There are only a few things in life that are sure. Some would say death and taxes, but those who are immersed in the fashion world would say that trends are even more dependable. No matter which era of fashion you love the most, all you have to do is wait around long enough and you are almost guaranteed to see elements of that trend emerge in current fashion once again. Bell bottoms are one example, and another is platform shoes. If you are seeking a way to bring a little sparkly 70's funk back into your wardrobe and your life, there can be no quicker way than to slip on a pair of platform shoes and get out on the street.

If you've never heard of platform shoes before, you should know that they first emerged toward the end of the 1960's and the beginning of the 1970's. They were simply shoes that have very thick soles, usually under the toe, but sometimes also under the heel. These thick soles, sometimes referred to as lifts are the feature that eventually gave them their name, platform shoes, because it was almost as if you were floating around on your own personal platform. Once the platform shoes trend caught on by 1975, it was considered essential that they would have at least two inch thick soles and five inch high heels in order to be considered hip at all. Just check out the movie Staurday Night Fever or YouTube an old KISS concert.

Something that may surprise you about platform shoes is that women were not the only ones wearing them. Men that identified with the fast paced, sexy disco scene were also known to be spotted wearing platform shoes, however, there's usually didn't feature the five inch high heels. If you weren't alive in the 1970's you should know that it was most certainly a time of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Those who had escaped the era of the hippie were looking for a shoe with a little more edge to it, and platform shoes were what they discovered.

Soon the genres of fashion and popular art began to merge and swirl together. The result was platform shoes that became so ostentatious that they were pieces of art in themselves. Psychedelic colors and patterns were the norm for those that wore the most fashionable platform shoes. Women wearing platform shoes were seen in many different kinds of popular art, like magazines, photography, fashion shows and even paintings. People all over the world were wearing platform shoes and loving the way it elevated their fashion.

The world of fashion is always ripe for the 70's throwback. To most (especially the ones that were there), the 70's represents a time period of fun, freedom, and carefree spirit. So elevate that mentality in your own life with a pair of platform shoes and it's guaranteed that you will walk down the street with a different attitude.