Our height is something we have always dwelled on. Being tall is a form of basic social status. Studies, such as those conducted by BodyLogicMD, have come to the general conclusion that 60% of men wish they were taller, along with around 49% of women. Studies also suggest that taller men view themselves as funnier and more attractive. As if things couldn’t get any worse for our Short Kings, over half of the ladies out there want their partner to be taller than them, even when wearing heels. All of this can have a man thinking his seedline ends with him.
Fortunately for many of us, the story doesn’t have to end there. Platform shoes have been a staple in footwear fashion for a long time and serve a singular purpose – to make those who wear them taller. While the brands of today have almost perfected the modern platform shoe, with height-boosting insoles becoming more and more discreet, their history goes on for centuries. Over the ages, they have taken many shapes from heels, boots, sandals and any combination in between.
Today, we’ll be reviewing the history of platform shoes, along with their place in both men’s and women’s fashion. We’ll discuss several categories of platforms, from discreet trainers and dress shoes to flamboyant platform boots and high heeled shoes. For those looking to purchase a pair of height boosters, we will also discuss our discount affiliate link near the end of the article.
History Of Platforms
Platform shoes have been used throughout history in numerous locations through several dynasties. The reason we use that particular word is because our first stop is ancient China, where the Manchu women of the Qing dynasty would wear “flower pot” shoes. These were platform heels meant to help the ladies imitate the way Han women walk, without having to break their feet to fit into the lotus shoes. All in all, while it may look strange and is certainly hard to walk in, it was far more humane.
Ancient Greece had their theatre actors wear sandals with platforms so their characters stood taller for the masses to see. In 16th century London, English pedestrians would wear shoes known as pattens to wade through the filthy muck ridden streets.
Pattens have a very interesting history in Europe during this time. While they were used by both sexes for the purpose of keeping their feet clean, it was only a matter of time before they became a cultural phenomenon. The pattens become both a sex symbol and symbol of status or elevation.
Courtesans began wearing pattens to become more visible to customers, imprinting the idea in everyone’s mind that these were sexy shoes. It was only a matter of time before the high-class women of Europe started wearing a more sophisticated version, known as Chopines, as court shoes.
Meanwhile, it’s fun to note that religious figures were reported to have worn pattens during their religious ceremonies, but due to the sex status of these shoes, the church put a stop to it.
These four examples alone show how diverse the use for platforms was throughout history, depending on the place and time they were used. But those times have passed, and the platform heeled shoes stand almost exclusively as statement pieces and discreet height boosters.
Disco Is Dead, But Platforms Are Not
Moving forward a couple hundred years, and the platforms are at it again! As disco made its mark in the 70s, so did the signature platform boots that stopped on the dancefloor all night long. Films like Saturday Night Fever turned both bellbottoms and the boots into cultural icons in Europe, The US and the UK.
Still, to say that platformed boots were exclusive to the disco scene would be deceitful since music genres like rock, metal, punk and even pop were also making waves in fashion, with the stompers centre stage.
In fact, these genres outlived the 70s, bringing their own styles of platformed footwear with them. While the chunky platform Travolta heels were pulled into nostalgia, the new rubber sole stompers were just getting started.
Platform Shoes For Women
Welcome to the modern era, where everything is about consumerism, and there is no “one style.”
Brands sell just about everything now, including platform sneakers, boots and heels of all types. In this modern cornucopia of products for sale, it’s easy to get lost. Let’s go through some popular examples of modern platformed shoes on the market today, starting with what’s available for women!
Heels
Of course, high heels. Everybody knows these! A clear descendant of the classy and sexy Chopines, it’s hard to find a woman without a pair of heels in her wardrobe. High heels come in all heights, from innocent church shoes to stripper pumps and all in between.
Probably the most famous of these are the stiletto heels, named after the assassin’s blade due to their thin, usually long, heel. Usually stilettos stand three inches off the ground with a heel circumference of about one centimetre.
Another great choice, on the polar opposite of heeled shoes, are the wedges. These are the more comfortable choice due to the fact that the weight is distributed over the entire foot. There’s no sacrificing style here either, and the right pair of wedges will go with just about anything.
