Let’s face it! The 90’s revival is here and it might be here to stay. We have seen the “Punk” theme make a huge comeback with the “Punk: Chaos To Couture” at The Met and Jean Paul Gaultier’s “From The Sidewalk To The Catwalk” exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. From Harem pants to Birkenstocks, the Punk look reemerged and might be back for good, but one trend definitely stands out from the rest: The Platform sneaker.
The Spice Girls used and abused this trend when they were climbing to the top of the Billboard charts in the early 90’s; it was a hallmark for them. Now, the trend seems to have become slightly more modest, “it’s elegant and not as clunky as the Spice Girl’s shoes,” said Zina Zegans, fashion director at Superga US. Owned by Steve Madden, the Italian sneaker brand recently relaunched its platform sneaker. With Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen offering creative direction, the company was easily able to re-release the sneaker that it had attempted to release back in 1996 that failed.
More designers are jumping on the trend as well. We have seen Vans release their version of this style and Hot Topic never stopped selling them. It seems that designers are going for a 1-2 inch platform look in comparison to the original 5-inch platform, so that more consumers can wear them.
The sneaker craze has been seen on most runways lately, especially with the sneaker wedge. In general, the sneaker has revived itself in the 21st century. To get away from the somewhat urban look that the sneaker wedge provides, the platform sneaker is a good alternative to achieve height without looking like you’re going to a basketball game. Chanel repopularized this flat and elevated style in 2011 with a range of sandals, placing the look in the must have category for most fashionistas and FashionMRs. The house bolted for it’s own take on this creeper inspired look in the Neo-Rococo resort collection, presented at the Chateau de Versailles.
Designer’s have even gone as far as making platform sneakers that are unisex. EYTYS, a Stockholm-based brand created by Max Schiller and Jonathan Hirschfeld, has decided to create a line that men and women love. The designers explain that the sneakers are able “to give the wearer an added confidence with extra height. It does not have any gender attached to it- it’s totally unisex. They give the same confidence to women as it does to men, so it’s very relevant with everyone.” The designers even go as far to say “it’s for people who have been brought up with MTV, the dawn of the internet, which has made it so easy to find out about music, art, and fashion. It’s created a whole new generation where creativity is force.”
The trend is awe-inspiring and impressive. Just try not to break your ankle while wearing them.
