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.
