How to Walk in High Heels: The Girl's Guide to Everything

by Camilla Morton, Natasha Law (Illustrator)

Can you make yourself up in five minutes flat? Make the first move without breaking a sweat? Hang a picture without becoming unhinged? Get out of a car--or an unpleasant situation--gracefully in a short skirt? Load an iPod as effortlessly as a dishwasher? If not, international style and fashion journalist Camilla Morton can help you navigate these and more than two hundred other hazards of modern living with grace and aplomb. Much more than just a style manual or crash course in social skills, How to Walk in High Heels also illuminates the finer points of achieving better homes and gardens, tackling technophobia, climbing the career ladder, and joining the jet set. From the practical, such as what to do when a heel breaks and how to catch a mouse, to the imaginative, such as how to enjoy karaoke and swim in sunglasses.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fashion, Chick Lit, Self Help, Reference, How To, Feminism

448 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2005

About the author

Camilla Morton is a London-based fashion writer and the author of the international bestseller How to Walk in High Heels which has been translated into over twenty languages worldwide and A Girl for All Seasons / A Year in High Heels. She is also the creator and writer of the 'Fashion Tale Memoir'series: Christian Lacroix and the Tale of Sleeping Beauty, Manolo Blahnik and the Tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker, and Diane von Furstenberg and the Empresses New Clothes.

Camilla began her writing career with a column at The Times Newspaper UK 'My Favourite Thing', and then went on to be the runway reporter for British Vogue.com, covering the international and couture collections. She has written for several magazines, newspapers, and blogs, including The Wall Street Journal "Off Duty", Time magazine's Style and Design supplement, W magazine, Net-A-Porter.com, Modelinia.com, SHOWstudio.com, Fashionista.com and Harper's Bazaar in UK and US.

She currently collaborates with several international, high-end fashion houses and can be often caught reading fairy tales while wearing high heels.

Reviews

[sarah semark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the parts of this book that detailed girly things: how to walk in high heels (obviously), how to pack for a vacation, how to accessorize, how to behave like a lady in social circumstances, how to throw a dinner party. It's written in a sort of chick-lit voice, which can be rather enjoyable if it isn't overdone. I like this sort of thing for the same reasons that I enjoy fluffy girly movies; they're bright and colourful and good distractions.

That said, I think it tried a little too hard to be the girls' manual for everything. Some of the stuff early on I found actually rather illuminating, but then they started trying to give tips on how to change a tire (short version: look helpless and a man will stop to help you, which actually does work even if you aren't TRYING to look helpless and know damn well how to change your own tire). While I appreciate that Morton is trying to keep up with the "classy lady who can't cook and can't do handyman things" facade, I still can't shake the third-wave feminist in me who ardently believes that every woman ought to know how to change her tires/oil (even if it gets her dirty). I'd be alright if it just mentioned how to do these things in CASE one needs to, but it didn't. That, combined with the assumption of TOTAL mechanical incompetency on the part of ladies worldwide, made it end on a disappointing note for me.

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alternate title for this book would be "How to be a High-Maintenance Fashion Snob with an Endless Cash Flow to Spend on Clothes, Cab Fare, and Manolos." Seriously, its like the four characters from Sex and the City got together and wrote a book about how the rest of the world can be like them.
Despite this, I actually did enjoy reading this book. There's actually some good stuff mixed in with the makeup tips, like how to play poker, how to throw a dinner party, table manners, and a huge chapter on figuring out technology. This is the type of book I can imagine Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe having on their bookshelves.

[taryn ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ · Rating 1 out of 5]

while the actual "how to walk in heels" bit was slightly helpful, the rest of what i'm seeing is just a book on how to change yourself to please men which just doesn't sit right with me. didn't finish.

[Evelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of those silly 'girly guide to life' books. If you like the kind of advice that swamps mainstream women's glossy mags, then you'll probably think this is some sort of a bible. I merely browsed through it as it was joke birthday gift, and yeah, it's just terrible!

[Lulufrances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading this for months now, on my commute to uni, during little book breaks, whenever.
Kept it in my handbag at most times, even.
And for that, it was absolutely superb.

