Anonymous:

I actually love gladiator sandals, well, some of them anyway, when done right. Having a piece that has some risk attached to it, like it's teetering between fashionable and unfashionable, and yet still pulling off the piece and making it look good I feel is an overlooked, awesome part of fashion in general. Back to the shoes – They can't be too costume-y, because then they no longer fit in your wardrobe – instead they do just what these would do, which is make you look like you had no vision when looking for a new pair of shoes. They stand out, don't match, and look awkward and goofy.
However, I can sympathize with larpers, especially because they're actually putting together a costume.