How to Walk In High Heels

Being stylish isn't all about makeup and clothes. It's about attracting the right kind of attention (at the right time) and being thoughtful about every move: simply put, this is what separates the sophisticated women from the clueless naïfs. It doesn’t matter how polished your image is, if you don’t have the basics down pat it can squash your look. Herein, a crash course in how to walk in high heels. Give yourself an image makeover by trying on high fashion makeup, hairstyles and sunglasses in our virtual makeover studio.

"Whether you're looking to perfect your pageant walk, your model strut or your everyday heel-toe, heel-toe, bear in mind that you need to be conscious of the way you walk in high heels. The goal is never to blend in."

Walking sexy in high heels is really about becoming one with your shoe, so think of heels as a natural extension of your leg. If you’re a habitual wiggler or a novice who can barely manage a wobble, scraping the bottom of brand new soles along the curb of the sidewalk will make instant improvements to your stride (disclaimer: be sure you love ‘em because after that, no returns). The scuff marks will give you extra grip on carpets and hard surfaces, and keep you from falling face-first into a buffet table or reasonable facsimile. You can also put sticker grips on the bottom of your soles. Most department stores like Macy’s and Nordstrom offer a complimentary stash upon request with a purchase.

Always make sure to try on shoes in a store the way that you will wear them on the street. If you’ll be wearing a pair of pumps with stockings, bring a pair when you go shopping. Panty hose tends to create slippage and you may find that your foot will come falling out of the shoe. This is something you need to know before you buy so you can go down a size.

Hue Gelz gel inserts are handy little inventions that will hide in the toe box of your shoe to cushion the ball of your foot—very smart for those occasions that require prolonged periods of standing or dancing.

Forget about the walks you see on fashion runways: that doesn't go over well in real life. Take smaller steps to ensure a fluid motion and create stability by landing firmly on the ball of your foot.  Don’t be in a hurry, which may cause you to walk on your tippy toes, instead take your time and concentrate on holding your abdominals inward while pushing your tush out (and going with the natural side-to-side movement of your hips).