Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Christina Aguilera make wearing vertiginous designs seem effortless, so regularly are they snapped in them - not just on the red carpet, but during shopping trips or on their way to dinner.

Their torture devices of choice are designer pieces like the season's cult shoe, the Yves Saint Laurent "Tribute".

And if the recent fashion weeks in Paris and New York are a guide, the heels, which experts warn could damage feet and legs, are in for at least another year.

The look has already trickled down from high-end boutiques to chain stores, making them an affordable and popular buy.

A sales assistant at one shop said it had almost sold out its three styles of 15-centimetre heels.

There was also a risk of ankle sprains, fractures and shortened leg muscles, leading to Achilles tendonitis, he said.