Pattens are a type of footwear that originated in the Middle Ages, primarily used in Europe. They consist of wooden or metal platforms worn over regular shoes to elevate the wearer above muddy or wet ground. This design helped protect shoes and keep feet dry in unsanitary conditions. Typically, pattens were secured to the foot with leather straps and were often worn by both men and women. They became less common with the advent of modern footwear and improved urban sanitation, but they remain an interesting aspect of historical fashion and are sometimes seen in museums or reenactments of historical events.