Birkenstocks 'best for summer'

A podiatrist has offered some advice for women who may be looking for their summer shoes in the coming weeks, reports WRAL.com.

Dr Seema Ram-Charitar, who runs a podiatric surgery in New York, said that women should take care to choose shoes that will not cause problems in later life and recommended the Birkenstock sandal as the most foot-friendly choice.

However, for those who don't want to wear that style, Dr Ram-Charitar said that a shoe with only a one-inch heel and an absorbent sole would suffice.

The news may not be ideal for singer Christina Milian, who was recently pictured sporting a towering pair of high-heeled gladiator sandals, or for Gwyneth Paltrow, who slipped on a pair on completely flat sandals in London last week.

"If we're talking about dressier shoes, high heels are terrible for you, but people still love them. An entirely flat footbed can be problematic, too. The reason our feet have an arch is that our foot functions better in an arched position," she said, according to WRAL.com.

In related news, Dr Ram-Caritar and shoe-lovers everywhere may be pleased to know that the latest US trend is for Superga training shoes, which have comfortable rubber soles but are patterned in order to appeal to the fashionista who wants to look after her feet, reports the LA Times.