Training Heels?

[Sandi Beach]

So,

On a whim, I bought a pair of 4 inch heels at Savers today. Never been in anything higher than 3 inches, and could not walk smooth in those like I did when I spent a whole night on 1.5 inch heels. My "thought" was that if I spent some time on 4 inch heels, the 3 inch will seem like a breeze.

Am I right in my thinking, that a little time in 4 inch will be good "training" for 3 inch?

[AmyGaleRT]

Lots of ladies will tell you that, Sandi! Myself, I don't generally go higher than 3-1/2" heels or so (at 6'2" I don't really need to be that much taller ;) ), but walking in those certainly makes lower heels easier to deal with!

- Amy

[Kandy Barr]

Get you some 6 or 7 inch heels, shoot, those 3inchers will feel like flats!!!!

[BLACK STOCKINGS]

Anything less than 5" are slippers.... My first pair of heels were 5" never looked back.

[Diane Smith]

Yes, I think there is some training effect from wearing higher heels around the house than you intend to wear out in public. But the "training heels" need to be very well-fitting, comfortable and stable for you to be able to spend enough time wearing them. I typically wear 5"-ish heels at home and drop down by half or three quarters of an inch or so when I go out.

- Diane

[Ellie52]

Great to look at but a bitch to spend any time in. I love 5" heels (got to be a perfect fit) and at 5'7 they arent too much but they hurt like hell after a few hours. I dont think practice will stop that. I remember once my wife bet me I couldnt wear them for a whole day and I took her up on the offer and it took 3 days for my feet to recover.
But whats more sexy than a great pair of heels and a nice pair of stockings...Ellie

[Dana L]

At 6'+ I don't need much of a heel but I loved a pair of strappy 4.5" heels so much I bought them and perfected walking in them. After that I wore a pair of 3" heels with a french maids outfit for halloween. After a whole evening they were still comfortable and several people couldn't belive how well I was walking in them(might of raised some questions about me). So yes train your way up and the lower ones are a breeze

[Kate Simmons]

Maybe but your toes may need some "coaxing" to return to normal. :)

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Sandi, I don't know I wear 4" or 5" heels all the time they just feel natural to me.

[linda allen]

Any time you spend in heels will be good "training" for wearing heels. The highest I have are about 3" and I think that's about the highest women normally wear for business, church, etc. I normally just wear flats so I won't draw attention to myself. If I were 5' 2" tall, I would probably wear heels but I'm about 5' 8" tall and that's pretty tall for a woman.

Extremenly high heels are not good for your feet and many of us will have foot problems as we age even without wearing heels.

[Tina B.]

At 3 1/2 " I feel to tall ready, so I've never tried 5 " heels, but they have to make it seem easy to walk in shorter heels.

[Lynn Marie]

Maximum heel height, excluding platforms, is determined by foot size rather than ego. The larger the foot, the higher the heel you can wear successfully. With a size 13 women's foot, 5 inch heels are just fine for an evening out. 4 inch heels are good for all day, and 3 inch heels are child's play. My feet look like water skis in flats and even 1inch wedges. At 6'3" my normal heels make me look "statuesque". Most of my collection is 5 inch with 2 pairs even a smidgen higher! Such a terrible price to pay for high style!

[Alexis.j]

Mmm, so its not just my imagination that the higher heels make big feet look smaller...
Now, the question is... would you rather be + 6' or size 14-15 flats...

[Sabrina133]

I am 5'7" and regularly wear 4 to 5 inch heels. I've been doing it for a long time so no practice needed. When i first started out, i wore 3.5 inch heels. I admit to owning a pair of 6 inch heels (without platform) but i don't go out in them.

[stephNE]

I'm sure it's all a matter of practice. The more time you are in them the better at walking you will be.

[Beverley Sims]

Yes, just stretch the limitations gradually and then move on.