A fun girly manual including some ridiculous but also many practical tricks and tips.
Definitely do not read this if you take stuff to seriously and get easily offended by sarcasm.
I thought it was pretty funny, though I can imagine some people out there not getting or not liking the sort of humour in this.

One part that didn't work for me:
everything about modern technology e.g. mobiles, the internet.
Man, time flies! I think this was published around 2005 or so, and already those chapters are absolutely outdated. (Do I need to learn how to switch on my computer? I think not.)

[Jurgita · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's very dated and do women really care about all those things? I am definitely too old for this nonsense.

[Jamie Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars ( because it made me laugh so much)

I'm not sure if this was written as serious guide. If it was, then I'm speechless. If she going for comedy, she nailed it.

It began badly with a foreword by John Galliano... The Epitome of Style - the author twitters, except now M. Galliano is more famous for drunken anti-semantic rants that got his ass fired from Dior...There are butt-kissy, name-droppy tributes to various artists, designers etc sprinkled liberally through the book...

It has some awesome nuggets of wisdom...Laying your clothes out the night before gives one more time in the morning...You. Do. Not. Say?

If you're a slightly stupid, very rich person, you might need this guide - advice includes Diptyque candles to set the mood for stuff. They retail at £20 for a MINI candle...The basics listed as salon treatments would set you back around £450 each month.

How to look at 'Art'. How to remove a lens cap from a camera...(I wish I was joking!)

How to use a knife, fork and spoon...It also has 'how to hang a mirror' but if you need a book to tell you how to use a knife, fork and spoon...Then my advice would be - Pay someone to hang the mirror for you, for your own safety...

A list of 'Female Political Icons', the list includes Hilary Clinton, Emmeline Pankhurst Margaret Thatcher and of course, Monica Lewinsky. I'm sorry, I don't judge ML for the whole Bill thing, but I can't see how that makes her politically relevant in the same way as Margret Thatcher!

This was given to me ( by the same person who gave me the weird Danielle Steel book:( It is destined to become a cute- thing- from- pintetrest- project, nobody needs to read this!

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly outdated, useless, or aimed at a particular demographic: suggestions include buying $68 Diptyque candles to set the mood for getting dressed or if you break your arm use an Hermes designer scarf as a sling instead of, you know, medical equipment. The author apparently writes for Vogue so I guess this is to be expected and if you're a lover of Sex and the City-style narrative I can see how this might be more up your alley. You can entirely skip over the technology section which is clearly from 2006 (what is an ipod? How to record things on a VCR? lol).

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is pretty much my guilty pleasure. Sure, it's frivolous, but it's pretty entertaining. I'm not the girliest of girls by nature, so a lot of the fashion tips in this book really helped me out. (It actually persuaded me to be a little bit more feminine.) Definitely a coffee table kind of book to read!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great coffee table book to dip into now and then. Funny and full of good observations.

[Alexandra Gabriela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this in 2021, in mid 20's, really amde me realize how we grew. Many parts of this book were ridiculous. How to turn your PC on, and what is a plug?
Some parts were indeed intresting : as how to play poker, the history of tea and computer was also intresting, and politics.
This book is mainy focused on UK. So all the recommended shops or tips will be only for those who live in UK.
At some point it was funny
At some point it was denigrating women's way of dressing or body shapes. There where indeed many disturbing parts.

I am not sure if I would recommended this as a whole book. But I will reread some parts that i enjoyed.

[Mariska · Rating 1 out of 5]

Volgensmij voor het eerst dat ik een boek niet heb uitgelezen.. ik dacht een easy to read met een knipoog geschreven boek, maar zonder te verklappen, dat was het niet. Voelde voor mij inhoudsloos aan, dus nee geen aanrader dit.

[Hemavathy DM Suppiah-Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it more than ten years old, a lot of the advice in here is still sassy, sparkly, funny, and totally relevant.

[Raine Baljak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful tips and little stories to help build the esteem and confidence of an adolescent teenager who is trying to bloom as a young woman. A quirky useful book for young ladies.

