A typical Fred Slatten platform was 7 inches high, made from wood by a Los Angeles furniture maker, with satin or leather uppers. They were embellished by a team of artists using a variety of methods, including decoupage, gold leaf, airbrushing, rhinestoning, even sandblasting.
In the early 1970s, while much of the world seemed to be spinning out of control, Fred Slatten offered escape in the form of shoes — crazy-high heels and towering platforms that lured rock stars and fashion mavens to his glitzy boutique in West Hollywood.
Mr. Slatten made fantasy footwear, adorning his designs with rhinestones, peacock feathers, decals and the hand-painted images of celebrities’ faces, including David Bowie and Marilyn Monroe.