Now, I love gladiators, but it's a shame that they're so popular. You know that bitchy, 'i found it first so HANDS OFF!' kind of mentality that surrounds something you've always liked when it suddenly becomes popular? Yeah, that. Or maybe I'm just mean. Either way, I feel like such a follower if I wear gladiators these days!
But, nonetheless, it's hard to resist sometimes -
case in point:
Are they not beautiful? The colour is so pretty - it makes a good change from brown and black, which seems to be the status quo for gladiators. Maddeningly those shoes keep flashing up in advertisements on web pages, only reinforcing the fact that I LOVE THEM and I can't buy them! Damn you, Office, with your 40 quid shoes!
Much as I love gladiators, there's a fine line to tread between too much and too little warrior appeal. Too little is generally better - who doesn't love some delicate sandals? Too much is where it all goes wrong...
My rule is that if it looks like a Roman warrior could seriously have worn them into battle, then it's too much. Perhaps on someone dainty and sylph-like they could work, but on most people they just look chunky and a little hench.
I've decided now, due to their exponentially-increasing popularity (do you remember when the sandals section of a shop was mainly flip flops a few sandals?!) to search out some different shoes to wear for summer.
All shoes - Office (www.office.co.uk)
Ihe ones on the left would look great with almost anything - I think they're great holiday sandals. The colour is good as well - they're not brown/black/blah neutral, but because of the subtle beading they won't clash with too much either.
The ones in the middle are probably veering towards gladiator territory, but they stay just about independent! I love the embellishment. And the last ones - I love them! I think they'd look fabulous with jeans or harem pants, and they're much more unusual than the standard summer sandal fare. I like the name too - Abu Dhabi.
I'm not sure about Fearne Cotton's take on the Abu Dhabi though:
I'm not hugely keen on the jumpsuit, which looks a bit juvenile and bulky. Good choice of shoes though ;)
Other than sandals, there are a lot of cute fabric shoes in the shops at the moment - and let's face it, I for one need them, since sandals are so astoundingly good at cutting my feet to shreds with rubbing or scratchy straps.
I bought these from Topshop recently:
I love the colour (which is paler and less cutesy in person) and the lace isn't lined apart from the toe/heel so they're light, comfortable, and summery. The Mary Jane strap means you can do anything in them, and I find that since your feet aren't squeezed in or sliding around you get fewer blisters.
And just to round it off, I'm going to end with these two gorgeous pairs of sandals from UO - both sadly sold out.
10 comments:
i kind of feel the same way when i discover a trend early. i'm glad others like it, but it makes me feel like a follower too. :/ oh well. what can you do?
surprisingly, my ballet flats are my summer staple. i say "surprisingly" because i have, until now, been a flip-flops girl. i suppose it's growing up and becoming an adult, but it's becoming harder and harder to wear my flippies and take my outfits seriously.
I thought I actually didn't like gladiators at all but I have quite fallen in love with them seeing the pictures you've posted. GOOD JOB, LOTTE. Now you've got one more person stealing in on your favourite fashion!
I feel totally the same about gladiators but everyone wearing them all the time has made me quite hate them
anyway I love the flats you've got from Topshop and thanks for your comment! :)
thank you all for commenting, and laia - you're welcome :)
azizaaa woohoo i converted you!
i never know where/how to reply to comments on my blog to ensure the intended will see it, so i'm writing you back on your own blog. :)
thank you for your comments. you're such a sweetie! i appreciate that AA crop top recommendation. i may try that one!
and while i am not glad you had lookbook anxieties, i'm a little glad i'm not alone on that one.
xx
well, thank you! i'm totally new to this whole blogging thing so i don't even know how you know when someone replies to your comment :s
you're welcome! just trying to get myself out there into the blogosphere ;)
go for it! it's really comfortable and not at all scary if you're wearing high-waisted stuff.
oooh, yeah, they're all so freaking artistic - i just can't compete! i have enough troubles trying to get standard photos of myself wearing the clothes... i tried to balance my camera on a wall on self-timer and it fell about 15 feet into my garden! thank god it was okay - i won't be doing that again!
x
Like sandals but don't like very much the flats...
Fearne looks terrible in this jumpsuit!
LOVE your green skirt!
http://lainarollercoaster.blogspot.com
I know, she does! She usually has good taste though - I'll forgive her :)
Thank you! The new UO one, I'm presuming, rather than the AA one in my first post?
thanks for commenting :)
I know what you mean, gladiators are becoming a little overdone lately. That being said I still love those blue ones you posted first. I'm really liking the Abu Dhabi style ones too.
The blue ones are GORGEOUS, I want 'em so much!
Thanks for commenting :)
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