These Chloe sandals (and I use that term loosely) are showing up everywhere and have spawned a shoe trend the stores call “Ankle Wraps.”

Canvas ankle wrap sandals, leather gladiator wrap booties, cut out ankle wrap boots, canvas fold-over boots and so on.  In a fashion world where styles are re-hashed every few years at most, these qualify as a New Look.   Perhaps a natural progression from cut-outs and gladiators and ankle ties, but still, these are something new.

Mostly found at the high end stores for now, and mostly online.   Here in Charlotte, Nordstrom has a half table of different styles by Dolce Vita and Report, and Belk at SouthPark Mall had one or two pair.

Just like every other shoe trend, these will work great on those with great legs.  Meaning well-shaped calves and slender ankles.  After all, that wrapping is adding nothing but bulk and weight.  To your ankles.  So you’ll need a nice, long, lean line of leg to balance that – shorts and short skirts, or  maybe a slim, rolled up chino or jean.

And just like every other shoe trend, these will (hopefully) morph into something more wearable, practical and less avant-garde.  I can see their potential, a few versions down the line.  After all, you finally caved and bought the “PLATFORM WEDGES” for this summer.   You know you did.

Just a few pics below.  Or you can check out the ka-jillion interpretations on polyvore here.