Help me walk in high heels!

[Mickey'sMainMami]

Ok ladies, I am 38 years old, and cannot for the life of me walk in stilettos. I can walk fine in a thicker heel, but I bought a beautiful pair of heels with very skinny heels, and I cannot walk in them. My biggest issue is that when walking Heel first (like they tell you to on the internet) I hit the back rim of my heel as it comes down and I start to slip. I even took them to a shoemaker who told me that the heel cap was too plastic and was making me slip. Yeah, well $20 later and supposed new heel caps, and they still make me feel like I am slipping. I have looked at every youtube video, life hack, and cannot figure out what I am doing wrong! I have a wedding Friday that I really want to wear these too, it fits the dress perfectly. Ugh, I feel like if I could put some sticky stuff like rubber cement around the heel, maybe that would help. IDK, any suggestions, or am I doomed to never wear these beautiful shoes again...

 

[OhMari]

I pretty much think you half to just place all your weight on the ball of your foot. Take a pair of flip flops along. I see a lot of people change into their good shoes when they get somewhere and by the time dinner is over people take off their shoes and put on something more comfortable.

 

[fly girl]

Hmmm ...

I can't say I ever had that problem. The only suggestion I can give is to practice walking in them around your house.

I will admit, I do kind of walk with a march so maybe that's why it's a non-issue for me.

May you get some good advice on here, it would be a shame not to enjoy cute shoes.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

That's the thing, I walked around in them for like 20 minutes in the store and was fine. Walking at home in them fine. I think it's cuz of the carpet. Walking on cement, fine. Walking on a wood or marble floor, it's a disaster waiting to happen I tell ya.

 

[pryncess527]

I always find heels on slippery surfaces to be a challenge, I'm not sure it's you -- it's just the result of marble floors. That's where a supportive arm from my husband comes in handy! And lots and lots of practice.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Long ago, my mother made me practice walking in heels with a book on my head so I would do it properly. Yeah, it was a long time ago!

Anyway, one of the biggest pieces of advice that she gave me that has always stuck with me is to take smaller steps, and "walk light". Her intent was to keep me from sounding like I was a clogger walking on hard wood floors (we've all heard them, today they're called clackers), but it also helped to keep my balance better.

So remember, smaller steps, almost like you're just mincing along, it doesn't look funny with practice, but it will keep you from landing on your behind!

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

Long ago, my mother made me practice walking in heels with a book on my head so I would do it properly. Yeah, it was a long time ago!

Anyway, one of the biggest pieces of advice that she gave me that has always stuck with me is to take smaller steps, and "walk light". Her intent was to keep me from sounding like I was a clogger walking on hard wood floors (we've all heard them, today they're called clackers), but it also helped to keep my balance better.

So remember, smaller steps, almost like you're just mincing along, it doesn't look funny with practice, but it will keep you from landing on your behind!

Thank you, I will try to take smaller steps and see if that helps me!

 

[NotUrsula]

NEVER walk heel-toe. You have to take shorter steps and put the ball of your foot down first. Slippery new soles will make it worse, so a bit of sandpaper rubbed on the sole to roughen it up will help.

I actually had to think carefully about my answer; I've been walking in narrow heels for forty years now, and it took me a minute to think about the mechanics.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

take smaller steps, and "walk light"

That's what I was going to say. It sounds like OP is taking a longer stride than the angle of the heel hitting the ground can handle.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a downer, but there's just NO WAY this is going to work!

I would just go out and find another pair of cute shoes that work with the dress and at least plan to change into them early on. And I agree with having an arm to lean on!

I could actually run in high heels, lol, but my DD cannot walk in them to save her soui. No way, no how.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think it is foot, ankle, and Calf strength.

My one daughter who has been doing ballet for years tried on a random pair of 5 inch stilettos and not only walked in them but could RUN in them until I told her to stop since we were in a store and they were 5 inch stilettos. My other daughter can also walk in heels--having done dance for a few years.

Me, I have always felt I walk on stilts. I have been in ballet for nearly a year and actually finding it easier--without practicing in them. I assume this is because my feet, ankles, and calves are getting stronger.

So in addition to the practice, I would work on exercises that help strengthen those parts. And you might find it easier. I think my one pair of heels that I like is a 2-3 inch heel. Tall for me. I think they are Naturalizer brand and very comfy. But I can walk in them pretty easily.

