The earliest known shoes date from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and were Mason Direct Shoes found in Oregon, USA in 1938[1]. However, Mason Direct Shoes the materials used for making Mason Direct Shoes shoes do not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably in use long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus Mason Direct Shoes believes he has found evidence that the use of shoes began in the Mason Direct Shoes period between about 40,000 and 26,000 years ago, based on the fact that the thickness of the bones of the toes (other Comfort One Shoes than the big toe) decreased during this period, on the premise that going barefoot results in greater bone growth before this period.[1]
Parts of Mason Direct Shoes a shoe
Gluing a new outsole to an athletic shoe
Sole
The bottom of a shoe is Mason Direct Shoes called the sole.
Insole
The insole is the interior bottom Mason Direct Shoes of a shoe, which sits directly Mason Direct Shoes beneath Mason Direct Shoes the foot. Many shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are often added for comfort or health reasons (to Mason Direct Shoes control the shape, Mason Direct Shoes moisture, or smell of the shoe).
Outsole
The outsole is the layer in direct contact with the ground. Dress shoes have leather Mason Direct Shoes outsoles; casual or work-oriented Mason Direct Shoes shoes have outsoles made of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise Mason Direct Shoes a single piece, or Mason Direct Shoes may comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the heel of the sole is rubber for durability and traction, while the front Mason Direct Shoes is leather for style. Mason Direct Shoes Specialized shoes Mason Direct Shoes will often have Mason Direct Shoes modifications on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the outsole to grip the ground; many kinds of dancing shoes have much softer or harder soles.
Midsole
The layer in between Mason Direct Shoes the outsole and the insole that is Mason Direct Shoes typically there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like running shoes, have another material for Mason Direct Shoes shock absorption, usually beneath the heel where one puts the Mason Direct Shoes most pressure down. Different companies use different materials for the midsoles of their shoes. Some Mason Direct Shoes shoes may not have a midsole at all.
Heel
Women's fashion boots
The bottom rear part of a shoe is the heel. Its function is to support the heel of the foot. They are often made of the same material as the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion or to make the Mason Direct Shoes person look taller, or flat for a more practical use.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has an Mason Direct Shoes upper part that helps hold the shoe onto the foot. In the simplest Mason Direct Shoes cases, such as sandals or flip flops, this may be Mason Direct Shoes nothing more than a few straps for Mason Direct Shoes holding the Mason Direct Shoes sole in place. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will have a more complex upper. This part is often decorated or is made in a certain style to look attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 Mason Direct Shoes , from 1967, describes a method for producing a shoe-upper (Hain 1967).
Accessories Mason Direct Shoes to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to insert a foot into a shoe Mason Direct Shoes by keeping the shoe open and providing a smooth surface for Mason Direct Shoes the foot to slide upon.
Shoe Mason Direct Shoes tree: placed inside the shoe when Mason Direct Shoes user is not wearing it, to help maintain Mason Direct Shoes the shoe's shape.
Shoe Mason Direct Shoes polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread Mason Direct Shoes on shoes to improve Mason Direct Shoes appearance, glossiness, and provide protection.
Shoe brush and polishing Comfortable Women S Shoes cloth: used to apply polish to shoes.
Overshoes Mason Direct Shoes or galoshes: a rubber covering placed over shoes for rain and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: insert of various materials for cushioning, improved fit, or reduced Mason Direct Shoes abrasion. These include padding and inner linings. Inserts may also be used to correct foot problems.
Shoe bag: Mason Direct Shoes a bag that protects shoes against damage Mason Direct Shoes when they are not being worn.
Shoe stretcher: a tool for making a shoe longer or wider or for reducing discomfort Mason Direct Shoes in areas of a shoe.
Snow shoe: a Mason Direct Shoes wooden or leather Mason Direct Shoes piece which increases the area of ground covered by the shoe.
Shoelaces: a system used to secure shoes.
Types of shoes
Shoes made from real crocodile skin, in a conservation exhibit at Bristol Zoo, England.
