Platform footwear carries a legacy woven through millennia of global fashion

Long before modern runways, ancient societies used raised soles for function and status

Greek performers donned kothorni—elevated sandals that amplified their presence before audiences

Similarly, in 15th century Venice, women of high status wore chopines—extremely tall platform sandals that could be as high as 20 inches—to display wealth and protect their clothing from muddy streets

By the 17th century, platform shoes had become fashionable among European aristocrats, especially in France and England

Both genders flaunted raised heels as a declaration of prestige and cultural refinement

The trend faded during the 18th century as more delicate and feminine styles came into vogue, but it never disappeared entirely

The war era birthed a new wave of platform innovation, led by Ferragamo’s genius for combining stability with vertical drama

With leather rationed, platforms thrived as a resourceful, eye-catching solution

The decade’s most electric fashion moments were defined by towering soles and theatrical height

From Ziggy Stardust to Rocket Man, legends used towering soles to amplify their personas

Worn with flared jeans and psychedelic prints, platforms screamed individuality

Every step echoed a refusal to be invisible

In the 1990s and early 2000s, platforms made a comeback through grunge and pop music aesthetics

Gwen Stefani’s streetwise edge and Britney’s pop perfection both redefined the platform for a new era

Luxury and punk collided as designers reimagined the sole for a new century

The platform refuses to be pinned down—it adapts, reinvents, and endures

From sleek court platforms to dad-sneaker hybrids, the form is endlessly malleable

It delivers lift without sacrifice, style without compromise

It’s a canvas for identity, a monument to rebellion, and denim tears hoodie a whisper of history with every step