The front row might not be the exact replica of everyday life and dressing, but it often offers insight into the extremes women will put up with. Time was no one walked into a fashion show without a teeter and a packet of blister plasters.

On Monday, at Stella McCartney, I glanced down, past my own white trainers, to see Angelica Cheung, editor in chief of Vogue China, next to me in a pristine Hogan pair. To which a former colleague delightfully offered that this was the woman who had once quipped to her, “What, you’re wearing flats during the day for a business meeting?” Quite the about turn.

To my left, the next three fashion editors were also in sneakers, some Puma, some Gucci, all rubber-soled – and all worn with something sharp atop. A suit here, a tailored skirt there, a sparkly pink lace dress on Alexa Chung (sporting satin plimsolls from her Superga collaboration).

But this isn’t just about what’s on your feet. Because the thing is, while our feet have got used to being raised up by springy rubber, cosseted by padded leather and nylon, our wardrobes have evolved too: and now that we’ve been sold on this idea of dressing down to look good, there’s one thing we’re not giving up – being comfy.