FLATFORM SHOES: Yay or Nay?

Yes, you heard right. It’s the flatform, not the platform! The flatform is really just a flat sandal elevated on a platform sole and it's said to be the "IT" shoe for Spring 2011. This geisha-inspired look is basically one of those styles that you either love or you don’t. And it’s another shoe that is trying to compensate for the painful high heels that have been so prevalent in past seasons. Women are asking for change. Women are wanting the height that the high heel gives but without the foot pain associated with them, so the shoe makers and designers are trying to come up with different ways to solve this problem and give women what they want…but in a stylish shoe.

Key word - "stylish." I am by no means a fashion guru but these are light years away from stylish in my book. Glamour magazine however seems to think they are. But then again Glamour magazine doesn't always speak to the , around town girl that isn't trying to look avant-garde on a daily basis. As a mom I do agree that the shape is insanely refreshing to look at after season upon season of torturous stilettos. My husband would completely disagree.

So what are those average non-avant garde ladies like myself really saying about Spring's hottest shoe? Footwear News took a poll of women of all ages and asked them if they thought that this look was a Hit or a Miss? Their results: 1 in 4 women said that this look was a Hit. I know you can do the math, but I still want to say it: that leaves 3 out of 4 women saying that this look is a M-I-S-S!

I have to agree with the majority for these reasons: 1) They are not pretty; 2) Women who love their high heels do just that…they love their high heels and getting them to switch to a flat, even if it is a flatform, is almost near impossible; 3) They remove the sexy foot arch, which while being unhealthy at times, is definitely sexy and creates an elongated, slimming look; 4) Women who love their flats don’t really care too much about adding extra height to themselves. They are more concerned with comfort; 5) The small percentage of women who will try this look (maybe 25%, or less, in my opinion) will most likely not be a fan once they try out the shoes. In my humble try on opinion, they are not easy to walk in or comfortable. If you were to ask me right now, I am almost positive that I won't be rocking the flatform this Spring. Especially not any with an ankle strap. Talk about cankles! The slides aren't so so bad. What do you say ladies? Are you ready to jump aboard the flatform train, or is this one trend you'll say "no thank you!" to?