A Stitch in Time: Platform Shoes

Graphic by Lauren Cohn.

Platform shoes started with an escape from Berlin.

When Jewish designer Moshe (Morris) Kimel escaped from Berlin in the 1930’s, he found himself designing the first pair for actress Marlene Dietrich. Today, almost every popular shoe has a platform option, offering a way to (literally) elevate your look. Why wear normal shoes when you can grow two inches? 

Since the ‘30’s, platforms and their popularity have only grown. The ‘70’s brought about high rising platform pumps, many in bubblegum pink or featuring vibrant flowers, and in the ‘80’s, many disco stars took to the stage wearing them.

From the ‘90’s onward, the pump has integrated itself into dozens of types of shoes. Balenciaga models walked the runway in platform Crocs for S/S 2018, various platforms dominated the Versace runway looks of F/W 2021, and the Molly Goddard x UGG collaboration in 2021 took us all to new heights. 

Across what has almost been a century, the look that was once for actresses and models alone has become part of our everyday life. The platform upgrade has swept across the realm of causal shoes. Platform Crocs, Converse, Vans, sandals and slippers are worn with daily looks, often even sweatpants and sweatshirts. What drives us all to opt in to the version with two extra inches may be a desire to avoid the basics. Why buy the regular pair of shoes when you could get the slightly bigger, slightly better version?

But our choice to avoid the regular has become so common that the platform shoes, which were once a fashion rarity, no longer even turn heads. Kimel’s innovative look, which slowly made its way across fashion stages, has become a simple upgrade across our everyday shoes. 

Image via Pinterest

1930’s platforms, photo from Bata Shoe Museum blog

2010’s platforms, photo from Refinery29

1970’s platforms, photo from Vintage Everyday