Fashion Week

The high heel has long been a symbol of sexual feminine power, but the platform shoe makes it a bold and brassy statement. Some of the looks for spring and summer 2011 showcased the platform shoe with pop culture jewelry, sun dresses, and summer accessories. Platform shoes appeared in various styles from slinky modern looks to Grecian inspired platform shoes with ribbons climbing the legs in criss-crossed fashion. While most of the designers focused on summer dresses, the truth is platform shoes go great with a pair of navy blue jeans, too.

Accessories

Platform shoes are so dramatic, as an accessory that the rest of your accessories have to carry equal weight to balance the look. For that reason, they were paired with large o-shaped sunglasses, floppy straw hats, and large statement jewelry pieces. One notable look that was really sultry was the use of leather cuffs embedded with metal studs places on the wrists and ankles.

Bold and Beautiful

Platform shoes are not for wall flowers. You have to want to be the center of attention and feel enlivened when you get it. You need to be comfortable wearing the with dramatic sun dresses in stripes or prints and with over-sized jewelry or bags. Open-toed platform shoes are a great way to show off a pedicure.

The Matter of Height

Short women love platform shoes because they add height to their stature. However, taller women may balk at the extra inches. No one likes to be taller than their dates, so you must pick this accessory with care and keep in mind where you will wear it, too. There are different heights, with some platform shoe being tall only on the heel side and being flatter near the toes. Other shoes will add a large layer of cork or foam to increase the height all over.