Fab Find: Børn Macadamia Gladiator

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Fab Find: Børn Macadamia Gladiator

— by Angie

on June 29, 2010

These made last year’s comfy Summer footwear selection and they still reign supreme. You just can’t beat buttery soft straps and a cushioning footbed for sandal comfort. That is, of course, if your own arches offer sufficient support — unfortunately sandals like this do not offer arch support and also can’t accommodate an orthotic.

Looks like gladiator sandals have become a mainstream basic. This is our third Summer season and there is no stopping the trend. Available in four colours, all of which look equally fab. There are no half sizes, so size down. Anyone still not into the look of the gladiators (and I don’t mean Russell Crowe)?

Footwear · Summer 2010

27 comments · Add a comment

Beth

Veteran

I love these! Simple, straightforward gladiators:) So pretty, especially in the pewter.

June 29, 2010 at 12:25 pm

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I have these in my shopping cart somewhere (or did), but I opted for a more nude color gladiator. I would be tempted with the gold if they went on sale, though

June 29, 2010 at 12:28 pm

Lisa

Veteran

I like the look of gladiators. I held off buying a pair til this season though. I was afraid they were gonig to be a one season shoe, but coming up onto a third season I dove into the pool. If I did not already have these
http://www.zappos.com/cole-haa.....bury-birch
I would have bought the one’s featured. I like the gold best out of the born selection.

June 29, 2010 at 12:38 pm

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Istruggle to get on board with the gladiator trend. Most of the ones I see in stores are too much for my taste, and while I love the aesthetic of the Clarks Brulee, it was hilariously unflattering on my feet. Perhaps yettis-in-training like me should avoid the super strappy looks?

June 29, 2010 at 12:54 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisa, those are lovely!

Michelle, gladiators can be simple or ornate. I prefer the simpler styles too – like the Born in this post. And you could absolutely wear the right gladiator. This one could work, OR, a style with fewer broader straps. Hope that makes sense.

June 29, 2010 at 1:14 pm

April

Veteran

I didn’t care for the first gladiators I saw, because they seemed too extreme: too many straps, too high up the calf. Now that they’ve settled down a bit, I really like this trend. And I LOVE my Brulees — the first sandals I’ve owned in years!

June 29, 2010 at 1:21 pm

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

These shoes are a bit less edgey than I prefer in a sandal, but are otherwise completely up my alley!! Love the look!!

June 29, 2010 at 1:54 pm

Antje

Veteran

I for one am still not loving the gladiators, though my stance has softened. I really hated them when they first appeared and found them downright ugly. My eye has since adapted and I’ve come to appreciate some of them, especially the more streamlined versions like the ones you show here – quite nice actually, and I can see them work well in some outfits. Still not loving them, though, and would always opt for a different style myself like a nice wedge. Might also be because I have long feet and, when I tried the brulees myself, I just didn’t fancy the look on me.

June 29, 2010 at 3:21 pm

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I like the look but everything I tried on just does not look good on my feet. I have thicker ankles and chunky calves so all these straps make my feet look even worse than they are. Also in size 12 I do not have that many options to try on to see if some variation can work

June 29, 2010 at 3:28 pm

crasdy

Active Member

I really did not care for gladiator sandals when they first came out. The look grew on me, however, and I finally found a pair that works for me this summer. They are also Born brand, but the strap is below the ankle (very important to me, with my thick calves and ankles). They are spring green and have a cute flower detail on top.

June 29, 2010 at 3:44 pm

Laura

(website)

I still don’t like them – the look just doesn’t aesthetically appeal to me. I find it ugly, especially the back heel bit. I have slim ankles so theoretically I could wear them, but I’ve never even tried a pair on. And who wants to wear more straps around their feet when it’s really hot out?

June 29, 2010 at 4:33 pm

tarzy

Veteran

These are my favorite glads. I’ve been eying them on my own for a while now. I don’t wear flats that often, though, so I haven’t jumped yet, but I really love the gold.

June 29, 2010 at 5:19 pm

Mellllls

I still don’t love gladiators either. Too many straps! I want a pair of caged heeled sandals though!

June 29, 2010 at 5:22 pm

Dashrashi

Veteran

I would advise sizing down. I bought these last summer in a 9 (I am usually a 9 or a 9.5) and they were WAY too big. I would definitely have needed them in an 8 (not available then).

