fashion is retarded (式)

This is another of my (in)famous observation posts:

It struck me recently when thinking about clothes that the design process for fashionable female shoes is somewhat flawed. From what I can work out, the designers choose a historic and/or iconic male shoe, then release it onto the market for female consumption. This is evidenced by two recent crazes; the Ugg Boot and the Gladiator Sandal, both of which started life as a male shoe long ago.

The Ugg Boot has long been associated with surfing, keeping soldiers' feet warm at high altitudes, and sheep shearing, all of which are largely male activities. Then they were bought onto the market and became immediately popular and fashionable.

The Gladiator Sandal originates where the name suggests; it was the preferred footwear for hulky gladiators in ages past. And similarly, it was released to the public and immediately became the shoe of choice for (seemingly) every female.

Weird...