Model walk in modeling: meaning, example and tips

How it works

A good walk looks natural but takes long practice. Shoulders back and down, neck long, chin parallel to the floor. The step starts at the hip, feet go one in front of the other, and the arms move loosely by the body.

The walk changes with the collection: some designers want a fast, energetic stride, others a slow, calm one, some almost no expression. A good model adapts to what the show asks for.

Common mistakes are looking at the floor, swinging the hips too much, crossing the feet too hard and freezing when something goes wrong. If a shoe slips or an accessory falls, keep walking.

In practice

A new model walks a corridor in heels for 20 minutes every evening and films herself on her phone. In the first week she notices she looks at the floor and swings her arms too much. A month later her step is rhythmic, her gaze level, and the agency's coach suggests trying a slower pace for couture shows.

What to watch for

Practise in heels in a corridor and film yourself.
Imagine a line on the floor and place your feet on it.
Practise with different shoes and long skirts.

Related terms

Runway and fashion weeksCatwalkA catwalk is the long raised platform or path along which models walk at a fashion show; the word is also used for the show itself or for runway work.Types of work and modelsRunway modelA runway model shows collections live at fashion shows, walking the catwalk in the designer's clothes before an audience, press and buyers.Requirements and looksPosingPosing is the ability to create a frame with body position, movement and gaze: showing the garment, conveying a mood and offering a new variation every few seconds.Agencies and representationModel developmentDevelopment is the period in which an agency trains a new model to pose, walk the runway, behave at castings and build a portfolio until they are ready to work.Runway and fashion weeksBackstageBackstage is the space behind the catwalk where models get hair and make-up done before the show, change and wait for their exit.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

01How do you learn to walk like a model?

By practising daily, filming yourself and training with a coach or your agency. Start barefoot, then move to heels.

02Is the men's walk different?

Yes: a wider, firmer stride, less hip movement, but the same upright posture and calm gaze.

Model walk