Clash of the Titans?

The trends of Summer '09 are back with a made-to-order twist. Fringes, embellishment, fabric, buckles and booties ...are now conveniently located on your favorite new ancient sandal style. That's right: gladiators are back and stronger than ever.

Glads are a Spring must-have for every shoenista. They are comfortable, versatile and stylish. From sundress to casual suits, from day to night, whatever your style for the moment, the day or the foreseeable future, we've got gladiators to pull off your look.

For Spring/Summer 2010 we're rolling back the clock to, oh, say, 45 BC. Caesar's hanging around the Rubicon, those darned Gauls and Germans are acting up (again) and like usual the Appian Way is just a logjam at rush hour. Italian-made gladiator boots like the Janet and Janet 25025 (below) are perfect for urban trendsetters or the Praetorian Guard.

Not all of us are ready for a scrap; some of us are lovers. Like most art forms Roman, the original is Greek. We're happy Sam Edelman can channel this with the Damian (left) and Hazel. It's Clash of the Titans meets Sex in the City with Sam's jewel-embellished gladiator booties. Expect forward top detail like steel loops, crystal grommets, side buckles and polished stones. Try it by day with a casual suit or by night with skinny jeans and sequin top (of course, always fetching with an easy, everyday chiton).

Some of us are just a tad more patrician. For the Senatorial class, we've got Glammed Glads for shiny, classic, powerful fun. Boutique 9's Promised is an example of a classic thin, super-strapped glad.  Even with zipper hardware and metallic shine, it is a cool Spring sandal, perfect for a trip to the Aegean.  Spark up a basic black dress, but be sure not to overpower the shoe with accessories.  Let the Promised be your statement piece.

We all know if it's not about bread, it's about circuses. So send in the clowns! Colorful, bold and sassy gladiators have fringes and rich hues. This is what makes Industry SLS10-81GB so hot. Need we say more? Yes? OK! This Spring is all about colors: bold, rich and bright. Add a little fringe, some fabric and voilà: a boho-chic piece.  Mix and match with other bold colors for pop or pair with a neutral outfit to make your shoe the star of the show.

Those Romans. Always incorporating from the countries they conquered! Especially those pesky Germanic tribes. Put some rebel in your gladiator look with this recipe: scarlet red lipstick, harem pants, Rachel Roy draped harem tank and Goth Glads. Very Gypsy, very Euro for our risk taker fashionistas. Dolce Vita Neve are studded, zipped and slimming for any foot.

 So: what Style are you?

Spring Trends: Gladiator Redux

Last year's gladiator explosion was strong enough that the reverberations are still felt this spring. Logically, we're calling this trend Gladiator Redux. Really, it's hard to fault the return of a style that was current when Tarquinius was chased from Rome.

What's the rumpus? Gladiators, like a hammer, the Appian Way and the Aeneid, is a form perfectly suited to its purpose. In that sense these sandals are never so much out of style as simply out of the spotlight, the way nailguns, superhighways and James Patterson novels may have the attention of their genre but not the genesis.

The gladiator follows the lines of the foot. Starting at the toe they sweep up the arch, cup the heel and wrap the ankle and shin. While this may have been perfect for securing a legionnaire's greaves or keeping the heat and dust of the forum under control, for us it means a form that is tantalizingly form and space, skin and covering. Gladiators draw attention to your feet, ankles and legs by revealing and concealing them, all the while providing ventilation and a secure fit.

For spring 2009, we are seeing some exciting tinkering. The basic form of the gladiator remains, but it has been abstracted into something seemingly more contemporary. Look for sturdy heelcups and wispy strapping from Sam Edelman or greaved uppers from Steven and lots of embellishments on top of the form, as with Dolce Vita.

The reason galdiators never really go away is because they are perfectly suited to life in the warm weather. Grab a pair. They are bound to stay in style as long as the sun is shining and footwear is the status quo.

Style It: Shoes and the City -- Samantha

Cosabella lingerie has issued the official undergarments for the new Sex and the City movie and our good friends over at Isabella Fine Lingerie are stocking them. Of course, we immediately set out to pair shoes to each. We're starting with the Samantha, described in the official literature as "designed in French Chantilly style lace with fine, micro-dot mesh."

So we chose some shoes that represented Samantha's confident sexuality -- womanly and worldy, aggressive, yet coy, with the faintest touch of feminine frills.

And now we want to know how you would style it. Take a look below, read up on the rules and start styling, you maven you!

The rules: Find a shoe in our online store that best compliments the Samantha collection. Link to it in the comments of this post and describe why you chose what you chose. Style-a-thon ends Saturday, 17 May at midnight; we'll post the winning pairing the following week. Winner gets a private code for 20% off their next online purchase at Lori's. Happy styling!

Also, check out Fab Sugar's Who Wore It Better contest on the Balenciaga Blue and Green Gladiator Sandal, referencing Sex and the City and Sarah Jessica Parker.

UPDATE (05-19-08): We have a winner! We've picked Diana's red strappy number by Kenneth Cole as a perfect compliment to the sultry Samantha collection. We like the bold sass of these heels and the caged ankle. Mee-ow!

Roman Holiday

They're calling it a new trend for 2008, but we all know that ever since Gladiator dream-boy Russell Crowe donned his togs, gladiator sandals have had the green light. Hell, any shoe style that's been around since Caesar crossed the Rubicon has to have something going for it.




We like gladiators because they are a perfect foundation (or, should we say ... tabula rasa?) upon which to build a great summer look. The simple open strap construction and heel cup can take myriad embellishments and turn out a great look.




What you get out of a gladiator is something ancient -- a certain, simple caged sexiness of feet bound in thongs -- that contains yet reveals your feet and ankles. Typically a piece of strapping running up the midfoot from toes to mid-leg draws attention to delicate ankles, leg length, insteps and toes. This buckles to the heel strapping, which points out your calf muscles and provides a secure fit. Because so much of your foot remains revealed, they are perfect under a mid-length skirt with some volume to it; the naked foot look will help make your whole outfit lighter while lending a touch of complexity.

The thin profile of these sandals are ripe for embellishment. Jeffrey Campbell's summer assortment uses fringe, beading and distressed dyes to highlight the foot. Dolce Vita's more straightforward take is sexed up with a late-century kitten heel while Enzo Angiolini uses a broad top piece to highlight the gorgeous red of its sandal.

So save up your denarii and grab a pair for summer.