Wear Platform Shoes

Platform shoes are not for everybody. Here are some tips on whether this footwear style is for you, and how to make it work for you.

Steps

  1. Platform shoes and boots have sort of slipped off of the radar in the fashion world. Which is good; if you want to be unique, different, and stand out from the crowd, this is an easy way to do it.
  2. Who looks best in platform shoes? Plats work well for people who are a bit on the short side. They give you a bit of extra height that's easy to walk in (compared to high heels with thin soles). Also, people who tend to be a bit on the "chunky" side, with shorter legs or a longish torso, will benefit from the look. Thin, slender, or tall people should avoid platforms.
  3. Basic black is a good color. Buy quality plats; cheap vinyl and plastic plats fall apart quickly and end up looking ratty. For everyday wear, no more than a two inch platform and a four inch heel is probably the maximum for comfort. Wear flare leg pants or jeans that complement your shoes or boots.
  4. Chunky platform sandals or clogs are a handy way for women who are more on the heavyset side to enhance their basic body type; again, it helps make feet/legs look proportional to the rest of the body. Keep things moderate; no extreme plats for everyday wear.
  5. The secret to making platforms work is to keep them a bit on the understated side. Sure, you could try to wear some platform boots with metallic silver striping or red flame patterns, but the basic platform style is wild enough. Black or brown color, with minimal accents, patterns, buckles, etc. will work much better at creating a look that is different, but still tasteful.

Tips

  • Also check closeout sites or stores. Lots of dead stock is still sitting around, and interesting stuff pops up for sale here and there.
  • Fashion update: As of 2014, the trend of matching a huge stiletto heel with a very tall hidden platform (a la Christian Louboutin "Daffodil" pumps) has peaked, and both heels and plats have dropped to more reasonable levels. The big chunky rocker/goth platform boot is also coming back in popularity: look at styles from Unif, Yes, YRU, and Jeffrey Campbell for stylish but comfortable boots and shoes that feature foam rubber plats, lug soles, and chunky {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} heels. For men, not much new, but Jeffrey Campbell has a brand for men called "The Damned" and has featured wedge and platform styles for men in the past couple of years.
  • Check the funkier boutiques on either coast (8th street, Greenwich Village, NYC, or Melrose Blvd. in LA.) or search the web. Plenty of trendier retail websites carry a good selection of the latest platforms as well.

Warnings

  • Platform shoes are best worn in urban settings on relatively even floors, sidewalks and streets. Walking in plats over rough or rocky surfaces could cause you to twist your ankle. If you need to be walking on uneven terrain, wear hiking boots or similar footwear suited to the backcountry, and leave the fashion items at home.
  • Driving with plats can be hazardous. If you are a fan of extreme plats, take them off if you have to drive. Dying because of fashion is bad.
  • Gothic Lolita is famous for wearing platformed Rockinghorse and Mary Jane shoes. Both are quite comfortable and easy to walk in, but with Rockinghorse shoes, be careful not to step wrongly. If you hit the back edge of your shoe, you could end up breaking something. Mary Janes, make sure they're done up very snugly and properly and you won't have much of a problem.
  • Plats do pose a serious tripping hazard to the uninitiated. This can't be overstated: practice! Wear shoes or boots that you can walk in, or suffer the consequences.
  • Make sure you can walk in the shoes you pick out. It's never stylish to be wobbling about or occasionally turfing it while trying to pull off a look. Practice with your new kicks, and make sure you're comfortable with them under you before you head out for the big night on the town. Lots of platform shoes and boots now available are actually pretty comfortable, and feature foam rubber and lugged soles. However, many of the more recent women's platform shoes are actually quite difficult to wear since they come with very high stiletto heels (7 inches) and a very tall and narrow platform (usually 3 inches). Although beautiful, these are lethal for the careless and can cause all the ills of high heels with the added danger of a more severe fall and twisting injuries to ankles and feet. Shoe fan beware!
  • Make sure the rest of your look harmonizes with your kicks. Pants should have a flare. For women, it's OK for the pants to ride up and expose the shoe a bit. For men, you'll definitely want a flare leg that covers most of the shoe. Tops are a matter of taste; something a bit retro goes well, like a turtleneck or 70's style sweater, topped with a vintage blazer or leather jacket. Women can get away with wearing short sleeve shirts/t-shirts with plats, but male culture frowns upon this look for men. Then again, there's no accounting for taste. It's a free country, live it up.

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