Mastering The Art Of Walking Tall In High Heels: 15 Tips & Tricks Revealed

Let’s begin by admitting that we all love to hate high heels. The pain is the first thing that people complain about when it comes to high heels, but it is also a must-have for parties and other special occasions. From lehengas and sarees to mini dresses and flared pants, high heels help you achieve added height and confidence in any outfit and they work wonders towards elongating your silhouette. 

So, if you’re planning to expand your shoe collection or are simply tired of looking at your high heels gathering dust, we’re here to help you master the art of walking in high heels. Keep reading as we reveal all the tips and tricks. 

Tips For Choosing the Right Pair

The most important part of buying high heels is to know which one will be the right fit. Here’s what you must know before hitting add to cart:

• Sizing: Do high heels seem to get tighter after taking a few steps? It’s because your feet swell due to the increased pressure. Consider sizing up while buying high heels. If possible, measure your feet after wearing high heels for a while so you can get the accurate size.
• Height: Footwear that raises your feet above the ground are considered heels and are broadly categorised by height as follows: kitten heel (below 2 inches), mid-heel (2–3 inches), high heel (3–4 inches), and extremely high heels (4.5 inches and above).
  

• Shape: The bottom part of your feet creates a specific shape when laid flat, and you should pay close attention to that shape while buying heels. For even weight distribution, ensure your feet are staying within the base and not bulging out.
  

• Budget: Consider your budget while buying high heels, especially if you’re a beginner. This type of footwear is not something you can wear regularly. If you wish to splurge on expensive heels, buy a similar budget-friendly pair to try out the fit and style first.

• Surface: Whether you are building your collection or buying high heels for a specific occasion, considering your most common surroundings is never a bad idea. If you are going to be walking on a surface of grass or cobblestones, wedges will be a better choice as compared to stilettos. 

How to Walk
Now that you’ve picked out the right shoes and are ready to take on the world, here’s how you can perfect that walk.

1. Smaller Steps: An underrated hack while wearing high heels is to take smaller steps. Longer strides are great while wearing flats, but smaller strides make you look elegant (who doesn’t love a dramatic entry?) while giving you the proper balance. Taking smaller steps also reduces the chances of tripping or falling as you’re more aware of where your feet are landing.
    
2. Don’t Strut: We would all love to recreate a runway model-like walk, but it’s not practical for real life. And trust us, it doesn’t feel great either. Strutting puts too much pressure on your toes and gets tiring quickly. Instead, try putting your heel down first, followed by your toe.
3. 1. Fake It Till You Make It: Confidence is key when wearing heels. Sometimes taking the focus away from something is the best way to master it. We want you to be careful (obviously) but don’t keep fidgeting with the heels.
      

• Posture: While heels do automatically require you to be upright, don’t expect them to do all the work. Straightening your back and keeping your knees tight will help relieve some of the pressure from your ankle and heel while walking.

1. Tighten Your Core: You must have heard gym trainers say ‘Keep your core tight’ a number of times. Well, walking in high heels is no less than a workout. Walk while tightening your core and engaging your abdominal muscles with each step. This helps with stability and improves your balance while wearing heels. 

Additional Tips to Try
Comfort remains a major part of the conversation while talking about high heels. Try out some of these tips and your feet will thank you when walking in high heels: 

• Trying Out Different Options: Wearing high-heeled stilettos is the ultimate goal for many, but try on different heel heights and types to make sure it’s right for you. If you’re going from flats to heels, wedges or block heels might be a better fit for you. If you have worn only kitten heels so far, block heels will be the right transition before you try high stilettos. Remember to slowly go up in the heel height so your feet can get used to them.
  

• Breaking Them In: One of the biggest mistakes people make is wearing high heels right out of the box and heading out. Instead, try wearing them around the house first and walk in them to stretch them as per your feet. This also helps avoid sore feet or blisters on the main event day. This will also rule out any issues with size and fit before wearing them outside.  
  

• Padded Inserts: A great trick for complete beginners, padded inserts will give you cushioning that is often missing in high heels and help you get used to walking in them. The padding will be positioned depending on the points on your feet that feel the most pressure or to add support for flat feet.
  

• Taping Toes: It is said that taping your third and fourth toes takes the pressure off a nerve that causes pain. However, consider this more of a hack to stay comfy in pointed shoes than proven science. It is also not recommended for open-toed shoes (unless you don’t mind the tape showing).
  
• Treatments: Never, ever ignore your injuries. Avoid wearing high heels if you are developing sores or blisters, as it will only cause you more pain. You can use over-the-counter ointments for minor blisters or consult a physician if the scab does not go away. Similarly, don’t overlook any muscle pulls or ankle pain. Give your feet a break when needed.