How to Walk Comfortably in High Heels

High heels look great but aren't always easy to walk in.

Few things make you feel as feminine and sexy as high heels, but if you're not used to walking in them, they can be incredibly uncomfortable and can even damage your feet. Walking comfortably in heels takes practice, but there are other important factors to consider when purchasing a pair, such as choosing the right size, breaking them in and padding uncomfortable areas. It also helps to be confident and have good balance when teetering on really high heels. (Think four inches and up.)

Instructions

1. Buy the right size. It is almost impossible to walk comfortably in high heels that are either too big or too small. Walking in shoes that are too small can result in corns and hammer toes. Even if you are madly in love with a pair of shoes, if they don't have your size, walk away.

2. Break them in. Taking the time to break in your heels will help shape them to fit your feet. Walk around in your house wearing your new heels or take short trips that won't require a lot of walking. Breaking your shoes in also prevents blisters from forming after a long day of pounding the pavement.

3. Be confident. One of the key principles of being comfortable in high heels is being confident. When you feel good in your high heels, developing a comfortable walk comes naturally. Remember that you are sexy and feminine when you put on your heels.

4. Use inserts to cushion your feet. Invest in a cushion for the toe of your shoe if your feet have a tendency to slip forward. (This tends to happen a lot with open-toed shoes.) You can find shoe inserts at your local pharmacy or grocery store, or buy cushions designed specifically for heels online.

5. Add traction to your soles to avoid slipping. Most heels smooth, pretty soles that looks great but don't provide sufficient traction. You can pick up sticky traction pads to put on the soles of your high heels at your local pharmacy or grocery store. If you have expensive high heels, take them to a cobbler to get them resoled.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid pointed-toe high heels if you have wide feet. Pointed-toe shoes have particularly narrow toes that can pinch and squeeze wide feet.

References

• "InStyle": Shopping: Inside Fashion: Know Your Shoe: How to Walk in High Heels
• The Guardian: Life and Style: The Insider: How to Walk in High Heels by Linda Evangelista
• Huffington Post: Dr. Steve Rosenberg: Holiday Tips for your Toes