They cost from £10 to £620 - but can you tell which is which? Modelling legend and shoe addict Jilly Johnson tried... and fell flat on her face

SOURCE: Daily Mail

Just as alcoholics hide bottles, I hide shoes. I’ve got more than 200 pairs crammed into spare bedrooms, stuffed under sofas and peeking out of cupboards at my Hertfordshire home. There’s no other way to say it: I’m a shoe addict.

The obsession began when I started out as a model in the 1970s and found that, at 5ft 8in in my stockinged feet, all the other girls towered over me.

I bought myself a pair of Biba wedges — and I never took them off. I’ve barely been out of heels since.

I progressed from wedges to the pointed stilettos of the 1980s, the strappy Jimmy Choos of the 1990s, and now, at 59 years old, to (marginally) more sensible platform heels.

Yet while my capacity to stand for hours in towering stilettos may have diminished with age, I’m confident that my ability to spot, at 20 paces, the difference between a pair of Manolo Blahniks and Matalan’s finest is as sharp as ever. 

And while I love designer heels, I love a bargain even more! So when the Mail gave me a very special challenge, I couldn’t resist. 

With so many brilliant copycat styles flooding the High Street, would I be able to guess which of these red heels cost £600 and which just £10? And can you? All the labels were removed or covered when I tried them...

Classy looking: Pair one were a classic style that pleasantly surprised Jilly with the price

Uncomfortable: Jilly reckoned that pair two were cheap because they were so painful to walk in

PAIR 1:

Jilly’s verdict: These red suede stilettoes have a lovely sharp, yet stable, heel. They look classy and expensive. No doubt the pointed toe and vertiginous heel would leave my feet numb and pinched after a couple of hours — but the pain would be worth it. After all, this classic style never dates. I’d definitely spend a bit of money on these. 
High Fashion Rating: 4/5.
Jilly’s estimated cost: £200.
Actual cost: £60. Label: Darling Do, Schuh.
Jilly’s reaction: Wow! I’m pleasantly surprised that these are such a nice price. I’m a firm believer that you don’t always have to spend a lot to look like you have— and these red beauties are proof.

PAIR 2:

Jilly’s verdict: These shoes are so excruciatingly uncomfortable I can’t help but think that they must be cheap. Some people love this style of pin-sharp metal heel, but I think it’s unstable. Not only that, but they make someone my age look like a street walker! And without a platform to elevate the toe, the pointed front will quickly become bald. Not good.
High Fashion Rating: 1/5.
Jilly’s estimated cost: £60.
Actual cost: £220. Label: Elliot, KurtGeiger.
Jilly’s reaction: I’m gobsmacked. I know these metal heels are in vogue at the moment and, yes, the suede does look pretty smart, but this pair looks far cheaper than their big price-tag.

No cushioning: Pair three were uncomfortable but there were great for posing, Jilly thought

Playful: The ankle strap deducted some points for Jilly who thought pair four only suited younger legs

PAIR 3:

Jilly’s verdict: These are shoes strictly for car to bar. Any further and, if you are a woman over a certain age, you’d crumple. The heel height and sheer arch pushes the toe forward too far, and there’s no cushioning. Comfort aside, they are a beautiful shade of red and incredibly elegant. Great  for posing. 
High Fashion Rating: 3/5.
Jilly’s estimated cost: £180.
Actual cost: £440. Label: BBR by Manolo Blahnik. 
Jilly’s reaction: What a shame Mr Blahnik doesn’t put padding in for that price! I should have guessed they were Manolos — they have that distinctive high-arched shape.

PAIR 4:

Jilly’s verdict: Another pair that might be better suited to younger feet because of the playful ankle strap, which is unflattering on older ankles. They’re rather showy and Parisian in style, and demand instant attention! But they’re also surprisingly comfortable and would look fantastic with a sharp pencil skirt. I’d place these in a good quality High Street store. 
High Fashion  Rating: 4/5.
Jilly’s estimated cost: £60.
Actual cost: £19.99. Label: New Look. 
Jilly’s reaction: Well done New Look! They’re very impressive for this end of the High Street. 