I wish I could remember my ballet vocabulary to give you exercise suggestions. But I don't. A plie here, a releve there, an eleve here (pretend those have accents in there).

And I didn't take ballet to walk in heels. I did it to continue strengthening my formerly broken ankle and because I have always wanted to dance. Being able to walk in heels better is just a perk.

 

[littleblackegg]

Don't feel terrible. I love the way high heels look. I love how they make me look so elegant and tall. However, I have never been able to master them. It's platforms and kitten heels for me all the way.

 

[pryncess527]

NEVER walk heel-toe. You have to take shorter steps and put the ball of your foot down first. Slippery new soles will make it worse, so a bit of sandpaper rubbed on the sole to roughen it up will help.

I actually had to think carefully about my answer; I've been walking in narrow heels for forty years now, and it took me a minute to think about the mechanics.

I've been thinking about this too and I really don't think I walk heel-toe. That seems awkward . . .

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I walk heel toe.

Here's a tutorial. (that's not me. lol.)
http://www.ehow.com/video_4984419_walk-high-heels.html

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And there is even a class. The Stiletto Whisperer will teach you for $50. haha.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/class-teaches-women-walk-properly-high-heels-avoid-20021849

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

I'm dredging up old memories on this, because I'm 34 and I haven't worn heels since I was pregnant with my first child, but I used to own dozens of pairs of expensive heels.

Walking on heels is a whole different type of step, you have to retrain your brain and the best way to do that is to practice, practice, practice. Wear the shoes around the house while you're cooking and cleaning. You have to remember NOT to walk heel-toe. Firstly, walking heel-toe in high heels makes you sound like horse clip-clopping down the hall. Second; when wearing stilettos you have to balance on the ball of your foot--don't try to come down on those skinny heels with all your weight or you might just break one. They're not meant to hold any weight really, they're just there for balance and looks.

Practice walking around on your tippy-toes so you can look graceful on the big day, you kind of have to loosen up your hips to make your walk look more smooth (if that makes any sense). Good luck!

 

[elphaba91]

You can get stiletto stoppers/heel protectors - they are little plastic things like the base of a wine glass that slip on the end of the heel to make them sturdier for walking on grass, etc. They might help you a little bit and are only a few dollars so worth trying! http://www.ourlittleshoesecret.com.au

 

[Pea-n-Me]

ETA: LOL! Apparently I can't say that word. Oops, sorry mods.

Go back and edit it out (so you don't get "points"). Just hit Edit button and fix it.

 

[cabanafrau]

I think it is foot, ankle, and Calf strength.

My one daughter who has been doing ballet for years tried on a random pair of 5 inch stilettos and not only walked in them but could RUN in them until I told her to stop since we were in a store and they were 5 inch stilettos. My other daughter can also walk in heels--having done dance for a few years.

Me, I have always felt I walk on stilts. I have been in ballet for nearly a year and actually finding it easier--without practicing in them. I assume this is because my feet, ankles, and calves are getting stronger.

So in addition to the practice, I would work on exercises that help strengthen those parts. And you might find it easier. I think my one pair of heels that I like is a 2-3 inch heel. Tall for me. I think they are Naturalizer brand and very comfy. But I can walk in them pretty easily.

I wish I could remember my ballet vocabulary to give you exercise suggestions. But I don't. A plie here, a releve there, an eleve here (pretend those have accents in there).

And I didn't take ballet to walk in heels. I did it to continue strengthening my formerly broken ankle and because I have always wanted to dance. Being able to walk in heels better is just a perk.

Former dance mom too. Most importantly, your core is much stronger. Might not seem like it intuitively, but that probably has more to do with your increasing ability to walk easily in heels.

OP, I recommend you seek out a different shoe repair spot, one that will install what's sometimes referred to as cat's paws on your shoes, including the sole. They will provide the grip your shoes need on slicker surfaces -- and they'll quiet down stride noise too.

 

[Cadiewampus]

Ok I am dude and I really really don't get why you women put yourself through this. All I ever hear from women is how painful it is to wear this things and how they can make your legs hurt and the list goes on. I don't know maybe there is some guy out there that insists women where these but I have never met him.