Every year Halloween confronts us with the things we most fear. Spiders, clowns and tights pretending to be pants all make the list for me, but I know for many women my favorite thing in the world strikes fear into their hearts and feet: high heels.

This Halloween I know I will see a woman who decides to go the sexy route with a tiny costume and stilettos, and while I’m normally all about modesty and classiness, I make an exception for this holiday.

If you have the confidence to step out of your comfort zone once a year to have a little risqué fun, I’m all for it. What I don’t support is wearing heels when you’re not used to doing so.

Please do not be that woman in the killer outfit that is walking around like a baby giraffe because she can’t walk in her shoes.

If I had a nickel for every time I wore heels and someone asked, “How do you walk in those?” I’d own a pair of Louboutins by now.

The only response I have is practice.

I’ve been wearing heels regularly since my sophomore year of high school, so I know what kind of shoes I’m comfortable with and how I have to carry myself when I wear them.

I cannot stress enough the word “comfortable.”

If you have never worn a pair of heels in your life and find no interest in doing so, don’t.

There are plenty of fashionable flat options out there with strappy sandals, loafers and boots.

If you want to buy heels just to set them around your bedroom as decoration because they’re just so dang pretty, I have a high-five with your name on it.

If you are going to wear heels, however, there are some things you should know.

Don’t drink and walk. Alcohol will impair your balance and motor skills and even if you’ve been wearing heels for years, accidents can happen.

Consider this my public service announcement: Friends don’t let friends roll their ankles.

Always bring back-up shoes whenever possible.

Another tip to remember is that ramps are not your friends.

You’re already walking at an angle because of the heel, and going up and down another one is too much of a geometric nightmare for your feet to handle.

Stairs, elevators or a buddy willing to give you a piggyback ride are your best alternatives.

Once you get the hang of them, heels are fantastic. They improve your posture, strengthen your leg muscles and flatter all body types.

If there’s one thing you really have to get used to, it’s the attention you’ll get.

You will make a sound with every step you take and people will look at you like you have a face tattoo.

It happens. Embrace it.