So, I got myself brand new heels for spring/summer time (aren't they the cutest?) and I can't wait to wear them. Then I remembered this would probably be helpful.
I wore my official first heels in the first grade of high school, I think. They were so low, I'd call them flats now. But starting out, they were a big deal for me. I wore them about 5 times before I upgraded my game to the full 11 cm heel. That was an even bigger step, but it took me only about 10 minutes to get used to them. If you're not so lucky, here are some tips how to make walking in heels less painful and more graceful.
- Buying heels
Start small. Lower heels provide more stability and less difference between them and sneakers or flats you usually wear. Also, you'll learn how to keep balance without the risk of breaking your legs.
The wider the better. Having a block to support your leg is much better than having a tiny stick. Wider heel is more stable and your legs won't hurt as much because you can put more weight on your heel as you naturally would.
Wedges. Shoes with full heels are easier to control. Since there's no gap between your heel and toes, you're gonna have more of a feeling like you're walking in your flats.
Closed heels or straps. I personally can't wear heels without straps because my left leg is half of number bigger than my right one, so it's always a battle which number to buy. Straps, thin or wide, will provide much more support and your feet will not be able to move out of the heels which is super important!
Platforms. Although heels without platforms can look more elegant (and usually are), walking in platforms is so much easier even though it may not look like that (of course, it depends on the height of the platform as well). Even if you have wood under your toes, you'll feel more comfortable than walking on a thin layer of anything. I don't know what's actually happening here, but trust me on this.
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| I do not own any of these photos. |
- Testing heels
Walk in the store. It's not the same to walk 10 feet in the store and walking all day. That's why, when I choose the heels I plan on buying, I like to walk around the store in them browsing a bit more. That way I have them on for about half an hour so I can start to sense what I'm getting there.
Test the height of the heel. Once you try the heels, stand up straight and try to lift yourself up on the toes so the gap between your heel and the shoe is minimum 1 inch (2.54 cm). That way you'll know there is still room for your feet to move and heels are not too high.
Walk at home. After you buy your heels, go home and walk in them for some time. Don't do it all day every day cause your legs and feet will die. Choose an hour the first day, hour and a half the next and so on. You'll get used to them in no time.
- Adjusting the heels
Gel insoles or pads. These are your friends when it comes to walking in heels. I personally use gel insoles for the area under my toes and toe mounds (I Googled 15 minutes to get this word). Mounds are usually parts that suffer the most so having a soft gel or pad to soften the surface is a great thing.
Plaster. There are some shoes I can't wear even after few years of having them. That's why I already know where to put my plasters. But, if you wear the same shoes very often, I would suggest placing a plasters on the shoe so you won't throw away so many plasters. Replace them when you see there's no more use of them.
Sticky foam pads. There are like bandages, but they were made for shoes, usually for the part just above your heel where the edge of the shoe goes.
- Walking
Small steps. You'll see it's not that easy to make large steps in heels. Also, smaller steps provide more stability. The less time one foot is in the air, the less chance of loosing balance. Also, smaller steps look more elegant.
Different surfaces. Walking on concrete is the easiest. On slippery surfaces, make smaller and slower steps. If there are some uneven surfaces, like grass or gravel, put all your weight on your toes because your heel will get stuck either in mud or in stones.
Order of movement. While walking in heels, heel goes first, but it is immediately followed by the toes (small steps, remember?).
Distribution of the weight. Not all of your weight should be on your heels because they are usually thin and you could easily break them or loose balance. However, if they're thicker, you can put more weight on them. I'd suggest evenly distributing your weight on both your toes and heels, like you would do in flats.
Walking on steps. Steps can be really tricky while walking in heels. When you're walking up the stairs, all of your weight should be on the toes because you could easily miss the stair with your heel (happens more often than you think). While you're walking down the stairs, place you're whole foot at the same time and distribute the weight. Also, rails are there so you would have more support - use them.
- Extras
Have a break. It wouldn't be normal if you spend 24/7 in heels. It's OK to switch to sneakers and flats or whatever you find comfortable. Don't push yourself and let your feet have some rest.
Catwalk. You see all these models walking crisscross and you have a feeling they're gonna get tangled with their own legs. This style actually makes your walk look more elegant. I personally don't do that, but it does give some finishing touch to it.
Perks of wearing heels. Wearing heels should make you straighten your spine and have a great posture. With this, you should also feel more comfortable and more confident.
I really hope some of these helped you! Tell me your advice and experience!
