In praise of stilettos
Out of the 4,567 reasons I just bloody love stilettos, here are my top five. Number one: like the sound of ice cubes in a glass or the flare when you light a dinner candle, they ring the changes. They signal a switch from the familiar to the fabulous, from the humdrum to the hoop-la. Number two: to wear them is to remind the world of the inherent superiority of the female sex, which is never a bad thing. (It was cartoonist Bob Thaves who pointed out that Ginger Rogers “did everything Fred Astaire did ... backwards and in high heels.”) Number three: they might be hard to walk in, but a beautiful pair of shoes will always get noticed, so it’s worth it. Number four: kicking them off when you get home. Bliss. Number five: I always wanted to be 5 foot ten. I made it to five-foot-five-and-a-half on my own; the rest, I owe to Jimmy Choo. Jess Cartner-Morley
Flatform trainers: the bounciest, the best
For the past two years my heel height has routinely been about 3cm high – but at the heel and the toe. Much as I can’t stomach the word “flatform”, I have grown addicted to those Céline-inspired Vans-type trainers that distinguish themselves with a bright white rubber sole. They’re supremely comfortable and make the crucial different between wearing shoes and standing tall. Stella Tennant is the 3cm slip-on trainer flatform pinup (but yes, like she needs to be any taller). Tennant is a Céline loyalist and I’ll bet she has these in her wardrobe. Whistles is equally skilled at this. It’s an inexact science, but I reckon the white stripe gets incrementally deeper the posher the shoe. I’m not sure if it’s some sort of heel placebo trickery, but I believe that real Célines genuinely do make you walk taller. Imogen Fox
Why I’m a chip off the old block
As much as I’d love to slink down train platforms in stilettos like Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot, I have never been able to walk in very high heels. I’ve tried many times and failed – ending up with a pair of shoes in my hands at the end of the day and blisters on my feet. After years of sticking with flats and trainers, though, I discovered the 2in chunky heel a few years ago. These are my perfect shoes – up to 2in, preferably a sandal, with a base that is wide enough to support my heel. They’re comfortable enough to wear all day, which makes me look better already (a woman in shoe-related pain is not a good look). They’re also stylish in their own low-key way – a bit 70s and never OTT. I like them with midiskirts, trousers cropped to the ankle and skinny jeans, but they’re pretty versatile really. One thing – they’re not that easy to find, so I would advise you to buy them when you see them. I have collected pairs from Topshop, Asos and Stella McCartney and always have my eyes peeled for more. Retailers, take note. Lauren Cochrane
The thin end of the wedge
Being 5ft 1/2in, high heels make a huge difference to my view of the world, but I really can’t be bothered to ruin a night out with aching feet. So, whatever else is in fashion, wedges – universally comfortable, in my experience, providing they have enough straps and buckles to cling closely to your foot – will always be my friend. They don’t have the best reputation in fashion (see: Victoria Beckham’s famous wedged trainer moment on the baseball field), but I love them unashamedly. By night these, by Prada, are the dream. Miuccia herself wore them backstage at her show in February – along with a non-nonsense kilt and a power jacket – and this is not a woman who would put up with sore arches. For day, a smaller heel in a cheerful pattern works – Sophia Webster’s are pretty fabulous. And hey presto – I’m almost average height! Hannah Marriott
