What are the tricks to wearing high heels? especially stilettos?

Question

Is there a way to get max comfort and how can some women run in them?

Answer 1

Here are a few simple exercises to improve calves, thighs and leg muscles:

1. To improve calves: stand absolutely straight with your hands on your hips and your legs together. Now keep your spine straight and bend only the knees until you assume a squatting position. Hold it there to the count of four and rise slowly, keeping your spine as straight as possible. Repeat this exercise at least ten times.

2. To slim your thighs: firstly lie flat on the floor and then draw your knees up towards your chest. Now push your legs up in the air and keep them as straight as you can. Slowly start moving your legs as if you are riding a bicycle. Do this about 5-6 times and then repeat the movements at a fast speed for another 5-6 times. Repeat the whole routine 5-6 times, including the slow and fast movements.

3. To improve leg muscles: firstly sit straight in a chair. Your back should be absolutely erect. Keep your feet on the floor and slowly stretch your legs out as far as is possible. The feet and knees should be together. Now raise your legs until your feet are off the floor and your knees are completely straight. Keeping this position, bend the feet towards you, pushing your heels out as far as possible and then point the toes down as much as you can. Do both these movements about six times each. Now relax. For the next step, raise your feet once again, and keeping them together, turn them outwards until the soles support each other. Then turn them inwards until the ankles and big toe joints touch each other. Repeat each of these movements six times and relax.

ADVICE FOR MASTERING THE STILETTO STRUT

Be sure your shoes fit. The shoes are already tall, and usually not more than a few strings, so make sure they fit your feet. You may want to start to learn your sashay in a lower heel and work your way up to the 4 inch plus variety.

Step heel to sole, delicate and ladylike. Repeat until you get to your bar stool.


Take shorter steps than usual. This gives you the serious sashay.


Stand up straight. Since higher heels tend to push the tush out and make breasts the center of attention many try to compensate by leaning forward. Resist this horrible posture. You don't want to look like you are about to bite it.

Point toes straight ahead. This is no time for pigeon toes.

If you feel off balance, swing your arms slightly.

Keep your legs as close together as possible. Your mother probably told you this, too. Follow these tips for awesome ambling in your high heels. And by the way, these same tips apply to either sex trying to master this art.

How to Walk in High Heels

* Start where you are. If you rarely--or never--wear heels, find a pair of sturdy-heeled footwear--a chunky, squarish heel in the vicinity of two inches is ideal. Slip on the shoes and walk. AND WALK! AND WALK! AND WALK! Preferably indoors, where you know the terrain. While you're practicing, twirl, turn corners, stand on your tip-toes, step side to side as you would in a slow dance, do a jig, climb stairs, bend down to pick up a bit of dust from the floor, sit down and get up.

* When walking, keep your legs as straight and close together as you can. Feet should point forward, with each foot placed near-directly in front of the other.

* Step by placing your heel down first, then bring the rest of the foot down quickly and smoothly.

* Take smooth, even steps. If you feel unstable, consider shortening your stride.

* Think "supermodel." As you walk, hold your chin up high and swing your arms for balance.

* Graduate to a higher, skinnier heel. For comfort's sake, make sure the toe is naturally rounded or open and avoid backless or slingback styles, which can be uncomfortable and make you and your ankle wobble. Repeat the above moves on a variety of floor surfaces.

*Avoid walking on ice, slush, mud, grass, sand, gravel and grated surfaces, on which you can slip or sink.

* High heels are supposed to be sexy, yet nothing can be unsexier (and scarier) than tumbling down stairs in your stilettos. Thus, step slowly and grasp the handrail. When ascending, both sole and heel should land together firmly and simultaneously on each step. When descending, only the sole of the shoe needs to be planted on each step.

* Prep your feet. If you'll be wearing shoes for more than an hour, consider "warming feet up" with some simple moves: Stretch your toes as far as they'll naturally go. Return to original position. Repeat at least five times. Next, rotate each foot at the ankle five or six times clockwise, then counter-clockwise. Finish by flexing and pointing toes ten times each foot. Some people swear that these stretches make for a less achy high heel-wearing experience.

* If you start to fall in heels three inches or greater and there is nothing near to brace yourself with, let yourself go down. Of course you'll be embarrassed, but trying to regain your balance may cause you to break your ankle--or at least your shoe.

* As sexy as they are, heels can stress your ankles. No matter how good you get at walking in heels, don't walk great distances in them--and if you feel any pain in your ankle or feet, remove your shoes immediately. If you can find someone to massage your feet, so much the better.

