When I was in my second year of high-school, I failed in technical drawing.
How idiotic, really.
I’ve always been an excellent student, but still I have that spot on my student’s conscience. That happened because I was undisciplined and fought with the teacher I actually really sucked in technical drawing.
I’m an artist and I’m messy, I can’t do things in a precise way. I can’t draw straight lines and perfect circles, I can’t handle rulers and squares.
Everything that requires a minimum talent for architecture drawing and perspective comes out like a big chaotic bunch of lines on my paper.
It took me two hours to draw these shoes. Two hours. When I usually finish a drawing in 30 minutes max.
This should suggest you how much high heels are architectural, proportion-distorting, finely and precisely designed instruments of torture.
I can’t walk on high heels, they’re my nightmare.
Because, like 99,9% of the girls, I love them. I love the way they make look slender and sexy even the most chubby calf. I love how they make elegant even the most worn out pair of jeans.
They’re a style jolly and I can’t wear them.
This makes me suffer, really.
Now, I’ve always used a very good excuse for the fact I didn’t possess even a pair of high heels (because proud as I am I would never ever admit that I don’t wear them because I’m not able to endure the pain): “my boyfriend is shorter than me”.
But now the shorter boyfriend is out of the picture and when I saw that my closet was containing only ballet flats/flat boots/sneakers/oxfords I kinda felt guilty. So I bought a pair of high heels.
I bought them and I can’t walk in them.
They’re “just” 9 cm high (which for me means Tour Eiffel-high) but it’s requiring a huuuuge effort.
That’s where I need your help.
Help me to abandon my life of flat-wearing chubby calved girl.
How do you walk? Does your foot have to go straight on the ground or do you follow more of a heel-tip movement? Or tip-heel?? Or JUST tip to make it easier???
How do you make them more comfortable? You wear them at home in your pj’s to train? Do you go to the club with your flats and then, as soon as you’re in, hide in the toilet to put them on, to keep the torture as short as possible?
Do you ACTUALLY feel comfortable in them, you mythological women able to walk in heels, or are you just better than me in dealing with pain? Do you take three preventive aspirins before going out?
I seriously need you on this.
Consider me a heels-virgin. Explain me like you would explain to a 3-year old who plays the Lady with her mom’s shoes. Make schemes, if necessary.
Consider it a first step to my Taylor Tomasi Hill life.
I’ll keep you posted on this, it’s gonna be my 2013 challenge.
By the way, happy new year to all of you!
Kisses
Al
Mi sono rotolata dal ridere leggendo questo post! :-)
Il miei consigli: comincia con un tacco più basso. Il polpaccio va allenato gradualmente, se non sei abituata ti farà un male cane. L’ideale sarebbe una ballerina con zeppa di 5/6 cm. Se le trovi orrende mettile in casa. Si, anche sotto la tuta. Mentre lavori. Finché non sei davvero brava, non mettere i tacchi in una situazione in cui devi camminare o stare a lungo in piedi. La discoteca, l’anno prossimo, e forse anche l’aperitivo in centro, per adesso vanno bene per andare al ristorante o alla riunione di lavoro. Il percorso macchina tavolo è affrontabile e in fondo è sempre l’ingresso in sala che conta per fare impressione, poi si può anche passare alle ballerine. Per i tacchi sono fondamentali gli addominali, altrimenti ti viene mal di schiena. Pancia in dentro, sempre. E tieni una bella collezione di compeed, cerotti e quelle ballerine di soccorso in colore neutro in borsa, non si sa mai. In bocca al lupo!
Yeahhhh…uhm…i am not going to be much help with this one xD I shall leave it to the others to answer.
Hope you get some useful solutions :D
Già che ci sei, una volta raccolti i consigli, girali anche a Chiara….
Buona fortuna!
(prevedo guai in arrivo per questo commento…)
Marco
hmmm it’s a good question how to walk in heels and to be honest I never figured out if I walk tip-heel or the other way round! My first heels were about 7cm, chunky and I bought them in high school (they had a platform as well, so they were comfortable). Then I bought a pair 10cm high and I stumbled with them on the stairs and fell flat face down…very classy I know…This didn’t put me off, but I opted for about 7cm high heels for some years, but now I own even 12 cm ones (with platform in front though).
You can year them at home and walk to get used to them. Unfortunately the cobblestones in Gent aren’t the ideal terrain to walk with heels, so I suggest you opt for flat surfaces!! The key with heels is to choose the right size so that they aren’t tight and squeeze your toes (I had a couple of pairs being “opened” so I can walk properly with them). Oh and make sure in the beginning you don’t wear them for a lot of hours (or stand a lot). I’ve made the mistake many times to wear new heels for 8-10 hours straight…and it is painful!!
I wish you good luck with your new heels & keep us updated! :) (P.S. In the summer I suggest you try out wedges, they are more comfortable!)
Ecco io non posso esserti utile, anzi come qualcuno ti ha già consigliato, passa all’ala…un bacio
The best way for me was to start with comfortable heels, I started with Clarks booties which had heels, and although Clarks are not very stylish but they are vey comfortable and you can walk with their heels easily. After you got used to walking in comfortable heels, you try different brands, my limit is 10 cm, and I wear heels all the tim :)
Good luck!
Hi Alessia!
