6 Tricks That Make Walking in Heels a Doddle

These changed my life.

Why does something so beautiful cause so much agony? Yep, I’m talking about heels.

My mum is one of those people who doesn’t leave the house is anything other than a pair of sky scrapers. She set the bar high when it comes to footwear, as evidenced by her ridiculously huge collection.

I’m less of a heel wearer myself, but I certainly have a few pairs. They’re all utterly beautiful, but the only problem is the pain that rears its ugly head when I wear them.

maya jama at london fashion week — Morgane Maurice

Not one to let anything stop me from wearing what I want, I did some research to discover the tips and tricks stars and heel lovers use to get around in theirs.

These changed my life, so if you’ve been pondering over how to walk in heels, keep scrolling.

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Walk heel to toe

You’ve probably heard this one before, but always walk heel to toe rather than the other way around.

This is how we walk in flats, so doing this in heels will make you look much more natural in your stilettos.

two women wear heels at london fashion week — Morgane Maurice

Start small

If you’re not used to walking in heels, look for a smaller heel to try first – none of this platform heels business (yet).

Mid and block heels are my particular favourites, as they’re easy to walk in and don’t hurt my feet. Wedges are a good option too, as these offer more support (and they’re one of 2023’s trending footwear styles).

Eventually you can graduate to higher heels.

Find a comfy pair

You might think all heels are meant to feel like agony, but that’s not the case. It sounds obvious, but you need to ensure your heels fit.

Try before you buy and make sure that your heels don’t feel too tight. If you’re shopping online, make sure you wear the shoes for at least 30 minutes at home so you give them a proper try-out before making a decision to keep or return.

If you’re wearing leather or suede heels or boots and they feel a little tight on the sides, it’s not too much of an issue as they’ll stretch with wear and mould to your feet, but if you can feel your toes at the end of the shoe, they’re too small.

Practise makes perfect

Practise walking around in your heels at home before leaving the house.

This is something I always do anyway to break new shoes so I’m not caught short with a painful blister when I have a whole day of walking to do. If you discover they’re ridiculously uncomfortable, you’re still able to return them.

When it comes to heels, it becomes even more important to practise walking in them and not just to wear them in. Just like anything, the more accustomed you get to walking on high heights, the easier it will become.

woman wears gold heels at fashion week — Shutterstock

Take it slow

Don’t rush! Take it easy and take smaller steps first.

Walking in heels is a bit like cycling. You should always look forward rather than at your feet. Not only will you avoid walking into anyone, but you’ll look confident in your skyscrapers.