Please help - this sounds completely ridiculous but I'm off to my brothers wedding in September and I need to wear some very elegant heeled shoes.

I can walk in fairly high wedges (3 inch) but not in "proper" heels.

I bought a cheap pair to try and have my eye on some lovely proper shoes from Coast.

Thing is, I look like I've either pee'd my pants, or I've broken my back. Certainly not the graceful swan my mother is expecting me to look like. She's laid the law down and said NO clumpy wedges

I can't even stand up straight or properly in them - and they're only 3inches same as my wedges. I'm completely terrified of twisting over in them and breaking my ankles again (did this once before - not shoe related, but I've never had such pain as it) they just feel so dangerous to try and walk in. I am in awe of ladies who charge about in heels.

It sounds pathetic as I'm 40 but I am just not used to heels and I'm not sure what I can do. I'm scared of falling on a slippy church floor, and tripping over and catching a heel in the dress bottom

Anyone have any tips as to What I can do?

I feel your pain! Haha. I only started wearing heels this past year as I couldn't walk in them at all! Even little heels.
A shoe with an ankle strap will help you lots! Sounds silly but it makes. Big difference.
I looked it up in google. 'how to walk in high heels' and lots of things came up.
One that Really helped me was to imagine you are been held up by a piece of string on the top of your head while you are walking.
Look forward, shoulders back and keep your back straight. Takes a bit of practice but helped me a lot. I wear them all the time when I go out now.
Good luck with it
Oh and gel pads & heel guards for your shoes work wonders! xx

Aww thank you for replying. I thought ankle straps would be bad as they're not very supportive. The ones I've seen are strappy and just gorgeous but I don't want to waste loads of money on shoes that I can't walk/stand up or do anything in. I thought a court shoe might be better, but not exactly the prettiest!!

I'll have a google too. I would imagine by the end of the night I'll be in A&E!
(fingers crossed that I'm not). I think the last time I wore heels (2 inchers) was my friends wedding which I was a bridesmaid at and I got told off for taking my shoes off and ruining the pictures!!

PS - I love those zebra print nails on your picture

When you get them, wear them every day in the house to get used to them. You will soon get used to the feel of them... Also, if you have quite a deep carpet in your house this is quite hard to walk on, so will be good for practise because if you can walk on this then you'll be fine lol. Show us a pic of the ones you're looking for also... If you can find a pair that have a little platform at the front too, this will actually take a little bit off the height if you know what I mean xxx

Aww thank you
Glad to be of help, I should have put any straps really.
I started with court shoes with a strap that went across my foot. They really helped. But I recently bought a really high pair from next that had an ankle strap and I felt more comfortable in them than in shoes with no straps if you get me lol.
But it really is a matter of getting used to them. So treat yourself to the shoes you want an wear them around the house whenever you get the chance
Xx

Thank you ladies

These are a pair I bought, but I had to take them back, I really couldn't stand up in them:

http://cdn2.next.co.uk/COMMON/Items/...2-751-G37s.jpg

These are the ones I'm looking at:
Coast Stores - Sale Shoes - HEATHER SHOE

Or something similar I also love these, but I can't justify that much on a pair of shoes!
Buy Dune Decadence Beaded Strappy Sandals, Silver online at JohnLewis.com - John Lewis

I don't have deep carpet so that shouldn't be a problem. I think I need to just brace up and hope for the best

And footpad things will definitely be needed

I love those coast ones they will also be better than the black ones for you as they have a slight platform at the front, so technically not as high just wear them every single day at home.... Including going up and down stairs good luck xxx

Thank you! I'm may have to take the plunge and get the shoes

Wear the heels shopping, you can lean on the trolley all the way around, and eventually you'll get the hang of it.

Oh my goodness, I'd look like a camel on roller skates trying to stand up on those slippery floors I'll have the ambulance on standby I think. But I like the idea of leaning though - but that seems my natural position when in heels.

Good grief - the things we do!! ha-ha!!

I love this thread because to be able to walk in heels would be one of my 3 fairy godmother wishes. My legs look SO much better in them, but I am hopeless.
I have so many pairs of unworn shoes. Sigh.

The best advice I can give you is to buy a decent pair and not a cheap pair. It makes the world of difference to being able to stand in them and to walk in them, because the balance of the show will be correct.

I never wear heels, but the ones I have are from Hobbs and they are really comfortable to wear.

They always have sales and have outlets too, so they won't cost the earth. Just try some on and you will see the difference, trust me.

The red coast ones are similar to the ankle strap ones I was saying about. They are THE most comfortable pair of shoes ever. Even with a big heel. I couldn't believe it when I wore them for the first time.only got them about 3 weeks ago for £35 and they have a platform at the front.
Here's a pic but it really doesn't do them justice lol.xx

Ha it's a bit of a secret wish of mine too.

I remember years ago watching an old Chanel (I think) perfume advert and this beautiful gazelle limbed model was running down this amazing flight of stairs in 4 inch heels without looking down at her feet and not looking like she'd been done up in a straitjacket and I gave a sigh and wished I could be running in heels!! silly eh?!

That's a good plan. Thank you Nicole.I will head to town this week and try and get the right pair. Mind you if I EVER decide what I'm going to wear to the wedding it'll help pick the right shoes