When a celebrity with as much influence on fashion as Victoria Beckham ditches her high heels for comfortable flats, it gives us normal folk the seal of approval to wear trainers in place of skyscrapers. And how grateful we are too. Years of balancing, sore feet and too many blisters to count, may now have come to a close. There's almost an audible sigh of relief from women up and down the country.

Sales of flat shoes have shot up as women follow in the fashionable footsteps of their favourite celebs. The demand for brogues, loafers and ballet pumps has soared 200 per cent in the last year and it doesn't seem to be slowing down.

The sports luxe trend is another big factor that has seen trainers and flats growing in popularity. So many of us are trying to work the pared-down casual look and appear as if we have just slung on our outfit. And yet this couldn't be further from the truth for most women, who have actually taken the time to step out in perfect style.

Even with all the hype of a low heel, there are still occasions when you might want to don stilettos to help you feel like a woman who could conquer the world. For now, however, I'm happy to step aside in comfort and do the conquering later.