An article of footwear, comprising: a sole having a top portion and a bottom portion, at least a portion of a periphery of each of the top and bottom portions (122, 123) being separate from the other of the top and bottom portion (122, 123) in at least a midfoot region; and an upper; wherein the top portion of the sole is attached to the upper, thereby allowing rotational freedom between the top and bottom portions (122, 123) of the sole in a peripheral location where the top and bottom portions (122, 123) are separated; wherein the top and bottom portions (122, 123) of the sole are separate from one another on both a lateral side and a medial side of the sole, and wherein the separation of the top and bottom portions (122, 123) of the sole on each of the lateral side and the medial side defines a lateral recess and a medial recess, characterized in that a lateral width of the lateral recess increases from a first lateral width at a forefoot region to a higher second lateral width at the midfoot region and decreases from the higher second lateral width to a third lateral width at a heel region, wherein the lateral width is defined as a distance generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sole from the periphery to a lateral attachment boundary spaced from the periphery in a particular location along a length of the sole and wherein the lateral attachment boundary is spaced from the periphery in the midfoot region, and in that a medial width of the medial recess increases from a first medial width at the forefoot region to a higher second medial width at the midfoot region and decreases from the higher second medial width to a third medial width at the heel region, wherein the medial width is defined as a distance generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sole from the periphery to a medial attachment boundary spaced from the periphery in a particular location along the length of the sole and wherein the medial attachment boundary is spaced from the periphery in the midfoot region. a sole having a top portion and a bottom portion, at least a portion of a periphery of each of the top and bottom portions (122, 123) being separate from the other of the top and bottom portion (122, 123) in at least a midfoot region; and an upper; wherein the top portion of the sole is attached to the upper, thereby allowing rotational freedom between the top and bottom portions (122, 123) of the sole in a peripheral location where the top and bottom portions (122, 123) are separated; wherein the top and bottom portions (122, 123) of the sole are separate from one another on both a lateral side and a medial side of the sole, and wherein the separation of the top and bottom portions (122, 123) of the sole on each of the lateral side and the medial side defines a lateral recess and a medial recess, characterized in that a lateral width of the lateral recess increases from a first lateral width at a forefoot region to a higher second lateral width at the midfoot region and decreases from the higher second lateral width to a third lateral width at a heel region, wherein the lateral width is defined as a distance generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sole from the periphery to a lateral attachment boundary spaced from the periphery in a particular location along a length of the sole and wherein the lateral attachment boundary is spaced from the periphery in the midfoot region, and in that a medial width of the medial recess increases from a first medial width at the forefoot region to a higher second medial width at the midfoot region and decreases from the higher second medial width to a third medial width at the heel region, wherein the medial width is defined as a distance generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sole from the periphery to a medial attachment boundary spaced from the periphery in a particular location along the length of the sole and wherein the medial attachment boundary is spaced from the periphery in the midfoot region.