THE RIGHT SHOE

1. Flats: Totally flat shoes are too uncomfortable for most women to wear (although tall women can get away with true flats). Fake the look by buying a pair with a tiny heel. Wear them with capri slacks, mini or longer skirts and narrow-leg Bermuda shorts. The more embellished the flat, the more unadorned the rest of the outfit should be.

2. Stilettos: The style that brings men to their knees, stilettos make any woman look sexy. They force the hips and rear back and the bust forward, creating an alluring "S" curve. We hate the discomfort, but love the effect.

Pair stilettos with flare-leg slacks with the hem touching the top of the shoe to get a long-legged look. Also wear stilettos with slim, knee-length-to-mid-calf-length skirts. The stiletto heel should match your body type. Heavier women can look out of proportion wearing high, skinny heels and should opt instead for a thicker high heel. When buying stilettos, check your calf muscles. If they bulge too much, choose a shorter heel. A bulging muscle diminishes the elongating effect of a stiletto on the leg. Finally, if you're in love with the stiletto, but hate the height, get the heels shortened at a shoe repair shop.

3. Kitten heels: Popularized by Audrey Hepburn, the kitten heel is a slightly curved heel 1-1/2 to 2 inches high and is the perfect compromise between a stiletto and a flat. This is the most comfortable and versatile shoe style that we know of. Wear with any length skirt or slack, suit or dressy dress.

4. The wedge: The wedge is the most problematic of shoe styles because too many women are using its resurgence as an excuse to dust off their old, wide-heeled sandals. Not so fast, ladies! Those clunky Steve Maddens are still out _ narrow, shapely wedges are in. The narrower the wedge, the more stylish it is. Wedges are considered more casual, so they look better with today's bohemian skirts than traditional high heels.

Finally, too many shoe stores and departments have dispensed with full-length mirrors, assuming we only need to see our feet. When shopping for shoes, make sure to look at yourself wearing the shoes in a full-length mirror. That way, you check to see that the shoe is proportioned to your body type.

Answer 2

There's a time and place for everything and this requires you to think about where you're going, what you'll be doing and why you want to catch 'that look.' I personally like the look of shorts with heels IF it's done in a 'cool' manner. You don't want booty shorts if you want a little modesty but don't wear heels with sk8r shorts - just will NOT look right!! (Even Avril never did THAT!!!) Pick your place/event/scene and wear what fits the atmosphere!!

Answer 3

The only comfortable heels are expensive ones. Forget finding a pair of heels under $500 because you'll be in pain. The sad truth.

Answer 4

I recommend starting with a low heel and get used to them, then move to the next height.
I run in them all the time. I've been wearing them for almost 25 years though. I'm just used to them.

Answer 5

As someone who wears only heels I've learned a few things... first, don't try to wear nylon panties or socks with heels because your foot will always slip forward and it's really uncomfortable... second, when I walk, I first step on my heel (the back of my foot) and then on my toes... it gives you a sexy walk and allows you to even run in your heels... it's all a question of a lot of practice...
There are special gel pads that you can buy in any pharmacy that you slip on your toes and they go under your feet to give you maximum comfort... they are good.
luck :-)

Answer 6

i wear high heels every week, and its not easy.. it took me alot of practice to walk in them a whole day and not look slumped over at the end of the day.. but i always say.. girls will do almost anything for fashion, and i do! i will sometimes run in them and act like it didnt hurt.. but it probably did, but i look good in them and get compliments during the day which keeps me going and looking comfortable.. there are high-heels out there that are comfortable and look great too..

Answer 7

Use things like Foot Petals, I buy them in Charles David at the mall, they are like $5 , you stick them on the bottom and you feet will be so much more comfortable. Also a tip, get a 1/2 size bigger when you use foot petals.

Answer 8

I would say start wearing theh them with thick socks around your house first. Stretch them out a bit. If you find the balls of your feet hurt when you wear them you can wear those Dr. Scholl's gel pads for the balls. Very easy to run in, just run. In general if you aren't used to wearing heels walk around in your house first. And sometimes they have slippery soles so you might want to rub them on cement first.

Answer 9

dr scholl's gel inserts!!! such a life saver!!
appx $10 for full foot insert at cvs. or go for the half foot size, they slip into the front of the stiletto and save the ball of your foot from fatigue and discomfort, appx $7 at cvs.

and you can run in them if you walk in them enough- you get used to balancing in them and it becomes second nature

Answer 10

I think you have to be really stupid to even want to wear them. My mother used to wear high heels every day. She walked fine in them, but she's had to have MULTIPLE surgeries on her feet because of the damage they did. Walking on your toes is not natural or healthy.

Answer 11

Running in them isnt good on them or you. Stay out of the grass. The more you spend the better you get most of the time.