
They say if the shoe fits, wear it. But what if you own more shoes than Imelda Marcos and they won't all fit in your wardrobe?

It's a problem faced by an increasing number of British women — because many of us now own far more than the average number of 21 pairs of shoes. And so these style-conscious shoeaholics are forced into taking drastic action — building a room devoted entirely to their designer footwear.

Dubbed 'shoe-drobes' or 'shoe rooms', some women have even sacrificed spare bedrooms to ensure they have enough space to store their huge collection of shoes.

Kelly Hoppen, an interior designer to stars including the Beckhams, says that shoes are increasingly being given rooms of their own. She adds: 'In recent years, more and more clients see the addition of a dressing room with dedicated space in which to store and display their shoes, or entire closets devoted to their collection of heels, as the ultimate in luxury living.'

Here, JILL FOSTER and SADIE NICHOLAS meet three women — one of whom has more than 400 pairs of designer shoes — who simply couldn't live without their shoe-drobes. But what do their husbands think of their homes being taken over by all those stilettos?

Judie McCourt: 'I've probably got more than 200 pairs of Louboutins, and spend at least £450 per pair, on average... People might wonder how I can spend so much money on footwear, but I really don't go overboard on clothes or other luxuries'

It cost £30,000 to house all my heels

Judie McCourt, 42, a former radio and TV presenter, lives with her partner, a restaurateur, in Darlington, County Durham.

Number of pairs of shoes: More than 400

Cost of shoes: £100,000

Star pair: Purple Swarovski crystal-studded Louboutins, £2,600

I see my collection of more than 400 pairs of shoes as rather like fine art — precious, prized and in need of the most delicate care. So when I moved into my house four years ago, my thoughts immediately turned to where my shoes would go. The very first thing I did was to convert one of the nine bedrooms into a bespoke storage area to house them all.

It wasn't cheap — costing around £30,000 in all — but it's been worth every penny. The shelving, wardrobes and central display island are handmade from oak and painted cream.

Yes, some people think I'm crazy, but I look at them as an investment. After all, I have friends who spend hundreds of pounds on underwear and others who collect valuable wine. I collect shoes, mostly high heels.

And why shouldn't I spend my hard-earned money on something that brings me such joy?

My love of sleek, designer shoes started more than 20 years ago when I bought my first pair of classic, black Prada shoes for around £280. I've never forgotten the way they made me feel: taller, sexier, more powerful.

My favourite brand is Louboutin, with the famous red soles.

They fit me so nicely and they do a lot of designs featuring studs, which I love.

I've probably got more than 200 pairs of Louboutins, and spend at least £450 per pair, on average.

Sometimes, girlfriends and I will make a day of it when I go to buy a new pair — we'll have some glasses of fizz and try a few on, but it's usually only me making a purchase.

As for my favourites, well, I adore a bluey purple-coloured pair that are covered in Swarovski crystals. They cost around £2,600

As for my favourites, well, I adore a bluey purple-coloured pair that are covered in Swarovski crystals. They cost around £2,600.

I know how awful that sounds, but I'm just addicted to the feeling that I get when I wear them. Thankfully, my friends and family are used to my shoe obsession.

While some friends have sacrificed expensive luxuries for children, I don't have kids — which means that I have the disposable income to treat myself.

When it comes to displaying my shoe collection, I sometimes colour co-ordinate the rows in my shoe room.

On other occasions, I'll rearrange them according to the season, putting sandals at the back while the boots come to the front for winter, and vice versa.

People might wonder how I can spend so much money on footwear, but I really don't go overboard on clothes or other luxuries. Shoes can transform even the dowdiest outfit.

Plus, like many women, my weight can go up and down by half-a-stone — but shoes always fit!

My husband is banned!

Helen Bygraves, 52, is an interior designer and co-founder of Hill House Interiors. She is divorced and lives in Surrey with her partner, a property consultant. She has a daughter aged 27.

Number of pairs of shoes: 75

Cost of shoes: Around £20,000

Star pair: Black Chanel boots with white heel, £1,000

Helen Bygraves: 'If I'm feeling stressed, I go to my dressing room and browse through my shoes... I really believe that some are like works of art'

Shoes have long been my guilty pleasure. I have more than 70 pairs — that's despite having a clearout last weekend. They're all special, and most cost anything from £100 to £400. It would be impossible for me to single out one pair as a favourite, but I do especially adore shoes by Chanel, Sergio Rossi and Valentino.

