How to walk in high heels
‘Shoulders back, stomach in, swing your arms and you’ll stay thin.’ This is the easy to remember mantra of Liz Brewer, a teacher of etiquette and social behaviour, when it comes to walking in high heels.
Liz, author of The Ultimate Guide to Party Planning & Etiquette, is a familiar face as one of the judges and teachers on Ladette to Lady.
When we meet she is at The Goring, London, with experts from Carnation Footcare, advising on how to walk in heels – and keep your feet looking fabulous.
‘We know that when we put on a pair of heels not only do we go up in the world but our self-esteem and confidence is boosted,’ says Liz.
‘Heels give lovely shape to the legs and the calves, it makes women look more elegant and it usually compliments their figure.
‘In order to be confident you have to learn how to walk, and you have to do so holding your head high without stumbling. It takes practice.’
There are two very common mistakes girls in heels make, she reveals. These are:
The shuffle: when you wear shoes that are extremely uncomfortable and difficult to keep on so you end up shuffling along your feet along.
The duck-bum: where you stick your bum out desperately trying to stay on your feet.
‘Going up and down stairs [in heels] is tricky,’ she acknowledges. ‘There we find the double-stepper or the clumper, both so desperately worried about falling that they’re looking at the stairs. It’s the most unattractive way to do it!’
‘When I was younger, we used to put a piece of holly under our chin, so we would keep our heads held high and we wouldn’t keep our eyes on our feet.
‘You can feel your feet, you can feel your shoes. When you get to the stairs, look at them, take them in and the vague measurements of the steps.
‘To go up, your toe touches the inside of the step. When you're coming down your heel should touch the back of the step.’
‘Even celebrities need to be taught,’ adds Liz, who taught Dame Shirley Bassey how to walk down stairs properly.
Never wear heels for a special occasion until you have tried them out first for a few hours.
Soak your tired feet in warm salty water for ten minutes before going to bed at night, especially if you have been dancing, standing or simply walking for a length of time during the evening.
Never drive in heels. Keep a flat pair of shoes in the car specifically for driving. (This will also prevent the scuffing of your shoes.)
NEVER EVER wear high heeled shoes which are scuffed, dirty or in need of repair. You will be judged accordingly!
For Carnation Footcare products go to www.carnationfootcare.co.uk
Liz, author of The Ultimate Guide to Party Planning & Etiquette, is a familiar face as one of the judges and teachers on Ladette to Lady.
When we meet she is at The Goring, London, with experts from Carnation Footcare, advising on how to walk in heels – and keep your feet looking fabulous.
‘We know that when we put on a pair of heels not only do we go up in the world but our self-esteem and confidence is boosted,’ says Liz.
‘Heels give lovely shape to the legs and the calves, it makes women look more elegant and it usually compliments their figure.
‘In order to be confident you have to learn how to walk, and you have to do so holding your head high without stumbling. It takes practice.’
There are two very common mistakes girls in heels make, she reveals. These are:
The shuffle: when you wear shoes that are extremely uncomfortable and difficult to keep on so you end up shuffling along your feet along.
The duck-bum: where you stick your bum out desperately trying to stay on your feet.
‘Going up and down stairs [in heels] is tricky,’ she acknowledges. ‘There we find the double-stepper or the clumper, both so desperately worried about falling that they’re looking at the stairs. It’s the most unattractive way to do it!’
‘When I was younger, we used to put a piece of holly under our chin, so we would keep our heads held high and we wouldn’t keep our eyes on our feet.
‘You can feel your feet, you can feel your shoes. When you get to the stairs, look at them, take them in and the vague measurements of the steps.
‘To go up, your toe touches the inside of the step. When you're coming down your heel should touch the back of the step.’
‘Even celebrities need to be taught,’ adds Liz, who taught Dame Shirley Bassey how to walk down stairs properly.
Liz’s Top Tips
Get a friend to film you on their Smartphone, show you how you’re actually walking and then practice. That will swiftly make you aware of how to put the proper swing into your stride and stop you ever walking like a duck again.Never wear heels for a special occasion until you have tried them out first for a few hours.
Soak your tired feet in warm salty water for ten minutes before going to bed at night, especially if you have been dancing, standing or simply walking for a length of time during the evening.
Never drive in heels. Keep a flat pair of shoes in the car specifically for driving. (This will also prevent the scuffing of your shoes.)
NEVER EVER wear high heeled shoes which are scuffed, dirty or in need of repair. You will be judged accordingly!
For Carnation Footcare products go to www.carnationfootcare.co.uk