The art of walking in HIGH heels?

[CallintheClowns]

I've just seen some photos of Princess of Wales in stilettos. How does she do it?
Full of admiration but also puzzled.

I have worn heels half that height and always feel in danger of falling over.

I honestly don't 'get' how anyone can walk in 4 inch spiky heels.

Is it something you learn?

Following because I want to know.

Ive heard it can be easier for those with larger feet because of the angle. A 4 inch heel on a size 4 foot is much steeper than a size 8, but I don’t know how true that is!

Walk from the hip

I agree OP; it's something I often marvel at. Sometimes she even walks in spindly stilettos on cobbles. And of course, the media and public are always there to witness any trips or falls, which must make it even more daunting. I have no idea how she does it.

It gets easier and yes, lead from the hip and accept the wiggle. It’s what they were designed for and fighting it is what causes the wobble. Also, remember Catherine’s shoes are really ‘car to bar’ heels and she doesn’t do loads of walking in them. Car to foyer of place in which she’s doing the ‘meet and greet’. Walk round the (eg) children’s centre, shake some hands, back to car. An hour max.

It feels much safer when you're slim. I used to be on my feet all day in stilettos and go for groceries afterwards.
I stopped wearing them when I got a bit fat as I was certain I'd injure myself.

I also think that if you're very slim it's more comfortable to balance a lot of your weight on the ball of your foot - as there's much less of it.

And as PP said, you feel much steadier as you're quite literally not "throwing your weight around".

I used to wear high heels like that every day for work in the city in the early 2000s. I'd wear them at work and then go to the pub, then trainers on for the walk to the station.

It was practice really. And don't forget she will take them off in the car.

I am slim, and yet the most I can seem to manage is a block heel or a wedge!

I know some will disagree with this, but as well as all the other bits above - more expensive shoes are designed and built better, and are more comfortable. I could walk all day in good shoes, back in the day when I ever put on heels. 😂

Practice. And custom or expensive shoes that won't slip or loosen on your foot.

It's one of those things you adjust to with practice, I remember teetering about in heels quite happily before I got pregnant and then stopped, afterwards I couldn't manage them at all.

I assume her shoes actually fit, I can run in heels but I refuse to buy anything that isn’t a perfect fit. That pretty much limits me to one shop but I’m comfortable (and lucky it’s a cheap place).

Absolutely. A small size 4 foot is bent at almost right angles to make the shoe able to stretch from heel to toe. Large feet are a gentler slope. Like a staircase. One that extends a long way forwards is a gentler slope than those very vertical stairs you sometimes get in very very old buildings.

The highest I've ever had were some 3 inch heels on shoes I wore for an evening dinner. I'm small- size 8/10- and found them very unbalanced but I agree there is a skill to walking in high heels. It's all about being very positive with the step and plonking the heel down.

On another note, I think Princess of Wales looks great mostly, but it would be nice to see her ditch the heels sometimes for some pumps or loafers. She's 5 10" and 4 inch heels means she really does tower over people she meets.

She’s quite slim and seems to have large feet and I think that’s the trick. I’m a size 7/8 and can definitely walk better in heels when I’m not overweight than when I am. It requires a lot of calf and ankle strength to manage them when you’re overweight - which is probably why overweight women who wear them tend to exercise a lot.