Zendaya Is Bringing Back the Gladiator Sandal
2 min readTHE RUNDOWN:
- Zendaya was spotted promoting The Odyssey in New York City on July 13.
- The actress wore a controversial shoe trend that aligned with her method-dressing streak.
- She paired her gladiator sandals with an archival runway dress from the 2000s.
If anyone can convince the fashion world to revisit gladiator sandals—the lace-up, snaking silhouette that defined the aughts boho look—it’s Zendaya.
Over the course of The Odyssey press tour, the actress has remained loyal to the millennial-coded silhouette, and today’s pair may be her boldest yet. Spotted in New York City, Zendaya stepped out in metallic gladiator sandals with straps that climbed nearly to the knee. Designed by Sophia Webster, the gunmetal heels featured intricate woven detailing that ran vertically up the leg, finished with a barely-there stiletto heel.
Zendaya in New York City on July 13.
Zendaya’s exact pair are discontinued, but the lace-up silhouette is far from impossible to find these days. In fact, the actress has been making a compelling case for the style since the start of The Odyssey press tour, first stepping out in a pair of metallic Louboutin heels with wraparound straps—albeit a far subtler take than the knee-high version she wore today.
To perfectly encapsulate the mythological mood—and the nod to the aughts her shoes provided—Zendaya and Law Roach stayed era-appropriate with her dress choice. The actress radiated Athena energy in a plunging white gown, complete with gold fringing and soft pleats. The piece came from Alberta Ferretti’s spring/summer 2008 collection, which aptly drew on Greco-Roman antiquity for inspiration.
A look from Alberta Ferretti spring/summer 2008.
When it comes to footwear, Zendaya rarely deviates from her beloved Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps. The sleek stilettos have become something of a signature over the last decade, making any alternative feel intentional.
Consider The Odyssey press tour the first step toward a full-on gladiator sandal comeback.