Wobbly: Pair five made Jilly look like Coco the Clown she said because they were far too wide

Fun: Jilly guessed pair six exactly right and said they were perfect for her daughter, in her thirties

PAIR 5:

Jilly’s verdict: I really don’t like these. They are just too wide and made my feet look big, like Coco the Clown. They’re also wobbly to walk on and not particularly flattering for the leg. I can tell they are expensive, though — they have a beautiful suede leather sole and tight, invisible stitching. Still, I’d never wear them. 
High Fashion Rating: 1/5.
Jilly’s estimated cost: £600.
Actual cost: £620. Label: Sergio Rossi.
Jilly’s reaction: Sergio Rossi’s designers should stick to what they are good at — elegant brogues and flats — and leave these saucier shapes for Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin.

PAIR 6:

Jilly’s verdict: These are real ankle-breakers but they’re such fun! At first they looked cheap, like a style Topshop might do, but on closer inspection they’re far higher quality. A little too footballer’s wife for me, but I think my daughter Lucy, who’s 37, would love them. At a guess, I’d say they were designed by Charlotte Olympia. 
High Fashion Rating: 3/5.
Jilly’s estimated cost: £600.
Actual cost: £595. Label: Charlotte Olympia.
Jilly’s reaction: I’m thrilled I got one right! They’re naughty but nice — although not for me.

Well-made:  Pair seven really did wonders for the legs and were great value

Versatile: Pair eight were not the sexiest on offer but Jilly reckoned she could spend the day in them

PAIR 7:

Jilly’s verdict: I just love these, but know they are far too young for someone my age. You can’t have an old boiler like me wearing shoes made for young lovelies — it looks sad and desperate. Regardless, the concealed platform adds inches of height — I could have done with these in my catwalk days! They look well made and the soft, leathery insides make them wonderfully comfortable. What’s more, they really do wonders for the legs. 
High Fashion Rating: 3/5.
Jilly’s estimated cost: £180.
Actual cost: £65. Label: Oh My Peep Toe, office.co.uk.
Jilly’s reaction: Astonishing! They are amazing value — but perhaps only for those under 30. 

PAIR 8:

Jilly’s verdict: These are one of the most versatile pairs of all — and I can see straight away these are expensive by their clean shape, careful stitching, elegant fit and comfy cushioning. They’re also comfortable enough to stand all day in. They might not be the sexiest pair of the bunch, but they’re definitely the most practical.
High Fashion Rating: 5/5
Jilly’s estimated cost: £400.
Actual cost: £49.50. Label: Autograph by Marks & Spencer.
Jilly’s reaction: Absolute amazement. What incredible value! I’m getting them in every colour.

Cheap: Jilly thought pair nine looked cheap and reminded her of Miss Jones in Rising Damp

Chic: Pair ten made Jilly feel like Audrey Hepburn and they were one of the most comfortable pairs

PAIR 9:

Jilly’s verdict: Somehow these red patent heels manage to lack any sex appeal. The toe hovers somewhere between rounded and pointy, and ends up looking stumpy — as did my legs in them! They remind me of something Miss Jones would have worn in Rising Damp. They look cheap and plastic. They’re probably a Primark special. 
High Fashion Rating: 0/5.
Jilly’s estimated  cost: £20.
Actual cost: £10. Label: Matalan.
Jilly’s reaction: I didn’t know you could buy shoes for that little — but they do look it. 

PAIR 10:

Jilly’s verdict: Normally, I shy away from kitten heels, as I think they’re a little boring — but this pair might tempt me. They’re terribly chic, they elongate the foot (but not too much) and were one of the most comfortable pairs, with cushioning in the sole. They look well finished and made me feel like Audrey Hepburn. 
High Fashion Rating: 4/5.
Jilly’s estimated cost: £100.
Actual cost: £165. Label: Lucy Choi.
Jilly’s reaction: Now you’ve said who the designer is, I’m not at all surprised they cost this much. And as Lucy Choi is the legendary Jimmy Choo’s niece, she’s obviously learnt from the best.