02 / Heels guide
How to Walk Like a Model in Heels
Once you can walk in heels without wobbling, the next step is to walk like a model in heels. It is the same runway walk you would do in flats, adjusted for a higher, narrower base.
Save this guide to PinterestFrom steady to runway
- 01
Stack yourself tall
Heels tip your weight forward. Counter it by lifting through the crown of your head and letting your shoulders settle down and back. Keep your knees soft but straight and your lower belly gently drawn in.
TipIf you feel yourself leaning forward from the ankles, you have lost the stack.
- 02
Land heel to ball, every step
Each step lands lightly on the heel and rolls smoothly through to the ball of the foot. On a runway this roll is quick and quiet. It is what makes a heel walk look fluid rather than clacky.
- 03
Walk a narrow line
Let each foot land close to one line in front of the other. In heels, this is what creates the runway sway, and it happens on its own when the feet are placed well. Don’t cross over.
- 04
Hold a steady beat
Keep a slightly shorter stride than in flats and a steady, even rhythm. Heels make most people speed up to get the walk over with. Resist it; slower looks more assured.
- 05
Eyes up, face soft
Look at a point at eye level at the end of the room. Your peripheral vision is enough to see the floor. Relax your jaw and forehead; tension in heels shows in the face first.
Start from a solid heel walk
If heels still feel wobbly, go back to how to walk in heels: 3 steps for beginners first. A model walk in heels builds on a steady heel walk. Adding runway details to a shaky base makes the shake more visible, not less.
Flats first, then heels
The easiest way to learn a model walk in heels is to learn it in flats first. Practise the 5 runway steps until they feel natural, then put on a low block heel and walk them again. Then a higher heel. Each time, the only thing that changes is a slightly shorter stride and a more deliberate heel-to-ball roll.
Runway drill in heels
- Put a strip of tape on a hard floor.
- In heels, walk the tape slowly five times, focusing only on heel to ball.
- Walk it five more times at a steady count.
- Walk it five more with your eyes locked on a point and your face soft.
- Add a pause at the end and a pivot turn on the balls of your feet.
- Film one walk from the front and one from the side.
Check your video
From the front: are your feet landing close to one line, and does your head stay level? From the side: is your body stacked, with ear over shoulder over hip, or leaning forward? Is your front knee straight when your heel lands, but not locked back?
If the side view shows a forward lean, work on posture in heels by standing still in them for a minute before each practice. For the details of different heels, see stilettos, block heels and mules. For turns, read runway turns and pauses.
Questions
Do models practise in heels every day?
Many practise their walk regularly, often in the shoes they will wear. You don’t need to; two or three short sessions a week in heels is plenty once the walk is solid in flats.
What if my ankles wobble?
Go back to a lower, wider heel and add balance work, like standing on one foot for ten seconds. Wobbling usually means the step is too long or the heel too high for now.
Common mistakes
- Leaning forward from the ankles, which makes you look like you are chasing your feet.
- Bent knees from fear of falling.
- Swinging the hips on purpose instead of letting foot placement create the movement.
- Looking down at every step.
- Practising in heels you have never worn before.
Défilé · Walk score
Film your heel walk in Défilé and see your walk score.
Film a walk and Défilé scores it out of 100, shows you the one thing holding it back and gives you a short drill to fix it. Your video never leaves your phone.
On Android? Défilé is coming soon to Google Play.
