Roman sandals the 'in' shoe this summer

Jul 23, 2009, 4:15 GMT

Hamburg - At some point in the summer it gets too hot for closed-toe shoes. This summer, trendsetting women will be wearing Roman- or gladiator-style sandals with laces or straps ascending from the ankle.

They are hands down the 'in' shoe for the hot summer months this year. Some have a completely flat sole like the historical shoes they are modelled on. Others have a wedge heel or platform sole. They are accented by laces that vary in length from ankle-high to the knee.

'A woman who selects Roman sandals with lacing to the knee should have long legs,' said Claudia Schulz of the German shoe institute in Frankfurt. That's because the laces and straps shorten the leg immensely, enough to make normal calves look like battering rams. 'But you can use a trick - many versions of the sandal have a small, often block-like heel, and that stretches the look.'

The variety of laces is even greater than the variety of heels. They often are plain, but occasionally they are adorned with rivets or buckles, said Katharina Martin of Deichmann, a German shoe store chain. Natural tones dominate the colour scheme and give Roman sandals an authentic look. Schulz identified models with snakeskin or crocodile features as her secret tip.

A clear trend is sandals that have an antique flavour. The German shoe chain store Goertz reported that from February to May this year 90 per cent more fashion sandals and sandalettes were sold than in the same period the year before. They can be worn with all pants, dresses and skirts in shops this summer. A dress worn with lace-up sandals, however, should show a lot of leg.

'Customers who choose eye-catching sandals should keep the rest of their attire neutral,' said fashion adviser Andreas Rose. Anything else, he said, appears excessive.

Laces, buckles, fringes and rivets can be found this summer not only on Roman sandals. The trend has carried over to sandalettes where the style can be seen in multi-straps from ultra fine to broad. Important elements are T-straps and crossing bands.

'Generally, most versions of the shoe cover the instep in some way,' said Sandra Remmele of Goertz. The shoe may be decorated with extra large stones in African style. Rhinestones are on the way out, added Schulz. Rivets with more of an antique style are replacing them, giving the shoes a rebellious look, said Rose.

Many versions of the sandal have quite high heels, and wedge heels are the forerunner in this department. They are comfortable and most women are able to walk in them, said Rose. They also go with the current styles in skirts, dresses, capris and leggings. The most common materials for the heel are cork, bast and wood. The sandals themselves are decorated with little ties, flowers or stripes.

Remmele said smooth leather is trendy in the classic models and almost any choice of colour is possible. The palette ranges from natural earth tones such as brown and khaki to berry colours such as purple and red. Light pastels are just as trendy as bright colours. Green or yellow can add a dash of summer colour, and for a change there are versions of the sandal in gold, colourful prints and florals.

'The alpha and omega in sandal style, however, is that the heels are not too high or otherwise uncomfortable and that the shoes provide good footing,' said Rose. Feet without socks or stockings offer this the best look, and this means the feet must be well groomed. 'Even the nicest sandals can't make up for scaly skin around the heels and brittle, dirty toenails.'