They Are All Romans, Aren't They?

I must be one of the very few fashion-loving person left who doesn't currently own a pair of gladiator sandals. And I love owning shoes!

They first resurfaced on my radar about three years ago and they have since been on every must-have list in any fashion-related medium worth their salt. Yes, resurfaced, because the first time it went beep-beep, very loudly, was in the 80s and did I buy them!

This time round, however, they (and their very many incarnations) didn't do very much for me. My legs haven't suddenly gone stumpy, rendering them unsuitable for severe line-cutting gladiator sandals-wearing. No. If they had, I wouldn't have spent the last few summers wearing super unflattering some-might-even-say-"ugly" shoes like...

...these Douglas Sandals, "Roman Punched" in leather that's a shade of Avocado.

With nearly 60 years and three generations of sandal-making behind them, the New Zealand company's products were, from what I was told, first intended as summer uniform for school children, matching the sandals' colours to the school's colours.

They used to be sold in Sydney in the Skipping Girl boutiques (remember them and their cute woven totes?) but since they shut, I haven't been able to find them anywhere.

Deciding I needed some summer cheer (it's not even spring, I know, but I'm so bored with winter already!) and therapy after a spate of angsty-ness, I ordered some online.

These red so-Dame-Westwood tartan ones.










They are the sweetest people, them at Douglas Sandals! They wrote back the next day saying that the pairs (I've also ordered a secret pair, in a different colour, as a present) are not available in the sizes that I have requested for but they will make them to order and will let me know when they are ready. I know the sandals are not "made-to-order" for my feet in the real sense of the term but I still feel pretty special. Can't wait to get them in the mail. And, of course, can't wait for summer!