High heel boot camp is a series of baby steps

Lifestyles

Discussion

May 17, 2009

By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL The News and Tribune Sun May 17, 2009, 07:31 AM EDT

NEW YORK — Anastassia Khozissova doesn’t just walk in high heels. She glides. She looks graceful and sexy at the same time, not missing a beat, not teetering even a little bit.

But she’s a model so let’s chalk that up to a lot of experience.

Me? I’m more of a stumbler in stilettos, a reluctant wearer of the most expensive shoes in my closet because I fear either I’ll fall or they’ll hurt.

Hopefully Khozissova can cure me of that.

In addition to being a professional catwalker for the likes of Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta, the Russian-born Khozissova has been tapped by the Web site Modelinia to teach the art of wearing — and walking — in towering shoes to the masses in a series of free online videos.

It’s high-heel boot camp. She did a live version for myself and a few colleagues on the roof of our Manhattan office building.

Within seconds of meeting Khozissova, I got my slim 4-inch heel caught in a crack in the pavement. I wasn’t looking three steps ahead of me like I should, she notices. That gives you enough time to react to grout, grates and drains, all potential pitfalls for high heels.

Before we start, she gives us some other pointers:

• Every muscle should be working. Walking in heels is not for the slacker.

• Your body should be straight, one line from the top of the head through at least the hips. Shoulders down.

• Don’t bounce. Each step should be even in stride.

Before you think about moving in heels, there are stationary exercises to be done, Khozissova says.

Start with your shoulders, rolling them forward and back. It might seem counterintuitive to think about your upper body as you’re concentrating on walking, but, she explains, it makes you aware of posture and position.

The most common complaint she hears from other models is pain in their arches. Spending time on your tippy toes, like when you’re washing dishes or brushing teeth, should build up tolerance, and, she adds, it’s not a bad exercise for your rear.

Swing your arms, too, to get used to the motion you should be making as you walk.

OK, now we’re ready for baby steps.

Like a ballerina, women in heels should lead with their toe, not the heel, and the leg should be extended as you go forward. Body weight should sit on the balls of the feet.

Walking this way, exudes confidence, she promises.

She says she goes through the same motion even if she’s wearing flats. “Walking with your toe first is just prettier.”

This doesn’t seem quite natural — and it’s not, Khozissova acknowledges, but it will become second nature with practice.

“It’s not just your feet that will hurt, at first, it’s the whole body as you get used to the new way you have to move.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Lifestyles

Vietnam veteran receives medals 46 years after active duty ends
May 25, 2012 2 Photos
More travelers to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend
May 25, 2012
Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Movie preview: "Men In Black 3”
Plot: After 15 years of working with aliens from all across the cosmos, Agent J (Will Smith) is sure he's seen it all. But just when he's getting the hang of the game, he learns that history has inexplicably been rewritten.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Movie preview: "Chernobyl Diaries”
Plot: An extreme vacation turns terrifying when a group of friends visit the Chernobyl disaster site, then find themselves stranded in the abandoned city only to discover that they are not alone.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
A special honor: Georgetown teacher honored for work with special needs students
May 22, 2012 3 Photos
VIDEO: 'Ring of fire' solar eclipse
The solar eclipse that took place Sunday evening was an annular eclipse, one in which the moon blocks almost all of the sun. Some of the best viewing was in Asia, as with this video filmed in Japan.

May 21, 2012 1 Photo
Jerry Finn wins distinguished alumni award
Finn’s service on several boards has helped high school students start philanthropic organizations. He said teaching youth the importance of giving back is not only good for the communities, but also for the children.

May 21, 2012 1 Photo
Rebuild Marysville event raises money for town hit by tornado
Kirsty Travelstead of Marysville explained that as of Saturday morning, more than 300 T-shirts had been sold. For the event they had hopes of raising at least $5,000 from the T-shirts, food sales and the grill raffle.

May 21, 2012 2 Photos
Down & dirty
May 21, 2012 4 Photos
More Lifestyles Headlines

Lifestyles

Search Results

Discussion

High heel boot camp is a series of baby steps

Site Map

Contact Us