The Platform Shoe

Along with the bell bottoms another popular style during the 1970's were platform shoes. The platform shoes originated in China, they were made to keep women's feet out of the mud. In the fourteenth century it was called the "chopine", an overshoe, introduced in Europe to be worn over slippers to protect them from dirt. Slowly the platform shoe became less protective and more fashionable. It slowly came to look like the modern platform shoe constructed with a cork- or wood-stacked sole covered by velvet. The shoes were so high that women needed assitance walking in them, making them impractical. In the 1930's they returned with a more feminine look, being made with cork instead of wood also making them more practical. However between the 30's and 60's the style never really took off. Then in the 1970's platform shoes were the trend in style. People wore them almost everywhere, the grocery store, work, the disco. They were many different colors and designs. The platform shoe died out in the 80's when the rock era started. However just like bell bottoms platform shoes are back in style, with a different twist. They are very popular amongst the younger crowd. I personally can say that I own a few pairs of platform shoes, but they look nothing like the old style. Platform shoes have become really popular with cute styles, plus they're really comfortable.

During the late 1960's and much of the 1970's a very popular trend were bell bottoms. Bell bottoms are trousers that become wider from the knee down. Bell bottoms were usually worn with a tee shirt and a pair of sandals. The pants have become associated with disco music. To my surprise bell bottoms were invented many years earlier in 1817 for sailors to wear. Because of the flare they were easier to roll up while they were on the deck. The flare also made it easier for them to be taken off in case of emergency. The legs could also be tied together and used as a life preserver. Bell bottoms went from a practical and useful item of clothing to a remaining fashion style. In my opinion the bell bottoms that were worn in the 1970's were too flared out, but I am guilty of wearing bell bottoms when I was in middle school. But the bell bottoms I wore were not nearly as drastic as those worn in the 1970's.