Walk in Stilettos

A stiletto heel is certainly not your everyday shoe, but it is the shoe for elegant parties and other formal events. Walking in stilettos can be a challenging experience for a heels amateur--but fear not, your gracefulness and confidence will inevitably emerge, provided you're determined. All you need is this little how-to! Follow the steps below to learn how to walk in stilettos.

Steps

  1. Select a decent pair of stiletto heels to purchase. Avoid buying cheap stilettos because they tend to break easily, plus they just don't look as nice. Additionally, cheap stilettos can be incredibly uncomfortable, which is the last thing you want if you're going to be walking around all day. As you're trying on stilettos, there are a few key things you'll want to check to minimize the pain:
    • Check the fit of the toe. The shoe should not feel tight or pinched in any area as you walk. If your toe feels crammed into the end, it'll feel much worse after several hours of that pressure.
    • Check the width of the heel. It should not be too narrow; if it is, add a heel liner. The stiletto itself should be reinforced, but keep in mind that a plastic heel tip can be replaced with Mend the Curved Part of a Rubber Sole for a softer walk.
    • Check the centering of the heel and the placement of the arch. Ideally, the shoe's heel should be centered under your own heel and your foot arch should be completely supported by the Remove Uppers from Shoes. If there's a gap where the arch is, the shoe does not fit properly and will cause you pain.
    • Buy your proper size. This should go without saying, but sometimes a moment of weakness can cause you to think that buying a half size smaller than what you normally wear won't matter---just remember that it will!
  2. Proceed with caution as you begin practicing your walk. The higher the heel, the less stable you will feel, the greater the chance of a fall. When learning to walk in stiletto heels, take it slowly to begin with and practice in short bursts, allowing yourself rests between tries.
    • If you're not already familiar with walking in high heels, it is suggested that you try shorter heels before progressing to stilettos, increasing by half an inch (1.27cm) after mastering each height.
    • Consider stretching before wearing stilettos. This gives your legs a chance to limber up and be warm before the stiletto stretches the muscles in your foot.
  3. Begin by standing in the stilettos. Let yourself to get used to how it feels to have the stilettos on your feet. Since the feeling is likely to be new and a bit strange, only stand for a few minutes at the start, gradually increasing the time you stand in them, up to an hour. If that seems like a long time practicing, pick out your favorite book or get something else to do to keep yourself entertained.
    • You can sit down occasionally, since you presumably won't be standing for the entire time you're at your event, but try to stand as much as possible to get used to the feeling of the stilettos.
    • It is recommended that you stand in front of a Select the Perfect Mirror for Your Home so that you can assess your posture and adjust it as needed. You will probably notice mannerisms your body is trying to adopt to cope with the height and sway created by the heels. These little tics will only escalate the longer you stand in a single position, so try to readjust yourself every few minutes.
    • The surface of the floor should be non-slippery to prevent falling, but not too shaggy or your heels could get stuck.
  4. Start practicing walking in the heels. Initially, stay in the same area where you have been practicing standing. Walk to and from the mirror to see what you look like. Adjust yourself accordingly, and keep the following things in mind.
    • Step with your heel first, ball of the foot second, toes last. Follow a heel-ball-toe, heel-ball-toe rhythm, while distributing most of your weight on the ball of your foot, and toes, not over the heel. The higher the heel, the more your center of balance is shifted, so that your backside and chest are pushed out.
    • Stand straight, even if it leaves you feeling unbalanced. High heels tend to give a sensation of being unbalanced, causing the wearer to lean forward to compensate. You won't fall backwards when standing straight because the heel is anchoring you, so straighten up with confidence!
    • Place one foot out in front of the other. Always lead with the foot you're most comfortable with, the one that feels naturally inclined to step forward first. Take short, careful steps rather than long strides. Keep your legs close together as you walk and avoid bending over or hanging your head.
  5. Change surfaces. Once you're comfortable walking wherever you started off, try walking on a variety of floors (tiles, thick carpet, etc.) to see how it feels and to learn how to cope with changing surfaces underfoot.
    • Stay off impressionable surfaces like cork, as the heel will leave indentations that are permanent. You can also challenge yourself a little more by carrying things such as a bag, a cup of tea, a book, etc. Move about the house and simply get used to how it feels as you go, correcting your posture every now and then.
  6. Take a walk outdoors. Get adjusted to the feel of concrete, Make a Gravel Path, and other outdoor surfaces. You'll find that you sink into some surfaces, such as grass, so either avoid them or learn to glide over them quickly using the ball of your feet only (which can be hard work, so general avoidance of soft surfaces is advised).
    • Outdoor surfaces to beware of include cobblestones, steel grates, grass, soil, holes, and boardwalks.
    • Stairs require learning of their own. Always land on each step in a sideways or sidestepping motion when descending, with all of the foot landing on each step at once (heel, ball, and toe). When ascending, only use the sole/flat area of the shoe to climb up the stairs.
  7. Attend the Parties in your stilettos and enjoy yourself. Your hard work to get to this point has paid off, and now it's time to party!
    • One neat trick that can come in handy for the novice stiletto wearer is to take along a spare pair of shoes in case the stilettos really begin to hurt you. Quietly change the shoes unobserved toward the end of the occasion so that you can either dance, or go home in complete comfort.
    • Having a little shoe bag for containing the shoes discreetly is a wise option.



