Comfort and style: sneaker sales surge as high heel sales fall

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - As the expression goes: beauty is a pain. But these days, when it comes to your feet, women beg to differ. These days, it's all about comfort. And even better, style doesn't have to be sacrificed.

Wearing fashion sneakers with dresses is among the many looks trending this season, according to Sarah Conly, Cosmo's executive fashion market director.

"There are so many different versions of the sneakers, that you can kind of wear them with everything," she said.

Throughout the U.S. in 2017, women's sneaker sales surged 37 percent. During that same time period, sales of high heels saw an 11-percent drop.

Athletic footwear grew 2 percent last year, generating nearly $20 billion in sales. Among women's leisure kicks, Nike and Adidas drove almost half the growth in the segment.

But many fashion-forward women say when choosing your footwear, it's about your mood. So there will always be a time and place for your pumps.

We'll still wear stilettos on that certain special occasion when we need to feel sexy and really elevated," Conly said. "But if you can get away with a sneaker, and we're seeing it more and more, then I think you want to push the envelope and try it."

For me, heels on the job are an absolute must. But like many of my high-heel lovers in New York, when it comes to commuting I'm all about the commuter look, which means the sneakers do come out.