Headmistress at £16k-a-year private school says women in suits look better in heels

A HEADTEACHER at a posh private school has waded in on the debate over wearing heels at work claiming "business suits just don’t look as good without them".

Jenny Brown, headmistress of £16,800-a-year St Albans High School for Girls, made the comments in an article for the Daily Telegraph after a receptionist was sent home from work for refusing to wear heels.

Actress Nicola Thorp had arrived at the offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London for her first day as a temp when she claims a supervisor for agency Portico told her she must wear heels measuring 2in to 4in while at the office.

According to the London Evening Standard, the 27-year-old said it was discrimination against women as men were allowed to wear flats, she claims she was "laughed at".

PwC says the dress code was not its policy and Portico has since scrapped the controversial rule.

But while headmistress Ms Brown says she applauds the way the receptionist "socked it to the corporate giant" she thinks heels are a must in business and says she wears them "all the time".

She wrote: "I understand and accept all arguments, but here's my Achilles heel: I still love my high shoes. They are the final flourish for formal wear; suits just don't look as good without them. And they are beautiful in their tapering leanness, their sinuous arches and the magic physics of them — holding with perfect precision and pressure such weight on a pinpoint heel."

She adds: "I’m glad that PwC were held to account for digging their heels in and hope that Nicola Thorp and the St Albans High School girls stride out, with the world at their feet; free to work in the shoes they choose, in whatever makes them feel stylish and comfortable."

While many people welcomed Mrs Brown's comments, others slammed her views saying it was a "concerning" message for a headteacher to convey.

Deniz Stoller commented on the school's Facebook page: "I personally find the comment very disappointing, particularly coming from the head of an all girls school.

"I can't imagine this does much for the school's reputation. I would be very concerned for my daughter to be hearing this message from her head teacher.

"When I dress for work, I dress to look professional not pretty (that may or may not include high heels).

"If you can't see the difference I think perhaps you should think again."

While Zarrine Dye accused the head of using the media storm to generate publicity for the school.
She posted: "Is all publicity good publicity?";

Last week business secretary Sajid Javid tweeted his support for the temp worker after she launched a petition calling for a ban on women being forced to wear high heels at work.

Because it now has more than 100,000 signatures the petition will be debated in Parliament.

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