Return of the Spartans

It could have been dismissed as last season’s trend, but the Gladiator sandal has continued to make its mark in the category of must-have summer sandals.

At the start of spring it was all a bit touch and go, and those of us who’d bought into the foot fashion last summer were unsure as to whether we should be slipping our feet back into our Spartan sandals or if we were expected to steer clear. But then, as if by magic, the celebrities started stepping out; paving the way and continuing to stamp their approval on the Roman revolution.

Rather than an array of flats though, this season, footwear designers have pulled out all the stops and we’ve been plied with knee-high straps, tassle-tastic embellishments, leather discs, rope plaits and most shocking of all – high heels!

One celeb who can’t get enough Gladiator glory is Miss Gwyneth Paltrow. From Giuseppe Zanotti flats to sky high Givency ankle boots, her tootsies haven’t seen the likes of a filled-in shoe for quite some time. Also keen on the Colosseum craze are Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan and Sienna Miller to name a few, and just last week Elle MacPherson was seen dropping her kids off at school in a pair – true model mum behaviour.

If you’re keen to put your best foot forward in some thongs, take into account your size and shape. If you’ve got long legs, you’ll be able to pull off the knee high styles no problem, but if you’ve got slightly shorter legs, a lower pair will be more flattering. Then it’s up to you to mix and match them with jeans, dresses and shorts – all of which work a treat with the trend. Colour-wise, metallic shades add to the Mediterranean look, but black and brown versions also add versatility.

The motto of the sandal season then – wear them high or wear them low, just make sure you invest in a pair of Gladiators if you want to keep your footing in the style stakes.