03 / Walk guide
How to Walk Like a Model
A runway walk looks effortless because a few simple things are all happening at once. Learn them one at a time, in this order, and they add up.
5 runway steps for beginners
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01
Find your beat
Walk to a steady rhythm, not your nerves. Pick a tempo you could nod along to and let every step land on it. Nerves speed you up; a beat keeps every step the same length.
TipCount “one, two” under your breath for your first ten steps.
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02
Pick a point
Choose a spot at eye level at the far end of the room and keep your eyes on it. Looking down drops your chin and rounds your shoulders. A fixed point keeps your head still and your line straight.
TipLock onto something real, like a door handle or a picture frame, not “the distance”.
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03
Shoulders back & down
Draw your shoulder blades gently back, then let them slide down, away from your ears. Your neck gets longer and your chest opens without pushing forward.
TipDon’t pinch your shoulder blades together. It should feel like settling, not squeezing.
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04
Walk from the hips
Let the movement start at your hips. Your legs reach forward while your upper body stays calm. Place each foot close to a straight line in front of the other, without crossing over it.
TipIf your head bobs when you watch it back, shorten your stride a little.
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05
Soft face
Tension shows in the jaw first. Let your teeth part slightly, relax your forehead and skip the forced smile. A calm face looks confident.
TipBreathe out through your nose just before your first step.
A five-minute practice
- Clear about five metres of floor. A floor seam or a strip of tape makes a good line.
- Walk it three times, thinking only about your beat.
- Walk it three more times with your eyes locked on a point.
- Add your shoulders, then your hips, one walk at a time.
- Film one walk from the front and watch it back.
Défilé for iPhone
Film your walk in défilé and see your walk score.
Défilé scores your walk out of 100, shows you what’s holding it back and gives you one short drill to fix it. Your video never leaves your phone.
Keep practising
