Wednesday 18 July 2012

CHOPINES - THE FIRST PLATFORM SHOES...




The picture above shows a late 16th century Venetian example of a type of platform shoe known as a Chopine.  Different types of platform over shoe known to have been used across Europe from the middle ages onwards.

They were used to serve the wear for a practical purpose of raising the wearer above mud and dirt on the street.  In Veneice they were decorated with gliding and paint and concealed under long skirts to make to wearer appear taller.... the higher  platform the nobler the woman was....


Check out some of the early platform creations....







The Modern Day Chopine



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