How to walk in heels like a cat walk model

It’s no secret that I love my high heels, the higher the better. No matter what the occasion or outfit, if I was allowed to I would attend my yoga classes in heels (giggle). Which meant I got to spend a lot of time answering the question “how do you walk in high heels?”

Before I get around to answering that question, I want to quickly dispel some myths about what some would consider the black art of walking in high heels.

Almost every piece of commentary I read about women in heels includes the word “tottering” – almost always used in a negative fashion. I did not totter. Not all people totter in heels. Some people do, gurls you know I am talking about you. Obviosuly she can walk in heels, however I selected this image to explain what not to do. The tottering effect occurs when you place the ball of your foot down first, rather than your heel.

Lets get one thing straight, high heels are not designed for comfort. They’re just not. They’re designed for style, and while some heels can be relatively comfortable (and I would never advocate wearing shoes that actively hurt, or that you can’t walk in, unless ofcourse it is a punishment for being a bad gurl) the key word here is relatively. 

Heels are sexy, they exaggerate your hip rotation, as well as bust, bum and body contours. They change your gait in a way that causes smaller, more frequent steps, greater pelvic rotation and an increased pelvic tilt. This impact can be seen on catwalks everywhere the model strut or the catwalk walk is an extreme and often deliberate example of how heels can impact every part of your persona. 

 

Getting started
If you’ve never worn heels on a regular basis, a pair of 6″ stilettos probably isn’t the best place to start. Instead, go for something mid-height, yes I know you all want to wear hooker heels, (rolling my eyes) gurls start at 3 inches (giggle the size of most gurls sissy clits) and, once you’re used to walking in those, start to gradually work your way up. 

Thinking about it now, I think this is how I “learned” how to walk in high heels: I wasn’t aware of it as a learning process at the time, but I know the heels I considered super-high as a teenager, say, would feel pretty low to me now, so I think I started small and moved up without really noticing.

In general, the thinner the heel, the harder it’ll be to balance on it, so when you’re still getting used to walking in high heels, choose thicker, sturdier heels, which will give the foot more stability and give you more confidence, when moving around your home serving your wife in your darling little maid outfit. 

Fit is particularly important with heels, because if you’re struggling just to keep them on your feet (or wincing in pain every time your foot hits the ground), you’ll find it practically impossible to walk in them. In fact, shoes that are constantly slipping off your foot can actually be dangerous, because you run the risk of stepping right out of them, or going over on your ankle. 

It’s almost too obvious to write down, but buy shoes that fit, and you’ll find them much easier to wear. There’s no substitute for shoes which fit perfectly, but if you’re having issues with the heels slipping, you can buy heel grips to make them feel a little more secure.

Take note of this slow motion image - we can see the importance of posture, heel to toe and shorter gait. They do need more and a fluid motion to their walk and rotation of their hips which we can see clearly in the image below

Walking up and down steps can be awfully scary in heels. Although these two handle it with such grace do note they place each foot in front of the other as if they are walking along an invisible line. The girl below has opted for lower heels and a much wider heel this helps if you are going to be on your feet all day, perhaps out shopping for your new dress or yummy lingerie.

We can see the girl below pasuing for a brief moment and using the hand rail to steady herself she also steps everso slightly sideways to help manage the steps, she has the challenge of walking in heels and a short and tight skirt making it so much more difficult to manage the steps.

Place your heel on the ground first
High heels don’t just make you walk taller, they also force you to walk differently. In flats, sneakers or flip flops, your full foot hits the ground more or less at the same time. In heels, however – and particularly in very high heels – this method won’t only feel uncomfortable and awkward, it’ll look like that, too. Instead, you need to adapt the way you walk so that your heel comes into contact with the ground first, followed by the rest of the foot.

Practice is the key, and as silly as it might sound, you might find it useful to try to practice in front of a mirror (or get someone to film you, even): sometimes being able to see yourself walk will help you identify anything you’re doing wrong, and work out what you need to change.

