We Pleaters take our shoes very seriously. Samara is strictly a boot or gladiator sandal kind of girl (not even sure she owns a basic flat or ballet slipper). Julie can’t walk in any heel over 2.5” and has all her shoes cut down accordingly (seriously). And I, Desiree, refuse to wear a heel shorter than 5 inches (especially crucial when dating someone who is 6’6”).

So imagine our glee when we discovered a shoe that offered the practicality of a flat with the added benefit of kick-ass height. Platforms have been huge the last couple years, and flats have never been chicer (especially when running around the city), so combine the two, and voila! Flatforms.

This spring, all the big-name designers must have been thinking the same thing since they were spotted all over the runway. Whether sporty at Prada, classic at Derek Lam, or glitter-icious at Marc Jacobs, flatforms are just begging to be noticed.

Plus, your painfully arched feet can finally catch a break! Win-win all around.

1. Chloe back tie wedge, $795, Barneys.com 2. Cacharel “J” platform sandals, $635, OpeningCeremony.com 3. TENOVERSIX “Kat” wooden wedge, $320, TenOver6.com 4. 3.1 Philip Lim “‘X’-Cellent” platform sandal, $625, NeimanMarcus.com 5. Pedro Garcia “Demi” wedge, $440, Nordstrom.com 6. Prada patent leather platform sandals, $650, SaksFifthAvenue.com 7. Derek Lam stacked wedge platform pumps $590, SaksFifthAvenue.com 8. Topshop suede peep toe platform wedges, $130, Topshop.com 9. Michael Kors triple-buckle platform sandal, $750, NeimanMarcus.com

Images Courtesy of Marc Jacobs, Derek Lam, Prada, Alexander Wang, and Chanel.