Help me walk in high heels!

[pryncess527]

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.

I like how I feel when I wear them, and I love how they make many of my dresses look better. Cheap heels hurt, but good ones don't hurt my feet unless I wear them for hours. My husband is pretty neutral on them - we are close to the same height so he'd probably prefer I wear flats.

 

[georgina]

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.

I'm not a dude and don't get why women wear them either! I think the negatives outweigh any perceived positives. But obviously we are in the minority. I've never cared much about shoes.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

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.

This is funny, because I danced and taught dance for 18 years! I can tap dance in a pair of high heel tap shoes, but this pair of heels is just not working for me! I don't even know if the shoes are stiletto's, I need to post a picture of them. I got them from DSW and paid about $70. They even have a platform sole, so they aren't ridiculously high...IDK, I am at a loss lol. I think I might take them to a shoemaker and ask them to shorten the heel a little bit, I have read that they can do that.

On another topic, do you think it's still ok weather wise to wear a pair of knee high boots? The dress I have for the wedding is awesome and if the shoes won't work, the next best look is a pair of high heeled boots that I have. It's only supposed to be a high of 60 on Friday here with a low of 45degrees at night, I am sure I can get away with it, right?

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

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.

Thank you, I am going to write that down and look for another shoe repair spot.

 

[elaine amj]

That's our weather here right now and after freezeing in strappy stilleto sandals last night, I put on high heeled boots today

 

[DiannaVM]

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!

This. As a child my knees and feet always seemed to face inwards a bit (it had something to do with my position in the womb. Basically while I was in there my legs were folded behind me). I am sure there is a name for that, but I don't know it. Anway as a child I had to wear a brace on my legs to "train" my feet into facing outwards and in the process this also helped my knees. I was told time and time again by the doctor that if I refused to wear my brace (it hurt the bones on my hips because the waist part was basically made of steel covered in leather) I would not be able to wear high heeled shoes.

Now, I still have an awkward-ish walk (there have been rare times I still trip over my own feet ) so basically I do what ColoradoDisneyFreaks said because I dont want to call more attention to myself. Someone once told me I should not wear high heels because I look funny walking in them. This advice is pretty sound though. Its not so hard to try to walk light on your feet as you may think.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

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.

You don't want to walk on the balls of your feet, you do want to walk heel to toe in a normal manner, just with much shorter strides, so you're not heavily slamming your heel down. If you pay attention, you can feel it, even when you're wearing flats, it just takes practice.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

This. As a child my knees and feet always seemed to face inwards a bit (it had something to do with my position in the womb. Basically while I was in there my legs were folded behind me). I am sure there is a name for that, but I don't know it. Anway as a child I had to wear a brace on my legs to "train" my feet into facing outwards and in the process this also helped my knees. I was told time and time again by the doctor that if I refused to wear my brace (it hurt the bones on my hips because the waist part was basically made of steel covered in leather) I would not be able to wear high heeled shoes.

Now, I still have an awkward-ish walk (there have been rare times I still trip over my own feet ) so basically I do what ColoradoDisneyFreaks said because I dont want to call more attention to myself. Someone once told me I should not wear high heels because I look funny walking in them. This advice is pretty sound though. Its not so hard to try to walk light on your feet as you may think.

You were pigeon toed. My younger brother was too, but only his feet, so his brace was just a pair of hard leather baby shoes attached to a metal bar permanently pointed out. He had to wear it at night for about a year.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is funny, because I danced and taught dance for 18 years! I can tap dance in a pair of high heel tap shoes, but this pair of heels is just not working for me! I don't even know if the shoes are stiletto's, I need to post a picture of them. I got them from DSW and paid about $70. They even have a platform sole, so they aren't ridiculously high...IDK, I am at a loss lol. I think I might take them to a shoemaker and ask them to shorten the heel a little bit, I have read that they can do that.

On another topic, do you think it's still ok weather wise to wear a pair of knee high boots? The dress I have for the wedding is awesome and if the shoes won't work, the next best look is a pair of high heeled boots that I have. It's only supposed to be a high of 60 on Friday here with a low of 45degrees at night, I am sure I can get away with it, right?

I live in Florida...I have no idea. Haha. Those temps sound about right for it, though.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

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.

Probably--but if you saw my ankles about a year ago...it's a surprise that looking at high heels didn't make me fall down. I tried walking on my tip toes today and I was amazed at how stable I am now. (I didn't want to dig out the heels. lol.)

 

[cabanafrau]

Probably--but if you saw my ankles about a year ago...it's a surprise that looking at high heels didn't make me fall down. I tried walking on my tip toes today and I was amazed at how stable I am now. (I didn't want to dig out the heels. lol.)

That's fantastic! You go, girl!

 

[goofy4tink]

This is funny, because I danced and taught dance for 18 years! I can tap dance in a pair of high heel tap shoes, but this pair of heels is just not working for me! I don't even know if the shoes are stiletto's, I need to post a picture of them. I got them from DSW and paid about $70. They even have a platform sole, so they aren't ridiculously high...IDK, I am at a loss lol. I think I might take them to a shoemaker and ask them to shorten the heel a little bit, I have read that they can do that.

On another topic, do you think it's still ok weather wise to wear a pair of knee high boots? The dress I have for the wedding is awesome and if the shoes won't work, the next best look is a pair of high heeled boots that I have. It's only supposed to be a high of 60 on Friday here with a low of 45degrees at night, I am sure I can get away with it, right?

I went from flats to 'spike' heels at the age of 13! I can walk, run, dance in 4" heels. But....put a platform on the shoe and I have problems! That could be your issue. For some reason, your gait is different with a platform shoe. I find my shoe heel slips a lot more with these shoes. If you catch the edge of that heel, out the foot goes. Not pretty. I would suggest trying a different pair of heels...without any kind of platform.
I love wearing heels, but I can't tolerate them for more than a few hours anymore. My poor feet are old now...guess it's better to feel good, than to look good!!

 

[kimblebee]

I'm not a dude and don't get why women wear them either! I think the negatives outweigh any perceived positives. But obviously we are in the minority. I've never cared much about shoes.

We are soul mates lol. I own three or four pairs of shoes..and my favourite is my crocs to boot LOL

 

[Kitty 34]

At my age the only way I could walk in high heels is with the help of a walker!!!

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

Thank you all for the replies and advice! I am thinking I am wearing boots tomorrow night and will work on practicing in the heels around the house!

 

[elaine amj]

I went from flats to 'spike' heels at the age of 13! I can walk, run, dance in 4" heels. But....put a platform on the shoe and I have problems! That could be your issue. For some reason, your gait is different with a platform shoe. I find my shoe heel slips a lot more with these shoes. If you catch the edge of that heel, out the foot goes. Not pretty. I would suggest trying a different pair of heels...without any kind of platform.
I love wearing heels, but I can't tolerate them for more than a few hours anymore. My poor feet are old now...guess it's better to feel good, than to look good!!

It's true - platforms throw off your balance. They have a more comfortable arch but I walk MUCH more carefully in them than in regular heels. In particular, I pay a lot of attention to any uneven surfaces. VERY easy to lose balance.

I also remember my first pair of long pointy toes. I tripped a lot over the toes of those shoes in the beginning!