Promotional labels on clothes could be one reason why women are snapping up an average of half their body weight in new garments every year.

According to research carried out by consumer expert Lucy Siegle for BBC's The One Show, fashionistas are buying four times as many clothes as they did 30 years ago, spending an average of £133,640 in a lifetime on 62lb of dresses, coats and trousers.

However, this means they have 22 items in their wardrobes they have never worn and are also throwing away or recycling more clothes than ever before.

Ms Siegle said the findings highlight the trend for fast fashion promoted by celebrities and encouraged shoppers to check peelable labels more carefully to buy quality items that will last instead of being disposable.

This comes after a study by The Co-operative Insurance discovered that women buy an average of eight new pairs of shoes every year.

Denny Bros Ltd, 23 May 2011