Dress and casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized by smooth and Mason Direct Shoes supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow sleek figure. Casual shoes are characterized by sturdy leather uppers, non-leather outsoles, and wide profile.
Some designs of dress shoes can be worn Mason Direct Shoes by either gender. The majority of dress shoes have an upper covering, commonly made of leather, enclosing most of the lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This upper part of Mason Direct Shoes the shoe is often made without apertures or openings, but may also be made with openings Mason Direct Shoes or Mason Direct Shoes even itself consist of a series of straps, e.g. an open toe featured in women's shoes. Shoes with uppers Mason Direct Shoes made Mason Direct Shoes high Mason Direct Shoes to cover the ankles are also available; Mason Direct Shoes a shoe with Mason Direct Shoes the upper rising above the ankle is usually considered a boot but certain styles may Mason Direct Shoes be referred to as high-topped shoes or high-tops. Usually, a high-topped shoe is secured by laces or zippers, although some styles have elastic inserts to ease slipping the shoe on.
Men's shoes
Men's shoes can be categorized by how they are closed:
Balmorals: Mason Direct Shoes the vamp has a V-shaped Mason Direct Shoes slit to which the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In England, the balmoral is known as the Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American clothing companies to market shoes that Bandalino Shoes are not Mason Direct Shoes balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: the Mason Direct Shoes laces are Mason Direct Shoes tied to two pieces of leather independently attached to the vamp; also known as "open lacing". In England, the Blucher is known as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: a buckle and strap instead Mason Direct Shoes of lacing
Various other closings exist but are less Mason Direct Shoes popular such as side-elastic closings.
Men's shoes can also Mason Direct Shoes be decorated Mason Direct Shoes in various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: has an extra layer of leather that "caps" Mason Direct Shoes the toe. This is possibly Mason Direct Shoes the most popular decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): The toe of the shoe Mason Direct Shoes is covered with a perforated Mason Direct Shoes panel, the wing-tip, which extends down either side of the shoe. Brogues can be found in both balmoral and blucher styles. Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.
The tone or style of this Mason Direct Shoes article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be found on the talk Mason Direct Shoes page. See Wikipedia's Mason Direct Shoes guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(December 2007)
Women's shoes
There is a large variety of shoes available for women, in addition to most Mason Direct Shoes of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some broad categories are:
Pumps, Mason Direct Shoes known in the US and UK as ballerinas, ballet pumps or skimmers, are shoes with a very low heel and a relatively short vamp, exposing Mason Direct Shoes much of the instep. They are popular for warm-weather wear, and may be seen as more comfortable than shoes Mason Direct Shoes with a higher heel.
High heels may be Mason Direct Shoes shoes with heels 2 Mason Direct Shoes inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen as having more sex appeal than low heels (see article for discussion) and Mason Direct Shoes are thus commonly worn by women for Mason Direct Shoes formal occasions or social outings.
Sneaker boot and sneaker pump: a shoe that looks like an athletic shoe, Mason Direct Shoes but is equipped with a Mason Direct Shoes heel, making it Mason Direct Shoes a kind of novelty dress shoe.
Either gender
Women's sandals
Clog
Platform shoe: shoe with very thick soles Mason Direct Shoes and Mason Direct Shoes heels
Moccasin: originated by Native Americans, a soft shoe without a heel and usually made of leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting Mason Direct Shoes of a Mason Direct Shoes sole and various straps, leaving much of the foot exposed Mason Direct Shoes to air. They are thus popular Mason Direct Shoes for warm-weather wear, because they Mason Direct Shoes let the foot be cooler than a closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle shoe: Mason Direct Shoes leather shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over the instep, typically white uppers with black "saddle".
Loafer: a dress or casual shoe without Mason Direct Shoes laces; often with tassels, buckles, or coin-holders (penny loafers).
