Gladiator Sandals. The "frenemy" of the shoe world.

A few weeks ago I went out and bought my first ever pair of Gladiator Sandals. (Excuse the rubbish photograph and my thunder thighs, I just needed a photo to show the happiness I felt at the thought of my new shoes)

The trend has been around since 2008 which makes it ancient in the fashion world and because of this, they are now deemed by many fash mags as "a wardrobe staple."
The only reason I jumped on the bandwagon so late was because of my freakishly-fat-duck-feet which made it near impossible to find a pair which fit. But then I found a pair. Simple brown and metallic gladiator heels and as a bonus; they were less than a tenner. I was buzzing.

Then the next day in the Guardian Weekend I read that Jess Cartner-Morley (the fabulous fashion editor at The Guardian, and a woman who always talks sartorial sense) said this about Gladiator Sandals and Clogs (you already know how I feel about them)

"The only positive benefit of the return of clogs to fashion is that, by comparison, they make gladiator sandals seem both flattering and comfortable. Gladiator sandals are, of course, neither flattering nor comfortable: they make all but the most photogenic of feet look like slabs of undercooked meat, and the law of averages states that if you crisscross a hot pair of feet with 14 leather straps, then at least one of those straps is going to rub. But the alternative, this summer, is to wear clogs. Oddly, there is nothing that accentuates a tree trunk leg quite like attaching a log to the sole of your foot."

Ouch. "Undercooked meat." Really Jess?
But then surely enough I looked down at my newly clad feet and indeed they did.
The next day I went for a walk to the park in them. Mine have 5 straps across them and just as wise Jess predicted it gave the seemingly harmless sandals a gazillion opportunities to rub my now absolutely battered and bloodied feet.

I now can't wear the Gladiator without bandaging them up, not unlike a lady from Imperial China by covering them in plasters, which I think you'll agree isn't exactly the chic and on trend look I was aiming for.

Then I read last week on Lourdes' new blog (yep Madonnas daughter has a new blog and she actually sounds like a perfectly normal young teenager) said:

"OK but no joke gladiator sandals are OUT. They came out in summer 2008 and I was like, ok those are really cute. Then 2009 comes around and people are still wearing them so I’m like, ok whatever it’s just a phase. BUT NOOOOO. Because good old 2010 is now coming along and people are STILL wearing them, and then I was just like OK NO! It’s been three years people COME ON!!!!!!!!! I’m just like what????"

Now I don't know whether I can trust the opinion of a girl who apparently likes "My Chemical Romance... for realzzzz" and over uses punctuation marks but she may have a point.

So people of the blogging world, let me hear your thoughts!

Shall I put away my blood stained, uncomfortable Gladiator Sandals? Or continue to wear what may be a "fashion staple" but just by the pool with a bikini?
They have to be the ultimate "frenemy" of the summer sandal world. You don't know whether you love 'em or hate 'em (just like Simon Cowell and Marmite)

Beth Ruby xoxo

ps) I just have to dash off now and check on the numerous Nigella recipes I am making as part of my Summer Challenge 2010 list which includes "Cook 3 course meal."
I don't want it to burn like my epic fail batch of brownies earlier. Follow me on twitter here if you want to see my Summer Challenge updates (and also photos from the disaster that I now refer to as "Brownie Gate")

DESIGNER ENVY- My soft spot for gimmicky heels

It has been awhile since I have had a full on designer shoe envy (probably due to being locked up revising in my room and spending less time on Style.com and Sea of Shoes if anything else)

But once I laid eyes on these DSqaured shoes which have a SPINE FOR THE HEEL (!!!) I fell a little bit in love.

"It's just such a genius idea!" I cried.
And then after getting a major deja vu I got thinking about the sheer amount of times I have said that after seeing a rather cool pair of heels.
After trawling the extensive albums of photos of shoes which are knacking up my computer hard drive I realised just how many gimmicky heels there are out there.
Shoe designers love a good novelty idea to get people talking and buying. (If this was a power point I would add the cheesy *KERCHING* sound effect here)
It makes sense really, I mean I know a girl can own a lot of shoes but there are only so many plain black sling-backs someone can have before they crave the crazy.

And I know I would rather have a pair of fierce, eye catching, compliment attracting, fabulous shoes than a pair of plain. fabulous shoes (remember my rant at the beige schmeige and boring ol' Celine's "Wardrobe Staples" ?)

So here are some more gimmicky heels I found.
I'll shut up now and let them do the talking:

Dolce and Gabbana 'Face' shoes- photo from Sea of Shoes

The Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte 'Melted Wax' heels (which I thought looked like the Wicked Witch of the West melting...) Source unknown

The legendary Chanel 'light bulb' shoes (source unknown)

And the lovely new 'Chandelier' heels from the Prada collection.

Can you think of any more shoe gimmicks?

I could go on but I really must go back to revising Vietnam and Womens rights for my exam tomorrow. Exciting I know.

Ciao!

Beth Ruby xoxo

ps) Happy fathers day!

Christian Dior Spring 2010 Haute Couture

This Christian Dior couture collection could have stepped right off the set for an avant guarde costume drama (obviously if costumes dramas had budgets big enough to buy couture with)

Exaggerated eye make up, huge show-off jewels drippping off every part of the models bodies, massive trailing gowns and of course lots and lots of sequins were the main aspects of the collection just showing that you don't buy Dior couture to blend into the background.

It was all about the drama.
Oh and these shoes which I am in love with. The heels are so fairy-tale like:

Source here on Style.com

Beth Ruby xoxo

Alexander McQueen ‘Alien’ Shoes

My initial reaction when I saw these Alexander McQueen shoes from his SS 2010 collection was “Woah.”
Then “Omg how did he make them and the models get their feet into them?”
And finally *shrugs* "Ok, well McQueen is a genius” but never for a second did I think “I must have though shoes in my life now. I want/need/have to have them.”
Sure if I stumbled across them in a shoe shop I would try them on for a laugh but I would never ever actually buy them.
Also I have no idea how much they cost but seeing as they are designer and the hottest heels to be seen in right now I am guessing they are just a teensy bit out of my budget.
So I am wondering who is actually going to buy them?
Apart from Lady Gaga who wore them in her ‘Bad Romance’ video and Daphe Guiness who was the first celebrity to wear them on the red carpet I can’t think of anyone who would seriously buy these insane (yet undeniably brilliant) shoes.

What do you think? If you had that much money would you buy them?

Designer Envy- 'Rodita' Christian Louboutins

Do I really need to say anything?

The picture itself is self explanatory but if not the words "zip" , "platform" and "Louboutins" in one sentence should be enough.

Fabulous!

B xx

Hallelujah!

It is so hard to find shoes that fit my freakishly wide feet (never mind the size 8 length which always seems to be out of stock) that when I finally find a pair of shoes that fit- even if they are hideously ugly- I leap for joy.

So imagine my glee when yesterday I bought not one, not two, not three but four pairs of shoes, all of which fit me!

I bought some converses, some gray ballet pumps, some black school schoes and some lovely Michella Obama esque black flats with a bow and a patent edge.

Praise the Lord, Office and Schuh are my saviours!