Learning to walk in heels?

[basil]

Well, I finally found a pair of wedding shoes that I really love. I''ve been looking for a light gold peep toe ankle strap with a chunky heel for about 9 months now, and they finally came in from zappos yesterday! The only problem is that the heel is about 0.5-1 inch higher than I''m comfortable in...Zappos lists them at 3.5 inches and I think they are closer to 3.75 or 4. I really hardly ever wear heels on a day-to-day basis because I walk a lot to and from work, and then at work.

I''ve been trying to wear them around the house to get used to them, but my house isn''t that big so I don''t have much ground to cover. Any suggestions as to how to make myself get used them?

 

[monarch64]

I would try to find a shoe that is work appropriate that is also very similar to the shoes you''re considering wearing for the big day. Wear them at work for an hour at a time (bring your regular shoes to change in and out of) and see practicing in an everyday situation helps. Work up to wearing the high heels a couple hours a day and then maybe half a day at a time, or the length of time you think you''ll be on your feet on your wedding day. HTH!

 

[eks6426]

I found some shoes last fall that were 4" heels. I normally wear 3" max. I posted them up on PS asking more or less the same questions about "how to get used to them" I found that I just had to wear them in regular life. Walking around in my house didn''t work. I had to be wearing them at work, out to dinner etc to get used to them. I wouldn''t say I''m a pro yet, but after several wearings I''m a lot better. I don''t think about my feet in them too much unless I''m walking on uneven surfaces now. I think Monarch''s idea is a great idea...get work appropriate shoes that are similar and start wearing them a bit at a time--increasing the time you wear them each day. Good luck!

 

[Lorelei]

There is a knack to walking elegantly in heels, so again practise as much as you can is key. Also your balance is altered so it can help to practise a sort of heel first then toe with each step, and lead with your pelvis. This is a rubbish description as it is hard to put the method on paper, but try to watch yourself at a distance in a full length mirror, practise until you like how you move, then take note of your body's angle and what you did to create the elegant effect and foot positioning/ stride length. You want to aim for a nice relaxed and easy gait.

In the eighties I used to regularly go to clubs in almost 5 inch heel pointy stilettos, so today's heels seem easy in comparison!

 

[laine]

I''ve found that some heels are just balanced wrong, and that no matter how high they are or how long I try to walk in them, they wobble. Just something to consider--it could be the shoe and not you.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/3/2008 9:06:26 AM
Author: laine
I've found that some heels are just balanced wrong, and that no matter how high they are or how long I try to walk in them, they wobble. Just something to consider--it could be the shoe and not you.

Good point, sometimes heels seem to be placed too far back or forward, so you want to stick to those that you feel reasonably stable in, until you get the knack of that pair.

 

[basil]

Thanks for the advise, peeps!

I like Monarch''s idea about buying a new pair of work shoes with a heel! Any excuse to buy new shoes...

Anyway, here are my new babies...Not everyone''s style, but I like the vintage vibe.

 

[Lorelei]

Basil, I think those shoes are really cute, and you should get the hang of walking in them fairly quickly, as they have a nice chunky heel. They look a bit Ginger Rogerish to me!!

 

[AmyBride]

Another possibly helpful approach might be to practice using a slightly shorter heel, working your way up. Good luck!

 

[gtn]

I would do the same thing that Monarch suggested. I would also start off with a pair of heeled boots. That way, you get your feet and your legs used to walking around in the heels and your ankle would be supported. Also, make sure the week of your wedding, you wear heels so you get used to it. If you run around in sneakers, you body is not going to like it.

 

[diamondfan]

B, I love heels and practiced young. My mom had a good friend with really tiny feet who was very petite. She loved heels but could not stand breaking them in. She would give them to me to break in gently for her, and I was all of 8 (we wore the same size then). I thought I was ALL THAT in my size 5.5 adult shoes.

Walk around on carpet, and maybe get a nice gel type insole. Since those heels are chunkier your balance should be better and it should better distribute your weight.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 1/4/2008 10:52:16 PM
Author: diamondfan
B, I love heels and practiced young. My mom had a good friend with really tiny feet who was very petite. She loved heels but could not stand breaking them in. She would give them to me to break in gently for her, and I was all of 8 (we wore the same size then). I thought I was ALL THAT in my size 5.5 adult shoes.

Walk around on carpet, and maybe get a nice gel type insole. Since those heels are chunkier your balance should be better and it should better distribute your weight.