[Katharine Blankenship · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though my dad did his best to try and prepare me for the real world, while I was still living at home, there are still some things that I feel unsure about. Then I found this book. Yes, it’s called “How to Walk in High Heels,” which my dad definitely didn’t teach me how to do, but it also covers basically everything a girl might have to do while on her own. Changing a tire, hanging a picture, eating lobster, getting out of the car in a miniskirt, and so many other things. Overall, this book is really written in a very conversational way. It made me feel like I was reading a chick lit book, which I guess it technically could be considered that. And, overall, I liked the book. I did learn some things.

But, there were some other parts that I found a little insulting. For the section on changing a tire, it was divided into two parts. Part one tells you to call your road side assistance and play the “damsel in distress card.” Then, part two starts out by saying “Okay, we were trying to avoid this…” Why? I want to know how to change a tire, not how to rely on a guy to do it for me. I thought that was what the whole book was supposed to be about. How to do things yourself.

[Shrilaxmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

One must read this book as satire to avoid going completely insane. Unfortunately, I do not think it was written that way. It was funny at times and I did learn a thing or two. But as with most books providing advice on practical matters, it is severely outdated. And also sexist while simultaneously constantly advocating for women to be independent. I did learn how to machine wash my knitwear though. You win some, you lose some.

[Chrissie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not really live up to my expectations. It was filled with hints for more high fashion conscious girls and was somewhat patronising for an indie hipster such as myself.

I did find the section on how to walk in high heels helpful however.

[Johara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very insightful and a useful book for the girls. It teaches women on how to walk, how to be social, how to be tech-savy, how to take care of the garden, and the best part... how to travel!

I enjoyed the book.

[Niyati · Rating 4 out of 5]

truly helpin..!!

[Wandoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Walk in High Heels by Camilla Morton is a girl's How to guide. Morton gives us a book equivalent of the critically acclaimed UK TV show “Lady to Ladette.” You know the one where a bunch of girls are coached into becoming classy ladies(I could have sworn it was called something like Duchess of. . . But I digress). In How to Walk in High Heels there's information on how to walk in heels(obviously), how to get ready for a night out, hold your drink, how handle yourself at events, politics,among other fabulous tips.
I happened by How to Walk in High Heels when by cousin was leaving for Vienna. She left me with a parting gift, a link to Garner style's fabulous handle. One of the pictures on her facebook was a shot of some of “IT” books in the fashion world. Clearly Garner has read How to Walk in High Heels a few times, because she has a style that just won't quit.
The first chapter is how to prepare for an eloquent night on the town.
1 Venue
Know where you are going and what the dress code will be there, before knowing how to interpret it into an exquisite ensemble for the night. When in doubt, reach for the little black dress(it never fails). Always dress to impress. You never know where you'll meet your next business partner, boyfriend, the Queen or England or best friend. Imagine the paparazzi are following you everywhere. You cannot give them the satisfaction of spotting you on a bad hair day.
2 Layout
If possible layout your clothing for today ahead of time(possibly the night before). This will afford you the opportunity to create and recreate the outfit all day in your head till you reach your nirvana. If struggling to get the right combination, remember a pair of shoes can make or break an outfit. Find the right pair and bam- dilemma over!
3 Point of Focus
Remember simplicity is elegance. Know your body, some places you will naturally want to conceal, others you want to exaggerate. Find your focal point for the evening and accessorize around it. Whether that be your bottom, chest or abs.
4 Teeth
Make sure your teeth are brushed, flossed and moisturized early in the proceeding, before you apply lip gloss.
5 Make Up(most crucial stage in the evening's preparation)
Aim to look like a super model on the cover of a magazine. Note that
There can never be too much mascara. Eyes are the window to the soul. Pile that mascara on to enhance and open your eyes.
Always pick a feature to exaggerate(eyes or mouth(not both)
Red lips need subtler eyes
Kohl rimmed eye sockets generally go with a nude lipstick to balance it out.
Know what lighting you will end up in
Up Close and Intimate
You want to look effortlessly flawless. Think Beyonce's flawless- “I woke up like this.”

From Afar(look don't touch)
Red lips are for occasions when you want to be circled around and admired. Also wear it when you won't be doing a lot of chatting. Red lips on teeth or champagne flutes are not attractive. Avoid lipstick stains by casually/discreetly licking the rim of your glass and wiping the stain away with your thumb.

