Traditionally, we have always suffered to be beautiful . . . from poisonous lead-based cosmetics in the 17th-century to organcrushing whale-bone corsets. Fashion has indeed killed . . . reports filed in Japan from April 1994 to March 1999 reported 80 of 203 accidents involving women were caused by thick-soled shoes, culminating in the death of a 25-year-old Japanese woman, who fractured her skull after tottering over in her new wedges in 1999.

Yes, being a fashionista is not without its health hazards . . . and we're not talking about extremities such as silicone injections into the balls of the feet to accommodate heel-wearing, or ribremoval for the ultimate waist. One must suffer to be beautiful, even when it comes to the high-street.

How to walk in high heels Not to be alarmist, but high heels can permanently damage your feet. This is because the body's weight pushes the foot forward, causing corns, bunions and hammer toes . . . not to mention potential cut heels if you've been foolish enough to wear stilettos that don't fit properly. Not only that, but continually wearing high heels can cause curvature in the lower back and increases wear and tear to the hips and knees. It's also been reported that heels of four inches and higher can reduce a woman's chance of getting pregnant because it tilts the pelvis forward, pressing against the stomach and slowing gastric function, which ultimately leads to menstrual dysfunction and infertility. The answer is to wear spiked heels in moderation and stick to a modest one-anda-half to two inches during the day.

What's the skinny?

Yes they're so hot right now but skinny jeans shouldn't be unforgivingly tight. This goes for all manner of restrictive clothing.

They've been linked to all kinds of medical problems from heartburn to cystitis, and the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology reported that wearing tight clothes during teenage years can result in endometriosis, a painful condition that can lead to infertility. For men, wearing tight pants has been linked to infertility, while hold-you-in underwear has been blamed for a rise in dyspepsia, a condition where the body builds up gas that it can't release.

The weigh of the world The fashion industry doesn't cause eating disorders but it does propagate the notion that a successful woman must be a Size 0, which is decidedly unhealthy. For every gossip magazine that carries stories about kjuuu's frighteningly emaciated look, another will laud her sense of style. And we are apparently meant to admire Victoria Beckham, who confesses to eating as little as possible because she likes being so thin.

Our obsession with weight has reached epidemic proportions, all the more ironically as the obesity crisis grows in Ireland. And however tempting a crash diet might be, they are dangerous and generally result in regaining the weight. Better instead to eat sensibly, to exercise and to stay away from those vertical stripes that are very 'in' for spring/summer 2006.

Eye eye Cheap sunglasses. Don't ever do them.

Shades don't have to be Dior but they do have to have UV protection. Glasses without UV protection cause the pupil to dilate, meaning that the sunshine can damage your eyes, possibly resulting in cataracts, skin cancer around the eyes and other problems. It's better to wear no sunglasses than cheap ones, because at least your squinting will protect your eyes a little. But always wear your shades, even on moderately sunny Irish days, and ensure that they block out at least 95% of UV rays.

Nasty nails Love them or hate them, fake nails are still very much on the fashion radar. They certainly bypass the arduous task of growing your own but be aware that dramatic talons can lead to bacterial and fungal infections.

This is because the artificial nail can cause the natural nail to lift from its base, allowing dirt and bacteria in, while fungal infections can occur if an acrylic nail is left on for three months or more. Symptoms include pain, itching and other unpleasantness. Not quite the desired effect.