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Shoes in the city

Women's love of shoes is not a myth created by shows such as Sex and the City but a real retail phenomenon, new research suggests.

Mintel reports that one in ten British women, equivalent to 2.5 million, own a pair of shoes for every day of the month, while one in five are hoarding between 16 and 30 pairs.

This is the result of increased spending on shoes – 38 per cent in the past five years - with growth in UK shoe sales now the strongest in Europe.

The market research company reckons this will increase further still, with an annual spend on shoes of £7.6 billion by 2010.

"Footwear in the UK has moved centre stage in the world of fashion and demand has been growing rapidly," said Richard Perks, director of retail research at Mintel.

"Shoes are no longer seen as a clothing essential to be bought on a replacement basis only, they are now an integral part of the fashion of the day."

A recent survey estimated that the average UK woman will spend more than £30,000 on shoes during her lifetime.

Actress Keira Knightley is one high profile self-confessed shoe addict. She told one interviewer: "I see a pair of shoes I adore, and it doesn't matter if they have them in my size. I buy them anyway.

"I have shoes I've never taken out of the box. I even have shoes that don't fit."

If you have a shoe addiction, click here to see how much you could borrow with Lombard Direct.

30/11/2006 09:18:31

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