False eyelashes and black kohl-rimmed eyes
False eyelashes can be the most seductive of all accessories. Don't wear them while swimming though or to a tear-jerking movie.
6 Underwear
Make sure your bra and your knickers match.
7 Perfume
Should go on immediately after deodorant.
Tip from Coco Chanel, Perfume should be worn 'wherever one wants to be kissed.'
8 Dress
When your dress comes on, things start to feel like you are finally getting somewhere.
9 Make Up
Reassess your make up situation. Are there any smudges? Do you need more mascara or kohl? Does the make up work with the clothes you are wearing?
10 Hair
Now is the time to work, tweak, tease, into position. Go easy on the hair spray.
11 Shoes
The higher/more expensive the better. The thinner the heel, the greater the optical illusion.
12 Perfume, Phase II
Spray a mist of scent into the air and walk into it.
13 Hair: Toss
14 Make Up and Mirror
Check to see that everything is still as you envisioned.
15 Smile
Cue to yell 'coming' or 'ready' to your waiting suitors or attending groupies. Practice your smile in in front of the mirror, this way you are primed and ready for all the compliments as you graciously glide down the stairs.
16 Check you have your handbag, and contents
Ideally you should always have your mobile phone, wallet & money, lipstick/lipgloss, travel size perfume, business card and a mint in your purse.
17 Outer-layering- the coat
Always opt to be assisted into your coat, its the best way to ensure that people see you and your outfit at close range. Also having someone slip it on for you ensures that its lying on the best angle.
18 Lip-gloss
Now is the time to apply lipgloss, no point putting in on prior to this stage. Lip gloss is a great crowd pleaser.
19 Finale
“ One final 'Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? And you're off.”
To avoid confrontations or prevent waiting parties from getting antsy, have the remote laid out in plain view and some tea, coffee or cocktails. 'You can't hurry meringues, couture, or the Hermes Birkin bag waiting list so why try to hurry a vision of loveliness?'
Now on to main topic of discussion of the book: Shoes. Before you go shoe shopping, make sure your toes are freshly pedicured and painted, even if you are wearing closed toe shoes. If you are looking for comfort and luxury, Manolo Blahniks are the way to go. The fact that the most fashionable stars in the industry like Carrie Bradshaw(Sarah Jessica Parker), Nicole Kidman, and Tina Chow idolize the brand, says something about the quality.
Manolo Blahnik himself dishes tips on how to pick a shoe. Do not follow trends. Be original. Look at vintage. Where possible, show some toe cleavage. It gives the shoe a little sensuality. When you go on a trip, all you need is two black dresses and twenty pairs of shoes. Let the shoes do the talking. Be fearless and put your best foot forward, and remember you can never be too glamourous or have too many heels.
Other tips/quotes across the border from celebrities/others are:
'A good heel is like a flash car, or an incredible work of art. You don't need it, you covet it, savour it, worship it, and have to have it. A really good heel has been constructed to tilt you at the most flattering angle possible.'

'High heels put your ass on a pedestal where it belongs.'

'The only thing worst than a girl in cheap, chunky heels is a girl who can't walk in them.'
That last quote is a cop out for me. You know the girl(on TV) who is 200% perfectly beautiful except for one little flaw. She's a klutz. When I'm walking on the streets in high heels, in my mind I'm being the adorable klutz and bumping into cute things, but in reality, I'm giving off the stranded hitchhiker vibe. But hey, a girl can dream. On a serious note, 3 hours is my heel wearing threshold, anything more and I go splat on my face. I should invest in a pair of Manolo Blahniks. One way to get accustomed to wearing heels for longer periods is aisle gliding as Morton suggests. Go shopping in your heels. Morton covers extensively, the dos and don'ts of heel trudging on pages 17-34. Narrating it here would be like the blind leading the blind, get yourself acquainted with those pages, then we'll reconvene and share notes.
Ideally when you have/can walk in fabulous shoes, you would have to have a social schedule lined up. For weddings, don't pull a Julia Roberts in My Best Friends's Wedding. Never go alone. Drag a gay boyfriend or your best guy friend. No shame in this, everyone knows that the more fabulous you are, the harder it is to find someone to compete(winkey face). While at the wedding, circulate circulate circulate. And remember, don't upstage the bride. It is not fair to give the groom doubts. Opt for pretty, delicate, non-slutty, unaggressive styles, and comfortable heels, as you will be on your feet for most of the day.
The same rules apply for almost any event you will attend. Know the venue, interpret the dress code, dress appropriately, you can never go wrong in a fabulous pair of shoes- the higher, the more expensive(the better). Finally, wherever you go, take Gore Vidal's words with you 'Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.'

