Step Right Up: Fashionable and Comfortable Footwear

This image is no longer available

Smart footwear is taking on fashion and function, using tried and tested standards – witness the Teva inspiration of last spring’s athletic-inspired numbers or New York-based designer dynamo Marc Jacobs’ ode to Dr. Scholl’s classic wood-soled sandal for spring 2015 – and the latest tech to create shoes that are made for wearing. And walking. Comfortably.

From the cobblers at Vionic, known for its Orthaheel Technology, comes a nod to fashion’s love of animal prints. And not just flats, mind you: leopard spots to croc-stamp and snakeskin textures add a hint of style to an otherwise utterly functional shoe. Featuring the company’s three-point heightened support – a contoured fore foot, a biomechanical footbed and a deep heel cup for stability – it’s no wonder integrative medicine guru Dr. Andrew Weil recommends them. Glenda sandal in snake (also in natural and black), $115, Vionic, www.vionicshoes.ca

And don’t forget sneakers. Skechers Flex Appeal has men’s and women’s styles made with a memory-foam cushioning insole. Like your mattress, it contours to most foot shapes, allowing the shoe to help relieve pressure, particularly good for sensitive feet, they are made from extremely lightweight, breathable mesh. We like this sneaker-loafer hybrid, an easy slip-on for a little more of a dressed approach. Men’s Equalizer Persistent Walking Shoe, $80, Skechers