High-rise heels have just taken on a whole new meaning thanks to a new shoe created by none other than a famous architect.

Zaha Hadid was commissioned by footwear company Melissa to design an innovative pair to grab the imagination – and headlines.

The result is a £200 limited edition shoes featuring diagonally sloping straps and cutout holes for the toes.

However, it seems unlikely Hadid will be tempted by any long-term foray into footwear after confessing the project was a lot harder than she envisaged.

She tells the Times: "I have 30 years of research on different areas of architecture and design and this was a very challenging project, not only in design but on the technical side."

Other well-known figures who have branched into shoe design recently include singer Gwen Stefani. The No Doubt star is helping celebrate the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz by recreating Dorothys famous ruby slippers.