Spats Add Some Zest to Summer Sandals & Later, Fall Booties. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION & SHOE BLOG

Chanel Spring 2006

Chanel Fall/Winter 07/08 (Chanel.com)

When Chanel first showed gladiator style flats with spat'esque ankle coverings for Spring 06, their fate was uncertain: were they to end up as a fun fad with a five minute shelf life, or actually develop into a trend? With the intervening seasons dictating a Victorian vibe & proportions (who, in all honesty, would have thought we'd be craving maxi-length patio dresses this summer?), spats remain one of the freshest looks in footwear. It's turned out to be a trend with, er, legs (sorry!) and for pre-fall/winter, the spat look reigns supreme.

Why not rock some spat-inspired summer sandals now? It's nice to know they'll still look fab - rather than tired - next spring & summer.

Some fab spat-gladiator sandals:

• Jeffrey Campbell leather ankle wrap sandal - UrbanOutfitters.com
• Tashkent by Cheyenne Ruud - CheyenneMorris.com

• Rinko Kikuchi style - ASOS.com
• Shellys London Future - Zappos.com

Alternatively, simply find some spats you like, and attache them over your fave pair of strappy flats or gladiator sandals.

• reversible ones - PossoTheSpat.com
• old school spats - Spatterdash

- Lesley Scott

(runway photos: style.com)

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