• Fashion
May 12, 2012 7:30 AM EDT
0
The Illustrated History Of The Platform Shoe

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4 of 11

4-TheItalianChopine

1400s — Pattens eventually became more and more elaborate, culminating in the chopine, which was an over-shoe worn by Italian nobility. They reached such extravagant limits (some were nearly 30-inches tall and designed with jewels) that women needed walking sticks in order to get around. In 1547, Catherine de Medici wore chopines to give her 4'11" frame a boost, and started the trend among French nobility.

Illustrations by Isabelle Rancier

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