On a beach in north Devon, a local is talking to me about weever fish. These venomous creatures hide just beneath the sand, eyes peeking above to survey the surrounding landscape for potential prey. Bathers often succumb; if stung, your best bet is to plunge your feet into very hot water and keep them there for as long as possible. There is an impulse right now to attribute every hat, shirt and shoe to some form of pandemic-fuelled uncertainty. But trends don’t occur in isolation. And the rise of amphibious shoes, which place practicality squarely above looks, suggests a desire for a return to a more natural state. They also allow for the sort of flexible lifestyle that the current situation – and weather – demands of us.