TV Review: Running In Heels

E! channel's new reality show 'Running in Heels' promises bitchiness and possibly some blood sport. File photo / Herald on Sunday

In the ever changing world of fashion, there are some constants. The velvet glove, for example, that handy concealer of the iron fist, is a timeless accessory.

In new apprentice-style reality-show Running In Heels (E! Saturday, 8.30pm), three interns to fashion mag Marie Claire in New York soon discover softly swathed dictatorship is a way of life.

"You look very pretty," gushes shopping editor Zoe, welcoming the trio to the job, before switching to a mode that would be regarded as chilling even by the frozen inmates of Lowood School.

"Do not speak until spoken to," she warns.

"Wear proper undergarments. Exposing yourself inappropriately - we're not keen on that."

Yes, there are moments that are pure The Devil Wears Prada.

Editor-in-chief Joanna Coles might not fill the screen quite as compellingly as Meryl Streep but she certainly gives the wolverine-in-chic-clothing routine her best shot.

A fashion maven's life is beset with worries: will the rain make her hair go fuzzy? Will she get lockjaw from that poker face she has to wear as a fixture in Fashion Week's front row? How will she schmooze the next celebrity on to the red carpet?

The lines between fiction, "reality" telly and reality were further blurred in Saturday's first episode.

The magazine's real-life cover girl Lindsay Lohan was busy making a guest appearance in the cartoon fashion world of Ugly Betty. The glossy mag's new fashion director Nina Garcia has her other gig on Project Runway.

From the interns' point of view, however, they might as well have been dropped through a rabbit hole into Wonderland, as they are sent scurrying off across town - they must not be late - feet screaming in their silly heels and worrying what fresh sin will have the queen shouting "off with her head".

Status is confusing. Are they huge? "Hundreds of girls would kill to be in your place." Or very small? "Nobody is interested in your opinion."

As usual in girly reality shows, bitchiness promises to be a major plot factor. Talita from LA annoyed on arrival, with her lapdog called Chanel and "Shut up right now!" as her standard expression of dismay.

Samantha finds Ashley "the most adorable girl" until Ashley refuses to share her fashion show tickets. Ashley ruminates bitterly over pretty Samantha getting the plum jobs. So the fashion world values looks over experience. Who knew?

Just why these three have been selected as trainee frock writers remains a mystery, especially as at least one of them plainly cannot spell.

Perhaps further episodes will reveal their qualifications apart from dab-handiness with a hair-straightener.

As a look behind the scenes, Running in Heels, certainly has its fascinations. Fashion buffs will no doubt worship at the altar.

The rest of us can enjoy being appalled by the rites of this curious tribe who like to handicap themselves with crippling footwear and large bag fetishes affixed to their forearms.

And with all that talk of killing, dire warnings to not mess up and lines such as Coles' "I wanted to rip that dress off the model", there's bound to something in here, too, for those who love blood sports.