sexyplatforms Posted June 16, 2005 Posted June 16, 2005 Dear All, Hello everyone! I've just recently discovered this excellent forum and very much look forward to taking part in it. I've provided a more detailed introduction of myself and my heel preferences in the 'For the Guys section' so, even though I should perhaps have done that here, I won't take up space by repeating what I've already posted. Anyway, I was hoping I could draw on the collective specialist knowledge of you heel connosieurs and ask if any of you know the definitive history of the spike-heeled 'American'-style platform sandal? This particular shoe (the one which has a one-piece moulded platform unit, that's oval at the front of the footbed and nearly square at its rear with a smooth tapered spike-heel - sometimes flat on the inside of the heel arch) is my greatest love and I'd like to know more about where the original design came from and how/when it became standardized across such a wide range of manufacturers and nations. I've been trying for a while to find out the answers to some of these questions but I've not been very successful. Can anyone out there help? Many thanks, Love, sexyplatforms
Shafted Posted June 17, 2005 Posted June 17, 2005 Welcome to hhplace, sexyplatforms. While I can't help you with the history of plats, I sure there must be somebody here who can. Shafted, the boots that is! View my gallery here http://www.hhplace.o...afteds-gallery/ or view my heeling thread here http://www.hhplace.org/topic/3850-new-pair-of-boots-starts-me-serious-street-heeling/ - Pm me if you want fashion advice or just need someone to talk to.
BobHH Posted June 17, 2005 Posted June 17, 2005 I believe this style of shoe was started by Else Anita Jungle Shoes some years ago. They were worn by some celebrities and models, featured in the LA Times, and also worn by RuPaul. My wife commented on how nice they looked on him. They were never sold in mainstream stores, however (Nordstrom, Macy's, etc.). Else Anita is no longer in business, at least that I can tell. I have a pair of Else Anita labeled platform slides in red glitter. The style became popular, and many were made by Sunset Strip, which is still in business, but harder to find these days as cheaper imported shoes are taking much of the market. Frederick's of Hollywood carried many styles identical to Sunset Strip but under the Frederick's label. Other labels were/are Dallas Heights, Ellie, NY something, etc. Pleaser shoes are now sold everywhere, many of which are Chinese made, and Lucious is also a name now. Of course, many stores put their own labels on, whoever makes them. The Else Anita shoes were mostly the so-called 6 in. heel (6.5" in the larger sizes) with about a 2 in. platform. Platforms and heels have soared more recently to 3.5 in./8 in. I don't think either Else Anita or Sunset Strip ever made the 5 in. heel platforms, though some of them look like their design. How do I know all this? Besides my wearing them as much as possible, but not out in public, unfortunately? My first California girl friend's father (years ago) manufactured women's shoes and she wore a lot of sexy high heels, and more recently I knew someone who made these shoes for several labels, and who showed my the different unit constructions, etc.
sexyplatforms Posted June 17, 2005 Author Posted June 17, 2005 Dear BobHH, Thanks for the welcome Shafted, and thanks to you BobHH for the interesting info. I have platforms made by some of the companies mentioned by BobHH (Ellie, Luscious and Pleaser) as well as shoes made and/or labelled by Maya shoes, Tony shoes, and Icon. Icon shoes and Doreenfashions are the only online suppliers I can find who offer 7.5" spike-heels with the 2.75" platform above a (UK) 9 (I'm a size 10). This style, with the classic wrap-around ankle strap and the single vamp, is my current favourite, so when I discovered them I bought pairs in Red, White and Black! Do you have any pictures of your Else Anita platform slides? I'd love to see them - they sound very desirable. Love, Sexyplatforms
asdf174 Posted June 17, 2005 Posted June 17, 2005 Wow that is cool I didn't know all of that. Thats one of the things I like about this forum. A lot of people are informative on here. I remember Ru Paul! I loved all the shoes he wore. (Well just about all of them anyway.) It's all good. ~Arron.
Gayle Gold Posted June 30, 2005 Posted June 30, 2005 The information on this site has amazed me too. Must admit I* didn't know history of shoes. What about super-platforms - are these a new facet and how high do people go? GGxxx
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