It’s a shoe-in for fashion conscious and well-heeled

But new research suggests that the majority of women have the hoarding skills of Imelda Marcos crossed with a jackdaw.

With London Fashion Week kicking off on Sunday, new data shows the extent of British women's shoe fetish.

While the rise of the metrosexual man - known as Big Girls' Blouses in Yorkshire - may be bringing British men in line with their fashion-conscious female counterparts, women still walk over men when it comes to how many pairs of shoes they own.

Insurance company Legal & General's research reveals some interesting facts on how much women do actually spend on shoes which may be less than men think - or more in The Diary's case.

The research shows:

* 11 per cent of the female population has more than 25 pairs of shoes - which could be valued at more than £1,600 * The average woman has 14 pairs of shoes, more than double the six pairs that men typically own* The average price of a pair of shoes is £37.50, which means that the average woman has at least more than £500 worth of shoes in her wardrobe.

This news comes as not the least bit surprising to The Diary.

Our spouses are on first name terms with the assistants in Dolcis and while we need just a sturdy pair of brogues and a pair of slippers our better halves feel their lives are worthless without that pair of pomegranate-coloured slingbacks.

And while we're on the subject, why is it that the fragrant sex will happily buy a new frock knowing they have nothing that will match it and so have to spend another £200 on a bag and pair of Jimmy Choos that will go with it.

Ruth Wilkins, head of communications at Legal & General's general insurance business, stated the blindingly obvious: "Our research proves that, as many husbands and boyfriends already believe, quite a few women are prepared to spend a considerable amount of money on shoes.

"Men still have some way to go to catch women up with the number of pairs of shoes they buy."