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My advice is to take video of yourself. It may be painful to watch, but it will show you exactly what you're doing (or not doing). Your limitation is that you can only do a few steps at a time, but I think that even so, it might be rather enlightening. I have a difficult time believing that it's simply a matter of walking heel-to-toe, because unless you have ankles made out of elastic, it's impossible to walk any other way in 12 cm heels with straight knees.

Good luck to you, I have many pairs of Steve Madden, from traditional looking pumps to platform sandals. I have found them to be pretty good for what they are. Like every other affordable shoe manufacturer, they've gotten away from using leather like they used to. At least their synthetic pumps, of which I have quite a few, are actually decent.

I think you might be right. I shall work on that. I really, really want to master these!

I also think the Hot Chicks will feel much easier once I mastered the boots, so that's a good side effect 😉 Maybe with your 12 cm heels you have to try hard to keep the heel off the ground and not just drag it along, so you overcompensate and get into a more tip-toe walk without a fluid heel to toe-motion?

Congratulations on the new boots! I know from the photo they look really smart and I’m delighted to hear they are as nice in real life and that they fit well. I can only imagine the challenge but the rewards will be well worth the effort. A great replacement for the Hot Chicks in winter and when spring comes the Hot Chicks will feel that much easier. Well done! it’s strange with the 12cm heels. In my 10cm heels I find it easy and natural to walk heel to toe but the extra height for some reason makes me revert to a more clompy style. Maybe it’s that feeling of uncertainty caused by the higher heel. I can straighten my knees but it’s like I walk more cautiously, wanting more foot contact with the floor. I have to remind myself and make a conscious effort to walk heel to toe and even then I revert back.

@Shyheels Which issues do you have with walking heel to toe? My new boots arrived yesterday! Already wore them a bit, so far I can say they fit perfect and look great. Walking was difficult on the first try, I could feel the extra height to the Hot Chicks. I'll definitely keep them, but it will probably take a while until I can actually wear them out. First have to wear them at home a lot to break them in and also get used to the height. My goal is still to use them as a Hot Chick replacement for winter, so I have to hurry up to be ready soon for wearing them out 🙂

I walked across a wet slanted exposed stone driveway this past weekend in my JS knee high boots with block heel (and black faux leather pants) and almost slipped out. It's that compound angle that gets you every time. Try it on a slant greater that 10 degrees. (Hope your medical insurance is good.) A carpet with a soft-thick pad underneath is a nightmare, especially in stilettos.

I’m glad to hear it’s not just me! I have this nice vision of being able to walk effortlessly in my 12cm boots and going to a cafe - without worrying about embarrassing myself

Even a slight tilt can cause problems. We have a sidewalk between buildings with a tilt towards the center for drainage and I always feel like I am about to fall over when I walk down it.

I just feel really awkward in them, clomping around. Some of it is the subtle sideways tilt in the floor but a lot of it feels like simple unfamiliarity - as though I’ve never work heels.i know I’m not walking heel to toe and that’s bound to be a major impact. i will try again tomorrow and see if i can analyse my technique snd what exactly I am doing wrong, and why the hesitancy.

Ok, here it goes again, after years and years of failed attempts and different partners. Lol. My current wife would not be very happy with me wearing high heels so it has been on the back burner. The last attempt when I got a new job it was snowing almost daily. So new job and new attempt. I should be traveling to Montreal in the following weeks for a couple of weeks for training. So my mind immediately started wandering towards shoeeeees, lol. And planning on trying personally before purchasing. I found Aldo and Steve Madden, and I will also try other stores and malls. First check them them out and go with my gut feeling to try and buy. I am scouting ahead on Google maps possible stores to check out and maybe try on. My must have parameters would be: 1. Must be an stilleto heel, the thinner the better 2. 3.5" to 4" heel 3. Closed shoe (one step at a time sandals not brave enough yet) Then colorwise most likely black, patent or leather, but open to other low key not flashy colors, although I loooove pinks, florals, pastels, the "girlier" colors if you will, but once again not brave enough yet, probably later on. Shoe style I am thinking a classic pointy toe pump, could be d'orsay style or with an ankle strap or slings, whichever looks and most importantly feels best when trying on. It seems snow is on the forecast then maybe some ankle booties, and I know stilletos would be ill advised but that is fave, there are very few block and wedge styles I like, but we will see once I get there, and hopefully finally I can fulfill this fantasy. Just as a comment I am so loving the new Larina ballerina pumps from Steve Madden , https://www.stevemadden.com/products/larina-black-satin I can just picture these in black with a dark suit, would look amazing. As usual any comments, tips words of encouragement are highly appreciated.

