It’s day 4 of Shoes Week and we are going to start learning to walk in higher-than-normal heels. We all want to look awesome in our wedding heels, yes? Seriously, high heels can look heavenly with your dress and make your legs look better than you knew. There’s may be only one problem if you are typically a “low heel” person: walking in them!
Don’t worry. Just as you can break in your shoes, you can “break in” yourself. You can gradually get accustomed to the height of the heel with a few easy steps. (No pun intended!). Start your break-in period with a heel that is slightly higher than most of your shoes; and gradually work up to the bridal shoe.
Step 1: Get used to the idea of heels.
If you normally wear flats, your first step will be not to step at all, but to stand. Develop your “high-heel legs” by slipping on your bridal shoes in front of a mirror (so you can admire those legs and get a view of how great you look), turning to the right and left. Practice various postures, standing with your legs together and progressively further apart until they are shoulder-width. When you are comfortable standing, it is time to start moving around.
Step 2: Start with baby steps.
Your first steps should be on a flat, sturdy, and uncluttered surface, so you can concentrate on the act of walking. High heels and obstacles do not mix when you are first starting out. Take a few steps with your legs close together and straight; keep your feet pointed straight ahead. For the most feminine effect, as you walk down the aisle, practice placing one foot directly in front of the other as you step
forward. (Think runway model.) Do this until you are comfortable with that way of walking.
Step 3: Learn how to turn.
Because your back will be “on stage” facing your guests during the ceremony, you must be able to gracefully turn before walking back down the aisle after the finale–when your groom kisses you for the first time. Depending on your ceremony, you may not need to make a full 180-degree turn; but, by practicing a full turnaround, you will be prepared for all eventualities:
Imagine it is your wedding day and you are facing the officiant. First, pivot 90 degrees, so that both feet, as well as your body, are facing your new husband, and your weight is on the leg closest to the officiant. Complete the turn by stepping toward the aisle with the foot closest to your guests. At that point, you will be facing your guests and can safely continue walking back down the aisle. If you would like visual demonstrations, study fashion models as they turn at the end of runways. A search on YouTube or other video Websites will provide several examples.
Step 4: Prepare for obstacles.
Invariably, there will be a few surprises on your wedding day that will require a bit of quick-stepping: a child will fall in your way, or you will have to move around a mess or rain puddle, for example. Avoiding these obstacles will require stepping sideways, altering your stride, or even moving backwards without stumbling. Practice these moves at various speeds until you can confidently complete them in your heels. As an added bonus, if you plan to wear the same shoes at your reception, these same motions will prepare you for the dance floor.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at part 2: The Nuances. Meanwhile, take a look at these shoes with 3″-5″ heels from our partners.