PLATFORMS AND BOOTS, A HISTORY OF COMFORTABLE HEELS

High heels are not the most comfortable. Even if they are well-shaped and do not pinch us anywhere, they cause the legs to get tired faster, the blood supply to the feet is hindered and the feet are unnaturally bent. However, some of us have to wear heels every day (e.g. when the dress code at work requires it), others want to look good and still others simply like heels. However, we do not always want or can afford to wear high heels all day long, but we still want to add a few centimeters. Fortunately, there is a solution! Heels and wedges come to our rescue!

The history of platforms and wedges begins in ancient Greece, and more specifically in theaters. Ancient theaters could accommodate up to several thousand spectators, so actors wore wedges to be seen from a distance. The first wedges were made of several layers of leather.

They appeared in Venice in the 15th century chopines. These were platform shoes that were up to 22 cm high! They served ladies by protecting their dresses from mud and dirt. Apparently that's right chopines inspired Roger Viver, who in the late 1930s, created platform shoes.

But what are platforms without wedges? Also in the late 1930s, specifically in 1937, Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo introduced a revolutionary new shoe to the market: the wedge shoe, which uses a solidly constructed, triangular-shaped heel.

The first person to combine both innovative solutions was the eccentric Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli. It was she who in 1939 presented shoes combining wedges and platforms. This model was quickly adopted and spread among women who follow trends. In the 1940s, heavy wedges were a balance for airy chiffon dresses and cheeky woolen hats that were fashionable at the time.

However, it was in the 1970s that wedges and platforms gained popularity. Platforms were worn in summer and wedges in winter. They fit perfectly with wide bell bottoms - they lengthened the figure in a natural way. Since then, the popularity of wedges and platforms has not decreased, on the contrary.

In the 1990s, the revolutionary Vivenne Westwood designed black, patent, studded shoes with incredibly high platforms. A few seasons ago, Isabel Marant introduced record-breaking wedge sneakers to the market, which were loved by all women who wanted to combine sports and casual style.

However, let's not forget about the British genius, Alexander McQueen, who designed Lady Gaga's favorite shoes called "battleships" or as some say - lobster or cancer shoes. This was probably the strangest but most innovative use of platforms in the history of fashion. 

Let's not forget about wedge sneakers, which are the perfect solution for spring walks!