[Selena · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who majored in and did her M.A. in "Serious Literature" (all books considered European and Anglo-American classics, philosophies, etc.), I never thought I would give this title, let alone the book itself, a second glance, or a chance, but here I am, finishing the last pages :-). OK, I love fashion, cosmetics, shoes, perfumes, I love them though I could never afford 99% of the things mentioned here (I am from&live in a Third World country) but I still like reading about them. The book is cleverly written, witty and you can learn some useful things (finally learned the chess and poker terms in English!). It is outdated at certain points, especially the part about technology but I'd still go for it. I am not snobbish enough to skip it :-).

[Annie Chopra · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to be part of the world of luxury, this is the book to read. It teaches you everything from what to wear on different occassions to what to educate yourself on for certain events. It will help you build the language and knowledge you need to go into a social world of luxury. Highly recommended for people who want to work with luxury brands, work as celebrities or work in the fashion world. It will acquaint you to the necessary information to feel like you belong. You know what they say, fake it till you make it. Best part is, you won't be faking anything because you will be learning everything through this book.

[Gem · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a horrible book. Very unnecessarily dictatorial. Like stating that the only acceptable nail polish colours are red, pink, clear, nude and French manicure. This is for people with no imagination or personality. Should be titled "How to Be a Basic B!tch". All its missing is a paragraph on how the only acceptable drink at Starbucks (you wouldn't want to be caught at an independent shop!) is a flat white or a pumpkin spice latte. (Actually, it might have that chapter; I abandoned it before I got there.)
A few bits of good advise about home pedicures etc, but you can get that elsewhere.

[Nida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Camilla Morton's "How to Walk in High Heels" is more than just a fashion guide. It offers a refreshing take on embracing femininity with grace and confidence. I'm interested in how she goes beyond simple style tips, encouraging readers to be poised and grounded in all aspects of life. Her practical advice combined with fun insights makes the book empowering, showing that fashion and personal development can go hand in hand. It’s a great reminder to celebrate our individuality while mastering the art of elegance🤍

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in my mid 20s and it definitely an independent, career woman’s guide to taking on life - one high stillettos at a time. Took me almost a year to finish it though, because I am a classic lit and chic lit on the sides kinda bookworm So self-help books, no matter how chic lit-ish the cover looks like and no matter how perky the author’s voice sounded in my head, will have a have a hard time keeping me away from my classic novels.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it's full of snobbish humour, entertaining at times but can get be a bit too much especially if you're not a material girl; the author expressed he coveting habits well.

Very helpful book (if you read it in 2004), reading the technology chapter more than a decade later will confuse you if anything.

[Quinty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I skipped some parts of the book, because those were not really my thing. Also, I basically skipped the whole part about electronics, because this book is so old and I know how a computer should be turned on.

The parts I did read where really enjoyable. It is written with humor and there were lots of funny parts.

[khavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book overall

I enjoyed the book. A delightful read. The only gripe that I have with it is some of the chapters belong in a how to book instead of a finishing book. I understand the need to know those things however mechanics seem out of place for a book of this sort.

[Monami · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so outdated and dare I say had a colonial karen taste to it. Degraded teas of India while glorifying English tea whereas tea grows in India, not England. Also making no mention of Ethiopian and Yemenite origins of coffee but glorifying it as a Euro centric drink. I cannot understand how this book was a thing even back in 2000s

[Olivia Hotchkiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, I now know how to wear high heels, along with how to get a wine stain out of the carpet, how to fix a broken heel with a pine cone and a bobby-pin, how to use a computer, and how to hide a body, naturally. I probably enjoyed this snappy, sassy book of everything way too much, but I did actually learn a good bit of useful things!