They were the “party shoe” of the era, having become synonymous with disco and the outrageous fashions that accompanied it. Platform shoes gained popularity again in the hippie decade of the 1970s. In fact, the platform shoe’s original style icon was the goddess Aphrodite, who was occasionally depicted sporting a very tall version of the footwear.

In ancient Greece, platform shoes were worn to increase the height of important characters in Greek theatre. Ken Heinz on Resources for the Arts and Learning Sector During Covid-19. Platforms were a big trend in the 90’s as well. Is sanitizing your hands enough for your protection against Covid-19? The name of these shoes was a reflection of the sound these shoes made when someone walked in them. A flat sole rested atop a “bridge” of wood that was embellished with shells and pieces of ivory. They had distinctive shapes and were excessively embellished with jewels.

The 13th century saw the making of ‘Kabkabs’.

The actors would wear leather sandals with cork platforms named the Cothurnus. Fast forward to the 1930’s, which brought about the platform shoe as we recognize it today. This was a sort of clapping, as the shoes were little more than miniature stilts. These shoes elevated the wearer safely away from the wet, heated floors of the bathhouse. Super comfortable and stable to wear, flatforms also fulfill the purpose of giving that vertical boost to a petite frame. In fact, the platform shoe’s original style icon was the goddess Aphrodite, who was occasionally depicted sporting a very tall version of the footwear. Some historians believe platform shoes were invented for the nobility so that they seemed taller than the common people around them. This was dubbed the “chopine”. Ancient Romans adopted the platform shoe as well, calling their platform sandals Kothorni.

Nearly everyone on the dance floor wore them. Jessica has been trained in a wide variety of textile and fiber processes, traditional as well as computer-aided, which she uses in both her design and sculptural work. You might recall a certain Vivienne Westwood show in which supermodel Naomi Campbell tumbled to the ground due to the 9-inch platform heels she was sent down the runway in. The height of the shoe helped create an easily understood visual for the audience. The more important the character, the higher the platform heels of the Cothurnus.

For the Italian nobility, there was even a time when platform shoes were fashionable, but hidden under skirts. If you must have a pair of platform shoes, make sure to get some that are easy for you to walk in. Others believe ancient civilizations like the Pattern wore these shoes to keep their feet clean from the muck and mire in the streets.

Subscribe to get the free guide and learn step-by-step exactly what you need to achieve your goals. People have been trying to make themselves taller all throughout fashion history- the 90’s are hardly the first iteration of platforms. This highly decorated version was very fashionable in Spain. Being uncomfortable or putting yourself in danger for the sake of fashion is not quite logical.

This way, the audience could see them better and know where to focus their attention. The trend of platform shoes took a major hike again in the late 1960s and continued to be all the rage till the late 1970s. The sky-high shoe assisted royals in dodging Medieval muck, gave Greek thespians a … A French footwear designer named Roger Vivier sketched a platform sandal in 1937, which … However, the city of Venice passed laws against these ultra-high platforms and heel heights came back down to a normal height. A signature style for the popstar Lady Gaga, platforms have been present at all times. This fact might be part of the reason why this shoe style keeps coming back into fashion. The more important the character, the higher the platform heels of the Cothurnus. Both were the ultimate in over-the-top footwear. High-heeled platforms are all the rage. Suddenly, everything you never knew could be supported by a platform sole has grown to new heights: loafers, ballet flats (really! Platforms have been worn by everyone from Elton John to Lady Gaga, Former Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham and Stevie Nicks. The Egyptians displayed the shoes in art. Though the style has literally been around for centuries, platform shoes are inexorably linked with the 70s. Some sources even claim that the original icon for these shoes was Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, procreation, pleasure, and beauty. Does Breaking Mean Replacing for Windows? Getting famous in Europe and Britain, the fad stretched over to the US, lasting till the 1980s. They were a key accessory … Like Ancient Greek theater, the taller the shoe the actor wore the more important he was to the play. Platform shoes are known in many cultures. At the start of the trend, the shoes were mainly worn by young women in their teens and twenties.

It seems that platform shoes have made their way back into fashion once again.

Known as the ‘party shoe’, platforms were usually worn by disco-goers. If you think it is that crazy disco chick from the 70's you would be wrong. During the disco era, men were also seen jumping on the platform shoes bandwagon. It was common to see platform shoes with flashing lights or even a small aquarium inside the heels. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. While you might not recognize the name, if you’ve ever seen European art from the 14-1700’s, you will recall the shoe’s strange yet distinctive shape and excessive embellishments. Once disco died off, though, it seemed like platform shoes went down the drain with it. The aim was to make sure the leads of the act could be viewed better because of the alleviation provided by the heels. As much as the platform shoes are known to provide a boost in the height of the wearers with ease, many known artists wore them just to attract attention. Gaga is known to own a rare pair of Alexandra McQueens Armadillo Boots which have been made from hand-carved wood. Deities aside, mortal Greeks were also known to wear platforms. At the beginning of the disco era, men and women alike wore platform shoes and sandals. They were designed to make the heel elevated only slightly above the toes. This goes on to emphasize the fact that the platforms were probably the most famous shoe trend during the disco era. Today, they are preferred by women. This shoe, however, was not as popular as similar designs were in the past. This version of the platform soon became a hit among the Beverly Hills elite. Source Fabrics for Your Fashion Brand with No Minimums! Today, many women have at least one pair of platform shoes. They’ve been worn throughout history: Greek actors used them to elevate important characters on the stage, and in the Middle Ages they had a very practical purpose – to keep your feet from getting wet. Hence, fashionable but functional footwear was necessary in order to visit these establishments while saving one’s clothing from the mud and water. In fact, they date back to ancient times, with examples being evident in the histories of Greece, Rome, Japan, China, and even Egypt.

