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Platform sneakers, also known as flatforms, can work as a surprising alternative to basic boots for winter. Their thick, chunky soles make them ideal for treading wet sidewalks while giving added height, all without causing you to literally fall victim to the deathtraps high heels become when temperatures drop.
The style has been adopted by everyone from luxury fashion houses like Céline down to mass sneaker brands like Puma (aided by Rihanna, of course). The latter turned out punk-style creepers in colorful suedes, while the former reimagined the normcore monochrome sneaker as an all-white leather slip-on with a solid rubber sole.
We recommend pairing a gold metallic pair by Acne (slide 3) with blue jeans and a black wool coat to add some shine to a minimalist winter outfit. Platforms can also add a subtle streetwear element to something more dressed up; Phoebe Philo put those fall 2015 Celine slip-ons (slide 8) together with feather-trimmed dresses and stark yellow skirts — and you can too. Get started on your own look with 12 of the best thick-soled sneakers, from low (Forever 21) to high (Alexander McQueen), all shoppable in our gallery above.