I recently made the leap and bought a pair of Demonia Platforms. I had wanted a pair of these ridiculously awesome shoes for a long time, and I must say that they truly did not disappoint. They were even cooler then they had looked in the hundreds of pictures I had gone through before finally deciding to purchase them. It goes almost without saying that they are probably the coolest thing I have ever seen, but they are astonishingly comfortable, especially given the height of the platforms. However, when it came to wearing them for long periods, there was some work that needed to be done to make it a little easier.

Shoes have always been that last piece of the puzzle of an awesome rave outfit. Personally, I have always struggled with them, which is why a pair of platforms that will go with almost everything were the perfect addition to my closet. I settled on the Trinity Boots which you can find online at Dolls Kill.

Now for those of you who are shorties like me, and want to wear shoes that will give you enough lift to actually see the stage instead of the back of tall people’s heads, I cannot recommend platforms enough. They give you the lift of a high hell while also giving you more of the comfort of a normal shoe, which is crucial if you are going to be dancing all night, or just walking around. So, if you’ve decided to get a pair of platforms, go for it! You won’t regret it, but there are a few things you should do before you try to wear them for the entirety of your next festival (because I promise you, you won’t want to take them off).

The first thing you need to do is MAKE SURE TO GET THE RIGHT SIZE. Sounds kind of silly to say, but make sure that the fit is comfortable before you get rid of your receipts. Don’t be afraid to return them and exchange for a size that fits you better. The most important thing is that you are comfortable because trust me, nothing is worse than having a pair of too-tight shoes that you can’t wear because you were too stubborn to exchange them for a better size.

The second thing to do and perhaps the most important thing is to TAKE IT SLOW. Trying to wear any new shoe for hours before it is properly broken in is never fun. You can end up with blisters, squished toes, and all sorts of foot pain down the line. So start by wearing them around the house for an hour, and then take them off and give your feet a rest. Slowly build up the amount of time you wear them until they start to become molded to your foot. It may feel a little weird and sort of silly walking around your home in a giant pair of five-inch platforms, but it will be well worth it.

You are going to need to BUILD UP MUSCLE. Raving is a marathon, and like a marathon, you need to do some training beforehand to get ready. This is especially true when you are planning wearing platforms. The first time I wore my platforms out for a six-hour run at a club show, I had to sit down towards the end because my legs were so sore. The next day my calves were burning, and I constantly had to stretch to try and alleviate some of the pain. By wearing your platforms in increasingly long increments, you are going to start building up the muscles you will use when you wear them. It helps to try and increase your activity, especially when it comes to training your body to stand for long previous of time. Do some strength training. This doesn’t mean you need to start taking steroids and bulk up. You can build up the strength you need by going for long walks or walking at a steep incline on the treadmill.

You should also INVEST IN A GOOD PAIR OF INSOLES. It never hurts to have a little bit more cushion and support for your feet, especially if you are planning on wearing your shoes for multiple days at EDC or another longer event where you will need to walk around a lot. There are wide ranges of insole types and prices, so you don’t necessarily need to break the bank, but it helps to get a decent pair with good reviews.

My final piece of advice when it comes to breaking in your platforms and getting them rave-ready is to DANCE IN THEM. Yeah, it's important to build up strength and have insoles and everything, but if you don’t dance in them then what is the point! Wear them out to clubs, dance around and have a good time in them. While all my little ticks will help make spending seven-plus hours in your platforms easier, nothing does the trick like dancing. When you dance in your shoes, you also learn how your body needs to adjust to moving comfortably and safely in them which will be super important on uneven ground.

All in all, the key to raving in platforms is to take it slow and build up the strength you need to wear them while also taking some steps to break them in. Don't try and do everything all at once. Think about it like learning how to ride a bike. You don't try and go for a thirty-mile ride without any training wheels when you first learn. You need training wheels. Later on this month I will do a shopping list of my favorite platforms out there, so you can add a pair or two to your collection.