Platform shoes have been used throughout history for various reasons, including to emphasize the importance of characters in Greek drama and to appear taller. The 1970s and 1980s saw the platform shoe become a fashion accessory, with both men and women wearing them. Although they fell out of fashion in the 1980s, platform shoes made a comeback in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
It’s hard to imagine what classical Greek theater has to do with the disco phase of the ’70s and early ’80s. There’s one thing that definitely connects the two: the platform shoe. In Greek drama, important lead characters often wore raised shoes with a thick sole to emphasize the integral role of the character. Appearing taller helped achieve this effect.
Throughout history many cultures have used some form of platform shoe. In some cases, a raised shoe with a wide base protects the feet or skirts from mud. Men who wanted to appear taller frequently appeared in heels. Much later, the fashions of the 1970s and 1980s took cues from Greek, Roman, European and Japanese styles, and the platform shoe burst onto the disco scene as the ultimate flared-trouser fashion accessory.
Platform shoes have a wide, high sole that raises your feet several inches, rather than the traditional thin sole that most shoes tend to have.
In platform shoes, both the toe and the heel are usually elevated. The entire sole of the shoe can be fully raised, with a rubber or cork bottom, or just the toes and heels have a platform base. The heel sections are generally quite wide.
In some shoes, this elevation provided greater stability. Brands like Famolare’s were famous for their rippled rubber soles on simple loafers. In other cases, platform shoes were extremely difficult to step on, making even the tallest stiletto look like a slipper by comparison. The exceptionally high platform heels and toes were easily the cause of many ankle sprains, as the foot could rapidly turn to the sides even while walking on even ground. Dancing on platforms could be even more of a challenge, though many women have perfected the art.
If you’re looking to reminisce about platform sneakers, look no further than the classic ’70s movie Saturday Night Fever. In the film, platform shoes abound, and they are worn by both women and men. John Travolta’s white dance shoes are a prime example of platform shoes for men.
Some types of platform shoes never went out of style after the 1970s. A slightly raised platform that covers the entire sole is still popular in sandals and casual loafers. The extra rubber gave your step a little more spring, and you can still find plenty of nursing shoes with an inch or two of platform, which helps cushion your feet during long shifts. As a fashion statement in the 1980s, platform shoes gave way to the retro pointy heels of the 1940s and 1950s.
Men, for the most part, gave up the “elevator shoes” that gave them a few more inches in height. However, fashion has a way of coming back, and platform shoes enjoyed another famous moment in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Especially with many of the 1970s fashion styles for A retread, platform shoes featured not only in dress shoes, but also in boots and loafers. An episode of America’s Top Model featured a challenge for competitors who walk in “extreme” platform shoes. Most of the women stumbled and staggered down the track, with one girl even spraining her toe.
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