Life Style

A Platform-Shoe Renaissance Is About to Happen, and I'm Here for it

Kristen Nichols  Tue, 04 May 2021  Who What Wear

As we look ahead to the future of fashion, the S/S 21 couture and F/W 21 runways are predicting some major trends that are about to unfold. Many of them, such as party fashion and saturated shades, are a step away from comfort dressing and really bringing on the fun. Another item to add to your future shopping list? Platform shoes.

Spotted in the collections of designers including Versace, Valentino, and Erdem (to name a few), platforms are really taking hold as a key trend for the coming year, with everything from tall, strappy heels to flatform-style shoes in the mix. Fashion insiders are already early adopters, adding approachable puffy slides, ski-high heels, and more iterations to their latest outfits. Ahead, see the coolest versions from the runways and the Instagram fashion scene to inspire your future shoe wardrobe.

Between the S/S 21 couture and the F/W 21 collections, it's impossible to ignore the rising platform-shoe trend. A departure from the practical house shoes that have ruled the fashion scene over the last year, this trend marks a return to fun in fashion, which this editor is very ready for.

Pictured: Valentino S/S 21 couture

Take a styling cue from Valentino and wear a cool gold pair.

These feel very Studio 54.

Pictured: Schiaparelli F/W 21

These shoes from Staud are a cool, wearable way to interpret Schiaparelli's super-tall platforms.

Same goes for this Balenciaga pair.

Pictured: Versace F/W 21

Style these with printed tights to interpret the runway looks from Versace.

I'm just going to stare at these Saint Laurent beauties.

Pictured: Melitta Baumeister F/W 21

These are a cult favorite among the fashion set.

The perfect summer sandals if you ask me.

Pictured: Erdem F/W 21

Wear these with a knit set like the one above spotted at Erdem.

Prada can truly do no wrong.

We can always rely on fashion insiders to be early adopters of the coolest future trends, and that certainly includes the platform shoes that are about to be everywhere. If you're ready to add them to your shoe collection, look for styles like platform flip-flops, slides, strappy sandals, and sky-high heels.

Anything Amina Muaddi designs is instantly loved by fashion insiders.

And honestly, the same can be said about all things Jacquemus.

Hailey Bieber was spotted in the platform slides that have gone viral.

Finished with a cool toe-ring detail.

Future party shoes.

I love this strappy take on the flatform.

Platform flip-flops have been a fashion-insider favorite since last summer and only seem to be getting more popular.

The satin finish makes these the perfect dressy pair.

Yep, these just jumped to the top of my summer shopping list.

Style these with micro shorts.

Next, six fine-jewelry trends that have reached cult status among fashion insiders.