This story is adorable! I can just see an 8 year old girl feeling soooo fancy in her mom''s friend''s high heels! I wish I had practiced young...I''m terrible with heels! Luckily I''m 5''8" so I don''t really need the height!

I agree with just wearing these shoes around your house and also getting a similar pair for work. The heel on those isn''t too skinny so it shouldn''t take you too long to get used to them. I think they''re super cute, by the way!

 

[monarch64]

Date: 1/5/2008 1:11:28 AM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 1/4/2008 10:52:16 PM
Author: diamondfan
B, I love heels and practiced young. My mom had a good friend with really tiny feet who was very petite. She loved heels but could not stand breaking them in. She would give them to me to break in gently for her, and I was all of 8 (we wore the same size then). I thought I was ALL THAT in my size 5.5 adult shoes.

Walk around on carpet, and maybe get a nice gel type insole. Since those heels are chunkier your balance should be better and it should better distribute your weight.

This story is adorable! I can just see an 8 year old girl feeling soooo fancy in her mom''s friend''s high heels! I wish I had practiced young...I''m terrible with heels! Luckily I''m 5''8'' so I don''t really need the height!

I agree with just wearing these shoes around your house and also getting a similar pair for work. The heel on those isn''t too skinny so it shouldn''t take you too long to get used to them. I think they''re super cute, by the way!

Hee hee, thing2, I''m 5''10" and regularly wear 3+" heels! I really love being tall and I think if I ever start shrinking when I get older I''ll be very sad. I guess I''ll just have to get higher heels then and risk breaking a hip, LOL!

Basil, I love the shoes, they''re beautiful! Great vintage vibe, and the lace on the heels is really a cool touch. You''re gonna be fine, practice makes perfect and you will get the hang of it in no time. Lorelei''s advice was spot on, remember to focus on walking from the hip area, and also take normal steps, not baby steps, and lead with your toes. Do some people-watching on your lunch breaks or when you go shopping, or take a coffee break as well. Watch women walking in heels and you''ll get a sense of how natural it can look.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 1/5/2008 1:39:22 AM
Author: monarch64

Date: 1/5/2008 1:11:28 AM

Author: thing2of2

Date: 1/4/2008 10:52:16 PM
Author: diamondfan
B, I love heels and practiced young. My mom had a good friend with really tiny feet who was very petite. She loved heels but could not stand breaking them in. She would give them to me to break in gently for her, and I was all of 8 (we wore the same size then). I thought I was ALL THAT in my size 5.5 adult shoes.

Walk around on carpet, and maybe get a nice gel type insole. Since those heels are chunkier your balance should be better and it should better distribute your weight.

This story is adorable! I can just see an 8 year old girl feeling soooo fancy in her mom''s friend''s high heels! I wish I had practiced young...I''m terrible with heels! Luckily I''m 5''8'' so I don''t really need the height!

I agree with just wearing these shoes around your house and also getting a similar pair for work. The heel on those isn''t too skinny so it shouldn''t take you too long to get used to them. I think they''re super cute, by the way!

Hee hee, thing2, I''m 5''10'' and regularly wear 3+'' heels! I really love being tall and I think if I ever start shrinking when I get older I''ll be very sad. I guess I''ll just have to get higher heels then and risk breaking a hip, LOL!

Basil, I love the shoes, they''re beautiful! Great vintage vibe, and the lace on the heels is really a cool touch. You''re gonna be fine, practice makes perfect and you will get the hang of it in no time. Lorelei''s advice was spot on, remember to focus on walking from the hip area, and also take normal steps, not baby steps, and lead with your toes. Do some people-watching on your lunch breaks or when you go shopping, or take a coffee break as well. Watch women walking in heels and you''ll get a sense of how natural it can look.

Monarch, 5''10" is my goal height! I''ve always wanted to be just a few inches taller! At 26, I think I''ve stopped growing, though.

Oh well, I''m taller than most of my coworkers and friends, and I''ve got an inch on my fiance!

I actually love how tall I am when I''m wearing heels, but I usually have to get something with more of a platform under the ball of the foot so the heel doesn''t feel as tall on my foot. (If that makes any sense!) I also have a few pairs of platform-ish wedges that I can wear easily. It''s the real heels that I can''t do! If I was shorter, I know I would wear heels every day, though. My best friend is 5''3" and she always wears a wedge or a heel for the extra height.