STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Vanessa · Kate Spade

Platform shoes?

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

As long as neither the heel nor the platform is ridiculously high, I think a platform pump can be relatively comfortable. You can subtract the height of the platform from the height of the heel, and I think the platform makes the shoe feel more stable.

A hidden platform--like the one you've posted--is nice for work because it makes for a cleaner look than if the platform was exposed.

Boots · Gucci

I have a few hidden platform pumps and sandals. In think that they do tend to make a higher heel feel more stable when walking. Most of mine have a thicker heel than the one you posted though, so that may help me with the stability.

I'm not a fan of the platforms that look like something got stuck under the shoe (the non hidden type.) To me, though look sort of dated or like you are trying too hard.

atlgirl · Gucci

I have five or six pairs of platform shoes. They all have a fairly substantial heel and the platforms are no higher than about an inch. All very comfortable, but I echo what pollyjean said. Otherwise I think they can be very hard to walk comfortably in (at least for me).

Suasoria · Chanel

I'm kind of over platforms in general but I think they can still be done well such as with wedges or casual sandals. I dislike the hidden platform style. I think it makes people's feet look misshapen and clunky/awkward. Platforms + spike heels = too extreme for my tastes, a bit clubby, a bit young.

However I am old and many of you are young so if you like it go for it.

Boots · Gucci

Suasoria wrote:
I'm kind of over platforms in general but I think they can still be done well such as with wedges or casual sandals. I dislike the hidden platform style. I think it makes people's feet look misshapen and clunky/awkward. Platforms + spike heels = too extreme for my tastes, a bit clubby, a bit young.

However I am old and many of you are young so if you like it go for it.

***Ahem**** 39/40 is not old. 40 is the new 30, which makes 30 the new 20. So basically, we're technically really mature teenagers. wink And let me point out anyone who would throw a cocktail party to wear a pair of fab leopard skinny pants is not old. She is awesome. (see pants thread for explanation.)

Suasoria · Chanel

I am in point of fact awesome. I should say, I do not think of "old" as a negative and "young" as necessarily a positive. Being old(er) is great for many reasons.

And I know it's all in fun, but: I don't want to be 30 again!! No way Jose. I especially don't want to be 40 and wear things that are too young. I would rather people look at me and say "that's what 40 is supposed to look like." (Does anyone who's 30 really want to be 20 again?)

Boots · Gucci

Yes, see, I like "older" rather than "old." To me, older means that I have lived more life than somebody else, but that I also still have a lot of living left to do.

I'm with you, I don't want to be in my 20's again. Maybe 34 or 36 again though. Those were good ages (35 sucked for personal reasons so I don't want to revisit that.) But I'm also happy to be 39 right now.

I don't want to dress young like a teenager, but I don't also think that something such as conservative platform shoes like Vanessa posted are necessarily young looking. I could (and am pretty sure that I have ) seen Helen Mirren wear similar shoes (and I think we can agree that she is somebody who does look amazing for her age?) I think it's better to think "appropriate" rather than old or young. Would I wear them with shorts like maybe somebody in their early 20's would? No. But would I wear them with a wrap dress or a skirt a few inches above the knee. Yep.