Adidas trainers and Red Or Dead shoes may be among the luxuries that people feel that they cannot live without despite the ongoing effects of the recession.

Data from the Confederation of British Industry indicates that in July, shoe shops were among the few sectors to buck the trend for falling sales.

Retail expert Paul Buckley told the BBC that evidence from previous economic downturns showed that in tough times, many consumers will substitute large outlays like holidays and new cars for "smaller treats", which could include luxury footwear.

The news provider cited recent figures from the Office for National Statistics, which indicated that the average cost of footwear fell by a total of 1.3 per cent in July compared to June and 5.1 per cent in comparison to the same month in 2008.

Meanwhile, when it comes to essentials, Lovemoney.com recently recommended that parents should invest in a pair of Clarks shoes for when their children go back to school at the end of the summer holidays.

Shoe-shop.com where comfort is the key