Learning to Walk in Heels

 

I spent most of my life as a jeans and sneakers gal. Most of the time I'm still spending my days in nice jeans and some Merrells. It helps that my job doesn't require me to dress "up" every day.

Every few years though I get a bug up my butt to dress up, to look girly, and to infuse my wardrobe with color. I buy a pair of heels, stock up on makeup, and usually buy a fun purse or two. My husband rolls his eyes as I hobble around the house and Google makeup ideas. 

"Look at my new white eyeliner!" I tell him.

Uh huh.

"Did you see my new heels?"

I heard them on the tile.

Last week began another round of primping. I bought two pairs of heels, new jeans (that fit, like they're not baggy), and bought some new eye makeup. Ready to go, let's look like a stereotype! Yes!

I spend most Fridays in meetings rather than teaching, so I chose Friday to try out my heels. After my first meeting my friend Mary looked at me quizzically.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

Huh?

"You're limping. Did you hurt your ankle?"

I pouted. No, I'm wearing heels.

"Why? Are you doing something fancy today?"

No. I just wanted to.

Apparently I wasn't doing so hot walking in heels. Monday morning I put them on again, determined. I wondered if I was "missing something." What do I do when I want to learn something? Google that shit. So I Googled "how to walk in heels." It came up on the suggested list so apparently I'm not the only one asking.

I found a video which I figured would be most helpful. A fake blond chick with bubblegum pink lipstick showed us some heel porn and I'm thinking, "Who wears this shit?" (and "Are her boobs real?"). She then suggested to start learning on wedge heels (which I had bought, go me) before you move on to like stiletto heels or sky scrapers. She told us "girls" to walk heel to toe rather than toe to heel or midstrike. I had my ah-ha moment. I'm a midstriker and I know that because I'm a runner. So I practiced walking heel to toe for about five minutes. I practiced walking in a straight line (one foot directly in front of the other) which apparently helps you develop your swagger (I have a swagger? I thought I hobbled). 

So then...I swaggered all day at work. And realized doing it the bubblegum blond way is way more comfortable that my previous "strategy." It's definitely a thought and movement change that I have to think about. It's not automatic for me. Yet. But maybe with more practice I'll be swaggering without a worry. And that's important learning right there.

Photo "Stiletto Shoe" by Boaz Yiftach courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net