As a college student nearing her mid-twenties, I sometimes find myself wanting to channel my inner Carrie Bradshaw. While I would love to be a working professional in New York City with an extensive, luxurious closet like Carrie, I most often find myself envying her shoe collection – in particular, her ability to wear heels. Known for wearing Manolo Blahniks and Jimmy Choo’s no matter the day or time, Carrie has mastered walking around New York City a couple inches taller. But am I the only one who feels like an absolute klutz in heels?
Whether it’s for a formal event or a presentation in class or walking around the office, I always feel like a newborn giraffe adjusting to its long legs when I’m attempting to walk around in heels. Nothing about me feels elegant, which is even more embarrassing because Sarah Jessica Parker makes it seem so easy when she plays Carrie. Unfortunately, I think it’s impossible to avoid heels for the rest of my life so here are some tips I’ve learned during my journey with/in heels!
- Start off with a heeled boot instead of a typical high heel. Boots offer more protection and stability for beginners!
- Opt for a thick, block heel at first rather than a skinnier pump or stiletto – a block heel is significantly easier to walk in, in my opinion.
- Protect your feet! I swear by insoles specifically designed for high heels like these ones from Dr. Scholl’s, and I also like sticking some cushion pads under the balls of my feet to relieve some of the pressure. If you don’t have these handy, an easy trick is to double up on your socks when you’re wearing heeled boots – no one will ever know you have two pairs of socks on!
- Practice makes perfect! Try wearing heels around the office – you’ll probably find yourself sitting a lot to give your feet a break, making this a good opportunity to test-run some heels. Make sure you wear your heels enough to break them in, but don’t try to wear them every day right off the bat – your feet need a rest day too!
- And if you’re nervous about lasting the day in your heels, don’t be ashamed to pack a change of flats or sneakers. I’ve shamelessly commuted to work in sneakers before and changed into heels at my cubicle. Figure out what works best for you!
How often do you wear heels, and what are your heel-wearing hacks?