I'm back. Nothing serious, I just moved to the new place and did not have internet here for awhile. I got things switched over this morning... As for your outreach... good for you and your church @mlroseplant I have always said as a Christian myself that we need to get up and get out there. When I was a kid we went to a church that was close to the local high school and the kids who had cars and drivers licenses use to park at the church every morning, and one Sunday the pastor told the congregation, "he was scared to death, but went out and invited these "bad" kids to a youth group pizza party". I am glad he did, but even 40 years later, the question has to be asked, what possibly could the pastor be scared of? Teenagers... in cars? I just wanted to scream, "they are just kids. They aren't going to break your ribs because you invited them to church". So good for you for getting out there for our youth. Thanks to recent events colleges are on fire right now! So glad to hear it.

Anne Klein Fabulist

Thank you @HappyinHeels, I will be posting my own thread shortly, I may finally be able to fulfill my dream of openly buying and wearing high heels in public.

The time has come to once again wear clogs and boots after many months of sandals. Because the weather became suddenly much colder, I skipped an entire step and went directly to boots. It probably was not strictly necessary, but I believe it helped me psychologically to keep walking, even on days that were not so nice. I tried on a couple different pairs of my winter clogs last night, and neither of them feel very comfortable, despite the fact that I walked miles and miles in them last season. I hope it's just a matter of not being used to them.

OK, let's talk some physics and techniques, then. What, exactly, do you find awkward about 12 cm heels after having been away from them for a time?

I too like to wear dresses and do so often. BTW, HinH I like your red pedi. That's a favorite color of mine! Happy Heeling, bluejay

I would really love to be able to walk effortlessly in these. I just have to find the space and time to practice

Here’s a view of me in wedges with cuffed skinny jeans a look perhaps some of us have tried. It’s the no hiding style. These have a 5.7”/15.5 cm heel. Here’s me in short shorts with my Soda wedges which I got on clearance at Shoe Carnival some 12 years ago. They have been very durable and have a full 6”/15 cm heel. Here’s a third view of wedges and a dress. I like the look even it’s not for most of you. If we are to wear alternative footwear we should have fun with it.

They should be if they’re following company policy and socially Quebec is the most liberal area of Canada. The positive is you should be most welcome and Quebeckers are the longest-lived and the happiest of provinces. The negative is they have the least disposable income and general taxation is onerous. Your individual experience has most to do with the quality of employee you first meet. Remember the first rule of retail: move the merchandise. That’s most effective when positive employees meet positive customers. HinH

I expected that it will be difficult for you to get back into, but I'm sure after a few days you'll feel like you did before.

Consider it good experience for walking on uneven and unlevel pavements! I know there are many times when I am glad nobody can see me. That's kind of why I chose the method I did--late at night or early in the morning. This against the advice of many members on here at the time.

Well I finally got back into my 12cm heels - oh dear, it’s back to beginners. I was very glad neither of you guys were there to see me. In my defence, my boat has a slight list and so the floor slants sidewise - not a lot but enough so you can notice it, especially when you are trying to walk gracefully in lofty stilettos. it really is tough trying to learn the art of walking in 12cm heels when you live in a narrowboat out in the countryside and the muddy towpath is just not a viable walking option for heels - or nice shoes or boots in general.

There was a young lady in church who wore 8 cm black pumps yesterday, with slim, near-stiletto heels. She was one of several new members of our church who were welcomed in. I did mention to her that I was glad to see someone else wearing heels besides me. She reacted in a friendly manner, but in a rather noncommittal way. In other words, it was not a conversation starter.

No point in ruining nice heels in mud and puddles. That’s pretty much all I have when I step off my boat - a rough and muddy towpath for a good mile into town. It does cut down on heel wearing… Your story about the spilled beer reminded me of some advice John Wayne once gave an up and coming actor: never wear suede shoes. His reason - and it sounds like it came from experience - was that when your famous and you go into a men’s room, someone is going to recognise you when your standing beside them at the urinal, and turn suddenly in their excitement, forgetting where they are, and exclaim “my gosh you’re John Wayne!” And pee all over your shoes