Fun & Famous
walking in heels? this is how you do it.
Ever wondered why that friend of yours always walks around so confidently in heels whereas you feel as though one mile is already too much to handle? Guys, learning how to walk in heels is a form of art. And that too is something you can learn.
Our headquarters is divided into team heels and team sneakers. We’ve got our editor in chief May-Britt, our editor Liesbeth and myself on team heels. And then on the other end you’ll find our health and beauty editor Jet and Joss who prefer walking around in sneakers. But as an advocate for team heels, all I want to say is, it’s all about how you train yourself. Podiatrist Margaret Dabbs has five tips that are going to teach you to walk in heels (responsibly).
1. Train your arch
“Your foot’s arch moulds itself to whatever shape you put it in,’ says Margaret, ‘so if you live in Converse then you’ll have flatter feet than someone who has built up their arch support by wearing heels more often. Likewise someone who wears heels every day may struggle to wear flats again, because the instep is now so high and the Achilles tendon has shortened.”
2. How wide is your foot?
“Wide feet need room. You’ll put pressure on the bunion joint and crush your toes if you squeeze feet into a style that’s too narrow at the front. Pain can come from the cut of the shoe as much as the heel itself.”
3. Skip the platforms
“You can’t walk anywhere fast in mules, but flatforms are the worst offenders. The inflexibility of the sole means you could go over on your ankle and the stomping movement is terrible for knees too.”
4. Vary your height
“Switch your heel height regularly so that the foot doesn’t get stuck in a certain shape. Change your footwear throughout the day – I’ll wear trainers on the commute, slip heels on for a meeting and then do wedges for after work drinks. 1.5 inches is the optimum, but varying heights will keep your arches supple and the feet fit.”
5. Practice, practice, practice
Lastly, a personal tip of mine. When you buy new shoes and you’re unsure about how you look walking in them, wear them at home for the first month that you have them. Practice until it becomes somewhat of a second nature. Still struggling? Go for a lower heel next time and slowly go up in height. Or just throw out the shoes you bought. Painful, I know, but sometimes it’s your only option without looking like a fool.