June 29, 2010 at 6:08 pm

Kyle

Veteran

I prefer gladiators with a heel. But, even with a heel, I must say the ankle straps shorten the long lean line we all want. Nevertheless, I just purchased these in a caramel color they don’t show on the web site: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....1&P=1

June 29, 2010 at 6:23 pm

Maya

Veteran

I am so torn on these! I think they are too literal for my taste. Like they actually look like something Russel Crowe wore in that ridiculous movie. I am so hyper sensitive to anything that could be interpreted as costumey. It’s the same mental block I have against cowboy boots and sandal booties (though I have come to appreciate edgier, less biblical styles).

OTOH my Brulees feel more like an interpretation of gladiator sandals without being so literal. I prefer that.

But there is definitely something appealing about these once they are on an actual foot and integrated in an outfit. I think I’d have to wait until they go on sale to see how I like them in person though.

June 29, 2010 at 6:42 pm

Christine

This is actually the fourth summer they’ve been around. First summer, I saw hip tanned European girls wearing them (in Europe) but nobody else had them. Second summer, they were talked about in fashion magazines as the “it” shoe and I was very excited to get a pair . . . that then fell apart after a couple of months. Grr. Last year I mulled getting another pair but decided I was over them (especially as I was still feeling bitter about the pair the summer before!) This year they are so ubiquitous that I am betting on them showing up on the “out” lists of those same fashion magazines by next spring. Sorry — any trend only has so much life in it and this one is at the end of its cycle.

June 29, 2010 at 9:40 pm

Christine

P.S. In fact, I will offer my prediction that next year magazines will do that “Ugh! What were we *thinking*!” thing where they turn around and tell us to immediately throw out something they were pushing not six months before. They will all say stuff like, “How did nobody notice that all those straps coming way up your ankle cut your leg and make it look stumpy,” blah blah blah, and urge us all to run out and buy something more bare looking.

June 29, 2010 at 9:55 pm

rute

Veteran

lovely! These sandals are everywhere here too.

June 30, 2010 at 1:57 am

Phoebe

Veteran

Very nice. This is the model for any gladiator. But you know what I really hate about gladiators? The buckles!! I have a gorgeous pair, but I have to fiddle with six (!!!) tiny buckles every time I put them on or off….. Definitely looking for a zipper pair:)

June 30, 2010 at 6:24 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yup. The buckles on gladiator sandals can be a pain. If you can find a pair in which you can keep some of the buckles permanently fastened, it’s a win.

Sveta, forum member Marianna has the same size feet as you and she looks amazing in gladiators. Don’t give up!

I’ve also found that gladiator sandals look extra fab and less harsh when they are low contrast against the skin tone.

Christine, gladiators might become a mainstream basic – just like leggings and skinnies.

June 30, 2010 at 7:19 am

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

OK I know I already commented on this post, but I had to come back. I agree with what Maya has said about these sandals looking slightly too literal. I think that is what I meant when I’d prefer ones that are a bit edgier. As for strapping, unstrapping, the gladiators I have zip up along the heel – they are super easy to take on & off.

Here’s a close-up of mine for anyone interested:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/y.....225256166/

Sveta these are size 10. I don’t see why big feet can’t wear them

I got these ones at Aldo last year. I hope they have something similar again this year – I loved them!!

June 30, 2010 at 1:35 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That’s interesting, Tam and thanks for the picture! We all see different things don’t we? I think your gladiators look more “literal” than the Borns. I love your gladiators too and they look KILLER.

June 30, 2010 at 1:46 pm

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

I am starting to see what they’re all about (finally) but I think I’m going to sit this one out (I do still tend to think ‘slave girl’ when I look at them in isolation and this colours it for me – please don’t hate me!). I have plenty of other things to concentrate on for the moment and no doubt I’ll be desperate to find a pair when they’re (eventually) no longer available in any shops!

June 30, 2010 at 3:11 pm

Tanya

Veteran

I have totally warmed up to gladiators,and these look pretty and comfy. I still prefer a tiny wedge, like on Smooch sandals,a s opposed to completely flat sandals -my feet are much happier in the former.

June 30, 2010 at 8:39 pm

florida

Veteran

These are nice. I am loving my gladiators this summer!

June 30, 2010 at 9:06 pm

kimana517

(website)

Active Member

I love these! I just bought the pewter and black. They have a few sizes at ShoeMetro.com for $59.99 + $4.99 shipping, and there’s a code (INDEPENDENCE20) for 20% off, so I got two pairs shipped for $100.97! Now let’s just hope they fit – although if they don’t, I can mail them back and only lose the S&H. Yay!

http://www.shoemetro.com/nsear.....0&y=0

July 2, 2010 at 8:13 pm

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Fab Find: Børn Macadamia Gladiator

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