Fashion
An Ode To The Return Of Stacked Heels
Each season arrives with a fresh influx of tempting trends, yet some ultimately prove more irresistible than others. Case in point, 2015's obsession with the 1970s is rife with opportunity for sartorial experimentation. Aside from the trend's inherent support of all things suede, fringed, and sepia-toned, the most notorious facet of '70s style was and remains the platform heel. Chunky, clunky, and utterly statement-making, the platform heel is just about as far from Stuart Weitzman's spindly "Naked" stilettos as one could possibly imagine.
Stacked heels aren't meant to disappear into the line of the leg or create an optical illusion in which the bare foot is indistinguishable from its shoe. In fact, platforms beg to be looked at, and they have no hidden agenda of attempting to elongate the leg. And unlike that teetering pair of Christian Louboutin Pigalle pumps that are oh-so beautiful to look at but impossible to wear when making quick movements, platforms don't stand in the way of motion. There are infinite reasons to be thankful for the return of a more utilitarian shoe style, from ease of wear to their essentially eccentric aesthetic, but read on for a few that seem especially blessed.
1. The Comfort Is Sublime
Any person who has spent hours on end tottering about in six-inch heels knows the agony of attempting to pry the shoes from their sore, tortured toes. Thanks to their less dramatic curvature and equal distribution of weight, platforms require significantly less suffering to sport.
2. Your Feet May Suffer Less Crippling Damage
Scientists claim that over time, heels may inflict significant damage on the feet. Exchanging your stilettos for platforms may not completely save your toes from ruin, but the style will certainly be more forgiving than towering on a rickety six inches.
3. They're A Throwback To The '70s
If you have any affinity for bygone eras, you may feel a particular kinship with platforms thanks to their connection with the 1970s. Throw on a pair of stacked heels with bootcut jeans and a fringed jacket and you may as well have stepped back in time.
4. You Can Actually Run In Them (If You So Desire)
Try sprinting in stilettos and you could easily end up with a twisted ankle. If you attempt the same exercise in platforms, you won't win any races — but you might be able to catch your train to work without winding up in a cast.
5. Their Heft Offers A Greater Opportunity For Artistic Design
Traditional pointy-toe heels and multi-strap sandals utilize what material they have for intriguing colors, pattern, and design, but platforms offer an entire canvas on which to exhibit personal style. Floral boughs, racing stripes, and colorblocked patterns are all fair game for platforms.
6. You Can Pretend You're A Cast Member Of She's All That or American Hustle
Sauntering down the street in a pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps may achieve a Sex and the City moment, but strutting the streets in platforms is the sartorial equivalent for film classics from She's All That to American Hustle
7. You Legs Suddenly Appear A Mile Longer In Jeans
Bootcut and flared jeans that barely graze the ground are meant to be partnered with platforms, if only because their hidden heel creates the illusion of legs so long Gisele would be envious.
8. You Can Dance Along To Your Favorite Spice Girls Song The Way You Were Meant To
Dancing to Spice Up Your Life barefoot or in flip flops simply seems wrong, and there is a good reason for the sentiment; if the Spice Girls themselves wore platforms to perform their music, so should you.
9. You Can Stride Alongside Your Tallest Companions Without Having To Adopt A Jog
If you happen to have a friend or significant other whose height measures over six inches above your head, you may have experienced the irking phenomenon of having to jog alongside as they leisurely walk ahead of you. With the correct platforms, you can match anyone stride for stride.
