Gladiator sandals for men | Mens Roman Sandals

Inspired by Roman sandals. Louis Vuiton for men

Vuitton spartan sandals

From left: designs by Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana and Ermenegildo Zegna

Black leather sandals with pale gold-tone inlaid studs at Givenchy spring summer 2010 collection :

Givenchy

Givenchy white leather sands with pale gold-tone inlaid studs.

Givenchy
Pale gold-tone metallic leather sandals.

[Images: Marcio Madeira]

Leather sandals, macramé flip-flops and handwoven toe thongs have jumped the gender gap and hit the men’s wear catwalk at Louis Vuitton, Dries Van Noten, Bottega Veneta and Dolce & Gabbana. It may take some getting used to but, then again, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Ivan Donovan, men’s wear buyer at London’s designer wear boutique Browns, has also seen significant demand. “We’ve sold sandals very well,” he says. “The Alexander McQueen gladiators [no longer on sale] really flew off the shelves, and it was definitely a confident fashion buyer that bought them.”

Worn with the right outfit however, and in a suitable climate, the look isn’t so intimidating.

Lawrence Garwood, 36, co-founder of a London-based creative design agency, says: “I would consider wearing gladiators if I lived somewhere hot, already had a tan, and was among friends who wouldn’t laugh – but I could never wear them with shorts,” he says. “I’d prefer to wear them with linen trousers, a white shirt and a light linen jacket, like the man from Del Monte.”

High-street enthusiasm confirms that men’s gladiators are this summer’s “it” shoe.

“You can even buy gladiator sandals in Topman (from £35),” says Jeremy Langmead, editor of Esquire magazine, who nonetheless advocates a judicious approach to wearing the shoes. “To me it’s no surprise that the man who invented the Hobbit was English,” he says. “British men tend to have appalling unkempt feet and should keep them under cover. Neither the weather nor the terrain here is suitable for sandals.” Not, at least, without a pedicure.

Where oh Where are Men's Gladiator's Sandals? The trend is strong for women...but, men, which wore them in the Greek and Roman times are not sporting them yet...is there a reason why they aren't? Are they not in style for men, or are they not available anywhere?

The closest things I found were: