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The Gladiator Strikes Back

March 25, 2008 by WendyB

I’ve been keeping an eye out for gladiator sandals since last year. I’ve loved this style since 1985, when I had a pair of flat white gladiators. I felt so chic when I wore them with my Guess ankle-zip jeans and oversize blouse! I’ve been searching for a photo that shows me wearing those shoes for a while now, but I’ve been unsuccessful. As a consolation prize I will share this delightful 1983 photo of me and my Capezio jazz shoes.

I’m the one on the left.

I’d like to point out my oh-so-flattering pinstriped and pleated jeans and gray plaid LeSportsac. If I had to sum up this look in one word, that word would not be “elegance.” My normal policy is “never say never” but I truly believe I will never want to wear jazz shoes again. You youngsters go ahead and revive the jazz shoe if you want, but I will sit that one out.

Here are the shoes I like nowadays. I’m really loving these shoes from Acne Jeans because they are giving me a good, non-jazz shoe, ’80s flashback feeling. They are like a combination of my old gladiators and a pair of cut-out Peter Fox booties that I wore around the same time. Very tempting!

Acne Jeans Niara Lace-Up Wedge Sandal
$550 on eLuxury

I do prefer a higher wedge heel than the Acne pair. These would work.

Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent Shoes
Harper Wedge Gladiator Sandal
$405 on Shopbop
I’m not sure where to find these beautiful Alaias online, but Bergdorf Goodman always carries his shoes in the store.Via Sleep Deprivation

These Jean Paul Gaultier gladiators are made of denim.

Jean Paul Gaultier $795 on Shopbop

These space-age gladiators are, as the website puts it, “only for the fashion diva.” I must be a fashion diva because I think they’re amazing.

Giuseppe Zanotti
$750 at Intermix

Angela at Rubble and Rock had some other good finds, as did Planet Fabulon.

I think if I’m going to do it, I should do it right and get a crazy, head-turning, tall pair. I might even wear flats if they were as awesome as these Gaultiers.

Jean Paul Gaultier
$1,425 on eLuxury

They remind me of Talitha Getty.

Embed from Getty Images


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Filed Under: acne jeans, pictures of me, shoes, style icons

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kaili says

    March 25, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Those are some eye candy shoes! I would also recommend the little cut out booties worn by Rashida Jones on the cover of Feb 08 Domino. They are by Moschino Cheap and Chic, but I’ve yet to find them online… perhaps your NYC resources will do better.

  2. LBIC says

    March 25, 2008 at 11:58 am

    I love the Alaia ones, but I’m with you on the jazz shoes. I don’t get the hype, to be honest.

  3. Step Right Up says

    March 25, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    I’m going to sit out the Roman sandal revival. I’ve never been a fan but I’m sure you can totally rock them.

  4. Nadine says

    March 25, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    I love gladiator sandals :).

  5. Renée S. says

    March 25, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    I think the Alaias are the most beautiful. Though I dig the Twelfth St. ones too!

  6. fabulous girl says

    March 25, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    Let’s try that again.

    See now, I’m of the /less shoe is best in the summer/ school …

  7. Miss Janey says

    March 25, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    Miss J LOVES the Alaias. Alas, she’s fairly sure she’d need attendants to help her walk.

  8. pistols at dawn says

    March 25, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    There appear to be substantial pieces of those shoes that are missing. Make sure you don’t pay full price.

  9. r cubed says

    March 25, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    Wow, I’d totally forgotten about my roman sandal phase. Unfortunately dovetailed with my hippie phase. I remember arriving at the Smith College campus circa 1990, wearing cut-off jean shorts, a tiedye t-shirt and roman sandals. I wore those sandals til they fell apart.

  10. la petite fashionista says

    March 25, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    i reallyyyy like the cynthia vincent pair. a perfect combo of gladiators and wedges

    xoxo

  11. Kian says

    March 25, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    Ah I had the Capezios. And I wore them sockless.

    Stupid Duran Duran 😉

  12. La Belette Rouge says

    March 25, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    I would like to see Russell Crowe gladiating in those shoes. Is gladiating a verb? I guess it is now.

  13. hebden says

    March 25, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    I saw those Alaia’s online…now, the big question, where? I’ll have to get back to you on that one…momentary memory loss.

  14. hebden says

    March 25, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    Okay, I remembered…I’m really hoping you get these so I can live vicariously through someone who can walk in them…

    http://www.brownsfashion.com/product/fashion/shoes/shoes/88932.htm

  15. In Yr Fshn says

    March 25, 2008 at 5:12 pm

    Those shoes are magical, but you are the only person who I think could pull them off.

