Platform Shoes

Platform shoes move in and out of fashion regularly. Currently many styles of platform shoes are available for women, from designer platform shoes to platform shoes for strippers and platform shoes for so-called Gothic outfits. Platform shoes come in a multitude of styles. Basically, platform shoes have a thick sole and comparably high heels. In some cases the platform sole rises into the arch, and the heel may be ultra high and thick. In other styles, the platform may extend through the length of the show.

Platform shoes were popular in the 60's and 70's in the US and Europe. They are now back in fashion. Platform shoes are also designed for men. In some cases they may be a substitute or replacement for high rise shoes, designed to increase men's height. In other cases they are simply funky or to appeal to a certain fashion consciousness. Internet advertisement's for men's platform shoes include men's black platform shoes, men's white platform shoes and suede platform shoes. Period styles are also offered such as unused pairs of platform shoes from the 60's and 70's.

Women's platform shoes may include somewhat sporty versions, with the platform sole extending the length of the shoe, and having a somewhat chunky appearance. Other styles may simply have a platform sole and extremely high heels. Fashion designers resurrect the platform shoe periodically as it is so extreme that women have to purchase the new styles in order to be fashionable. The prices of platform shoes may vary from hundreds of dollars to as little as twenty dollars at discount stores. Platform shoes, when in fashion, are available at high end shoe and department stores, and at low-end chains or discount stores. When platorm shoes are in fashion, women simply want them. Some say they are actually more comfortable than other types of high-heeled shoes, due to the support through the arch. However, platform shoes are purchased primarily for reasons of style and fashion rather than for comfort.

Because platform shoes have captured the fancy of both women and men, they will undoubtedly continue to recur in cycles as a fashion item. Inevitably fashion designers will run out of other ideas for shoes, such as the extremely pointed toes and outrageously high heels of recent popularity...which are admittedly uncomfortable in the extreme as admitted by women who wear them. Of all the many shoe fashions that come and go, it may be that the platform shoe, at least in some moderation, may be one of the more practical and comfortable shoe designs created. At any rate, it seems to reappear at regular intervals.

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