High road for high heels?
Sexy or safety risk? High heels could be posing a major health and safety problem to Wigan's women.
According to a new Trade Union Congress report wearing skyscraper shoes in the office is dangerous - and demeaning to women!
General secretary Brendan Barber said: "Heels may look glamorous on the catwalks and on Hollywood stars, but they're not appropriate for day-to-day work wear.
"These dress codes - apart from being blatantly sexist - can lead to long-term foot and back problems as women are forced to stand or walk around in high heels or ill-fitting footwear."
So what do Wigan women think?
Fashion shop Desire sells a range of high heels - perfect for a great night out.
But Desire's own workers reckon it's best to stick to something a bit more sensible for work
Jamie Perry, 21, said: "I couldn't wear high heels to work. They hurt me too much.
"Although I wear them when I go out, drinking takes the pain away."
Danielle Denton, 17, who also works at Desire said: "I don't wear heels here because they're not comfortable.
"At work we have to run up and down the stairs all day and they are a safety risk, I could trip up."
The TUC's report, Working Feet and Footwear, says that shoes so high can cause long term health problems such as blisters, corns, knee pain and back pain.
One shopper admitted she wears flat shoes for work but can't resist a heel for shopping.
Beverley Dawson, 46 said: "I prefer to wear a nice heel with my skinny jeans. I find them quite comfortable, even for shopping.
"I wouldn't wear them for work as I am on my feet for eight hours a day as a waitress although if I worked in an office I would definitely be wearing high heels."
Joanne Mooney, 31 is a manager for Thomson Travel, Wigan.
She said: "My company is quite strict on what we can wear because we need to lift a lot of brochures.
"Our restrictions are about a 3ins heel and we must only wear a court shoe.
"I wouldn't really prefer to wear high heels to work but the girls I work with do try to get away with higher heels as it makes them feel more feminine."
Five high heel facts
1. High heels are believed to have originated with Catherine de Medici, a 16th century Italian noblewoman who was short in stature and wanted to make a bigger impression when she arrived in France to marry the future King Henry.
2. The Guinness World Record for most people running in high heeled shoes is 155.
3. The red soles on Christian Louboutin's shoes are a registered trademark of the brand.
4. On average, women begin wearing at age 12 and continue doing so until they're 63.
5. Altocalciphilia is the condition of having a high heel obsession - a little like Sex in the City's Carrie Bradshaw
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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