I can remember when the sexiest part of any serious car owner's wardrobe consisted of a pair of driving gloves. Made of lightweight leather with bared knuckles and perforated backs, they gave a firm grip on the wheel yet were cool enough for hot weather use. Of course, you were not allowed to wear driving gloves unless you owned a sports car and lowered the top in all but the most abominable conditions. Rather like today, when you're not permitted to drive a BMW without simultaneously using a cellphone. Even if you're talking to yourself.

Driving gloves, following various cheap imitations, faded away as thick leather-covered steering wheels replaced slim wood-rim wheels. Driving shoes are now the hot item but forget about driving... they've become a fashion statement aimed at looking cool and, well... walking. According to Luxist.com Neiman Marcus is promoting the driving shoe as one of the top men's trends for spring. Luxist likes them not just because they're trendy, but because they have "a timeless style and a look of easy, but elegant, comfort." The shoes shown here are Gucci Drivers, priced at a mere $390.

Nowhere in the Luxist site does it mention that driving shoes were meant to facilitate the art of "heel-and-toe" when entering and exiting a corner. Still, in the eyes of this observor, they're infinitely more elegant than those fat, clunky platforms and boring white running shoes that so many people now mistake as fashionable. If I were a marketer I'd create driving shoes with classic car labels and maybe even national racing colors. Tell me, would you buy a pair of driving shoes finished in "British Racing Green?"