At Adora, the road to fashion is paved with high heels

Every French- woman worth her collection of scarves and animal print separates is familiar with the power of the heel. The most elegant LBD loses its potency when paired with a sturdy square-toe low-heel best associated with grandmothers and nurses.

Oscar Wilde once posited the fan’s ability to lure members of the opposite sex with just a single flutter.

The modern woman’s equivalent is the heel: evocative in pop culture (remember the hooker staple/spindly-heeled thigh-high boots that Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman?), and literature (the majority of today’s chick lit dedicates plenty of the story’s real estate to the powerful imagery of red-soled footwear worn by Park Avenue princesses looking for love in all the wrong places).

At Adora, shoes take center stage when it comes to assembling the outfit. The high-end retailer has devised a method to negotiate the difficult waters of shoe shopping.

The department store’s unlocked the vast secrets of the heel, beginning with how it changes your figure in an instant.

Add an inch, lose five pounds

There are secrets every woman knows: how a pointy heel elongates the leg, or how a flesh-toned shoe gives the illusion of length — since there’s no visible break in color to delineate the line between leg and footwear.

According to Adora’s in-depth research on footwear, heels are the easy trick to instant weight loss. For every additional centimeter of height provided by the heel, expect to shave off at least five pounds or an inch. So a two-inch heel makes you appear at least 10 to 20 pounds thinner.

Adora’s tricks of the trade

From their experience working with clients, they’ve discovered that the proportion of the legs can be vastly improved simply by choosing the right heel. Here, a breakdown of their code:

• If your knee is large relative to your calf: Opt for pumps with chunky heels or booties. Pair with knee-length skirts to draw the eye to the ankles.

• If your calf is relatively undefined: A thin stiletto heel, with a diameter of one centimeter, accentuates the calf. Works best with pumps or ankle-strapped sandals with skirts cut above the knee.

• If your ankle is large, relative to your calf: Granny boots, along with a shorter skirt, are your friend. Draw the eye to your knees with pumps or flats. Never purchase footwear with ankle straps as these will only cut your height.

• If you have perfect legs: Consider yourself better then most of the population. No rules hold you back from purchasing anything from the broad spectrum of footwear.

The skinny on finding the perfect heel

Having catered to a mass of clients in all shapes and sizes, the folks at Adora have discovered some home truths. While a round toe with a low heel may be cute, it doesn’t make much of a difference if you’re attempting to look skinnier than usual.

Definition is the secret. A high heel may instantly add height and drop pounds but it’s not always the answer. Working women or busy moms may find that a little heel may help dramatically.

Adora’s suggestion? Low wedge heels can do great things by adding height yet at the comfort of your own stride.

Open-toe shoes also give an appearance of longer length, more than a closed pump can, while backless heels or sling backs also add to the illusion of slimness.

Heel to the chief

Finding the perfect shoe is a lot like finding the right car. If you find one that takes you comfortably from Point A to B, it’s sure to be a traffic stopper.

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Adora is located at Greenbelt 5 (0917-5577405).