Platform shoes, popularly called platforms, are shoes that have very thick heels. Platform shoes have been around since the time of the ancient Greeks. They were reportedly used by Greek actors in the theater, as well as by high-paid courtesans in 16th century Venice. King Louis XIV was supposedly so unhappy with his short stature that he began the movement of wearing platform shoes, some as high as five inches, among men. Eventually, platforms served a more practical purpose in the 18th century, when Europeans began wearing them to avoid soiling their clothes with the mud from the streets.