Referred to as “kabkabs” due to the clapping sound they make while being walked in, this pair of shoes was more like a pair of small stilts. The 13thcentury saw the making of ‘Ka… Wearers were referred to as “half woman, half wood.” These platforms were so tall, women needed walking poles and the assistance of a servant or two just to keep their balance while moving around. The 1970s is famous for the introduction of disco culture, and platform shoes are known to be a major part of it. Platforms were so ubiquitous they were considered androgynous, worn by women and men alike. Men and women in ancient China, Turkey, and Japan wore platform shoes. Check out the history of platform shoes to learn more. The 1940s experienced the making of the platform shoe with a high arch.

This was in spite of the fact that they were mostly impractical. Moving ahead on the timeline, the Middle Ages brought with them the Patten. Despite this obvious drawback, the 4’11” Catherine de Medici loved chopines, and got them trending with French nobility as well. There were also embellishments of shells and ivory on the bridge. The footwear brand ‘Buffalo’ was famous for producing the high-heeled shoes worn by the members of the group.

It seems that platform shoes have made their way back into fashion once again. This era also showcased platform shoes in European artwork. In 1938, Salvatore Ferragamo designed ‘The Rainbow’ for Judy Garland, a singer, actress, and vaudevillian, bringing the platform back in style in the West. They’re probably safer than stilettos or pencil heels, which are also popular in modern times. No one really knows when platform shoes first appeared. Hence, platform shoes known as ‘kabkabs’ came into being. The platform shoe began making a comeback in the 1990s, with international music artists like the Spice Girls and supermodels wearing them. Major characters typically wore higher shoes than those with smaller parts. The actors would wear leather sandals with cork platforms named the Cothurnus. In the China of the 1700s, male actors began wearing platform boots in the Peking Opera. Salvatore Ferragamo is the father of the modern platform- despite material shortages in Italy under Musolini’s regime, the designer accepted the challenge and began exploring alternatives.

And great news for us shorties: there is one especially gravity-defying shoe that is suddenly sartorially appropriate again. When we think about the fashionably-historic 1970s, the first image that pops up in our heads is bell-bottom pants, wide-collared shirts, and platform shoes. This occurred when Salvatore Ferragamo designed a rainbow-colored cork sandal.

The platform’s history in fashion began incubating in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe from 1930-1950.

This type of shoe has soles at least four inches thick and has been around for quite a while. The practicality of the platform continued into the Middle Ages. The Ultimate Fabric Sourcing Checklist for Fashion Designers, Fashion Archives: A Look into the History of the Graphic T-Shirt. One such shoe was worn by nobility and the upper class of Venice from 1400-1700. The platform shoes reached the pinnacle of their fame during the 1970s decade. This resulted in what we now call the “wedge.” Carmen Miranda was a fan, and had a hand in popularizing the style. The history of the platform shoe is long and storied...and it hasn't always been about fashion. In ancient Greece, platform shoes were worn to increase the height of important characters in Greek theatre. This highly decorative version was also quite fashionable in Spain.

In the 1970s they were widespread in both genders in Europe. 5 Exquisite Ring Styles You Can Buy on a Budget, Several ways by which Brazilian jiu-jitsu will completely change your life, How Scalp Micropigmentation Clinics Can Help You. However, the history of platform shoes is not that short. Many glam rock stars, such as David Bowie, were seen sporting the platform shoes in their performances during the 70s. Flatforms have a leveled platform that covers the entire foot. Check out the history of platform shoes to learn more. How Scholarship Plays a Major Role in Rural Education Development? This was so the actors could be seen from the higher seats. By the 1970’s, platforms had become wildly popular. They were hence more for giving the impression of height rather than for show. Another version that was hidden under the skirt solely to give the appearance of height was wildly popular with Italian nobility. In 1547, Catherine de Medici wore Chopines to give her petite frame a boost. After the 1700s, it looked like platform shoes were no longer in vogue. Cool, huh?

In recent times, an evolved look of the platform, known as the flatform, made its debut into the fashion world.

During this era, a wide variety of styles were famous but the most known style was the Kork-Ease, a wedge-heel platform sandal with quarter straps. Subscribe to get resources, guidance, and encouragement for building your business, your way.