How to Do the Runway Walk

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By DaniaDenise
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You can't be a true fashion model if you don't know the runway walk.

If you dream of walking the runways in fashion shows, you'll have to perfect your runway walk. Surprisingly, there's more to it than the physical act of walking. Whether you aspire to be a fashion model or just want to walk like one, these easy steps will allow you to practice until you can do it in your sleep.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

All models have a flow in their runway walk that makes the show go smoothly.

When walking down the runway, don't take baby steps. To enhance your walk, you'll need to take longer strides than you normally would but avoid overdoing it to the point where you almost fall down. You have to find the perfect medium. Remember in a fashion show, the walk is paced in a certain way so that all the models have a steady tempo to walk to. If you ruin that tempo, it throws everyone off.
Step 2

Place each foot in front of the other as opposed to side-by-side when you normally walk. As you place each foot down in front of the other, allow your hips to sway naturally.
Step 3

Your shoulders should always stay steady and shouldn't bounce or dip as you walk. Keep your shoulders still but not to a point where it's painful.
Step 4

Your arms should sway naturally as you walk but don't swing them too much or you'll look silly. Keep your arms close to your body so that only your lower arms sway. Your hands and fingers should be relaxed. Don't ball them up or curl them up in any way. This makes for bad photos--you don't want to look like you're missing a couple of fingers. Keep your hands open and your fingers as straight as you can get them without it looking unnatural.
Step 5

There's nothing glamorous about a runway model that is hunched over. Anytime you set foot on that runway, your whole body needs to be upright and alert but not so rigid that you look like a robot. While walking, keep your chin tilted down slightly but not in a way that your whole head is looking down. The audience sits below you during a runway show and you don't want them completely looking up your nose the entire time.
Step 6

A slight smile or no smile at all works on the runway.

No one expects you to have a full-watt smile from the beginning to the end of the runway and back...this isn't a beauty pageant. Keep your mouth closed and smile naturally, whether it's a sexy smirk or no smile at all. Learn to relax your lips and you'll be fine.
Step 7

Runway shows aren't just about one model. It takes a handful to make a show run properly.

When you reach the end of the runway, strike your pose. This is where you can throw in a little sass or attitude towards the audience. While this is your moment to shine, don't spend too long at the end of the runway. You don't want to throw off the rest of the other models.
Step 8

When you're on the runway, find a comfortable spot where you can stare straight ahead and don't let your eyes wander all over the place. Make sure you don't look down! It's a bad habit to continuously look down to see where you're stepping. Try to break this habit and learn how to look ahead while being able to see where your feet are landing.
Step 9

When you have confidence and attitude, it comes out in your walk and makes you the center of attention. Nothing is more important than having the emotional aspect in check. When you know you've got it, it comes through in an amazing way that all runway models possess.