Now, you might be thinking, 'Oh, come on. Platforms are so 1970's, no one ever really wears them anymore'. But I'm here to tell you, they are aaaaall over the place. Just in 2008 celeb ladies were sporting this look in 80s retro neon colors. Usually, however, the influence of the platform is more subtle, yet it's definitely there. Take, for instance, the cage heels that were so the rage recently. They usually had a chunky heel and a small platform in the front. Or take any wedge in the US for heaven's sake! They are all based on the platform style, with a huge wedge that stays just as wide at the top as at the bottom. Even US espadrilles, which are made to be light and sandal-like, are chunky like this. Or how about platform sneakers?
And the thing is, you just don't see this in other countries - at least not to this extent (definitely not in Japan). Trust me that, if you visit other countries, you'll see spiked heels, narrowed wedges, etc., but you won't see much of the wide, heavy, raised-at-the-front shoes you do here. And when you come back to the States, you'll look around and wonder if all the platform-like heels are made for American's larger feet - or if we're just following the new Hollywood formula of recycling the past in the absence of creativity.As for me, seeing evidence of the platform heel everywhere just makes me realize how the US fashion industry clings to its roots. Like a 60 yr old woman who's been sporting the same dated beehive because she's still in love with it, the American woman has had a secret love affair with platforms - and all it's bastard children - since the 70's... and it doesn't look to be leaving us anytime soon.
Saw a fair number of these in the UK last week. Maybe it's a broader Anglo-American thing.
ReplyDeletePlatform sneakerrrr...grrrr! Or worse, the weird "toning" shoe that're supposed to firm your derrière as you walk the mall corridors! Also as an extension, in Latin America the wedge EVERYTHING is big, even wedge flip flops! WTF????
ReplyDeleteI *hate* those bizarre sneakers! I should do a rant about *those*. Just how lazy or trend-crazy do you have to be to get sneakers that don't fit your feet so you're forced to balance yourself? Those have got to be bad for your feet, no matter what anyone says!
ReplyDeleteOK, while I generally abhor trends, I'm going to go to bat for the platform. (though not the particular style that is shown on the celebrities above)
ReplyDeleteI adore a chunky shoe. Somehow prancing about on a delicate little spindle makes me feel too fancy and prissy, like I'm trying too hard. I wear relatively skimpy, fairly unusual outfits and I feel like the bulky shoe or boot adds a comic relief to what my be -- ahem -- a little "hookerish" with a slim high heel. Combine my high center of gravity and less than average balancing gifts and spike heels become a safety issue for me as well. Those platform wedges are often spongy and give great support.
There are so many things to admire about the fashion choices of European women, but I have found that they can be very slavish to the latest fashion trends and heaven help you if you're out at the evening passaggio and you're not wearing the latest shoe. My clunky platform boots (it the year of the ultra-pointy shoe), stripey colored hair and lack of Dolce & Gabbana anything caused visible consternation among the ladies of the small Sicilian town where I spent my honeymoon.
But that's just my thing. Heck, don't listen to me, I wore motorcycle boots with my wedding dress!