[Jennifer Kelly]

Maximum heel height, excluding platforms, is determined by foot size rather than ego. The larger the foot, the higher the heel you can wear successfully. With a size 13 women's foot, 5 inch heels are just fine for an evening out. 4 inch heels are good for all day, and 3 inch heels are child's play. My feet look like water skis in flats and even 1inch wedges. At 6'3" my normal heels make me look "statuesque". Most of my collection is 5 inch with 2 pairs even a smidgen higher! Such a terrible price to pay for high style!

This is good to know. I wear a size 12 and I've been scared to go higher than 3".

[Emily83]

I'm 6ft tall & one of my favourite pairs of shoes makes me 6'5". Easy does it. 1 inch at a time. I've had to teach my 6ft tall wife how to walk. Bart Simpson gave the worst advice ever while teaching Lisa when she was in the Little Miss Springfield episode. It's not a matter of "heel, toe, heel, toe". When walking in heels you're walking on the balls of your feet unless standing still.
Don't forget, if you're tall & like wearing heels, back straight, tits out. My 6'3" father always taught me to never be afraid of your height. Be proud.
Have fun girls :)

[Kaz]

It is all about practice. I have never worn higher than 4inches, but if I don't wear them a lot they kill when I do! It is also not just about height but about show design. I have a pair of 4 incers that are a dream to wear, but another pair that cause problems! But it is about learning how to walk in them as well!

[GinaM]

Just buy the size heel you want to wear and walk in them. not a big deal just be sure to do it around the house before venturing out. i started with 6" heels and walk in them better than most women can.

[Khaleesi81]

Practice! I'm 6ft, and again my feet look a bit large in flats. A good 4" heel makes my legs look much more feminine. Depends on hemline too to some degree, my preferred skirt length is just below the knee, but can look frumpy without heels, but if I'm wearing something shorter I can get away with less of a heel. I bought some brogue type shoe with a small heel of about 2" today, wearing those feels like flats after my usual heels!
The type of heel changes things too, a chunkier heel is much easier than a stiletto.

[heatherdress]

A lot of good ideas.

I found it is not simply the heel height, it is also the angle of the heel, the shape of the shoe, support around the ankle - heels are different. Some 4 inch heels are comfortable to wear. Some 3 inch heels are difficult to walk in.

Platform heels are easier for me. They provide more support. I also can wear 5 and 6 inch heels comfortably with 1 and 2 inch platform soles.

[Stevie]

Good thought in theory but it takes balance practice and patience.

[suchacutie]

My observation in learning to walk in heels was that lower height (difference of heel minus platform) didn't force me into the necessary dance-like movement required for walking in heels successfully. In 3" heels I could get away with some kind of hybrid motion and it was that mode of walking that made the shoes hurt after a very short time. Once I got serious about walking in heels with at least a 4"net heel, I lost that tendency to walk at all like a guy and I no longer have any discomfort usingv heels for any amount of time. In fact we found that the angle of the back and hips is therapeutic when my back is weak, so at that point I will wear them around the house in male mode for hours.

[CD Tammy]

Heather, exactly! My favorite pumps are 4". Because of the angle they make my size 12 feet look smaller. I also have a pair of 3" that have that steep angle. Now, I look for that in shoes.

[Sabrina133]

My observation in learning to walk in heels was that lower height (difference of heel minus platform) didn't force me into the necessary dance-like movement required for walking in heels successfully. In 3" heels I could get away with some kind of hybrid motion and it was that mode of walking that made the shoes hurt after a very short time. Once I got serious about walking in heels with at least a 4"net heel, I lost that tendency to walk at all like a guy and I no longer have any discomfort usingv heels for any amount of time. In fact we found that the angle of the back and hips is therapeutic when my back is weak, so at that point I will wear them around the house in male mode for hours.

My experience as well - although it seems counterintuitive, taller heels were easier to manage than shorter heels.

[Nayomi2438]

I believe walking in heels is all about letting go. Letting go of the stiff march that men have and swing those hips. Take smaller steps in a very straight line (almost crossing) and being relaxed and loose to allow the transfer of your weight (balance) from right to left. Letting all of your muscles relax so they mold to the shape of the arch and your body weight is evenly distributed throughout the foot then mostly on the balls when in motion. Height and comfort of the shoe height will be different for all of us but when just beginning to learn, the width of the actual heel could be most important to prevent slips and falls and those embarrassing unbalanced moments.

