As summer looms on the horizon, every woman is pining for that perfect, trendy summer shoe — the gladiator sandal. The only problem: no one seems to know just exactly how to make these aggressive sandals compliment her legs. Fortunately, Karla Martinez, with the help of her co-workers and some trial and error, wrote an extremely helpful article about making gladiator sandals work. 

If you have muscular or wide calves, Martinez says to avoid dark and wide ankle straps. Instead, she suggests opting for a neutral color as it “creates the illusion of a longer leg.”

If you’ve been blessed with long legs, Martinez gives you the go-ahead on multiple ankle straps.

And if you’ve drawn the short stick, again, lean toward a neutral color. Additionally, Martinez recommends a low-cut sandal and includes the possibility of platforms as they do best to add height.

Finally, if you find yourself at a loss, Martinez says flip-flops and slides “work for just about anyone.” She does add, however, it’s best to choose a pair with more style and support as opposed to that flimsy pair from you-know-where.