I was a bit of a shortie, and so I begged for high heels from a very early age ... probably from about 7 or 8 years old. I also begged for make up, to be allowed to shave my legs, and other things like that ... my parents weren't keen!

My grandma gave me some old lipsticks and dresses and one pair of high heels when I was about 9. They weren't very high, they weren't very provocative - just some white strappy sandals, maybe a 4cm heel? They were too big, as were the dresses, but I loved them.

She gave me more every now and then (maybe a pair a year - the best ones were some honest to goodness knee high patterned black leather cowgirl boots with 10cm wooden heels when I was about 14) and mum and dad let me buy some heels when I was about 14. I had stilletos by then.

Dad was always worried I'd snap an ankle (interesting concept, considering I lived in my rollerblades, did netball gymnastics springboard diving and a bunch of other things I actually could have snapped an ankle doing!) and mum was just constantly worried I'd "look like a sl*t".

I would be happy for my hypothetical daughter to wear heels from a reasonably young age - but in the same vein as I'd be happy with her wearing jeans, skirts, and other things, I'd keep an eye on the actual outfit itself in terms of whether it's weather and age and ability (balance!) appropriate.