Faux Leather Sandal

Must-Have Gladiator Sandals for Summer 2011

Gladiator sandals have been riding high in the world of fashion for several years now and their popularity shows no signs of abating any time soon. Their enduring appeal – unusual in an industry where trends die almost as soon as they are born – is due in part to their distinctive, stylish looks, as well as their practicality and the ability of designers to expand on the basic sandal to create footwear that always seems fresh and exciting, year in year out.

The gladiator sandal, of course, owes its name to the famous warriors who fought to the death for the pleasure of the nobility in Ancient Rome. Then, as now, the sandals provided the right balance of comfort and protection with their framework of straps joining the sole with a leather support band on top of the foot, while the openings helped to keep the fighters' feet cool without fully exposing them to the dangers of swords and spears. Although the Roman gladiator sandal was a primarily functional item of footwear, twenty-first century designers have added various stylistic tweaks to the basic design that have made it an essential item all over the world.

While many famous designers have started to add heels to their creations, the basic flat version remains popular in 2011 and various celebrities have been spotted wearing them in recent months. In particular, Charlize Theron, Diane Kruger and Gwyneth Paltrow have taken to the red carpet and big movie premieres while wearing gladiator sandals, proving that they are a stylish, glamorous and practical alternative to potentially uncomfortable heels. This has seen the sandal complete its transformation from an item kept for wearing on the beach to a versatile piece of footwear that can be worn at any social occasion.

While women's trends have built on the most popular designs of recent years, adding more straps and increasing the decorative effect, the gladiator sandals has started to make surprising in-roads into the world of male fashion. Men's gladiator sandals are much closer to their historic forbearers and are quite faithful to the classic design. They look great in black and brown leather when worn with linens for a classic summer look or with bootcut jeans for a more casual outfit.

Whatever type of gladiator sandals you choose for summer 2011, it's important to observe a few ground rules so as not to make any fashion faux pas. As always with sandals, be sure not to wear socks at the same time. Also be aware that your feet will be much more exposed so it is important to make sure that your skin and nails are in excellent condition – it's definitely worth investing in a good pedicure before summer really hits full swing.

Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

About the Author

Isla is a part of the digital blogging team at shoutingindigital.com who work with brands like Littlewoods. For more information about me, or to keep up to date with the latest in retail news, check out my posts at shoutingindigital.com or visit my Twitter account, @shoutingID.

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