This season's pleated-skirt style has become something of a national talking point for anyone with even the vaguest enthusiasm for clothes.
But not all fashion phenomena spark such interest. Take the humble plimsoll, for instance.
Rubbery and trainer-like in form, the soft-topped shoe has spent little - if any - time away from our weekly wardrobes in recent years yet (tiny violins at the ready) scarce are the magazine articles that bother to acknowledge its existence. In fact, where talked-about fashion trends are concerned, the plimsoll is about as prominent as a pair of old trainer socks, which is devastating news, I'm sure you'll agree.
Developed for beach-goers during the 1830s, plimsolls - also known as sand shoes, or gutties, should you find yourself north of the border - were once regulation physical education uniform in primary schools across the country and, as a result, among the most popular shoes in Britain during the Seventies and Eighties. Now a favourite footwear choice for stylish young Londoners, today's plimsolls come in a wealth of styles, shapes and varieties, all of which vary in popularity depending, it would seem, on what part of the city you call home.
For East End dwellers, a classic white lace-up style has long been in favour. Available from the likes of Office, or from the shrewd market trader who operates his business from a dark doorway on Cheshire Street, "Shoreditch slippers" look best worn with rolled-up jeans, skirts and floral tea-dresses. In Camden, structured, thick-soled canvas shoes are popular with skateboarding emo-lovers, while across town in Chelsea, wearing a pair of All Stars is always en vogue.
Recent years have seen a number of retailers add a selection of canvas styles to their repertoire, a key money-spinner where footwear sales are concerned. On the high street, Jigsaw does a lovely ribbon-lace style in satin, while Lanvin offers a more luxurious interpretation. Classic plimsoll brands include Superga - the century-old Italian footwear brand that recently snared Alexa Chung as its ambassador - as well as US-based labels like Keds and Vans.
Of course, while the obvious attraction of a decent pair of plimsolls lies with the fact that they are - by a country mile - the comfiest shoe style around, they do have aesthetic appeal. A thick-soled pair in a vibrant shade of pink works wonders for a blazer and rolled-up jeans combo (see Fearne Cotton), while a battered-looking style in white will do much to take the girlie edge off a floaty summer dress.
