How To Walk In Heels

When we choose to wear heels (and believe me, there are times when I think heels are the right shoe for the job), we are asked to perform a set of skills that few of us have much practice in. Heels are hard. Uncomfortable. Unstable. And yet, it is possible to look graceful when wearing them. Today I want to share some tips I have learned to make walking in heels a little bit easier.

WATCH A PRO.
I think it is helpful to have a visual of what it looks like to successfully walk in heels. Successful heel walking should look like walking normally, which is to say, no one should be able to tell by the way you walk that you are wearing heels. No hunching. No hobbling. No awkward gait. To see the magic in action, find a pro and watch them closely. A few of my favorite heel-walking pros? Kate Middleton. Meghan Markel. Sarah Jessica Parker. Rebecca from Ted Lasso (played by Hannah Waddingham). Each of these women look shockingly normal when walking in heels, appearing elegant and effortless, almost like they aren’t wearing heels. This is our goal when wearing heels: to walk normally.

PICK THE RIGHT SHOE FOR YOUR FOOT.
With our end in mind, it’s time to choose the right shoe for the job. Not all heels are created equal, and it helps to know the needs of your specific foot. The easiest heels to walk in are wedges or block heels because the base of the heel is wide. Traditional heels are less stable and require more balance, and the higher the heel, the trickier the endeavor.

Personally, my foot has a very narrow heel which means when I don a pair of traditional heels, the back of my foot slips out making it nearly impossible to keep the shoe on and walk well. From time to time I employ heel inserts (which really do help), but what I choose to do more frequently is choose a heel with an ankle strap. The ankle strap anchors the shoe to my foot, removing the slipping issue altogether.

TIGHTEN EVERYTHING.
I know it sounds funny, but walking in heels is a workout. If you are doing it correctly, you will engage your core, lift up from the top of your scalp, relax your shoulders, tuck your pelvis in a bit, and tighten your legs Sometimes after wearing heels for an event, parts of my upper quads will be sore because walking in heels uses different muscles than walking in flats. The job of looking graceful in heels really is made simpler when we are aware of how we are holding our body, keeping our frame supported from our core and being conscious of our posture.

PRACTICE OFTEN.
As with anything, the only way to get better at something is to practice, and walking in heels is no exception. There is a reason we look clumsy and clunky in heels if we are only wearing them once a year to a special occasion. I am not suggesting that we need to wear heels more frequently, but I am suggesting that if you know you will be wearing heels for an upcoming event, start practicing weeks in advance. Wear them around the house. Find out where you might need an insert or to work up a callous. Practice your posture and let your let muscles adjust.

USE AN INSOLE.
I have discovered an insert that has completely changed my heel-wearing game. I thought it was too good to be true when I saw the ads, but after ordering a pair and using them, I can report that the hype is true. The inserts are called Vivian Lou Weight Shifting Insoles, and they shift the angle of your foot in the shoe to take some of the pressure off of the ball of your foot and shift it into the back of your foot.

Do the inserts make heels pain free or as comfortable as sneakers? Of course not. But I find I am able to wear heels longer, walk in them with more confidence and comfort than before using the inserts. If you’re interested in trying them, here is a link, and make sure you watch the video on how to insert them.

QUALITY MATTERS.
As a final note on finding success in walking in heels, the quality of shoe has a lot to do with the end result. Cheap heels can be really awful. And yet, well-constructed, high-quality heels are expensive. As I get older, my appreciation of fewer, nicer things is growing. I would rather have one pair of high-quality heels than five pairs of cheap heels that are never going to perform well. One of my favorite investment heels comes from Sarah Flint (the Perfect Pump is a very classic choice). If you have a favorite high-quality heel brand, I would love to hear your thoughts.

I hope these thoughts on how to walk in heels has helped, and if you’re looking for a visual, I have an Instagram Reel sharing some of my favorite tips and tricks in action.

HOW TO WALK IN HEELS