I am sure that all of us, at one time or another, have watched beauty queens and movie stars sashay on stage or on the red carpet with their long, flowing evening gowns and their high, heels. And as we watched them, I am sure that we have wondered how in the world do they manage to glide so gracefully on those long gowns and on those high heels without even a hint of tripping on their own feet.

Whether we like it or not, there are just some outfits that are synonymous with high-heeled shoes. To wear these outfits with flats or low-heeled footwear would be to commit a faux pas or a fashion blunder. Among these outfits are formal gowns, cocktail dresses and some types of corporate suits. To match these clothes with flats or low-heeled shoes just seems wrong.

There are also benefits to wearing high heels aside from correctly matching your outfits. High heels also make you look taller (obviously), and make your legs look slimmer and longer.

Some women, however, look upon shoes that sport heels three inches high or more with fear and uncertainty. When attending a formal party or a special event, there is probably nothing more embarrassing than wobbling on your high heels, catching the hem of your floor-length skirt with the heel of your shoe, tripping and then falling down on your face. It negates all the effort of preparing for and dressing up for the event.

There are, however, secrets that are guaranteed to help you sashay like a beauty queen even if you are wearing a trailing long gown and four inch heels. These secrets are enumerated below:

Make sure that the shoes you are buying fit you properly and are shoes that you are comfortable wearing and walking in. Do not force yourself to wear shoes that are too high for you. If you really think that you can only manage two-inch heels, then stick to two-inch heels. Also, before you pay for the shoes you are thinking of buying, try to walk in them inside the store.

Practice walking in your new high heels. Not only will you get used to prancing and gliding in your shoes, but it will also break your shoes in and make them more comfortable for you to wear.

Walk properly. When wearing high heels, you should walk by pointing your toes straight ahead instead of the side. Then, complete the step by setting your heel down. Keep your legs close together and swing your arms, right arm as you step with your left foot and left arm as you step with your right foot, to keep your body balanced. In addition, look straight ahead of you so you would be able to see ahead the spots on the floor or the ground where you could trip and fall.

If you are wearing a long skirt that has a hem that the heels of your shoes can catch, practice walking in such a way that you subtly kick your skirt away from your shoe with your knees. Kicking the skirt discreetly would prevent you from tripping over the fabric.

Maintain a serene appearance in the face of embarrassment. Accidents happen, whether you like it or not. But if it thus happens, like your dress catching on your heel, try to remain calm and smiling as you try to kick the fabric away from your shoe. It only becomes embarrassing when you make it look embarrassing.

Try to take off your heeled shoes whenever you can. Let’s face it. Heeled shoes make your legs longer, slimmer and prettier, but they can cause long-term damage to your legs and feet. If you are just sitting down on your desk at work, remove your heels and let your feet rest. Take them off when driving and wear driving shoes instead. Just let your feet rest whenever possible.