Orthopaedic flip-flops: two words unlikely to ever conjure up positive images. I mean let's face it, in our wildest fantasies, we are NEVER wearing orthopaedic shoes.
But when you're pregnant you sometimes find yourself sporting the kind of look that might even give Nora Batty pause for thought. Swollen feet, an inability to attend to basic foot maintenance and the puzzling preponderance of cropped maternity trousers means that it's sometimes easier to give into the inevitable and just accept you're going to look like an elderly school dinner lady for the best part of a year.
Thankfully, SOLE has managed to come up with something truly remarkable: a pair of orthopaedic shoes that won't leave you weeping for your lost looks.
I had a little test run with the Sport Flips (well, waddle) and here's what I thought.
They're not exactly killer heels, but when it comes to comfy shoes, Sport Flips at least won't put you to shame amongst your peers. The ones I got sent to review were black, which makes them even more innocuous than the brighter sporty options available.
The shape of the Sport Flips is what gives them their orthopaedic quality. They're designed to support, cradle and cushion your feet, and thanks to a top layer of material that moulds and adjusts to your unique foot shape, they should fit you like a glove. They'll also adapt as you move further into the pregnancy, which means they could well become your favoured footwear - especially when that tiny boiler you're growing starts ruining your body's thermostat.
I've now switched from my usual shoes to these after I tore a ligament in my ankle and my foot swelled up to the size of a tree trunk. They offer a lot more support on your arches and make for much comfier wear when you're out pounding the streets with your newly acquired bulk. I'd definitely recommend giving them a test run (or waddle). They're not cheap at £49, but they'll last you all through your pregnancy and beyond.