Hello eclecticats! Jodie here…
I finally got around to watching the film Kinky Boots t’other night (I’m at least 10 years behind the times with my movie watching!) It’s BRILLIANT and well worth a watch if you are wondering what to do tonight!
If you are not familiar with it, here’s a brief synopsis – based on a true story, the movie tells of a struggling British shoe factory’s young, straight-laced owner, Charlie, who forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a drag queen, to save the business. Charlie develops a plan to produce custom footwear for drag queens, rather than the men’s dress shoes that his firm is known for, and in the process, he and Lola discover that they are not so different after all.
It took me back to my early twenties, and a brilliantly bonkers evening in a London club which culminated in two transvestites taking me under their wing and teaching me how to walk in heels, before kindly driving me home in the back of their builders van!
Here are my top 5 tried and tested tips for NOT tottering about in heels:
1. Walk heel to toe: A sure fire 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 a high(er) shoe, put your heel down first, followed by your toe. This will make your walk look more natural.
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.
3. Don’t rush: Trying to walk quickly in heels can look awkward and end in a disastrous tumble or two! Between the smaller steps and the compromised balance, it’s best to take your time in heels. Plus, walking slowly gives off an air of confidence.
4. Lean back: You may find you want to walk faster than your heels will allow and you’ll end up tipping your torso forward, and craning your neck to compensate. So lean just the slightest bit back when popping on your heels, as this will counteract the inclination to lean forward.
5. Visualise a straight line: When drawing 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 entrance to eclectica for instance!) and visualise a straight line going toward that end point, rather than staring down at your toes as you walk.
Bonus point…ensure the shoes fit before trotting off anywhere, because trying to arch your foot to cling onto your shoe will only make things a whole heap more complicated!
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