As ugg boots and gladiator sandals have remained very popular, this was bound to happen sooner rather than later – the marriage of the two shoe styles.

Here’s their offspring and it looks exactly just like how you would imagine it:

Koolaburra Aphrodite Sandals

Like something that would grow out of genitals cast out into the sea, condemned to be betrothed to a lame, ugly and deformed man, and doomed to sin, cheat and be unfaithful to her husband for the rest of her life.

Okay, comparing the Koolaburra Aphrodite to the goddess Aphrodite’s story might be going to far, but when something is named after the Greek goddess of love, beauty and sexuality, it HAS to live up to it’s name.

Well, does it?

Everything about these sandals is luxe – the Spanish merino sheepskin, the “double face” wool inner surface, its eye-popping $159.95 price tag – but that doesn’t mean that the design is too. Perhaps I’m too much of a purist and think that real sheepskin should be used only on things that are actually meant to keep you warm, and not on something like a gladiator sandal that could be made with so many other materials.

And to brag that these sandals are made of double face sheepskin means that the sheep was actually skinned to get the material. So a creature had to die for sandals like these? That just makes the Koolaburra Aphrodite sandals seem even more frivolous.

It also has a fringe version by the way, called the Koolaburra Aphrodite Fringe Sandals:

These are even more expensive at $180.00. Available at BoutiqueToYou.com.

Yes, a celebrity has been seen wearing sandals from this line. Check out Fur in the Summer? Vanessa Hudgens in Koolaburra Aurora Sandals.

These Raleigh Platform Sandals from 7 For All Mankind remind of Transformers. You know, the movie.

7 For All Mankind Raleigh Platform Sandals

I think it’s with the angular cutout straps. From the front, the whole thing looks like a robot’s face. I can definitely say this is the modern and futuristic version of  gladiator sandals. And check out the detailing on the back too.

Front and Back

Top

Nice, yah? I love how structured and clean it looks; I think it is simply edgy (both in the literal and metaphorical sense). I can just imagine it with these dresses:

Wyatt Iris Jersey Ruched One Shoulder Dress, on sale for US$95; TBags Yellow Floral Deep V Dress, on sale for US$123

(both dresses are from Bluefly.com)

The latter you can choose if you want to offset the edginess a bit. The pair would also look great with black skinny pants and a white tee or tank; even better with a pair of shorts and a blazer. What do you think?

It’s quite affordable at US$255, though you could say it isn’t cheap either. But for the ordinary Jane, this one is very achievable. You just have to set aside some money and save up for it.

You can buy the 7 For All Mankind Raleigh Platform Sandals from Zappos.com.

I went through our Gwen Stefani archives here on All Gladiator Sandals and I can’t believe we haven’t featured these Gwen Stefani L.A.M.B. shoes before (well we do have a review of the shoes here but not as worn by Gwen Stefani).

I’ve seen quite a few pictures of Gwen Stefani in them, the most recent being last July 25 when Gwen and husband Gavin Rossdale took their son Zuma Rossdale (who turns two next month!) out for a day of shopping:

July 25, 2010 – Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani and their son Zuma Rossdale shopping at Trico Field in Beverly Hills, CA

I’m not sure how serious that shopping trip was though because those 4 3/4″-high heels CANNOT be made for walking any measure of distance. Even Gwen Stefani herself didn’t last very long in them last time she wore these heels at a Memorial Day party:

Gwen Stefani with her sons at an A-lister Memorial Day party in Malibu

It must be tough running after kids at a party in those shoes, so Gwen changed out of her heels into a more sensible pair of gladiator flats.

Gwen Stefani’s shoes are the L.A.M.B. Nayuta Heels:

As this is an old style, the black is now completely sold out. The red color is still available though – this is what it looks like:

The bad news is stocks and sizes are sparse. If you like these shoes, you’d have to send a prayer to the shoe gods that your size is still available.

The good news is that these previously $370.00 shoes are now heavily discounted. Here are the online boutiques that carry the L.A.M.B. Nayuta Heels and the sizes they have left:

1. Heels.com – Lists the heels at $185.00 and have size 6 left
2. GothamCityOnline.com – Have them for $219.97 and have size 10 in stock
3. Endless.com – Prices the heels at $280.44 and still have the size 7

Good luck! It’s nice to see Gwen Stefani wear even the old styles from L.A.M.B. Shows how much of a fan she is of her own fashion line!

Oh and if you also noticed Zuma Rossdale’s super adorable brown and green boots, read more about ‘em here: Gwen Stefani’s Boys Rock Their Summer Boots.

Credit: WENN, AKM Images and Splash News