The ideas below run from chunky soles that defined the 90s look to modern ankle-strap updates and rainbow-striped wedges, and the right one depends on whether you want something true to the vintage style or a current take you can still buy new.
A reinforced toe bed matters more than strap color if you plan to attach your own hardware; flimsy jelly constructions pull through over time no matter how cute the charm.
1. Platform Flip-flop Trend
The platform flip-flop is back for summer 2025, and this time it carries the same casual height that made it a ’90s staple.
After years of flat, minimal sandals dominating, the added lift reads as sleeker without losing the easy, beach-adjacent feel.
What works now is the same thing that worked then: the height is subtle enough for errands, laid-back enough that it does not compete with the rest of an outfit.
I would look for a black or neutral wedge first; color is easier to add once you know the shape works with your stride.
2. Popular Brands
Several labels are worth searching secondhand if you want the original ’90s build. Melissa still produces translucent jelly platforms in pink and clear, and vintage pairs turn up on Depop and Etsy.
Rocket Dog was everywhere in that era, and their old catalogs are full of the thick straps and stacked soles that read as authentically period.
For current production, Zara and Coperni both make platform thongs with a similar proportion, and The Row’s Dune sandal is the quiet-luxury version.
I would check Poshmark and Vinted first for deadstock Rocket Dog; the sizing runs generous, so filter a half size down.
3. Chunky Platform Flip-flops
The heavy wooden sole with black leather straps is the most dramatic take on the trend, and it suits days when the rest of the outfit is simple.
A chunky platform adds real height, but the weight means these are not all-day walking shoes; I would plan to switch out of them for anything over a few city blocks.
The studs and hardware visible on some versions read as harder to style than plain straps. If you already own a pair with that detail, denim or a solid midi skirt keeps the look from tipping into costume.
4. Platform Sandals
The knit upper and saturated lime color place this firmly in the playful, Y2K-leaning branch of the revival.
Material Girl’s Wave Flatform Wedge runs $41 at Macy’s, which is low enough to test whether the height and brightness suit you before spending more.
A knit platform is less forgiving in rain than leather or rubber, so check the care instructions before buying. I would treat these as a weekend or vacation shoe rather than a daily commuter.
Coach is selling an almost 4-inch high platform thong sandal; ERL just today unveiled a staggering 8-inch version that retails for $1,250.
— Vogue
5. Slip Dress with Platform Flip-flops
Layering a slip dress over a white t-shirt was the standard ’90s move, and the chunky white platform grounds it without adding another competing texture.
The proportions matter here: the dress should hit mid-calf or above to keep the heavy sole from swallowing the silhouette.
This combination works best when the dress is simple, without heavy print or ruffle, so the eye travels to the shoe and the layering trick rather than fighting both.
I would add the arm warmers or headphones only if the occasion is genuinely casual; for a dinner out, the dress and tee alone are enough.
6. Maxi Skirt and Platform Flip-flops
A long black maxi skirt with a white top and black platform thong is the most covered-up way to wear this shoe, and the contrast between the skirt’s length and the exposed foot is what makes it interesting.
The key decision is hem height: the skirt should just graze the top of the foot so the platform remains visible with each step.
If the skirt pools, the shoe disappears and the look becomes generic. I would try this with a skirt you already own, pinning the hem temporarily to test the proportion before altering anything.
7. Patterned Sole Platform Flip-flops
A printed sole turns the platform flip-flop from a neutral base into the statement piece of an outfit.
The ’90s originals favored swirls, florals, and abstract brights against white straps, and that combination still reads as cheerful rather than busy because the pattern sits where the eye lands last.
I would treat these as the single colorful element and keep the rest of the look solid: a white sundress, pale jeans, or a black tank and shorts.
If the sole pattern includes a color you wear often, match one strap or bag to it; otherwise let the shoe carry all the interest.
8. Embellished Charm Platform Flip-flops
Charms, chains, and rhinestones convert a basic black platform into something personal, though the weight and movement of metal hardware changes how the sandal wears.
Before adding anything, check whether the thong post and sole can take the strain without pulling through; a platform with a reinforced toe bed is safer than a flimsy one.
The ‘CHANEL’ and ‘NY’ lettering on the visible pair is clearly customized, not licensed, which makes this a DIY project.
