Shoes with thick heels and platform
The history of the platform and heel
The history of shoes on the platform goes back more than one century, it was also used by the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece. Such shoes had nothing to do with fashion, their purpose was purely practical. In antiquity, and many centuries later, the platform served to protect the feet from dirt, as well as to increase the height of the human figure, in connection with which it was used by theater actors.
The heel is much "younger" than the platform, but his invention is also connected with the solution of practical problems: it had to prevent shoes from sliding in the stirrup - in the XIV century, horseback riding was a favorite pastime of the nobility. In addition, in ancient times, shoes with a heel or a high platform were an indicator of a person's high social status.
For a long time, only men's shoes were made with heels. It was only when women began to wear high-heeled shoes that their role became predominantly aesthetic: the heel transformed posture and changed gait.
Platform shoes became a phenomenon of the fashion world in the 30s of the twentieth century. It was then that the first women's platform shoes created by designers appeared.
For a short time, high heels returned to men's fashion in the 70s of the twentieth century, when show business stars flaunted in platform shoes and high heels. In general, at that time it was very fashionable to wear such shoes, as well as bell-bottomed trousers.
Appearance in fashion
For the first time, platform shoes with thick high heels became fashionable in the 1970s. A prime example of this fashion is the film Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta.
Until now, this style of shoes - with a thick heel and platform - is steadfastly associated with the time of the hippies and the period of popularity of glam rock.
The high platform and heel were again remembered only in the 90s of the last century. The return of fashion was amply demonstrated by the soloists of the Spice Girls, whose dress style made a lasting impression on the fans who wanted to be like their idols.
The popularity of shoes with high heels and platforms in the 90s is associated with the name of the designer Vivienne Westwood. Her shoes feature a very high platform. So, at a fashion show in 1993, the extremely high platform of the shoes caused the fall of the girl who showed them.
Shoes with high, "tractor" soles and thick heels have become a fashionable trend in 2015. Such styles were presented at the Stella McCartney show. The highlight of the collection was precisely the grooved sole and platform, which was combined with the upper of the shoe, different in color, texture and appearance.
Shoe options
Shoes with massive heels with a platform can be presented in several versions:
Heel height:
- with a high heel (over ten centimeters),
- with a medium heel,
- low heel (up to five centimeters).
By the type of platform:
- with hidden platform,
- with a platform in the color of the shoes,
- with a platform of various textures.
By the texture and type of the platform:
- cork,
- wooden,
- rope,
- made of synthetic materials,
- other textures.
And also decorated:
- pattern,
- rhinestones,
- beads and other decorative elements.
By the nature of the sole:
- smooth,
- ribbed (grooved, "tractor").
By type of heel:
- brick heel,
- tapered heel,
- heel-column,
- "Cowboy",
- Flared heel, flared downwards,
- a glass,
- stacked heel,
- non-standard.
The reason for the popularity of shoes with thick heels and with a platform was the combination of relative comfort and showiness in these shoes. Shoes with powerful heels with a platform are much more comfortable than shoes with a stiletto heel of the same height, since due to the platform, the rise of the foot can be lower while maintaining the desired shoe height, which means that the legs will not get tired so quickly.
What to wear with?
What to wear with shoes with massive heels and platform, and what should not?
For starters, it should be noted that these shoes are not suitable for business-style clothing. Such shoes are fundamentally informal and will not fit into a strict dress code.
Shoes with a platform and a thick heel with trousers go well. The width of the trousers can be different and the choice of a particular model depends on the characteristics of the figure and on the style of the shoes. A great option is flared trousers (remember the 70s).
Such shoes go well with rather fluffy midi-length skirts (choose high-heeled shoes). Platform shoes are also suitable for a year-old skirt, which is considered a retro style.
High-waisted shorts can make a nice ensemble with platform shoes. Short dresses with a full skirt are also great options. A miniskirt or a short a-line dress can also be helpful.
An option for those who like to be original is the combination of platform sandals with golfs and socks. This combination has been featured in fashion shows.
You can build your image as a stylization: the same 70s give us rich material for such incarnations: the number of options seems simply inexhaustible.
What are these models called?
There are different styles of platform and heel shoes. Here is some of them:
- model "Lita" (Lita). Lace-up ankle boots with high heels (12 cm) and a high hidden platform (brand "Jeffrey Campbell");
- model "Scully" from the same brand. Shoes with a heel at fifteen and with a platform of five centimeters and with a grooved sole;
- Mary Jane shoes can also be platform and heeled. A characteristic feature of this model is the presence of a strap on the instep and a rounded toe. The name of these shoes gave the name of the comic book character. Initially, the model assumed a flat sole;
- clogs - shoes on a wooden platform with a massive heel. The joints of the shoe upper with the platform are decorated with metal decorative elements similar to rivets. Shoes of this type have a connection with the traditional footwear of the peoples of a number of European countries. Naturally, traditional clogs did not have high heels, this is already a fantasy of modern designers. Sometimes such shoes are called clogs - like French shoes, which were completely made of wood;
- espadrilles - this was the original name for the traditional Catalan footwear with a fabric upper and a rope sole. Now fashionable shoes with this name can be not only on a wedge heel or just on a platform, some models are made with thick heels.
Other varieties
With a platform and a thick heel can be:
- sandals;
- ankle strap shoes;
- open-toed and open-toed shoes;
- with an open toe;
- with boat-type top;
- ankle boots are a hybrid of shoes and ankle boots. Ankle boots with a high, stable thick heel and platform are an option that is currently in trend. Such shoes can be worn not only in the off-season, but also in summer. Summer ankle boots are made with an open heel and toe, as well as with inserts of perforated, openwork, mesh materials;
- creepers are another type of footwear, which in the process of "evolution" received a heel. Initially, this was the name of a special type of men's shoes with thick soles. Now we see on sale a large number of styles of creepers for women, including heels, which can be of different heights;
- oxfords. Since women began to wear oxford shoes, designers began to offer models of these shoes with a heel and platform.
Almost all of the shoe types on the list can be tractor-soled. So, the arsenal of images with similar shoes in various styles of clothing is becoming very wide.