[Alison1842]

Just watch out for over head obsticalls is my only advice. At 6'1" 3 1/2" of heal brought a hole new bunch of things that required ducking for! All the harder to see to avoid in a wig with a good fringe!

[HelenR2]

I believe a lot of it is in the fit which is why I don't buy shoes mail order anymore though I do take that chance with boots. My feet aren't very tall behind the toes so if the strap behind the toes fits it means my toes are sticking out the front. If the shoes are big enough for my long feet the strap is too loose and my feet slide about. I did, bravely, take a pair of courts to my local cobbler and got him to put a strap over the foot and that was a real help. If I want shoes I now go to the shops and try them out in the store which is still tricky because I am a UK 10-10 1/2 and very few shops stock decent womens' shoes in that size.

[NicoleScott]

Many have admitted (in this and previous threads) that they started out with the highest heels they could find. Me, too. It's because those are the shoes that we wanted to have and wear, mostly in private. Going out is another matter. As much as I love the really high heels, practicality has to kick in at some point. I prefer the high heels with a platform to lower heels. Not everybody's goal is to go out and blend, leaving the high heels at home so they don't draw attention. Some of us just like the very tall heels, as many GG's do, and don't like the references to hookers, as some can't seem to resist.
Since I spend far far more time in guy mode with my feet flat on the floor, I'm not concerned about damage.

[Aylineira]

I think I read somewhere that the foot's natural height to be is about 3 1/2. Any higher and it may become detrimental to your foot's health if you're not careful. Then again, I'm no doctor but I believe our feet tend to be larger and our ankles should be bigger than the average GG so I suppose we can get away with more.

[Druscilla Supernovae]

I have a naturally perfect sense of balance. When I was with my ex her sister made me wear her 3" heels when I was drunk and I walked in them perfectly. I figured she was looking for a laugh so I stole them. Today I have a shiny black pair of thigh high boots with an 8" chunky heel. I have no problems walking in them. Just yesterday I bought a shiny red pair of knee high boots with a zipper and lace up front. These babies have a 9"heel. I can't wait to try them out.

[renee elizabeth]

those are my biggest weakness, any time i wear heels that are 2" or higher, my legs start cramping up real bad, love the look of the higher heels but hate the cramps and charlie horses

[Jennifer811]

I just purchased a pair of 6 in pumps with a 1 inch platform. I love them still learning to walk in them but I think I will not go back to under 4 inches

[JustWendy]

Funny that this thread should reappear today. I usually wear 3" heels but just bought a pair of 4" and I'm wearing them for the first time today. I'm having a little bit of trouble walking in them and was just thinking that walking in my other shoes will seem like a breeze in comparison.

Wendy

[Celina]

Not much to add, from whats allready been said. I've started out on some 4-4.5" ones, and each time I wear them, it goes better and better. Feminim walk is definitely on it's way! :heehee:

[Tara Power]

Hey peeps, first time posting. I'm new to the game and just starting out. Was in town the other day and got the courage to walk into the womens section to have a nosey (which is a big thing for me) but then I saw these:
http://s13.postimg.org/sqyj8x16f/IMAG0084.jpg

What do yous think? Just had to have them! Saw a size 8 picked them up as fast as I could and got to the till. It was 7:59 and the shop was about to close but wasn't embarrassed, I just wanted them before they shut up shop for the night and the girl behind the counter didn't seem bothered (probably wanted to get home)

5" heels!!! What was I thinking!? I'm not bothered about being 6ft, but learning to walk in them and feeling great while practising I feel 50ft tall! Theyre perfect, theyre sexy, make my feet look smaller and cover up my veins on the top of my feet. Definatly think shoes are going to be a weakness

I kind of like to think now im putting together an identity and build up a little wardrobe, but my femme side definately has her own style and flare and is much more exciting than tshirt/jeans guy, thats boring. But thinking of all the combinations of things as Tara I can wear, thats exciting!

PS if this is in the wrong section or anything, tell me where to move it, k thanks