How to (and not to) walk in heels

Oh dear, last night was the opening evening of New York fashion week and there’s already been a tumble. The lovely Agyness Dean fell not once, but twice, in a pair of ultra-high Burberry platform heels.

Agyness tripped on stage during the Fashion For Relief Haiti NYC 2010 collection show, organised by Naomi Campbell who famously fell during a Vivienne Westwood show in 1993. Luckily the model was able to laugh it off, so we don’t have to feel bad for her, but really if the models can’t walk in these heels how are we ever supposed to?

The old saying ‘No pain, no gain’ springs to mind: yes there is a lot to be gained from wearing high heels – they make you look longer, slimmer, sleeker, sexier – but often they can really hurt!

Posh, Kelly Osbourne, Sarah Jessica Parker – even Oprah Winfrey suffer for fashion with their common complaint of bunions. A painful problem none of us want ever to have to deal with.

So where is the happy medium? We’re not born with the natural ability to walk well in heels; it’s a skill which needs practise in order to build up the necessary ankle muscles. Whilst some of us can’t be bothered, others take it too far. Give yourself and your feet a break. Don’t live in your heels but take the time to perfect that sexy strut.

Check out this ‘how to’ guide for some failsafe tips www.wikihow.com/Walk-in-High-Heels (Ignore the bit where it says the shoes in the picture would be good, they wouldn’t, they’re hideous. Just look for the heel height as a guide).