You’ve seen the photos of your parents or grandparents looking impossibly leggy in grainy polaroids. They weren't naturally seven feet tall. It was the shoes. By 1972, the world had basically decided that if you weren't standing on at least four inches of cork, wood, or polyurethane, you weren't really dressed. Vintage 70s platform shoes weren't just a trend; they were a collective cultural rebellion against the slim, reserved silhouettes of the 1960s. Honestly, they were a safety hazard, but nobody cared because they looked incredible under a strobe light.
The height was the point.
The Architecture of the Boogie
We usually think of the 1970s as one long disco dance-off, but the engineering behind these shoes was actually pretty varied. You had the "clunky" look of the early decade, influenced by the London boutique scene and designers like Terry de Havilland. He was the guy people called the "Rock 'n' Roll Cobbler." He was making shoes for Bianca Jagger and David Bowie that looked more like sculptures than footwear. They used watersnake skin, metallic leathers, and layered heights that made the wearer look like they were floating.
Then you had the mass-market stuff. Brands like Famolare became household names by introducing the "Get There" shoe—a wavy-soled platform designed to mimic the natural motion of walking. It was supposed to be ergonomic. Whether it actually helped your back is debatable, but millions of people swore by them.
The variety was wild. You’d see a construction worker-style boot with a three-inch lug sole during the day, and then at night, those same people would swap into silver lamé sandals with a five-inch heel. It was a democratic fashion movement. Men, women, and kids all wore them. It's one of the few times in modern history where gendered footwear norms almost completely evaporated. If you were a guy in 1974 and you weren't wearing a heel, you were the odd one out.
From the Bronx to the Sunset Strip
It wasn't just about glam. In the mid-70s, the burgeoning hip-hop scene in the Bronx and the funk movement were styling vintage 70s platform shoes with a completely different energy than the disco crowd. Think George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Their shoes were cosmic. We are talking about custom-made, thigh-high platform boots that looked like they belonged on a spaceship.
On the other side of the country, the Sunset Strip was all about the "Buffalo" boot or the heavy leather platform. It was grittier. The glam rock era, led by Marc Bolan of T. Rex, used the platform to blur the lines of masculinity. Bolan's shoes were often glittery, flamboyant, and deeply influential on what would later become the aesthetic for New Wave.
Why They Actually Mattered (It Wasn't Just Height)
There is a common misconception that platforms were just a silly fad. They weren't. They were a response to the "Peacock Revolution." After decades of men wearing drab grey suits and women sticking to specific hemlines, the 70s blew the doors off the closet.
- Social Signalling: Wearing a high platform meant you didn't have to work a manual labor job. You couldn't exactly plow a field in six-inch heels. It was a sign of leisure and "making it" in the city.
- The Silhouette: Flared trousers—another 70s staple—required height. If you wore bell-bottoms with flats, you’d trip over your own hems and ruin your pants in the rain. The platform was a functional necessity to keep those wide legs from dragging.
- Presence: In a crowded club like Studio 54, being four inches taller meant you could actually see the DJ or be seen by the door staff. It was survival of the tallest.
The Great Ankle Epidemic
We have to talk about the injuries. Hospital records from the mid-70s show a massive spike in twisted ankles and broken metatarsals. The design was inherently unstable. Most vintage 70s platform shoes had a very narrow "footprint" despite the height of the sole. If you stepped on an uneven sidewalk, the shoe would pivot, and your ankle was toast. Designers eventually tried to fix this by widening the base—creating the "wedge" platform—which offered more surface area and slightly less chance of a trip to the ER.
How to Tell the Real Deal from the Junk
If you’re out thrifting or scouring eBay, you’re going to find a lot of "70s style" shoes that were actually made in the 1990s or 2000s. There’s a difference. Real vintage 70s platform shoes have specific markers that are hard to fake.
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First, look at the materials. Authentic 70s pairs often used real wood or heavy cork for the sole. If it feels like cheap, hollow plastic, it’s probably a modern reproduction. Look at the "Made In" stamp. A lot of high-quality vintage platforms came from Italy, Spain, or Brazil during that era.
Check the glue. Over fifty years, the adhesives used to bond the sole to the upper tend to dry out and crystallize. You’ll see a yellowish, crusty residue. Modern shoes use different chemical bonds. Also, look at the toe shape. The 70s favored a very specific, slightly rounded but blunt "duckbill" toe that modern fast fashion usually gets wrong by making it too pointy or too perfectly round.
The Sustainability Factor
Keeping these old relics alive is actually a huge part of the vintage community now. You can't just wear a 50-year-old shoe out of the box. The "dry rot" is real. Polyurethane soles from that era have a habit of literally turning to dust the moment they hit oxygen and pressure. If you find a pair with a crumbling sole, don't toss them. A good cobbler can "re-sole" a platform, keeping the original leather upper but replacing the dangerous, decaying base with a modern, stable foam or lightweight wood. It’s an investment, but it’s how you keep the history alive.
The Modern Renaissance
Why are we seeing them everywhere again? From the Versace Medusa Aevitas to the massive boots worn by Olivia Rodrigo, the platform is back. But it’s different now. Today’s platforms focus on "pitch"—the angle of your foot.
In the 70s, the pitch was often extreme, meaning your foot was at a steep slant even with the platform. Modern versions often have a "flatform" vibe where the heel and the toe are raised almost equally, making them way more comfortable for a grocery run. We've traded some of the original drama for the ability to walk more than twenty feet without wincing.
Your Move: Stepping Into the 70s
If you're looking to integrate vintage 70s platform shoes into a modern wardrobe without looking like you’re wearing a costume, here is the move. Don't go full "Brady Bunch." Mix the height with modern textures.
- Start with a Wedge: If you aren't used to the height, a vintage cork wedge is the safest entry point. It provides the height without the "stilt" feeling of a separate heel and platform.
- Wide-Leg Denim: This is the classic pairing for a reason. Find a pair of high-waisted, wide-leg jeans. Let the hem hit just about a half-inch off the ground while you're wearing the shoes. This creates that "legs for days" look that defined the 70s.
- Inspect Before You Buy: If buying online, ask the seller for a "bend test" photo. If the sole is stiff or showing hairline cracks, it’s going to shatter. You want leather that is still supple and a sole that feels solid.
- Embrace the Scuffs: Vintage shoes have a history. A little wear on a wooden sole adds character that a brand-new pair from a mall store just can't replicate.
The 70s were a time of massive upheaval—economically, socially, and musically. People wanted to stand tall. They wanted to be loud. Those shoes were the foundation of that confidence. Whether you’re hunting for an original pair of candies or just want to understand why your mom still keeps those old clogs in the attic, the platform shoe remains the ultimate symbol of an era that refused to stay small.
Find a reputable vintage dealer who specializes in footwear. Check the interior lining for "leather upper" stamps. Get them to a cobbler for a safety check. Then, put them on and go find a dance floor. Just watch out for those curbs.