Cutesy superstar Emma Watson revealed in an interview today that she only has eight pairs of shoes and has laid into excessive celebrity shopping habits.

'It's almost like consumerism as a form of kleptomania,' she said of Paris Hilton's walk-in wardrobe that was raided by the real-life Bling Ring gang she's part of in Sofia Coppola's big-screen take.

Full points for referencing both an 'ism' and a mental condition in the same sentence and using a simile, Emma, but really: 8 pairs?

Far be it from me to encourage a.) unreasonable spending or b.) that persistent and annoying stereotype of women being obsessed with shoes and devoid of sense or proportion when it comes to anything footwear-related, but this strikes me as an extreme comment to make. Not to mention, (whisper it) perhaps a fib.

Perhaps what she means is 'eight pairs currently in rotation', or 'eight pairs that I haven't yet put away in the mini Greco-Roman temple where I store the other 11,000 pairs'.

Watson's a walking fashion plate these days. In fact, we called her appearance at Cannes last month as the first real emergence of some genuine funky style for the former child-star, who has worn all manner of labels since she shot to fame in Harry Potter but, on many occasions, hasn't looked all that comfortable in them. During the French film festival, she looked relaxed and nonchalantly cool. And she also wore some shoes, *cough* probably more than eight pairs *cough cough cough*

Clearly, she's borrowing them and giving them back.

Whether her declaration today is a little fib or not, I harbour a secret assumption that, out of the spotlight, Watson still dresses just as Hermione did in Year 8, all zip-tops, a Debenhams jean and hybrid trainer-shoes (ugh, the worst). In fact, I wouldn't put it past her to just have eight pairs of hybrid trainer-shoes (ugh, as before).

Now that I've finished grinding my teeth, I can't help but feel Emma Watson's raison d'etre seems to be making earnest remarks that come across as almost entirely disingenuous. Which is a shame, because she's a lovely girl.

Never mind shoes, I wonder how many hairshirts and halos she has at home?