When emo kids caused Converse’s Chuck Taylors to come back into style in the Bay Area ( circa 2000-ish) I was really bitter.

I made a big stink about how it wasn’t fair that they were suddenly popular when everyone except the Star Wars nerds laughed at the red pair I wore on a daily basis when I was in the third grade, or how nobody seemed to remember that they were the most prominent part of awkward geek style on old school television shows like Punky Brewster, Saved by the Bell (Screech wears them in almost every episode), Blossom, Clarissa Explains It All and The Wonder Years.

An icon for outcast fashion was ripped from the clutches of us unpopular folk and it was tugged and squeezed and teased until it was suitable to match with jerseys, tall tees, baggy jeans, baby doll shirts and hot pants, and I abhorred it all.

And then I bought a pair.

Similar things have happened in the last decade to other bits of fashion from nerd culture, like thick black glasses frames, Vans, tube socks and Atari shirts, and while part of me is glad to see my fellow geeks getting some play, I still for the most part wish it could all be reserved for the un-cool. That’s why I’m glad to see society looking back even further in time for what to revive. And by further I mean ancient. More specifically, 310 BC.

I almost always hate new trends, but this whole Gladiator Sandal hype threw me for one. As soon as I started seeing them on gofugyourself I thought, are these famous people for real? Is this a joke? Should I laugh? Or is it so different that I love it? Should I cheer? Then I saw Rihanna in her RIDICULOUS Balenciaga boots and decided that yup, I hated them:

But then I was browsing urbanoutfitters.com and I found these little gems:

The Infinity Sandal plays on the Gladiator style, but in a much more subtle and tasteful way. I love the little twisted upper portion because it doesn’t scream I AM FROM ANCIENT ROME, it just quietly whispers it. And the little zipper on the heel plus the fact that they don’t go all the way up your calf say Hey, this is 2008, and I’m not a prisoner of war, I just want my shoes to look cute with my jeans, my shorts AND my skirts. And that they do ladies, that they do.

You can find them exclusively on Urbanoutfitters.com for $38.00