If you are attaching charms yourself, use jump rings rather than glue, and test that nothing snags on long hems or car pedals before wearing out.
9. Platform Flip-flops with Ankle Straps
The buckled ankle strap solves the main problem platform thongs have always had: the toe post alone cannot hold a heavy sole in place during real walking.
The visible pair keeps the strap slim and white, so the look stays clean rather than clog-like.
I would check strap placement before buying. A buckle too high above the ankle bone rubs; too low and it does not stabilize the heel.
The ’90s versions often placed it at mid-ankle, which works with cropped pants or a skirt that ends near the knee. For a longer skirt, the strap disappears visually and you lose the benefit.
10. Rainbow Striped Platform Wedges
Horizontal rainbow stripes on a thick black wedge sole read as playful in a very specific way: beach-town vacation, summer concert, or any setting where a little theatricality fits.
Black woven straps keep the color from overwhelming, so this combination works better than a rainbow strap would.
These are not a subtle shoe, so I would build the outfit from one stripe color and leave the rest neutral.
Pick out the red with a red bandeau, or the yellow with gold earrings, but do not chase every color at once.
The wedge height looks greater than it wears because the sole is continuous; still, check the actual heel measurement if you plan to walk any distance.
Finding Vintage Styles
The fastest way to find authentic ’90s platform flip-flops is to search by brand on resale sites. Type "[brand] 1990s" into the search bar on Vinted, Depop, or Etsy and filter from there.
Jelly sandals were the defining material of the era, often with charms or hardware attached. If you are hunting for that specific look, include "jelly" in your search terms rather than browsing general platform categories.
Styling Tips
The styling that made this shoe work in the ’90s still holds. Capri pants or cropped trousers leave the platform visible and keep the silhouette balanced, which is why Carrie Bradshaw and Jennifer Aniston both wore theirs that way.
For 2025, the same proportion applies: the ankle should show, and the rest of the outfit stays simple so the shoe does not compete.
A black or neutral wedge pairs with more than you would expect. I would start there and add color through the rest of the look rather than buying a bright platform first.
Comfort Considerations
The platform sole distributes weight more evenly than a stiletto of the same height, which is why these feel easier to walk in than they look.
That said, a heavy wooden or stacked sole adds real weight; after a few city blocks, the lift becomes work.
A flimsy post pulls through over time, and no amount of cushioning fixes that.
Celebrity Endorsements
Carrie Bradshaw in capris and Jennifer Aniston in cropped trousers are the reference points that keep coming up for how this shoe should look.
Both wore the platform flip-flop as part of an otherwise simple outfit, letting the shoe and the ankle flash do the work.
For 2025, fashion editors are pointing to the same combination: cropped pants, minimal top, platform thong.
The look reads as laid-back rather than dressed up, which is the balance that made it work then and makes it work now. I would take the proportion from those examples rather than the full costume.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some popular flip-flops from the 90s?
The decade had its own look: foam platforms that added 3 inches and translucent jelly straps in every color of the rainbow.
Jelly sandals often came with charms or hardware attached, and the translucent material in pink or clear reads as authentically ’90s.
Melissa still makes new versions with the same candy-shell finish, and the originals circulate on Depop and Etsy in enough volume that patience usually pays off.
What were some popular platform shoes in the 90s?
Steve Madden’s Slinky sandal was the one everyone recognized, a single thick strap over a slab sole that turned up in mall windows from coast to coast.
Rocket Dog moved serious volume too, their wide straps and layered soles showing up in Delia’s catalogs and store displays so often you could spot them from across the food court.
What are those platform sandals called?
They are most commonly called platform flip-flops, though you will also see them listed as platform thongs.
The terms refer to the same shoe: a raised sole with the classic Y-shaped strap between the toes. Current brands like Zara and Coperni use the thong construction, while The Row calls its version the Dune sandal.
Where can I find vintage platform sandals?
On Vinted, Depop, or Etsy, start with the brand name and add "1990s" to your search, then narrow by size and condition once the results load.
Deadstock Rocket Dog surfaces most often on Poshmark and Vinted; their sizing runs large, so I filter a half size down and have had better luck that way.
Jelly platforms need the word "jelly" in your search, since the general platform category will bury them under leather and suede options that miss the point entirely.
