Spice World Is Coming Back to Theaters—Will We See a Return of the Super-High Foam Platform Shoe, Too?

As a 12-year-old on her first trip to London, I cared about one thing and one thing only: procuring a pair of Spice Girls–approved sky-high platforms, preferably ones decorated with the British flag. Spice World had just hit theaters and worldwide Spice-mania had hit fever pitch. I was ravenous for the merch, whether it was the Spice Girls dolls (which you couldn’t yet buy in the U.S.), the giant Chupa Chups lollipops that they endorsed (also tough to find in the U.S.), or those ridiculous shoes. My parents said no and my size-5 foot wouldn’t have fit into them anyhow. Thick foam-soled sandals, flip-flops, and lace-ups from Aldo and Steve Madden would have to do for me. And they did, but nothing was cooler, wilder, or higher than the versions worn by the Spice Girls. Now, as the Spice World movie is set to be rereleased in U.K. theaters this September in celebration of its 20th anniversary, it seems the squishy, 4-inch sneakers beloved by Baby Spice, Scary Spice, and Ginger Spice might be making a comeback.

As with most trends, this one didn’t start overnight. In fact, it probably started with the platform sneakers and oxfords Stella McCartney introduced back in 2014. More recently, the look gained traction with Alessandro Michele’s rainbow platforms for Gucci. Last month, Bella Hadid laced up a similar pair from Hogan, and post-birth, Beyoncé sported thick-soled platform shoes for a date night with Jay Z. Soko has been wearing the Gucci versions constantly, which isn’t surprising considering the fact that she’s become a front row regular at Michele’s shows. Even Zara is currently selling a few pairs. All of which suggest that, yes, foam platforms could be poised to become the latest fashion nostalgia obsession. The industry seems to latch on tight to anything from the era that gave us the Spice Girls, whether it’s choker necklaces, baby tees, and sunglasses with yellow lenses. Why not the squishy stilt shoe? As the rerelease of Spice World seems to prove, it’s never too late to spice up your life.