But that's not the only thing that sets them apart in the very crowded sneaker space, which has acquired somewhat of a cult patina over the past few years. Allbirds' USP lies in what their shoes are made out of. No, it's not https://www.afairforce.com/ some high-tech performance material developed in a lab.

But as he immersed himself in the workings of the footwear industry, he became aware of how little it had evolved over the years. The materials used are either synthetic or leather, and its dependence on non-biodegradable petroleum-based products makes the footwear industry one of the worst offenders in terms of environmental impact. That was when the idea of a sneaker made out of natural materials began to coalesce in Brown's mind, especially given the fact that he hails from New Zealand, the land of 27 million sheep.

One does not need to qualify themselves as a sportster or gym rat to appreciate a pair of customized running shoes. Need further proof? Exhibit A: the rise to fame of the Isabel Marant sneaker wedge and exhibit B: Kristen Stewart's dedication to wearing high tops to red carpet events. And for those who love going to the gym (hats off to you), shopping for new gear is always a highlight. Who doesn't want to look stylish even if they're only headed to the gym?

But Cheap Air Force 1 the most talked about platform-ridiculously high and colourful-was by Mary Katrantzou. For shoes that can withstand the weather, take notes from Rag & Bone's sturdy boots that can handle actual snowstorms and Oscar de la Renta, who sent ballgowns down the runway with galoshes.

Jane Aldridge has the designer shoe game on lock. Her wildly popular blog, Sea of Shoes, has documented her favourite purchases and pairs since 2008, landing her on the pages of Vanity Fair and at dinner tables with Karl Lagerfeld. I recently wore this silver slip dress for a daytime stroll on the streets of Boston. I knew I wouldn't be going back to my hotel room before dinner, so I paired my metallic dress with strappy flats.

Sometimes I even choose an outfit around my shoes. But this season's shoes have stolen the spotlight, going from sculptural show piece to covetable creation we'd actually wear in real life. WIRED refers to it as a colourful line of shoes that pop up constantly on Instagram and Pinterest.

New York favourite Prabal Gurung sets his sights on the well heeled, as he debuts his first ever shoe collection for Spring 2015 this week. If you had to do with one pair on your own journey, make sure they can go the distance (quite literally). But those same runners felt just as emphatically that they would never compromise on performance.