Head over heals (From Daily Echo)

Head over heals

5:44pm Thursday 4th September 2008 in

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THERE'S a good reason my mum gives me the nickname of Imelda Marcos - I have enough pairs of high-heeled shoes to open up my own shop and most of them I've rarely worn.

Coming in at a measly 4ft 10in, I always used to wear heels when I went out. That was until about a year ago when I discovered that it was easier to balance after a few drinks while wearing flats.

But I've come to realise that, when you're single, high heels have their benefits.

First of all, they lengthen your legs and make you feel slimmer and, if you're my height, they are the only way of putting you at eye-level with potential dates - unless you want to carry around a copy of the Yellow Pages to stand on.

Plus, there's something about heels that make most women walk a lot more glamorously.

Sadly, the way I walk in heels can only be likened to the scene in Bambi where the deer is trying to stand up on ice.

So I decided to get some expert help in the form of a one-to-one lesson with Abi from the Polestars company.

The firm runs a number of classes that are great for women in need of a confidence boost - ranging from pole dancing and burlesque lessons to sessions on feeling confident and sexy and the How to Walk in High Heels class that I signed up for.

As a seasoned dancer and stilt walker, Abi knows a thing or two about walking in heels.

Abi, from Southampton, said: "The first rule of walking in high heels is to not get drunk."

I see - this could be where I've been going wrong.

"Some women might think they can walk better in heels when they're drunk but it's probably just in their head, and it's more attractive to just have a few cocktails and have a good time rather than stumble around."

With this golden rule in mind, I pulled on my killer red heels and followed Abi's lead.

The key of walking glamorously in heels is to put one foot across the other slightly as you move - it helps lengthen your legs and give you the all-important hip wiggle. Sticking your boobs and bum out also helps you achieve a Jessica Rabbit-style strut.

Keeping your head up is a good tip, too - it means you look more confident and your eyes are free to catch the attention of the opposite sex.

Obviously, a glance down every now and then is important - especially if you're near a kerb.

After a few goes and some encouragement from Abi I was really getting the hang of walking in heels and even managed to do it in my 6in wedges.

By the end of the class, I had walking in high heels mastered and friends even said to me the next day how much taller I looked, even though I was wearing relatively small heels.

The walking in heels class is something I'd recommend to any single woman - I definitely noticed more heads turning the next time I walked down the street and felt more confident the next time I went out.

Plus, for the £50 the lesson cost, I'm getting more wear out of £150 worth of shoes at the back of my closet!

The How to Walk in High Heels lessons last one hour and cost £50. To book, call 020 7274 4865