Platform Shoes

What to Pair with Platform Shoes

Unless you're short, you'll probably want to leave the minis at home. On tall girls, platform shoes and mini skirts are just too much. The look screams things you don't want yelled on the street.

Jeans look hot with platforms. You'll want to avoid bell-bottoms, but flares are a good look. Straight legs are questionable, so use your judgment. Also, make sure your jeans are fitted. Save the tapered leg pants for your boots.

Dresses that are knee-length, light, and airy pair nicely with platforms. If you go with something hippie-chic, you can pull off the total retro look without looking like you belong in an Austin Powers movie. Do something modern with your hair and go light on the makeup. Again, shorter dresses with platforms look best on shorter women.

Should men wear platform shoes? No, no, no! Long gone are the days of men wearing platforms and flared pants. The only way a man should be paired with platforms is if the platforms are attached to the girl on his arm. Only women's platforms are back from the dead.

Platform Styles

Casual style boots often have wedge heels or stacked heels. Both fit into the platform category. You can find them anywhere that sells boots.

Espadrilles are the perfect summer shoe for the perfect summer dress. They're sunny, cheery, and retro. Put some on and step into The Brady Bunch realm. After all, the sun is calling your name.

Stacked heels and wedges are available in dressy sandals. For special occasions, you may not want to stand on a pair of stilettos. Since flats just won't do the same thing for your calves as a little heel, enter the dressy sandal platform shoes!

Pumps follow the same fashion rules as dressy sandals. You're going to want a heel for a special occasion, but pumps with microscopic toothpick heels aren't the best for an outside wedding. Platform heels will give you the calf-sculpting you need without getting stuck in the ground with every step you take.

In addition to the most popular types of platform shoes, you'll also find Mary Janes, loafers, Oxfords, slides, and other specialty shoes. Platform heels are so universal, you'd be hard-pressed to find a type of shoe that isn't available with a platform heel. Even flip-flops come in wedges.

Where to Buy Platform Shoes

• Zappos
• Overstock
• eBay
• Department stores from JC Penney to Nordstrom's.
• Shoe stores, of course! Payless, Rack Room, any trendy little shop you can find.