MAKE IT STRAPPY; FEMININE AND FLORAL STYLES LEAD THE WAY IN SUMMER SANDALS.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Fashion Editor

Ah, the sandals of summer.

The favorite shoe of Egyptian kings, Roman soldiers, Greek gods, pilgrims and peasants is steppin' out in style on the streets of Los Angeles.

All kinds of styles - from getas to gladiators - are providing trendy tanning beds for bare feet and artistic showcases for pedicured toes.

And the more novel or decorative the sandal, the better.

According to Jacquie Jordan, spokeswoman for Robinsons-May stores, ``The buzz words in women's sandals this summer are strappy and high. Styles that make a woman feel feminine, sexy ... maybe uninhibited.'' She says that sandals with beading, sequins and shimmery shades of pink, blue, green and orange are best sellers on the West Coast.

One of the most novel styles among them, she said, is a thong with a flower-accented toe ring over the big toe.

At Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills, the hot tickets are platforms and thongs with floral and insect themes, reports spokeswoman Beverly Morgan.

And at BCBG Max Azria boutiques, slides with a molded rubber sole are the best sellers, says company publicist Kristen Barker.

Sears' customers also are looking for sandals with sass.

According to the department store chain's national fashion spokeswoman Kathleen Connolly, ``Our biggest sellers are dressy fabric sandals with pretty silhouettes, thongs accented with flowers, and anything with a sculpted heel or embroidery details.''

She adds that women also are more interested in unusual toe shapes than in previous years, referring to the newer square-shaped toe boxes.

Little girls are following their mothers' sandal style, favoring colorful looks with ornamentation.

But while more men and boys are exposing their toes these days, they're also generally less adventurous when it comes to shoes, sticking to looks with established followings. Gladiators and fishermen sandals are the classics guys are buckling up.

With so many stylish sandals, let's hope for a long, hot summer.

Sandal savvy

So, you're walkin' the dogs, and somebody says, ``Nice getas.''

And you thought your pups were poodles...

To avoid a fashion faux pas, check our glossary of hot summer sandal styles:

Ankle strap - A dainty dress-up style with a high heel that exposes toes but gives support with a strap around the ankle. Wear them year-round with pantsuits or ball gowns in fabric or leather.

Birkenstocks - A name-brand shoe that's been copied by others. Characterized by a sturdy, somewhat clunky unisex style associated with the original Woodstock generation, and often worn with socks. The flat sandals are shaped to fit the foot and give maximum toe freedom, with only a plain leather band across the toes and instep. This year, the company has introduced more fashion-forward designs in bright colors and prints for women, and dressy leathers for men.

Dr. Scholl's - The makers of foot-care products originally designed this wooden-based sandal as an exercise shoe. Others have since emulated the style of this slide shoe with a scooped-out design at the ball of the foot that causes the toes to grip the shoe while walking. They look best with shorts and jeans.

Fishermen - Wide straps across the foot and a protected heel on a flat shoe define this fashion classic. Women can wear it, but it's typically a man's shoe, worn sockless in soft brown or black leather with jeans or linen slacks.

Flip-flops - An inexpensive solid-color rubber thong that's been available in drugstores since the '50s. Once worn only by children around pools, it's now a fashion staple sold in department stores. Look for them in hula prints and multiple color combinations.

Geta - It's the original Japanese thong, with a piece of velvet between the toes, and a platform sole on top of two wooden blocks that make you feel like you're walking on mini-stilts. Very hip with the nightclub crowd.

Gladiator - A classic sandal with numerous straps across the toes, plus one that goes up the foot and wraps around the ankle. It goes well with khaki pants, and is a traditional summer favorite with men and women.

Huarache - A strappy Mexican sandal with a sling back and flat heel. It's more casual than a gladiator style.

Mule - Similar to a slide, but encloses the toes. Designed with spike heels, wedge or platform soles.

Performance - A utility-chic shoe noted for rubber soles and wide nylon straps that often are kept in place with Velcro instead of buckles. It's a relatively new sandal category introduced by Nike and Timberland.

Platform - A strappy sandal on top of a platform, made of leather or straw-covered cork, often with a sculpted wedge to create an architectural tower underfoot. Among the more edgy brands is Rocket Dogs.

Slide - A sassy ultra-bare sandal with a single strap across the toes, often with a spike heel. The kind of shoe favored by movie stars of the '40s and '90s, worn with peignoirs, bathing suits and evening gowns. Look for them in Lucite, as well as satin and leather. This year, you'll find them accented with a small powder puff-sized ball of mink or marabou feathers.

Thongs - A more sophisticated - usually leather - version of the rubber flip-flops (also called zoris), with a piece of leather between the first and second toes that attaches to both sides of the shoe. Gucci has made them popular again, accenting them with beads and feathers, but numerous moderately priced brands such as Nine West offer them in a variety of styles from casual to dressy.

- Barbara De Witt

CAPTION(S):

12 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) On the cover: Melissa Jaqua of Studio City wears red Rocket Dog platform sandals. ``They're clunky and add balance to my cuffed jeans,'' she says.

(2--Color) Sliding into the sandals of summer are Ruth Kritz of West Hills, left, and Calabasas residents Pam Szavo, Lynda Asher and Madeleine Sherak.

(3--Color) Melissa Smith of Studio City in flip-flops to match her blouse.

(4--Color) The butterfly craze inspires Jamie Smith of Studio City.

(5--Color) Beaded sandals, left, have Bohemian flair.

(6--Color) Steve Greenberg of Van Nuys says his all-time favorite sandal is this Timberland performance style with Velcro straps.

(7--Color) Gevorg Baliants of Glendale cools off with shorts and leather sandals.

(8--Color) ``I love flowers,'' says Clare McNicoll, 6, of Studio City in her flowered top and shoes.

(9--Color) Kristine Seuylemezian, 4, of Glendale, says she found her orange and yellow gladiator-inspired sandals at Target to match her ankle bracelet.

(10--Color) The classic style above is a natural for khaki and linen ensembles.

(11--Color) One of the season's best sellers is the toe thong.

(12--Color) Fashionable footwear spotted along Ventura Boulevard include a slide, ankle strap style and thong.

Box: Sandal savvy (See text)