This season, platforms are making a leap across gender lines. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, because platforms for men date back as far as Ancient Greece and have historically been regarded as a symbol of status and masculinity. Somewhere along the way, however, society stopped viewing shoes with added height as a “guy thing” and reserved them only for the ladies. (Oh, you haven’t heard? All clothing has to have an assigned gender or society just falls apart.) That’s all changing, however, with brand after brand opting for thick soles, regardless of demographic. Even with the trend gaining some serious momentum, some guys are still hesitant to jump on the bandwagon. If you’re still yet to fall in love with man-platforms, fear not. We’ve got a list of three simple reasons why platforms will change your life for the better.
1. You’ll Be Taller.
Remember Napoleon? The guy who really messed up Europe during the French Revolution by riding around and taking everything over? Some say his motivation behind it all was to make up for the fact that he was short. If Napoleon would have just taken a chill pill and thrown on, say, some HBA Centaur Boots, maybe Europe would have been a much more peaceful place. Think about it.
2. You’ll Be Darker.
Who is he? What is his deal? Where did he get his amazing shoes? With a long history of rock stars ranging from David Bowie to Marilyn Manson all embracing the look at one point or another, platforms for dudes contain an air of mystery and edge. With just a change in footwear, you can go from Average Joe to broody, mysterious rock star without ever having to pick up a guitar or sleep in a sweaty van for months on end.
3. You’ll Be More Handsome.
A well-dressed man is a handsome man. That’s basic science. A well-dressed man is also a man that can keep up with trends and be ahead of the curve. Say everyone that reads this goes out and buys all the platforms they can get their hands on. That’s still a very specific subset of society, tiny in the grand scheme of the entire population. Get a pair before they blow up and impress everyone with how much you “get it.”
With brands like Hood By Air, EYTYS, Raf Simons x Adidas, and our own team here at OC all taking a swing at male platforms, it’s not exactly difficult to make the trend look cool. Ranging from daring to understated, there’s a platform for every situation and there’s a situation for every platform. Put on your pair of choice, stomp around, and know you’re the best-dressed guy in the room. Unless Kanye is there, but honestly, how often does that happen?![]()
The Lukas Nubuck Slip-Ons in black.
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The Opening Ceremony MG Outdoor Deerskin Classic Boots in black.
![]()
The Hood By Air Centaur Low-Top Leather Boots in white.
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The
1. You’ll Be Taller.
Remember Napoleon? The guy who really messed up Europe during the French Revolution by riding around and taking everything over? Some say his motivation behind it all was to make up for the fact that he was short. If Napoleon would have just taken a chill pill and thrown on, say, some HBA Centaur Boots, maybe Europe would have been a much more peaceful place. Think about it.
2. You’ll Be Darker.
Who is he? What is his deal? Where did he get his amazing shoes? With a long history of rock stars ranging from David Bowie to Marilyn Manson all embracing the look at one point or another, platforms for dudes contain an air of mystery and edge. With just a change in footwear, you can go from Average Joe to broody, mysterious rock star without ever having to pick up a guitar or sleep in a sweaty van for months on end.
3. You’ll Be More Handsome.
A well-dressed man is a handsome man. That’s basic science. A well-dressed man is also a man that can keep up with trends and be ahead of the curve. Say everyone that reads this goes out and buys all the platforms they can get their hands on. That’s still a very specific subset of society, tiny in the grand scheme of the entire population. Get a pair before they blow up and impress everyone with how much you “get it.”
With brands like Hood By Air, EYTYS, Raf Simons x Adidas, and our own team here at OC all taking a swing at male platforms, it’s not exactly difficult to make the trend look cool. Ranging from daring to understated, there’s a platform for every situation and there’s a situation for every platform. Put on your pair of choice, stomp around, and know you’re the best-dressed guy in the room. Unless Kanye is there, but honestly, how often does that happen?
The Lukas Nubuck Slip-Ons in black.
The Opening Ceremony MG Outdoor Deerskin Classic Boots in black. 
The Hood By Air Centaur Low-Top Leather Boots in white. 
The