First of all; happy 2013 and the best wishes! Let’s hope it’ll be a good year! About your heel question. I have no tips on how to walk on them, I never thought of it and just did it. I have loads of heels, real high one’s too! My trick is to wear them when I need to walk in them as little as possible, haha. Most of them make your feet hurt after a while, some of them even immediately, but their beauty and aestetics is the reason that makes them worth it! I would recommend to practice daily with a lower heel then the one you just bought. and leave the real high ones for special occassions. Whenever I know I need to stand in them a long long time, I always bring a pair of flats for when it’s really killing me.
Big hug and kisses!
-xoxo- lorena
http://www.lolitainthemix.blogspot.com
Indossale e vai. Andrai lontano. baci
Oh, Al! You are always hilarious… I wish I could offer advice on your high heel dilemma, but I’m afraid I’m worse off than you =) I’ll choose flats over heels any day of the week… maybe start small and work your way up to those sky high stilettos? Pretty sketching as usual and I can’t wait to see more!
~Joanna <3
Ciao Alessia e, visto che non ce lo siamo ancora dette/scritte ufficialmente, buon 2013! Anche per me l’issue high heels e’ abbastanza ostico e qualche tempo fa avevo persino scritto un post con buoni propositi per convertirmi ad una vita a tacchi alti (http://www.notjustaprettydress.com/2011/06/high-higher.html). Dopo quasi 18 mesi e 2 paia di scarpe vertiginosamente alte, ti posso dire che rimango una devota delle ballerine…Comunque, secondo me il trucco e’ andare con tacchi 5-7 cm. max che sono assolutamente gestibili e danno quel minimo di slancio chic. In bocca al lupo con la tua fashion mission e facci sapere come va!
Hello hello!
Okay, I’ve been a reader for some time and I adore your loose line work and the way you use color :) I’m with you as well in not being able to draw technical!! I don’t know why though! I know I can draw somewhat technical if I practice…but
As for wearing heels. I love them, but don’t often wear it. I think the highest heel I have is around 10/11 cm (without platform). So when I do wear them or want to buy heels, I always keep in mind that they have to fit as perfect as they can. So not too loose at the front/back, so that your feet can slide (in the Summer, your feet can swell a bit, so keep that in mind too). So even though a pair is gorgeous, I’ll leave it if they don’t sit comfortably. Hmm…I think I walk heel/toe, but have to check to be sure haha. Also, don’t be afraid to “move your hips”. Heels give you posture and a boost of femininity. You can’t walk on heels like you would on flats and I think a lot of women just focus on the feet and not the entire leg.
Most importantly, practice, be confident and wear it :) Start with a lower heel so you’re not scared of tripping or looking silly (often the mindset plays a huge role in how heels are worn.) and work your way up. I’ve no doubts that you’ll wear them in NO time! Not sure what everyone else said, unfortunately I can speak/read Italian. I just know a few words haha
Have a lovely day!
Ciao! Xx
whoops! I meant I can’t speak/understand Italian hehe.
Adoro quest’immagine è stupenda!! Io penso che il trucco sia:
a) avere scarpe di ottima fattura con tacchi non troppo alti.
b) ogni volta che vai da qualche parte dove non devi sbatterti troppo indossali! I più bassi che hai in modo da fare pratica.
c)vieni a farti un giro sul mio blog che ti ho insignito del Liebster Awards ( che culo eh? :P )
Giuro, non è giueuai di trucchi usati :D
ele.
Tip-to-heel is a BAD idea. You’ll be stubbing your toes constantly. Honestly, every shoe is different and every girl walks in a heel differently. Find some carpet at home and give them a try. Just walk around a little while until you get the feel for it. Then, switch to a hard surface and venture out for a quick trip. You may even want to start with a wedge heel. Grab a pair of wedges (or borrow a pair if you can’t afford to or don’t want to buy one) and try walking around in those first.
Good luck!
Kate from Clear the Way
Hey there Al!
I just came across your blog today and I really adore your story. Fashion is something that one doesn’t imagine combining that well with other more technical and intellectual fields. It’s really cool that you’ve managed to combine the two in your life!
Your drawings are pretty insanely cool (I mean seriously, look at those heels at the top of the page!) and you sound like a nice and interesting person.
On the topic of heels, I’m unfortunately not really an expert in any way. After spending hours and hours of my time reading fashion blogs/perusing magazines/watching TV, I’ve come to have quite a bit of knowledge regarding heels though. Hopefully some of the stuff I’ve learned over time will be a bit of help to you.
First, start small before making your way up in heel height. Start by practicing with teeny tiny kitten heels. Once you master walking in those, try with a little bit of a bigger heel. Then as you master those, try with an even bigger heel. Over time, as you gradually build up those feet muscles, you’ll be able to walk in the craziest of heels with ease! Or so I’ve been told.
Another trick is to tape the third and fourth toes of your foot together. Somehow, that lines up the muscles of your foot to make walking in heels easier and less painful.
Also, another thing to keep in mind is that as you’re gradually learning to walk with heels, don’t jump straight into walking with the craziest pair you can find! Work your way from thicker heels to the super skinny stilettos. If the pain isn’t worth it to you, then wear wedges or chunkier heels since that puts less pressure on your feet and makes wearing heels a little less painful.
I hope some of my heel knowledge helps you a little bit! Best of luck in learning to wear heels. Someday maybe I’ll get around to doing that as well :)
~Alice
Ainfinitaire
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