Are flat shoes really the new height of cool, asks Liz Jones

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Height of chic: Carla Bruni in her black Christian Dior pumps

There is one immutable, unimpeachable lesson in style we can all learn from Carla Sarkozy's state visit last week (apart from how to have "official" hair without getting an old lady do, how to wear this season's colours, and how to arrange those thoroughbred limbs without attracting too much or too little attention) - the flat pump is THE big fashion must have for summer.

Now, we all know that the main reason Mme Sarkozy was sporting flats is because she wanted to avoid towering, Princess Diana-like, over her Napoleon-sized husband.

But didn't those Christian Dior pumps, teamed as they were with a shiny, boxy Dior "Babe" handbag and impeccable tailoring, make her look all gamine and jaunty and relaxed and, well, young?

For the past four or five seasons, we have become so inured to seeing women of all ages staggering around in chunky heels and platforms, unable to negotiate steps, or cobbles, or any distance at all, with haggard, pained looks on their faces, that to see someone with a spring in her step was a refreshing and strangely liberating experience.

Wearing flat shoes does wonders for your posture, too. In heels, your bottom is sticking out, your shoulders tend to be forward and your calves are strained.

But in flatties your shoulders are back and your hips forward, which has the immediate effect of flattening your stomach.

Agggh! I can hear you wailing. But what about those of us who don't have legs as long as the Eiffel Tower?

Well, I think petite women look wonderful in pumps, especially when teamed with a summer dress belted tight at the waist with a full skirt to the knee (think Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday).

And whereas the new wide trousers can look a bit odd with a chunky platform shoe, against a flat they look cool and chic (as long as you get the length just right: the hem should never hover at half mast, but should instead fall softly on to the instep).

I hate this summer's wide cropped trouser, but a pair of cropped cigarette pants - which look very wrong with heels or a platform - look elegant with flats.

If you are very young and insist on wearing a mini skirt, then at least a jaunty pair of flats render it far less tarty.

The only time a flat doesn't work is when worn with skinny jeans or trousers: your legs will resemble golf clubs.

Of those on offer this summer, the best flats fall into two groups: the ballet pump or, for the more fashion forward and funky among you, the gladiator sandal (if you are short or have chunky legs, avoid those that snake up the calf, because they will make your legs look shorter).

I love the black patent ballet flats by French Sole - www.frenchsole.com has pairs in hundreds of colours, all under £100 - which would look great for work with brown legs and white ankle socks (not if you are over 30, though).

More casual are a pink pair of woven leather pumps with a green bow by LK Bennett, at £149.

If you really want to emulate Mme Sarkozy, Dior has lots and lots of ballet flats, all hovering around the £250 mark.

The best gladiators are at Faith (£25 for a gold-fringed pair) and Antik Batik (£88 for a gold pair, see www. mywardrobe.com), while I also love the ethnic beaded sandals for £670 at Rene Caovilla, and the brown rope flats with gold beads for £35 at Topshop.

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