Hooray for happy feet:
Why trainers will be the big shoe trend of 2014

It’s hard to dispute the charm of a great pair of new balance sneakers trainers – you can walk in them, for a start – but 2013 was the year the fashion crowd finally cottoned on.

After years of women going along with the ridiculously high, impractical heels that dominate the runways, comfort is winning through.

‘new balance 996 Sneaker culture has been embraced by the fashion community,’ says New Balance marketing director Graham Dickens.

Look down at the feet of front-row goers and you’re bound to see them. It’s a trend that has been gaining pace over the past year, alongside a shift towards functional, easy womenswear.

‘With the breadth of choice available now, women are buying as many new balance 574 sneakers as heels,’ says Laura Evans from Office.

‘Part of the impact is the unexpectedness of it,’ adds Selfridges’ buying manager for shoes, Helen Attwood. ‘There is something really refreshing about the aesthetic of girls who don’t usually step within a metre of a gym bag wearing a glamorous outfit completed by a pair of new balance 574 homme Air Max.’