We're talking the Battle of the Sandals.
As I am a fashion prophet, (the natural gas pipe line which runneth underneath my house may be less than air-tight, I suspect, causing a "Delphi" effect) let me begin to spin my prophecy about the sandals who will dominate, and those who will be left to fade, sun-scorched, in the windows of Aldo.
The sandals of yore shall perish. No, not the gladiator format, per se, but the way in which we have seen it played out during the past two summers, with extravagant metallics, and gaudy jewels that weigh down the foot. But don't think too minimalist either, the time for a sandal that looks somewhat like a g-string for the foot is still far in the future. Besides, those are so goddamn hard to keep dans le foot! No, the sandal of today is just about as practical as the fashionista will ever allow herself to get. Here are the defining traits of this summer's sandal:
- Soft, slighty worn, or buttery leather
- Colours are primarily neutral, a sophisticated black, or a fashion-forward pop of a subdued bright, child-like colour. Think tempera paint.
- Straps and cut-outs is where the shoe will show it's unique style, either with a eye-boggling amount of slim straps, unusual criss-crossing or interesting cut-outs.
- Many lace up, almost bridging the gap between shoe and sandal.
- Instead of having a Roman or Grecian influence, many of these sandals have a more British root. For example, hot young shoe brand F-Troupe, based in London, claims their shoes and sandals use "British historical and functional influences to make footwear that is quintessentially British but with an international appeal."
Any sandal who can fulfill those recquirements shall prosper in the new season, and henceforth have my blessing. The following are some that do, just for example's sake. In order: 1) Cooperative blue cut-out & lace-up sandal at Urban Outfitters 2) F-Troupe red cross-strap sandal at Buy Definition 3) Forever 21 sophisticated black low-wedge cross strap sandal at Forever 21 4) Forever 21 navy blue cut-out & lace-up sandal at Forever 21 5) F-Troupe soft leather lace-up sandal at Buy Definition 6) Ecote multi-strap brown leather sandal at Urban Oufitters 7) Deena & Ozzy cut-out and lace-up black sandal at Urban Outfitters. 
