It is Singapore's 44th birthday and everybody is celebrating by doing the shuffle - the flip-flop shuffle, that is.

When Urban did a quick walk - in heels - around malls such as Takashimaya Shopping Centre and Ion Orchard over the weekend, we found one in every three shoppers wearing rubber flip-flops.

Ahh, Vienna may have the fox-trot, New York may have hip-hop, but Singapore has got slip-slop.

Flip-flops are such a common sight they have become the unofficial National Shoe.

Their casual vibe suits dressed-down citizens hanging out in the hot and rainy tropics, but the unfancy footwear has been treading on the toes of some folk.

This inexplicable love for 'slippers', as they are called here, has incurred the wrath of fashion show producer Daniel Boey, who declares: 'People who wear them everywhere should be shot.'

Still, there are new variations of the slipper that can easily chalk up style miles.

No longer are Singaporeans restricted to the white-soled, blue-thongs variety a la local brand Tat Sing, which costs a mere $1.50 a pair.

The latest breed of flip-flops look every inch as runway-worthy as their heels counterparts, with diamante-studded straps ($59, from Holster), glow-in-the-dark designs ($49.90, from Havaianas) and a funky snakeskin version from FitFlop that costs $199.90.

FitFlop, launched in 2007 in Britain, has been a hit worldwide as it promises wearers a workout whenever they are on the move.

Lynette Chiam, merchandising manager of Tangs, says: 'Flip-flops are no longer just rubber, plain and understated. They now come in a wide range of colours, materials, embellishments and designs, and are not necessarily flat.

'A little heel or a wedge platform helps to elongate the legs and gives the outfit a dressier silhouette.'

The department store's Playlab section stocks three brands of flip-flops - Ipanema, Sanuk and Havaianas - priced from $15.90 to $59.90. The most popular types are multi-coloured rubber thongs.

At upscale shoe boutique Her Glass Slipper in Millennia Walk, four out of the more than 20 shoe labels it carries are flip-flop brands.

One of the best-selling is Australian brand Holster, with slippers priced from $49 to $59.

The most expensive pair of slippers there is a gold wedge slipper from Italian label Nebuloni, which goes for $489.

A BIG STEP FORWARD

Once wooden footwear donned by kimono-clad Japanese in the 12th century, these original 'platform' soles then evolved into cheap rubber editions.

Since then, they have been adapted by upscale brands including Lacoste, Gucci and Prada.

These rubber wonders are so popular that sales here have surged up to four-fold since 2000, according to industry experts.

Ripples, for example, started four years ago with four flip-flop designs and two distribution points. Today, it offers over 20 designs at more than 30 outlets, including nail spas.

The demand also propelled Brazilian brand Havaianas to open its first standalone store here last month at Ion Orchard, where a spokesman said sales have been 'extremely encouraging'.

A check with a salesman there revealed that about 70 pairs of flip-flops fly off the shelves every day.

Over at Tangs, a display wall made up of Havaianas flip-flops and exclusive designs was launched on Tuesday.

Tangs' Chiam says flip-flops became the rage here five to six years ago after celebrities like Kate Moss and Sharon Stone were seen wearing them on the red carpet.

'Flip-flops are constantly evolving with statement items such as gladiator-inspired sandals,' says Chiam.

FitFlop, which made its Singapore debut in December 2007, chalks up more than 600 pairs in sales per month at leading stores here.

Sales this year are set to triple and hit an estimated 25,000 pairs by end of the year.

Havaianas' spokesman Anne Gonzales notes that there has been a shift in the perception of flip-flops in the last few years.

'Flip-flops became footwear that was practical but also represented an easy and unpretentious lifestyle.'

One of the reasons for this change is the realisation that strutting around in heels all day leads to ankle pain and sore calves.

However, slopping about in slippers, no matter how groovy the design, may not result in happy feet.

Your fave footwear causes more health problems than any other type, including high heels, say podiatrists.

Adriaan Erasmus, principal podiatrist at the National University Hospital, says: 'Claw toes may develop over time due to the toes trying to grip the straps or foot strain may result due to the uneven wear of the sole.

'The sole tends to collapse on the inside of the heel and this causes the feet to roll inwards.'

Gripes about grip, along with their sometimes down-at-heel look, are among the reasons that some such as 24-year-old Danny Lee slap the slippers as slovenly.

Says the fashion design undergraduate at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts: 'Flip-flops look so ugly and casual and should be banned from shopping malls.

'They are an eyesore and people who choose to wear them are just too lazy to tie their shoelaces.'

Etiquette expert Audrey Chan, 34, agrees that flip-flops should not be seen in places like restaurants and theatres.

'Even if the slippers cost $1,000 and come with crystals and diamonds, they still appear casual as a lot of skin is exposed,' she says.

She adds that some churches frown upon worshippers who wear slippers as they feel that 'these people are not respecting God'.

Eyesore or not, one thing is for sure: Singapore's army of slipper wearers will be out in force at the National Day Parade, making their stamp amid the Army boots' stomp.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.