Walking tall

Walking in high heels poses a problem for many women. Some women take to heels naturally. They can swish about in them in absolute style and even run in them if they have to. Others, it seems, need not only hours of practice, but expert advice from the Internet to keep upright on anything higher than a pair of trainers. I pass no judgement, however, as I fall into the latter category. I save the dubious pleasure of heels for special occasions, like weddings. Whether my own wedding will merit the same honour has yet to be decided.

It’d take weeks of practice for me to feel confident enough to stride, or preferably glide, down the aisle in heels, especially in an expensive white dress, with 70-odd guests looking on. I would like their stares to be admiring, and not grimacing as they try to stifle laughter at the sight of me lurching like an ostrich on stilts.

Women can take comfort in the fact that they are not alone in their quest to sashay elegantly down the street. Men also turn to the World Wide Web looking for advice on how to wear high heels. Highheelspassion.blogspot.com has an article specifically on high heels for men. It includes all sorts of tips that are very useful for anyone who wants a loftier view.

For example, they say that when you first you embark on a life in heels, start small - with kitten heels - work your way up to wedges and only then tackle stilettos. They also advise that you test heels to see that they aren’t too tall for you before you buy them. The test is simple, while wearing the shoes, stand on a level surface with your knees straight. Raise yourself onto your toes so that there is an inch between the heel and the floor. If you can’t do this, you know that the heels are too high.

Other useful tips for men and women include taking smaller strides when wearing high heels. The higher the heel, the shorter your steps will become, so try not to stride it out, you’ll end up looking like a gorilla in fancy dress. Place your heel down first and then your toe. Don’t smack your whole foot down at the same time. You will also look more elegant and your hips will sway more naturally if you put one foot ahead of the other and keep your toes straight.

Practice walking on several surfaces, not just the carpet in your passage. Walking on wood is different to walking on grass or gravel. Follow the Boy Scout motto: be prepared for everything. Preparation will help you avoid pitching forward onto your face because you didn’t consider walking on cracked pavements.

Those who aren’t confident enough to tackle heels need not fear, as the Internet is full of other, equally valuable advice. If you haven’t figured out how to walk in those pesky flip-flops yet, a quick search online will see that you get started on the right foot, or the left; it’s really up to you.

Recommended sites:
http://highheelspassion.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-walk-in-high-heels.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Look-Good-Walking-in-Heels
http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-and-Walk-in-Flip-Flops

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Phineas Products quality shoe hanger manufacturers one of the leading manufacturers of shoe hangers and shoe related products in the UK.