Tips

  • Learn how to walk in long clothing and stilettos if relevant. Long clothing, such as evening gowns and pants suits can catch on stilettos and cause accidents or damage to the clothing, so it's important that you know how to walk in such clothes when wearing stilettos.
  • Take some pain relief tablets with you in case you end up in agony by the end of the event.
  • Calf muscle strengthening exercises can help you if you plan on wearing stilettos regularly.
  • Vary heel heights through the day for kinder treatment of your legs and feet. Leave the stilettos for short stints, such as the cocktail party, and always have flats on reserve. It is also recommended that heels only ever be worn part-time.
  • Always break in new shoes before intending to wear them for a party, especially if you're expecting to dance and stand for hours.
  • Good posture is absolutely vital for successful stiletto wearing; whatever else you do, make sure good posture is maintained at all times.
  • Thin liners for the ball area of the shoe are available. These provide a "cushioning" effect and will help prevent your foot from sliding forward in the shoe and getting crushed, cramping your toes.
  • Practice a lot.
  • It is recommended by medical experts that you don't wear a heel that is higher than 3/4 of an inch or one inch (2.5cm); this will allow for the maximum amount of gracefulness without falling over and injuring yourself. However, stilettos can go higher than six inches (15cm), so recognize that the higher the heel, the more precarious it is to walk.
  • There are classes offered in some communities or shoe stores for walking in high heels. Have a look online or ask around. You might also ask a friend or someone who sells shoes to help you learn.
  • Higher heels shorten your stride and make you tale smaller steps. Wear a pencil skirt to help remind you do this so you walk more naturally.

Warnings

  • Some people espouse looking gorgeous over feeling comfortable by accepting that looking good isn't always about feeling good. For a big event, this is an okay attitude but don't take it to extremes and consider it's the norm for all occasions. Elevated heels can result in foot, calf, hip, and back pain.
  • High heels can damage your feet and legs if care is not taken. See your doctor if you experience pain as a result of wearing high heels. Problems that can occur include DVT (deep vein thrombosis), broken bones or fractures from falls, ball-of-foot pain (metatarsalgia), cracked skin, and unidentifiable pains.
  • Don't try on new shoes first thing in the morning or after you've been on your feet all day. Your feet will be at their worst at these times.
  • Never drive in stilettos or high heels of any kind. Always keep a pair of safe driving shoes in the car and change into them for driving.
  • Not everyone can walk in stilettos. If you have tried and continue to feel nothing but pain, or you totally lack confidence that this is ever going to work for you, then don't fret. There are plenty of fantastic shoe alternatives in the world to keep you appearing just as beautiful as ever, and they don't have to be stilettos. Hand your failed pair of stilettos over to a friend who can make use of them and use this as an excuse to go out and buy a chic pair of shoes with a heel size, or even no heels, that you know you'll love walking in. It is just not worth getting into a tizzy over – if stilettos aren't working for you, they're just not worth persevering with.
  • Running in stilettos is not recommended. You could try but it's not likely to end prettily.

Things You'll Need

  • Stilettos
  • A safe place to practice

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