Help a beginner

[djblini]

I walk to be able to walk and wear 5inch stilettos and not buy too many pairs on the way how do you recommend i and other members get there?

[Shyheels]

If you’ve never worn heels before you’re going to need to buy at least one other pair and probably two - a lower heights to get you familiar with the feel of wearing heels. And even then it will take time, patience and perseverance. Five inch heels - or 12cm - is a challenging height even for experienced high heel wearers with years of experience. There is no easy way

[djblini]

Should I go for chunky but higher or lower stilettos how would you suggest i "graduate"?

[Shyheels]

If you’ve never work heels I’d try chunky 3 to 3.5” to start, than then maybe four inch (10cm) stilettos. Take your time. There’s no rush 

[Cali]

But make sure whatever you buy fit WITHOUT pain.  Life is too short for shoes that hurt.

[Shyheels]

Yes. Make sure they fit well and are well made. 

[VirginHeels]

Make sure they fit, also start at the 65mm to 85mm range.

If it’s boots or a closed pair of shoes, a thin pair of non pinching socks. No one likes a pinch at the toes from material being dragged down to your toes.

Good luck.

[higherheels]

As I've understood you never wore any heels before, right?

I know it's tempting to start off with the desired heel, like a 5 inch heel for you, but you can save yourself a lot of pain and trouble by starting with a lower heel and taking your time. Trust me, I'm speaking of experience 😉

I would recommend to start with something like a 2,5 - 3 inch heel and wear these until they feel normal for you. Then slowly proceed to higher ones until these feel normal as well. The higher the heel gets, the more a small increasement will make a big difference. For example (sorry for speaking in centimeters) the difference between a 7 cm and a 8 cm heel will be barely noticable, but the difference between a 12 cm and a 13 cm heel is huge!

 

Also, as already said by the others a good fit and quality is important. Especially with less supportive forms like pumps or sandals it's very important that they have a tight fit, otherwise you'll be bothered too much with slipping around in them/out of them.

Also it would be easier to start with block heels than stilettos.

 

Good luck 🙂

[mlroseplant]

A lot of it depends upon what you wish to do in heels. As is the experience with most here, I started low and went gradually higher. I spent a lot of time wearing 3 - 3 1/2" before I got to where I was truly ready for anything higher. Not that I didn't go higher sooner, but it's always a shock to catch a glimpse of yourself in a storefront window, and think, "Who is that idiot, and why is he walking so funny?" "Oh, that's me." We would rather avoid those moments, so practice in lower heels is advisable.

It also depends upon how durable you want to be. Do you want to wear 5 inch heels to Disney World, on multiple days? I'm sure there is somebody out there who can do it, but it would be a select few in the world, kind of like there's only a few Olympic caliber athletes in the world. Do you care what you look like when you walk? I can "walk" just fine in 5 inch heels, but I wouldn't want anybody to see me.

I am living proof that it is possible to be able to wear heels that are quite steep for long periods of time, and over long distances, but I didn't get there very quickly at all. It took years. Some people can do it in much less time that me, but that's been my own personal experience.

[Cali]

I went from 2 inch to 4 inch in one minute, BUT I had done years of toe raiser on inclines to recover from multiple ankle reconstructions.  Men's shoes were the problem for destroying my ankles and knees.

[pebblesf]

Like everyone says, start of with lower block heels.  It is unreasonable to expect to be able to step into 5" stilettos and enjoy walkiung.  Fumbling around in ill fitting heels that are too tall is a confidence killer.  Being confident is just as important as being skilled.