Taking baby steps. Like it or not, you can’t really stride or run in heels (well, you can, and once you know how to walk in high heels, running in them won’t seem like a big deal, but you’re probably going to want to wait until you’ve mastered the “walking” bit first!), and if you try to march along with your arms swinging by your sides, it might look a little bit unnatural. Again, being able to see yourself in a mirror will really help with this, and you should instantly be able to see what looks natural, and what doesn’t. In general, though, try to take smaller, slower steps than you would in lower shoes.

A lot of women have a tendency to hold themselves very stiffly when they’re learning how to walk in high heels. This is partly because of the different way your body moves in heels (your might think your feet and legs are doing all the work, but your lower back and abdomen are working hard too, and are often the first places you’ll feel the strain if you’ve been overdoing it), of course, but it’s also natural to stiffen up if you’re feeling off-balance. Try to relax not only will it look more natural, elegantand sensual it will also mean you are not feeling exhausted at the end of the day.

 

 

The objective is fluid feline elegance. Every movement must flow, your heels and outfit aiding to the overall illusion and wonder. Pure femm bliss.

So now you have the basics, lets learn to walk like a model.

Think face-first
Before you move a muscle, set the mood with your face. While your walk should be purposeful and powerful, your face should be composed and relaxed. Choose a point in the distance to focus on as you stride—think of it like “spotting” in ballet, where a dancer fixes their gaze on a single location to control their balance and direction. This fixed gaze look is can convey an attitude often cited as bitchy, don't worry own it.

Keep your head up
Keep your gaze forward, with your head up and a slight downward tilt to your chin. All of this will evoke confidence and make it a bit easier for people to see your facial features. While it’s tempting to glance down to watch your steps, don’t do this. Take a page from the old Miss Manners training manual and act like you’re balancing a book atop your head as you practice to keep your gaze straight ahead. 

Pull your shoulders back

Create an elegant line by pulling your shoulders slightly back and down. Practice this in front of a mirror; you may find that you’re pulling back and down too aggressively, which leaves you with an unnaturally puffed-up chest. Instead, think about pulling your shoulders up to your ears and then quickly dropping them down into a natural spot. Then gently roll them back a few times to find a spot that feels—and looks—elegant and natural.

 

Stand up straight

It sounds simple enough, but standing up straight can be a game-changer. By elongating and straightening your spine, you also lengthen your entire body, and the result is a strong, clean line that makes for a powerful visual (and the ideal clothing hanger). You’ll want to balance this with an easy stance so that you don’t look stiff and uncomfortable—think long, strong core with relaxed limbs.

 

Walk in strides to a smooth rhythm
With a long—but not comically so—stride, place one foot in front of the other, almost as if you’re walking along a thin, invisible line. Walking at a natural, medium pace with a consistent rhythm will give your hips a slight sway and personality, as well as control over the glide of your feet and legs. Remember that it’s not a race, but it’s also not a slow crawl. Practice your walk to songs with different tempos to get a feel for what works for you.

 

Keep your arms relaxed by your side
It may be tempting to swing your arms, but try to keep them controlled. Again, ease and fluidity are the keys here: Stiff arms and hands look robotic, while naturally hanging arms look poised and collected.

 

 

Pivot with ease
If you want to make a point or show off a little and present yourself, slow down a bit before you reach the end of your walk, glide into your turn so it’s fluid and doesn’t break the cadence of your stride. Gently plant your feet and sway your hips from side to side once, shifting your weight from one leg to the other, to give guys a chance to take you in. Count out a few seconds before fluidly turning into your return walk. 

 

Remember to relax and keep it natural
You’ll feel a lot more confident when you relax into your walk and stop overthinking. The more you practice, the easier and more natural it’ll become.

Practice at home! Put on some high heels, turn on some music, and walk up and down all types of floors. For example, you might walk on carpet and hardwood inside, and on grass and cement outside. As you walk, practice striking a pose, turning around, and coming back. Most of all have fun with your heels gurls.