Women stay in love with their stilettos for 51 years!

London, Feb 19 (ANI): After diamonds, high heels are a girl's best friends. Now, researchers have found that women's love for 'skyscrapers' is timeless.... 51 years to be more precise.

According to boffins, a lady's love affair with high-heeled shoes lasts for 51 years on average, with the final decision to swap to flat shoes similar to retiring from work.

The study, however, found that the height of the heels a woman chooses is also a reflection of the ups and downs of her life, varying drastically from teenage years to motherhood and old age, reports the Telegraph.

As per a report compiled by High Street fashion store Debenhams, the passion for higher fashion begins at the age of 12, and continues through every stage of a woman's life until she reaches 63.

The psychological impact of retiring from heels can be almost as traumatic as retiring from work, said Debenhams spokesman Ed Watson.

"It's an all too public admission that they are getting older, and so naturally many women want to postpone this evil day for as long as possible," he said.

"Nevertheless, there comes a time when women have to admit that, while they may still feel young, in practice, they're not as steady on their feet as they once were.

"It's a climb down which can cause a lot of heartache," he added.

The study, which was undertaken as part of an extensive examination of the entire women's shoe market, revealed that the heel height worn by women begins to rise in early teens, increasing rapidly from one inch (2.5cm) to an all-time high of 5.3 inches (13.5) cms by the age of 23. (ANI)