My latest purchase is a pair of black Chanel boots with a square, white heel that cost almost £1,000.

As an interior designer, I spend a lot of time on building sites by day and at swanky dinners in the evening, so my collection spans everything from trainers and practical Chanel pumps to sky-high boots and bejewelled killer heels. With that level of investment, the last thing I would want to do is sling them in the back of a wardrobe.

Like most men, my partner does not understand my obsession — and is banned from entering my shoe room

When I bought my house three years ago, I re-designed the whole place from scratch and decided to forgo one of the five bedrooms to create one large master suite, with a shoe room.

It cost around £25,000, which sounds a lot, but shoes are my hobby and plenty of people would spend far more on, say, a car.

Every detail has been thought through. I've co-ordinated my bespoke cabinetry with mother of pearl inlays in the doors and lighting in the rails, all finished in a metallic gloss lacquer.

Within the closet are two areas designed purely for my shoes. Special internal lighting illuminates the crystals that adorn many of them, making them look even more beautiful.

As well as the delight of looking at my shoe room, there's a practical side, too. By storing them neatly, cleaning and re-heeling them, they will last for years.

If I'm feeling stressed, I go to my dressing room and browse through my shoes. I really believe that some are like works of art, including a pair of peach satin Gina heels and my £500 nude Miu Miu sandals with Swarovski crystals on the heels.

Like most men, my partner does not understand my obsession — and is banned from entering my shoe room. And while my 27-year-old daughter shares my love of nice footwear, much to her disappointment she's a different size to me, so can't borrow any of mine.

I like to sit and admire them

Claire Chanelle, 31, is a fashion blogger at chouquette.co.uk. She lives with her husband, 33, who owns tour operator Kensington & Pearl. They have homes in Chelsea and Essex.

Number of pairs of shoes: 50-70

Cost of shoes: Around £30,000

Star pair: Black wedges signed by designer Christian Louboutin, £695

Claire Chanelle: 'When I bought a pair of Chanel Camellia sneakers for £1,250, my husband thought it was insane'

When we designed our five-bedroom house in Essex this year, my top priority was having a room devoted to my fabulous collection of designer shoes.

My husband thought I was mad, but I was fed up with having a wardrobe where I could never find anything.

Now, I can see them all, pristine, lined up and on display. I love them so much that you'll often find me sitting in my pyjamas inside my shoe room admiring the shoes.

I really don't know how many pairs I have — I've lost count — but it's well over 60, and the cost must run into the tens of thousands of pounds.

And, yes, if I'm honest, I do lie to my husband about the cost of them all. He's not at all flash and just doesn't understand designer things. That's why I shop at Net-a-Porter online, because their packaging is so discreet.

As for my most treasured, it has to be my wedding shoes. I had two pairs, naturally: white Chanel heels for the daytime and some Balmain lace boots for the evening. They cost between £600 and £700 each. Apart from these, I adore my Manolo Blahnik Hangisi shoes, which cost around £700. I love them so much that I have two pairs: one in grey, one in black.

People say: 'You have my dream wardrobe. I wish I were you.' And I tell them: 'You can be!'

I even have a pair of black Louboutin wedges that Christian Louboutin signed himself. They were £695, but I think of them more as a work of art than something to wear.

My Chanel shoe habit has got me into trouble with my husband. When I bought a pair of Chanel Camellia sneakers for £1,250, he thought it was insane.

It was probably the most angry he's ever been with one of my purchases, even though I buy them myself — apart from the ones he gives me as presents, of course.

People say: 'You have my dream wardrobe. I wish I were you.' And I tell them: 'You can be!'

Because there's no reason other women couldn't have shoe rooms built in their houses, too.

I'd hate anyone to think I was born into this sort of life, because I had two jobs from the age of 14 in order to afford luxuries.

My teenage bedroom was a quarter of the size of my shoe room. When friends were going out or heading off on beach holidays, I was saving up for designer shoes.

That said, I didn't spend a fortune on the shoe room itself. I like cutting corners on costs where I can — it leaves me more to spend on shoes! My husband and father installed it with cabinets from Ikea costing £650.

I've got mirrored furniture from Next and a grey footstool — a bargain at £299.

The one item I did splash out on was a gorgeous Venetian mirror from Italy, which was £1,000. It took six men to lift it up the stairs, but it's absolutely beautiful.

It just shows that, with a little imagination, you can have a beautiful room, but it doesn't have to cost the earth.