As the age-old fashion faux-pas of wearing socks with sandals sauntered down the runway of Alexander McQueen’s men’s SS09 show, US Vogue came out with their “Ageless” issue to celebrate the fashion industry’s old guards.

A very interesting corollary, but does this mean that sandals and socks are in vogue? The look is one that is synonymous with the elderly so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for McQueen if his creative license of resurrecting a fashion faux-pas has any longevity whatsoever amongst his youthful legion of followers.

Mind you, sans the pastel grey socks, the shimmering gold dress shoe sandal was eye-catching and could very well be a strong contender for the new look sandal of next summer. The gladiator sandal is definitely being worn thin so with a hint of deconstruction (i.e., lose the socks), McQueen may be on to something.

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Is it an appeal to a different market, perhaps? If so, I didn’t know skate culture was one to embrace the coveted gladiator sandal. Or maybe Pharrell has put them up to it!

But as I stare at this contraption, I’m flushed with a bit of unease and affinity. For starters, how is a skateboarder buckled into this mélange of board and sandal to execute an aerial skateboard trick like a heelflip? Hang on…before we even speak on executing a jump, how does one kick-push into motion if you’re already saddled up in the gladiator sandal?

Functionality is definitely a downer here, but aesthetics-wise, this Greece is for Lovers (GIFL) skateboard slash sandal does offer some strides. Once you overcome the idiosyncrasy of seeing a gladiator sandal on a skateboard, the board’s ochre leather finish will move you to appreciate the craftsmanship that’s gone into making this contraption.

However, let’s backtrack to reality and truth be told, what GIFL has designed here is for a league of facetious skaters who want to dabble in the sport for flippant, showboating purposes. No professional skateboarder—let alone a fashionista/o type—in their right mind would pick this up and I think GIFL knows this. Using wisecrack lines like “Strap on this leather beauty and pose your cred away” as a marketing ploy is a dead give away that this is all in fun!

With the negatives outweighing the positives, it’s a good thing that GIFL has tagged this mishmash of skateboard and gladiator sandal as a made to order purchase because I don’t see any takers.

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When the gladiator sandal sashayed down Chanel’s resort 2007 collection, a new mania was heralded. But with all this hype, fanfare and brouhaha over women and their newly beloved gladiator sandal, where do men factor in? The flurry of sprightly coloured and drab sandals Miu Miu sent out for their SS07 men’s collection paled in comparison to Chanel’s Amazon-like footwear . And as the gladiator sandal trail blazed its way into the closets of women, men were in a chasm of sorts, stuck with the fashionably faux-pas plastic flip-flop and the odd Miu Miu sandal.

Fast forward to today and men can now clamour for the so-called gladiator mandal, or man-sandals, at very affordable prices too. Topman and HE by Mango carry some urbane gladiator mandals that effectively blot out the femininity that surround this style of footwear. Here are our top 3 picks.

1. From cargo pants to safari jackets, khaki colours are best suited for the summers and Topmans tan gladiators (£30) can consummate a casual khaki ensemble in a flash. What’s more, the Topman sandal really embodies the gladiator feel with the volume of straps that contour the forefoot.

2. Versatility, however, comes in the form of the black leather HE by Mango sandals (£17). Dressing in a black-on-black manner seems to be a styling prodigy this summer so why not throw a fitting sandal into the mix.

3. Styles other than the gladiator sandal are available for men and Kurt Geiger’s patent leather sandals (£60) won me over. The wooden soles of the sandal would make for added durability for the urban dweller plus the tangy orange hue is a pleaser for those who love to be noticed in atypical fashion.

It’s not just the style that surrounds gladiator sandals that has won me over (even though that plays big part), but the health benefits the shoe confer on the wearer.

Style-wise, going for a sandal that has an ankle strap of some sort will only flatter, accentuate, and draw admirers to the physique of your ankle/lower leg.

As for the health plugs, the ankle provided is unparalleled to rubber flip-flops. Moreover, the spongy sole of most flip-flops allow the foot to roll upon hitting the ground thus exacerbating the pressure on the foot.

So if it’s for the sake of health, style, or both, please do away with those flip-flops, put your best foot forward and you can’t go wrong this summer!