Rise in sale of towering shoes

Gwyneth Paltrow's appearance in a pair of towering stilettos at the UK premiere of her new film Iron Man has sparked a buying frenzy in the shoe department, a UK retailer has announced.

According to Selfridges, the "Gwyneth Effect" has lured shoppers into its stores to but evening shoes with as much as a seven inch heel.

A spokesperson said it had sold out of one of Alexander McQueen's designs, featuring a six inch heel, despite their £335 cost and that other brands, including Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent, are also selling well.

Paltrow, 35, hit headlines worldwide when she pioneered her new, long-legged look in London last week and it seems women all over the UK are clamouring to emulate her style.

"This season, we are selling the highest, most incredible shoes I've ever seen. Not for the faint-hearted, [these] heels offer the wearer an extreme, attention grabbing look," said Sebastian Manes, director of accessories at Selfridges.

However, women who are not comfortable in vertiginous heels may be comforted to know that even stars such as Gwyneth have to suffer for their art - Bang Showbiz pictured her attending an osteopath in flat gladiator sandals not long after her Iron Man appearance.