Q I will be attending my prom next month. Where can I buy good shoes that can add height to my frame so that girls in heels do not tower over me?

A You can find dressy handmade leather shoes which come with heels that are up to 3 inches at shoe store The Wizard Of Oz (59 Ubi Avenue 1, 05 Bizlink Centre, tel: 6844-6274). Prices range from $140 to $200.

If you are going for such high heels, practise walking in them for at least a couple of days before stepping out for your prom - any girl will tell you that looking graceful in heels requires some training.

Less intimidating heels up to 1 inch high are also available at Pedro (store locations at www.pedroshoes.com), where they cost from $129 to $169.

Stylist Jerome Awasthi also advises you to make sure that your trousers are long enough to cover half of the heels so that they will not look too obvious.

Another tip for creating the illusion of height: Put two insoles into your shoes to bump up your height if you prefer not to wear heels.

Also, do not wear a suit that has a baggy fit. Instead, shop for slim-fit cuts at places like Topman (a suit here should cost around $200), Calvin Klein or Hugo Boss (from $300 each). A slim fit will help to elongate your figure; just check out the indie rockers who adore Hedi Slimane's shrunken Dior Homme silhouettes. Go for one solid colour for both your trousers and jacket or vertical stripes if you really want to go for broke.

Ultimately, though, it is not about what you wear but how you wear it. A healthy dose of confidence will probably do more for you than an expensive suit and towering shoes.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Nov 7, 2008.