Carola Long: Heels add authority to professional outfits

In an office where heavy machinery is limited to the coffee machine and most of the day is spent sitting, high shoes hardly pose a major safety risk. A sleek pair of stilettos can add instant polish and authority to a professional outfit; in male-dominated offices many women rely on them to ensure they aren't towered over.

And it's not only women who wear elevated shoes; many men are partial to a sneaky Cuban heel. Besides, who determines what constitutes a high heel? In the fashion industry anything under six inches is deemed practically flat. Will the TUC stomp down to London Fashion Week in their sensible footwear?