Vivienne Westwood came out with these Vivienne Westwood Roman Boots for her Fall RTW 2009 collection:

Vivienne Westwood Roman Boot Fall RTW 2009 collection

They’re extremely gorgeous and are to die for. These are the kind of shoes that make you want to splurge an entire paycheck (or paychecks) on. Both the red and the black colors are must-haves and not just a few shoe bloggers have professed their love for these Vivienne Westwood Roman Boots.

However, while the boot’s beauty is undeniable, could they really be called a Roman boot?

Take here drawings of different roman boots:

Roman boot drawings from Bbaboucha.com

Compared with the Vivienne Westwood boots above, only the strappy feature is present.

So let’s say that for fashion’s sake Vivienne Westwood’s design has much more leeway for artistic expression, but still, don’t the boots look more like a pirate’s boot?:

A pirate boot

Because of the flared upper shaft and the buckled straps, the Vivienne Westwood Roman Boots look more at home on a ship at sea than on a Roman warrior.

But anyway, I guess the name is all just trivial when the end product is really beautiful. For the record, Vivienne Westwood also has a pair of pirate boots called, well, the Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boots:

With all the straps on these, perhaps the names of the Roman boot and the Pirate boot were interchanged?

You can purchase the Vivienne Westwood Roman Boots for $720.00 and the Vivienne Westwood Pirate Boots for $583.15 at Zappos.com.

So, have you ever seen Nicole Kidman wear chunky gladiator sandals? Let me guess, your answer would most probably be either a “no”, or a “not yet”. If your answer is a “yes”, then you are one of the very few.

Nicole Kidman strikes me as someone who wouldn’t go for a pair of chunky gladiator sandals. Her much too feminine persona somehow doesn’t go with the tough chic look that gladiator sandals project.

So I was more than just mildly surprised when I saw this picture:

Nicole Kidman

Tell me, do you think it looks good on her? Or should I rephrase and ask, does she look good in the shoes?

I give her credit for choosing a nude color; not only is it more feminine to look at (compared to dark brown or black), but at least her legs still look long (as the straps blend well with her skin).

But that’s just about all I can say, because honestly, I think the chunky gladiator sandals are looking a little out of place. I feel like she should be wearing something else, like a pair of peep-toes or a pair of nude pumps.

Please don’t get me wrong, the shoes are beautiful. It’s the kind with  curved cut-out straps that swirl at the center, not the usual gladiator sandals with horizontal straps. But Nicole plus the sandals? Not working out.

What do you think?

On another note, if you are into the curved cut-out straps of her sandals, here are some interesting look-a-likes:

Fergie Quickset, US$79

Steve Madden Hitower, US$100

BCBGeneration Giada, US$118

Miss Sixty Indigo, US$165

Charles David Chic, US$215

Here’s a picture of Kesha attending the 2010 Grammys:

Kesha

Not exactly dressed properly for the event (she was in fact, named as one of the Worst Dressed), but I give her credit for wearing a good-looking pair of T-strap Roman sandals. She rocks in those shoes (never mind the outfit)! Not the usual T-strap if I might say, instead of the usual T, this one is shaped like a solid V or inverted triangle. If you want the shoes, you may purchase any of the following:

Boutique 9 Shomera, on sale for US$114 at Zappos.om

Boutique 9 Show-Off, on sale for US$98 at Zappos.com

Nine West Swish, US$89

Steve Madden Trusst, on sale for US$83 at Zappos.com

Naughty Monkey Play Date, on sale for US$69 at Heels.com

The recent death of Alexander McQueen was not only sad, but it was also a great loss to the fashion industry. He was quite a showman. His creations reflected his complex self and people loved every bit of drama he created, from the one-of-a-kind-and-never-boring runway shows, to his multifarious but unique and emotionally captivating designs that always left an imprint on our thoughts leaving us wanting more.

Alexander McQueen, 1970-2010

And to die so young when he was at the top of his game…indeed, losing Lee McQueen was tragic, and I doubt if we will see another one like him.

The brand will live on, of course. But the face behind the name will change, so expect everything, including the McQueen designs, to change after 2010.

If you were a fan and would like to keep a memory of the REAL McQueen, be sure to buy a piece of his last creations. For the gladiator sandal junkie, here’s his latest collection of beautiful sandals:

Spring 2010 Collection

Alexander McQueen 237673WAF52, US$589

For the Tough Chic

Alexander McQueen 237697WAF510, US$599

For the Dark, Dangerous, and Mysteriously sexy

Alexander McQueen 237685, US$454

For the Fuss Free

Winter Collection (currently on sale!)

Alexander McQueen 219638 WADN1, on sale for US$512 at Zappos.com

For the Glamorous Goddess

Alexander McQueen 216925, on sale for US$464 at Zappos.com

For the Whimsical and the Romantic

Alexander McQueen 216943, on sale for US$320 at Zappos.com

For the Sweet Minimalist

Alexander McQueen 219625WABL2, on sale for US$392 at Zappos.com

For the Classic Beauty

It’s nice to take a little break once in a while and get on the on the lighter side of things. While we review all sorts of roman sandals and related footwear here on MyRomanSandals, sometimes, there are shoes that do all the talking – and reviewing – for us.

Check out these very literal interpretation of the roman sandal, the Funtasma Arena 2012 roman boots:

The product description on these says, “You’ll be the sexiest warrior in Rome with these knee-high stiletto boots”. Of course, bring the sexy first before survival!

These boots aren’t meant to be taken seriously obviously, and just from the brand name itself, you can deduce that these are meant for costumes, roleplaying, and other fun, whimsical events.

But as outrageous and bizarre these roman boots are, they actually did make them quite similar to authentic roman boots. Here are some pictures of roman military uniform replicas, as seen on paintings and as worn during Rome Foundation Day parades:

Roman military uniforms

Okay, they’re not wearing strappy, buttoned up stiletto boots, but the red, gold, and knee-high elements are there.

I think  some women will actually be able to get away with wearing these boots as part of a party getup. Everything else has to be kept plain and minimal of course, so as not to compete with these attention-grabbing boots.

If you think you can create a look with the Funtasma Arena 2012 roman boots, then you can purchase them at Shoebuy.com for $65.95.