While platforms continue to sweep the shoe market, their quirky cousins flatforms remain popular too.
What are flatforms, you ask? A flatform is a cross-over between a flat shoe and a platform shoe.
The bottom and top of the sole are horizontal to the ground meaning your foot is flat and not bent. However the sole is built up like a platform shoe giving all the height of a heel or a wedge but without angling your foot.
The Soda Topic Espadrille Flatform shown here is very popular on Amazon (affiliate link) as a great way of adding a little bit of height without going overboard.
The shoe debuted back in the summer of 2019 and has gone on to be one of Amazon’s best-selling items in the wedge and platform category. It is easy to see why as the shoes are widely rated for comfort and are naturally able to transition between day and night with a reasonably modest-height flatform.
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Flatforms have a surprisingly long history, and cannot just be considered a trend or a fad. In the early 1990s, flatform sandals were all the rage, while flatform sneakers and boots developed a following thanks in part to the influence of the Spice Girls.
Later, in around 2011, brand names such as Prada and Chanel were dipping their toe in the flatform market once again.
Flatforms are mostly an easy style to wear and have some of the comforts and sensibilities of a flat. It’s nice not to have your foot arched all day, that’s for sure.
However, really tall flatforms can be surprisingly hard to walk in. The thicker the sole, the more disconnected with the ground that your foot is. But it is really just a matter of getting used to the sensation of walking in flats but not being actually on the ground.
In 2021, outdoor sports-sandal leader Teva added a platform to its classic sandal, to create the Teva flatform sandal. At first glance these shoes are not exactly aesthetically delightful, but that was never Teva’s offering.
Teva is known for the comfort and practicality of its sandals, and its flatform is no different. Those in the know rave about them.
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All this skirts the question though: are flatforms really heels? In our opinion, much like wedges, flatforms are not truly considered high heels.
We’d prefer not to worry about it too much. If height is what you’re after then flatforms and wedges are both clever ways to boost you up but making walking a little easier than in stilettos.