Coach heels as recommended by another reply look good..ill see what's out there ill practice and practice! Thank you!!

 

[drtjeckleberg]

Thanks for your help!! I have measured my current shoes and no wonder I couldn't walk in them!!! They are 6 inches!!! Oh my days!! :-/ I will defo take your advice and the other suggestions 3 inches to start to be the most!! Coach heels as recommended by another reply look good..ill see what's out there ill practice and practice! Thank you!!

^ If you're interested in coach shoes, they send out 25% off codes pretty regularly in the mail to people who have made previous purchases, there are probably some people on the coach forum would could give you an extra discount code they might have if they were recently sent one. also sometimes on facebook they have 25% off codes for people who 'like' them (it will be advertised on the facebook page). they have a shoe sale on their site right now but usually the colors/styles aren't the classic looking ones. iirc they have a tan wedge in the shoe section that looks pretty work appropriate though.

also if you have a nordstrom rack around you, they usually have a few pair of coach shoes and cole haan shoes for around $100, and a lot of other brands too. i've seen them at tj maxx and marshalls usually a little cheaper than at nordstrom rack. usually you see the logo stuff more at the tj maxx/marshalls and the leather stuff (which i prefer) at nordstrom rack. i think i have 3 pairs of coach shoes and i got them all for at least 1/2 off (i paid in the $70-$80 range). i wouldn't pay full price for a pair since i know i can get them at least 25% off minimum.

 

[newmommy_va]

Oh dear - 6" is quite high - even for experienced heel wearers!! LOL

I went shoe shopping this weekend and there are many, many lovely heels that are reasonably priced. Like drtjeckleberg, I like the selection at Nordstrom - either on sale or at their outlet store (Nordstrom Rack). You can find a decent selection on their website, and they ship internationally.

Since it all boils down to what will fit you best... it's hard to give you brand recommendations. Plus, I don't know if the brands I prefer are as accessible where you are (since your location is UK?). I personally have really liked BCBG, Nine West, DKNY, CK Calvin Klein, Michael Michael Kors, Kors Michael Kors, & Cole Haan - for fit, comfort, ease of wearing, and quality for the price. (I like a roomy toe box and a stable heel, too!! ) You could also try Tory Burch (on sale), LK Bennett (on sale), etc.

Here's the current selection of sale shoes - for 2"-3" - from Nordstrom - to give you some ideas: http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/sale-womens-shoes?origin=leftnav#category=b60140511%7Cf8000464&type=category&marketingslots=1&page=1&defaultsize3=&size=&width=&color=&price=&brand=&instoreavailability=false&lastfilter=filtercategory_2&sizeFinderId=8&resultsmode=&segmentId=0. And here's a selection - in the mid heel range - from DSW - for even more ideas: http://www.dsw.com/womens-shoes/collection/pumps+.and.+heels/cat20006/page-1/#categoryId=cat20006&heelHeight=Mid&page=1&last=heelHeight.

GL!!

Thanks for your help!! I have measured my current take your advice and the other suggestions 3 inches to start to be the most!! Coach heels as recommended by another reply look good..ill see what's out there ill practice and practice! Thank you!!