The Good, The Bad, and The Trampy: Gladiators

Shoes have really gone wild. I like this, and I hate it. We'll be talking shoes a lot in the next couple weeks. Today it's the gladiator sandal. Gladiators are now totally mainstream, so you've got lots of options. Enjoy them this spring, then stow them away for their next incarnation. Great with long dresses, skirts, and shorts of any length, these are versatile shoes.

The good: Find this Sam Edelman version at Macy's (above, $79). I love these because they are simple but have hippy-bling. Please wear these with NO OTHER BLING, as that would immediately put them in the "bad" category.

Or go to Steve Madden for the classic gladiator ("Leonitus," near left, $89.95) and clean and elegant ("Killian," far left, $99.95).

The bad: Need I say anything? Ok, NO GLADIATOR CHUNKY HEELS that look like this (below, right).

The trampy: Admittedly, these aren't really gladiators, but it's hard to find trampy glads. And this is a good opportunity to trash the mule. I'm an authority on this, as I once owned a pair of gold mules so heinous, girlfriends would beg me to model them just for their hilarious amusement. You will always walk and look trampy in mules. Please, fashion gods, don't make us suffer a mule revival.

Steve Madden, 41 W. 34th between 5th & 6th

Macy's Herald Square, 151 W. 34th btwn Broadway & 7th