After a Year Dominated By Flat Shoes, Here's a Refresher on How to Walk in Heels Again

One of the most universal experiences is naively asking the question: "How to walk in heels?" Perhaps you were an incipient university student who had just purchased a towering pair to wear to your first-ever club night. Or, perhaps you are a little older and are wondering whether the technique you learned all those years ago is actually the best method for sauntering around in a staggering heel height.

Some of you have likely heard the saying, "Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world,” with heels always being the implied footwear for said vanquishing. But if you can’t walk in said heels? Well, that essentially negates any potential conquests, whether you’re in the boardroom or at the bar. The thing is, as we enter wedding season, it becomes much more likely that you’re going to be wearing a pair of heels. And combined with the fact we haven’t had the same opportunities to dust off our favourite pairs over the past few years, it could get a little precarious when walking in your heels after so long.

So to avoid any embarrassing mishaps, we’ve put together a definitive list of tricks that’ll help you remember how to walk in heels, be they high or just above ground level. Scroll down to check out the tried-and-tested tips for walking gracefully in heels, and while you’re at it, see the pairs we’re loving for 2025 and beyond. After all, you’ll need something to test out your new skills.

A Fashion Editor's Refresher Course on How to Walk in Heels:

1. Walk Heel-to-Toe, Not Toe-to-Heel

The easiest way to look ungainly in heels is to put your whole foot down at once as if you’re wearing flats. It may seem obvious to many, but when wearing high heels, put your heel down first, followed by your toes. This will make your walk look more natural and less like baby Bambi taking their first steps.

2. Take Small Steps

Wearing heels makes your stride shorter than normal, so you’ll have to take an increased number of small steps to go the same distance. Take your time, and don’t overstep—that’s how slips and falls can happen.

3. Don't Rush

Trying to walk quickly in heels can not only look awkward but also end in a disastrous trip or two. Between the smaller steps and the compromised balance, it’s best to take your time in heels. Besides, walking slowly gives off an air of confidence. It’ll encourage you to improve your time-keeping skills, too.

4. Lean Back Slightly

You may find you want to walk faster than your heels will allow and end up craning your neck to compensate. So allow yourself to lean just the slightest bit back when walking in heels, as this will counteract your inclination to push your torso forward. Posture, however, is important. Don't arch your back, but rather think about your shoulder blades pinching something together. This image will help activate your core and back muscles to keep you upright, while helping you appear more poised and unmovable.

5. Visualise Yourself Walking In a Straight Line.

When you want to draw a straight line, you’ll get better results if you look at your end point as you draw rather than looking at your pencil as it moves. Similarly, when walking in heels, you’ll walk more gracefully if you look at your goal point (the café at the end of the street, for example) and visualise a straight line going toward it rather than staring down at your toes as you walk.

6. Arch Your Foot Slightly

As you take each step, or if you feel yourself slipping, arch your foot slightly to put pressure on the inside of your shoe. This will make your shoe fit closer to your foot, making it easier to manoeuvre.

7. Make Sure Your Shoes Fit

If your shoes are ill-fitting, it makes the difficult task of walking naturally in heels almost impossible. If your heels are too big, use shoe pads for a better fit. If they are too small, consider having them stretched by a local cobbler. Who What Wear's SEO Writer Ava Gilchrist is notorious for buying shoes that are either far too big or far too small. "I take after Celine Dion when I say I walk the shoes, the shoes don't walk me. So, if I find a pair of heels that I simply can't live without, despite them not being my size, I make it work," she explains. "This isn't advice I recommend to the faint of heart, however. There are many of times when my entire foot has slipped out of my heel or lost it completely when walking, as the fit isn't a snug size. If wondering how to walk in heels, I'd heed my warning and ensure you buy a pair that's true to size first.

8. Opt For a Heel Height You Feel Comfortable With

Truth is, if your shoes feel too high to walk in, then they probably are too high for you. But that doesn’t mean all is lost—so many midi and low heels exist these days, so you can still feel the shoe love. In fact, styles like pointed-toe kitten heels are they’re more on-trend than ever.

Shop the Best Heels to Walk In