By Calvin M Jordan Sr
Platform shoes can be defined as shoes, boot or even sandals that have a thick sole to go along with it. The sole can be one to four inches in thickness or more and are made from cork, plastic vinyl, or wood.
Since the dawn of civilization, humans have been using shoes or wrappings to cover their delicate feet from damage when walking on harsh ground. But platforms have been recorded in use as early as ancient Greece, where it played a role in elevating important characters in Greek theaters such as high class prostitutes and courtesans of the Venetian empire.
Platform shoes are believed to have been used in Europe back in the 18th century to avoid stepping into the muck on the streets. The Japanese geishas used these shoes for the same reasons - to avoid contact with pollutants and dirt on the streets that could tarnish their beauty and flawless complexions. In ancient Rome, men wore thick soles to give added height and stature to the wearer. In China, Manchurian women wore such shoes that were very similar to the ones seen during the Venetian Chopines era.
Platforms were quite popular in the US in the 1930's right up to the 1950's. But it was not until the 1970's that the popularity of these shoes exploded and was taken to new heights. There was an explosion of platform shoes in the marketplace in a variety of different styles. There were platform boots oxfords, platform sandals and sneakers. Most of the soles were made of wood and synthetic materials. The originators of this new breed of platform shoes using lightweight cork was the brand name known as the Kork-Ease. The popularity of this range of platform shoes has attracted many imitators. The trend eventually fizzled out and remained in obsolescence during the 1980's.
UK fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has resurrected the dying fad and breathes new life into it with her new line of designer platform shoes. She was responsible for taking high heeled shoes onto the runway and platform shoes continue to rise steadily in fame after the British based band, Spice Girls began a new era of performing in large shoes. The trend is now very much alive with new designs and styles being introduced into the fashion world by world class designers.
Not even Naomi Campbell's fall on the fashion runway can cause the interest in these giant sized soled shoes to diminish in any way. People are attracted to the shoes for their ability to add inches to a persons' height. When worn or draped over a long gown, they can create an illusion of a tall and statuesque person. They can create the illusion of an elongated leg when worn over short skirts. They are marvelous over flared jeans too, as those flares can easily cover most of the shoe making it highly unnoticeable at first glance.
Walking in platform shoes can be sexy and trendy but one important rule to remember is to practice wearing those shoes at home before you hit the streets in them. There is no use sacrificing your safety and comfort over fashion and since these shoes are a big trip hazard, it is important to master the art of walking with platform shoes before you take them out for a fashionable stride. It seems that this simple shoe has evolved over the centuries and it is unlikely that platform shoes are going to be forgotten real soon.
Calvin M Jordan Sr is an Internet Marketer. I have the love for fishing sports and to helping others.
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