How to Walk Properly in Heels

How do you walk smoothly in high heels? Practice, practice, practice! Your heels won't look so fab if you fall out of them, so you have got to spend some time walking around in them and getting comfortable. You can't walk the exact same way in high heels that you walk in flip-flops or sneakers. Here are some tips to help you strut your stuff in heels.


On Your Mark
Start by simply putting on your high-heeled shoes and standing in them. Stand in front of a full-length mirror and turn sideways so you can see your profile. Practice getting into a pose where you can stand up straight, without leaning back way too far, or
sticking your butt in the air. Once you've got your stance, move on to walking practice.

Get Set
To practice walking in your high heels, first—relax! It's not really that hard.

Go!
Lean back slightly. High heels tend to push your body forward, so you have to lean back a teeny bit to stand straight. You should be familiar with this from your standing exercise above. Now take a smooth, even stride forward
with one foot, bringing the heel down first and the rest of the foot quickly and smoothly following.
Don't put extra weight on the heel as it touches down—just roll off it so the whole foot bears your weight as you step onto it. Toes should point straight forward, or maybe slightly outward (if that's easier for you). Keep legs straight and close together as you walk. Gently swing arms to help you balance.
You may find that when you walk in high heels, it's easier to take smaller steps than normal. You definitely should avoid doing anything other than walking—running in heels is only for the very experienced (like the Sex and the City characters—but they're all a lot older than you!). You will probably also find that you can't stand for too long if you're not used to heels, because your calves and maybe your back will get sore.

Extra Credit
It's a good idea to kick off your heels when you hit the dance floor. If you think you might want to try dancing in your heels, practice a ton at home before trying it in public. Dance in front of music videos in your living room while wearing your heels, to see if you can pull off your regular moves in your new shoes.

A Word to the Wise
High heels are not great for us girls, but many of us insist upon wearing them. If you wear heels, try to give your body a break by wearing flats from time to time. After all, flats are totally hot this season too!