Fashion’s fiercest high-stepping queens, vet Naomi Campbell and newcomer Karlie Kloss, list ways to put your best foot forward on the catwalk — and on the street. Their expert tips to rebound gracefully when you fall.
It helps to dance
Naomi Campbell: “I really had no idea how to walk; I took what l learned from [my days as a dancer] and my mother’s advice. She used to show me how to walk in the passageway at home. And dance is great because it can help your posture.”
Karlie Kloss: “I was lucky enough to have had six years of intense ballet training. I think those years of pointe shoes helped prepare me for the balance and confidence required to strap on those heels and strut down the runway.”
Don’t take yourself too seriously
Campbell: “It’s life — anything can happen. The runway could be slippery, shoes not scraped or clothes not closed properly. But you can always work it out to your advantage by not taking yourself too seriously. Don’t forget to have fun!”
Kloss: “The most challenging shows I ever walked in were always Alexander McQueen — between the elaborate shoes, sets, hair, makeup and overall intensity of the show. But that is also what I loved most about them. Showing up to a McQueen show, I never knew what was going to happen. No one knew how to put on a show like him.”
Don’t forget that it’s all about the clothes
Campbell: “Pay attention to what you are wearing and how it moves on you, how the shoes feel. Each outfit is different. Get a sense of the music and show ‘you’ — but don’t show off.”
Kloss: “I was in a McQueen show wearing a long red dress. I remember I was so nervous about tripping. Before I went on, I asked Lee [McQueen’s nickname] what I should do and he told me something that I will never forget. He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Karlie, I don’t care if you fall, just remember: You own the dress. The dress does not own you.’”
When all else fails …
Campbell: “The ultimate life lesson from the runway is: Always look to the light.”
Kloss: “Feel beautiful! If you feel good, it shows. You just become all-around more fabulous — whether you are walking on the Dior runway or down the street.”
Sometimes a fall can be a good thing
Campbell: “[My biggest fall was at] the Vivienne Westwood show in Paris in 1993. But I got up, laughed and kept going. The shoes are now on display at the Victoria & Albert museum.”
Kloss: “I’ve tripped on the runway and had skids and falls. But the best possible thing you can do is to simply smile. Laugh it off and then keep your head up, shoulders back and stay focused.”
