Platform Shoes

Platform shoes are some of the most popular forms of high heels on the market today. In fact, a large percentage of all high heels sold in the UK and abroad are actually platform heels. So it comes as no surprise that platform shoes are the go-to pair when you need to spice up the wardrobe. Due to their popularity, they are a staple product on the market and many manufacturers offer their own versions in a host of different colors and styles. Despite that fact that it is a great looking pair of shoes, they do come with their own problems as we will find out later. But before we go any further, let us describe the basic platform shoe in detail.

What Are Platform Shoes?

A platform shoe is any shoe (for men or women) that utilizes a thick sole to give added height to the wearer. As such, this style of shoe describes a very broad range of shoe styles. In the past, they were utilized by men and women in equal amounts. While there are no exact accounts on when they were actually invented, we do know that they have existed at least as far back as ancient Egypt. However, they are also apparent in many other cultures including Chinese, Greek as well as Turkish.

In many cases, only those from the ruling elite or those from wealthy backgrounds could afford such footwear. This may be because of “height” has always been intimately linked with power. As such, politicians, judges as well as members of the royal family utilized the basic platform shoe very well. Today, they are still very well represented as they encompass a large percentage of all women’s high heels being sold around the world today. It has always been on a staple of contemporary fashion at least in the last fifty years.

Benefits Of Wearing Platform Shoes

The advantages that the wearer gets from wearing these shoes is simple : Added height. Additionally, it lengthens and slims the leg especially in the form of the high heel. Compared to high heels that do not feature a thick sole at the front, there are other advantages passed on to the wearer. The thick sole decreases the slope between the heel and the toes. This makes it more comfortable and is easier to walk in since the wearer does not need to lean back as much to compensate. In the case of wedge platforms (yes, they are a form of platform shoes), the benefits increase greatly. This is because the entire wedge has contact with the surface, which ensures the weight of the foot is evenly spread out.

Popular Styles Of Platform Shoes Today

There two types of platform shoes that are very hot sellers today. They are platform heels and wedge platforms. Of the two, wedge have really taken off in the past couple of years and are some of the best selling women’s shoes today particularly in Europe and North America. It was actually designed some 60 years ago by Salvatore Ferragamo. While it hasn’t always had the best popularity, they always remained on the fringes of contemporary fashion trends. Within these two categories, the range opens up to be very wide with a slew of slingback, open toe, courts and stiletto heeled varieties.

Risks Involved When Wearing Platform Shoes

Like all things in life, there is the good and there is the bad. This is especially true for platform shoes. High heel platform’s may look stunning but comes with a high price. Long term usage of such shoes are damaging to the toes, heel, foot, back, ankles and hips. These problems arise due to the basic design of the high heeled shoe. The foot is forced into a uncomfortable position that the wearer is forced to walk in. Foot and toe deformities are common and requires surgery to correct later on in life. The heel places tremendous strain on the ankles, hips as well as the foot itself. Back problems arise from the fact that the neutral position has you leaning forward. To compensate, the wearer must constantly lean back slightly. Most of these problems were addressed by Salvatore Ferragamo when he designed the wedge platform heel. While the wedge can still bring about back problems especially if the heel is high, it is superior to the basic high heel in almost every way except looks.

While heels have a very slim and sexy profile, wedges are blocky and can look rather thick from the sides. Having said that, they are far more comfortable to walk it because the entire wedge evenly distributes the weight during wear. Overall, it is best to avoid wearing platform shoes too often. For those that appreciate the great looks of heels but want something less damaging, there are always kitten heels.