Here's a little guide to get you on your way:

Choose well - if you're not like CSI Miami's Emily Procter (above) who lives in heels, buy a pair of thicker heels to get you started. Go for a heel that stays the same width all the way down, because a tapered heel is for the more advanced. When trying on shoes, look at the angle your feet actually sit in them - and try to go for a gentle 30 degree slope at the most, preferably with a very slight platform on the toe as well. Contrary to belief, this lifts the foot closer to the heel, so your feet are more relaxed and there's not as much pressure on the Achilles tendon.

Stand - If you get your beloved pair home and find you can't even stand in them for more than two seconds, go back to step one and try again. Put your heels on and just stand in front of a full length mirror. Move from side to side, check out your profile and posture, and get used to your new height. You might like to match a few outfits to your shoes while you're doing this, to make you feel even more confident!

Walk - Without scaring flatmates or family members, walk around your house, outside on the concrete, on the deck and on tiles. Each of these surfaces need to be handled differently in heels and if you get used to most of them, you should be good to enter the wide world of glamour. When walking in heels, make sure you remember to keep your legs as close to each other as possible, shoulders back and clench your butt cheeks. This gives elegance to your walk as well as balance. Try the heel-toe method to start with, putting your heel down first then following through with your toe. Do this slowly as there's a slight possibility of an ankle injury if attempted in a hurry.

Wear - A big mistake that most women make is that they buy a new pair of shoes, keep them in their box until the night of a big event and find they are in tears after wearing them for just an hour. This is an no-no, especially if this is your first time wearing heels. If you work in an office or are sitting down somewhere for a few hours in the days leading up to the big night, wear your new heels. You can take them with you to work and just slip them on under your desk and sit in them for a little while at a time. This will make your shoes mould to your feet and make wearing them out for a full evening much more bearable. You can also do this while watching TV or eating dinner at home. Walk a little and sit a little to get your feet prepared.

Focus - When the big unveiling finally happens and you're feeling confident enough to bring out your lovely pair of new heels and strut your stuff, don't lose focus. Look in front of you when walking as the smallest pebble or crack can cause a severe injury - or even worse, an embarrassment! When walking up and down stairs, always use the rail or a wall to guide you where possible. If you have a partner with you, link arms as you walk for more balance. Keep a steady pace and don't attempt to run, skip or jump in your new heels.

Smile - if by chance you do trip, fall, skid, twist an ankle or nose dive into a crowd of people, your only salvation is a smile. High heels represent elegance and elegance is not defined by a girl falling face first and getting up and crying and running off into the distance! Just remember, even supermodels like Naomi Campbell can mess up a high heel strut, so don't let it put you off getting them on again.

Like we said - practice makes perfect, so get on your heels and start strutting!