  16. enc says

    March 25, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    Wow, those Acne Jeans sandals are brilliant. I’ve been yearning for gladiators, too. Thanks for doing all my shopping for me!

    This post took me back. I had versions of all the same clothes you did. Also, I did the giant menswear shirt with leggings and Madonna/Edwardian boots thing forEVER. I was loathe to give it up.

  17. enc says

    March 25, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    Updated to add: I had red Capezios.

  18. K.Line says

    March 25, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    Those JPG sandals are awesome. The Acne ones, Wendy, I just don’t get them (not that you couldn’t pull them off…) I am obviously just not retrofuturistic enough for them 🙂

  19. Stephanie says

    March 25, 2008 at 6:17 pm

    Love ALL those shoes, even the questionable Acne ones. I wish I had your budget…

  20. The Lady Who Doesn't Lunch: says

    March 25, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    In 1983 I wore my Capezios and pin striped jeans in Paris. I felt like such a fashion plate until a French girl said “Why do they do zis to denim? Is a crime.”

    Then I felt like fad obsessed American teenager.

  21. The Lady Who Doesn't Lunch: says

    March 25, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    In 1983 I wore my Capezios and pin striped jeans in Paris. I felt like such a fashion plate until a French girl said “Why do they do zis to denim? Is a crime.”

    Then I felt like fad obsessed American teenager.

  22. WendyB says

    March 25, 2008 at 6:36 pm

    ENC and Lady, I love hearing from the ladies of my age who can share their own experiences. BTW, I think French snobbery…zis is crime too.
    Stephanie and K.Line..your skeptical attitude towards the Acnes are making them that much more fascinating to me. You know how I get!

  23. Jen (MahaloFashion) says

    March 25, 2008 at 6:57 pm

    My mom use to have such a gorgeous pair back in the 80s, I wish she had kept all her stuff!
    I’m waiting for it to get warm so I can go shopping for a couple of pairs!

  24. The Clothes Horse says

    March 25, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Jazz shoes and gladiators, you were so ahead of your time. I quite like the Acnes, maybe it’s because they look like the ones I could most likely walk in…

  25. miss cavendish says

    March 25, 2008 at 7:04 pm

    I’m loving the Gaultiers and the Alaias but find the Acne glads really enticing. I’d wear them with shorts or something that shows a lot of leg!

  26. WendyB says

    March 25, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    Miss Cavendish, that’s genius! I was wondering what I would wear them with…shorts is the answer!

  27. SICK. says

    March 25, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    talitha getty is so glamorous.
    get the giuseppe zanotti ones, :]
    they’re indubitably beyond expensive, but i think they’d be cool to dream about.
    so actually, buy some others and dream about those.

    x.
    jessica

  28. Sally Jane says

    March 25, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    I agree that if you wear a trend the first time , it’s better to sit it out the second time around.

    Those photos of Talitha Getty are fabulous!

  29. iñaki says

    March 26, 2008 at 3:00 am

    I find them über-interesting!

    xx

  30. Susie Bubble says

    March 26, 2008 at 6:01 am

    Those Acnes ones are quite amazing!

  31. AlicePleasance says

    March 26, 2008 at 11:23 am

    The gladiators/wedges are great!

  32. Lady Language says

    March 26, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    Capezio…HAHAHA! And did those jeans have front pleats and taper at the bottom? Those were the worst style on my frame. Love the old pics!

  33. Wendy says

    March 27, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    The last pair of gladiators by Jean Paul Gaultier are amazing!

  34. evie says

    March 28, 2008 at 12:55 am

    sigh gladiators. i hope you get yours soon. my only hope is through online shopping and i’m not convinced i can take that step even for these sandals

  35. Teresa says

    March 29, 2008 at 6:01 pm

    Talitha Getty is classy…and I’m also on the prowl for some gladiator shoes, although the best I’ve come up with are cheap hipstery ones from Urban Outfitters clearance pile.

  36. Palm Axis says

    March 30, 2008 at 11:15 am

    I think this look made a brief appearance in the mid 80’s. I had a pair that was made from nagahide (is that word even a part of the fashion lexicon any longer?) If you can live without the label, you can find these shoes being hand crafted by people who follow historical re-enactments. The neo-romans meet yearly in San Pedro CA.

  37. Diana @ So Fash'on says

    March 31, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    love the flat ones! because they are extremely comfortable:)

  38. Diana @ So Fash'on says

    March 31, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    love the flat ones! because they are extremely comfortable:)

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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