One of the more recent trends in lady’s fashion is the growing popularity of the creeper. This type of shoe is typically black leather with a thick sole that usually combines fashion and function. Depending on how the sole is treaded, it can be appropriate for street walking or tackling grass and mud. Creeper platform shoes are a statement that screams heavy metal but can be quite comfortable and useful.
Creeper platform shoes get their name from crepe rubber, which is a hard form of rubber that has traditionally been used to make industrial boots and jungle boots for soldiers. The shoe uses a sole similar to heavy working shoes but instead has a low ankle similar to other street shoes. The end result is shoes that have durable soles, slightly elevate the feet, and have more comfortable wear than boots.
In the past, these shoes were popular because the resembled footwear used on bases in Africa. They eventually became popular again because they were stocked by a clothing store that normally catered to rock fans. The style coordination with goth and punk was easily recognized, and so these durable shoes found a new market.
More old fashioned creeper shoes are more generalized and do not have any extras that would mark them as women’s fashion. They were meant for working under adverse conditions such as in the rain or in the garden. They have the advantage of long sole life and create a platform effect by incidence. Newer styles might have more exotic patterns and sole material that is softer for streetwear.
Lower creepers have some of the same advantages of being a creeper, such as the thickness and strength of the sole, but they do not rise very high and are easily treated as street shoes. This can be preferable for people who want the option of walking briskly or jogging in their shoes when thicker creepers might be too stiff for this option.
Platform creepers are specifically designed to appeal to subcultures and the rubber is much higher than is needed. They can be adorned with red and black stripes or with rainbow stripes, as two popular examples. Depending on the design, they can be considered purely platform shoes, or they can suggest a girl who is tough and ready to get to work.
Creepers can be used to create a variety of styles that convey specific attitudes. Some creepers actually resemble beachwear while others vaguely seem like industrial shoes. They differ from the norm and amount to a bold statement.