These ‘ALDO Nuala curved wedge sandals’ can be found on ASOS for £49.50 and will go with countless outfits and styles. Remember, white is in!
Platform Boots
Platform boots have gained popularity, especially in recent years. Boots such as the ones above, also found on ASOS, are usually made with more sturdy material than their strappy counterparts, and their thick heels offer fantastic stability. Two styles these go very well with are the tube dress clubbing look, and the biker chic look, with cuffed skinny jeans and a leather jacket.
An incredible alternative for those who want to avoid heels comes from one of the most respected shoe and boot companies on the planet, Dr Martens. A pioneer for the thick rubber platforms the punks and rockers wore, Dr Martens not only last a lifetime but also go with so much more than alt styles. Our favourite is the floral sundress combo, as it breathes new life into the boots and adds a little edge to the sundress, taking both into a whole new realm of possibilities.
Platform Sandals
That’s right, sandals with a platform heel. It can be difficult to define where wedges start and sandals begin. Afterall, the wedges we showcased above had sandals in their name. We do have a rule of thumb for such confusing situations. Wedges have a heel, whereas sandals have level platforms like in the image above.
There are many perks to owning a pair of platform sandals, aside from the fact that they’re usually far more comfortable than other heeled options. For one, they are the ultimate summer shoe, perfect for a wide range of outdoor activities.
They’re also extremely versatile and can be worn casually or with an added flair. These ‘UGG Ashton Slide leather sandals in pale pink’ go for £100 on ASOS.
For anyone looking to wow the late summer night club scene, the ‘Medusa Anthem platform sandals’ from Versace are perfect. Made from satin and calf leather, these stompers offer a unique take, and will work well with a leather skirt. These chunky beauties can be found on FARFETCH and are on the pricey side for $1000.
Mens Platform Shoes
Men have always had fewer options when it comes to apparel, but we make it work! Over the years, men’s fashion has taken strides in the right direction, with a huge focus on being both practical and aesthetic.
Men seem to care about how they look now more than ever, and that’s great! Now, it’s time to help them reach their full potential. As we mentioned at the start of this post, one pain point many men have is their height…or lack thereof.
Problem is, while women can wear any heeled platform they want, men must appear to have no help. Fortunately, some shoe brands heard men’s pleas and have answered. Brands like Conzuri have made it their mission to discreetly boost men’s height with comfortable and fashionable footwear.
Dress Shoes
Dress shoes have always been man’s friend when it comes to adding a small height advantage that goes unnoticed. Due to the heel, dress shoes can sometimes add an extra inch without anyone raising an eyebrow, and they do all this while being the pinnacle of classy style.
The UK based company and online shop, Conzuri, think they can do one better. On their site are a selection of high quality dress shoes, all with a hidden insole built into the shoe, which adds an extra 2.77” to the wearer. These shoes provide incredible results for their owners and help to remove any insecurities they may have about their height.
The dress shoes currently come in two colours, black and brown, and have been hailed for their discretion. To even the trained eye, these just look like regular dress shoes.
Platform Trainers
Yes, Conzuri does a fabulous job with their incredible collection of height boosting dress shoes. The thing is, height boosting dress shoes are not new; and while Conzuri is regarded for their extra comfort, there are many brands that offer the same products.
The same cannot be said for platform trainers. Over the years, brands have tried time and time again to make a discreet and comfortable pair of platform trainers. Yet, time and time again, these brands have failed to make a trainer that fulfils the needs of the wearer.
There’s always a problem with each brand’s trainers; either the insole is too hard that it’s not comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time, or it’s too soft and sinks into the shoe the moment the wearer tries them on. Of course, none of these trainers managed to be discreet enough. The problem with solid insoles is they usually produce a notch on the outside of the heel, totally letting the cats out of the bag.
Conzuri solved this issue the brands before it could not. With the help of their high-tech built in insoles, Conzuri created a line of trainers that revolutionised the height boosting niche and shot their company into the stratosphere.
Conzuri’s Runner line brought the company into the social media spotlight and since then, they have added even more sneakers to their list of products. The trainers they offer range from mesh trainers to leather sneakers akin to the Nike AF1 design.
All Conzuri products are 15% off when purchased through this affiliate link, including shoes, insoles, cologne and shoe cleaning kits.
