How to walk like a model: the runway walk step by step

Every model who wants to show designers' clothes has to learn how to walk like a model. It is not very hard, but it is not the same as walking down the street either. Some girls pick it up fast because they already have good posture, a sense of elegance and confidence. Others have to work through self-doubt and stiffness. A straight back and a straight line are not enough: the runway is a stage, and the model is there to present the clothes, so she has to feel at ease on it.

We wrote this guide from the experience of the Supermodels agency in Lithuania, which has taught the walk since its first model camps and whose models walk in Paris, Milan, London and New York. Below you will find how to walk on a runway step by step, how the female and male model walk differ, which shoes to bring to a casting, how to practise at home and which mistakes to avoid.

Why a model walk is different from an everyday walk

On the street we walk to be comfortable. On the runway a model walks so the clothes move at their best: the folds of a dress fall cleanly, trousers do not crease and the audience sees the silhouette from the front. That is why a fashion show walk is slower, steadier and straighter, and the body is held so it never fights the garment.

Attitude matters a lot. A model who sees herself as a pretty hanger will look stiff and will not enjoy the show. A model who treats the job as presenting a piece of work she has been trusted with walks freely. It also helps to remember that a designer who picked you sees you as the face of the collection.

How to runway walk: step by step

1. Posture

Stand against a wall so your heels, bottom, shoulder blades and the back of your head touch it. That is your runway posture: long neck, chin parallel to the floor, shoulders lowered and drawn back, chest open, stomach lightly in. Imagine a thread pulling the crown of your head up. Do not overdo it: shoulders pulled too far back and a pushed-out chest look tense.

2. The step and the foot line

Women walk on one line: each foot lands right in front of the other, sometimes crossing it slightly. The step starts at the hip, and the leg lifts from the thigh as if stepping over something low. The foot lands softly, heel and ball almost together, with no stomping. Keep the step natural, about one foot's length between the shoes. A step that is too long in heels throws you off balance.

3. Pace and rhythm

Walk to the music and keep an even pace: do not rush and do not slow down when you tire. Each model is on the runway for a few dozen seconds and there is a set gap between models, so the choreographer will ask everyone to hold the same tempo.

4. Arms

Arms move naturally and in moderation: from the shoulder, not the elbow, slightly back past the hip. Fingers stay soft and lightly bent. If the outfit has pockets, a designer may ask you to keep one hand in a pocket. A bag or other accessory is carried the way you were shown at rehearsal.

5. Gaze and expression

Look straight ahead at the photographers' pit at the end of the runway. Do not search the audience for friends and do not look at the floor. At couture and ready-to-wear shows models are usually asked for a neutral expression, with exceptions: some designers want a smile or even a wink to the photographers at the end.

6. Runway poses and the turn

When you reach the end, stop, shift your weight onto one leg and hold for one or two seconds. Then turn calmly without losing your posture and walk back. Some shows have no pose at all: models only turn or walk a loop. When you pass another model, keep to your side of the runway as agreed at rehearsal.

The catwalk walk changes with the show

A catwalk walk is not one fixed style. Models learn to adjust it to the type of show.

• Haute couture. Jewelled gowns, statement accessories and shoes you will never see in a shop call for elegance: fluid, light, proud movement.
• Ready-to-wear (prêt-à-porter). Models are usually asked to be strong, sometimes even severe, and to walk boldly, rhythmically and with confidence.
• Lingerie and swimwear. At shows like the famous Victoria's Secret show, models are asked to move their hips more freely and show energy.
• Commercial and brand events. Often a looser walk, sometimes with a smile and eye contact with the audience.

Some models became famous for how they walk. The Naomi Campbell walk is called one of the most powerful in fashion history for its fluid, assured stride, and Gisele Bündchen made the so-called horse walk, with high-lifted knees, popular. Those signature walks belong to stars. For a new model the goal is a clean, even and straight walk.

Shoes for castings and shows

• Women at a casting: plain black pointed heels, no platform, no decoration, at a height you can walk in with ease. A high heel you wobble in looks worse than a lower one you walk in firmly.
• Men at a casting: plain black leather shoes, or clean white trainers if the agency says so.
• Show shoes come from the designer. They are often not your size, brand new and slippery. Carry toe pads, plasters and tape, and scuff new soles on a rough surface before the show so they grip.
• Walk in the show shoes at rehearsal, even if they seem fine. Better to stumble at rehearsal than on the runway.

If walking in heels is still hard, start with our guide on how to walk in heels: technique, heel types and a two-week practice plan.

How to practise the runway walk at home

1. A line on the floor. Stick tape along a 5 to 6 metre hallway and walk it up and down.
2. Posture at the wall. Stand against a wall for a minute before each session so your body remembers the position.
3. Phone video. Film yourself from the front and from the side. The front shows your foot line and arms, the side shows posture and head position.
4. Music. Walk to songs of different tempos to learn to hold a rhythm.
5. Pose and turn. At the end of each pass, stop, hold a pose and turn without losing posture.
6. Little and often. 10 to 15 minutes a day does more than an hour once a week.

Agencies often ask for a walking video, sent with digitals to agencies abroad. How to prepare is in our guide to model castings.

Common mistakes

How do models walk at a casting, and what is watched

At a casting you are usually asked to walk up and down a few times. The designer or casting director watches the walk, but also how you look in motion, whether you fit the mood of the collection and how fast you take direction. "Faster", "slower" and "no pose at the end" are common requests. The quicker you adjust, the better your chances.

During fashion weeks there are many castings in a few days, and a show lasts minutes. What runway work pays and why it is an investment for new models is in how much do runway models make; the dates are in our fashion calendar.

Learn it with professionals: Supermodels Masterclass

The walk, posing and casting preparation are at the core of the Supermodels Masterclass, an online course led by Jurgita Kiguolė, head of Supermodels, who has prepared models for fashion weeks for more than 20 years. The course teaches posing, the runway walk and how to prepare for a casting, explains how agencies, contracts and fashion markets work, and its fourth module deals with confidence and rejection at castings. The course is in Lithuanian.

Supermodels Masterclass: posing, the runway, castings (in Lithuanian)

If you want to become a model, you can apply to Supermodels at any time with three photos and your measurements; see the Supermodels open call. What agencies look for is in how to become a model, and men will find more in our guide to male models.

FAQ

How do you walk like a model?

Straighten your posture, keep your chin parallel to the floor, place one foot in front of the other on a single line, keep your arms relaxed and fix your eyes on a point at the end of the runway. Walk at an even pace to the music, pause for a pose at the end and turn calmly.

How is the male model walk different?

Women place their feet on one line and step more lightly. Men take longer steps, keep the feet parallel, move the hips less and keep the shoulders relaxed.

How long does it take to learn the runway walk?

The basics take a few weeks of 10 to 15 minutes' practice a day. Ease and confidence come with rehearsals and shows.

What shoes should I wear to a model casting?

Women: plain black pointed heels you can walk in confidently. Men: plain black shoes. Show shoes are provided by the designer.

Do models smile on the runway?

Usually not: couture and ready-to-wear shows ask for a neutral face. Smile when the designer asks, for example at commercial events.

Where do models look when they walk?

Straight ahead at a point at the end of the runway, where the photographers stand. Not at the floor and not at the audience.

Can I learn how to catwalk at home?

Yes, the basics can be learned with a line on the floor, a mirror and a phone video. Feedback from professionals fixes the mistakes you cannot see yourself.