Boating shoes, also known as boat shoes and deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. Laces, if present, are usually Allen Edmond Shoes simple leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Often made of canvas Mason Direct Shoes or featuring a white sole. They Mason Direct Shoes have soft soles/heels to Mason Direct Shoes avoid marring or scratching a boat deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) frequently made of leather. Some are designed Matisse Shoes to be used in times of bad weather, or Mason Direct Shoes simply as an alternate style of casual or dress Mason Direct Shoes wear. Styles Mason Direct Shoes include rubber boots and snow boots, as well as work Mason Direct Shoes boots and hiking boots.
Slippers: For indoor use, Mason Direct Shoes commonly worn with Mason Direct Shoes pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's and women's athletic shoes Mason Direct Shoes and special function shoes often have less difference between the sexes than Mason Direct Shoes in dress shoes. In many cases these Mason Direct Shoes shoes can be Mason Direct Shoes worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than style.
Sneakers/trainers (also called gym shoes or tennis shoes): general purpose Mason Direct Shoes athletic shoes; made out of rubber, cloth, and/or plastic to be lightweight, Mason Direct Shoes flexible, and have good traction. Special varieties Mason Direct Shoes are available for basketball or tennis.
Running shoes: very similar to above, with additional emphasis on cushioning.
Track shoes: lightweight; Mason Direct Shoes often with plastic or metal cleats
A shoe for the right foot.
Cleat (shoe): a type Mason Direct Shoes of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Usually worn while playing sports such as rugby, football, American football, or Mason Direct Shoes baseball.
A shoe for the right foot.
Golf Mason Direct Shoes shoes: with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Mason Direct Shoes Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of metal but replaceable "soft spikes" made of Mason Direct Shoes synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around the edge of each spike Mason Direct Shoes are much more Mason Direct Shoes common today (and are required on many golf courses since they cause less damage to the greens).
Bowling Mason Direct Shoes shoes: intermediate style between ordinary dress shoes and athletic shoes. They have harder Mason Direct Shoes rubber soles/heels so as Mason Direct Shoes not to damage Mason Direct Shoes bowling alley floors. They are often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a shoe designed Mason Direct Shoes for Mason Direct Shoes rock climbing. They typically have Mason Direct Shoes a close fit, little if any padding, and a smooth sticky rubber sole with an extended rubber rand.
Hiking Mason Direct Shoes shoes or boots: usually have a high somewhat stiff upper with many lace eyelets, to provide ankle support on uneven terrain, with extra large traction on the sole.
Walking shoes: have a more flexible sole than the running shoe, lighter in weight than the hiking boot, may have air Mason Direct Shoes holes, may not be water proof.
Skating shoes: typically Mason Direct Shoes called skates. They have various attachments for Mason Direct Shoes skating on the bottom of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: a large, thick plastic boot specially designed Mason Direct Shoes for attachment Mason Direct Shoes to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes have flat soles for Mason Direct Shoes a better grip Grenson Shoes on a skateboard. They are very wide and have extra layers of padding Mason Direct Shoes to protect the skateboarders Mason Direct Shoes feet.
Cycling shoes are Mason Direct Shoes equipped with a metal or plastic cleat to interface with clipless pedals, as well as a stiff sole Mason Direct Shoes to maximize power transfer and support the foot.
Snowshoes are special Mason Direct Shoes shoes for walking in thick Mason Direct Shoes snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes are used for mostly recreational purposes in winter.
Wrestling shoes are light, flexible shoes Mason Direct Shoes that mimic bare feet while providing additional Mason Direct Shoes traction and protection.
Orthopedic shoes
Orthopedic or "comfort" shoes are made with pedorthic and anatomically-correct comfort Fly Shoes qualities, Mason Direct Shoes such as padded removable footbeds, wide toe boxes and arch support are made especially for those with problematic feet.
Dance shoes
Pointe shoes. Designed for ballet Mason Direct Shoes dancing. These have a toe box that is stiffened with glue and a hardened sole so the Mason Direct Shoes dancer can stand on the tips of their toes. They are secured by elastic straps and ribbons that are tied to the dancer's ankles.
Ballet shoes Heel-less slippers made of canvas or leather, with either continuous or two-part sole (i.e., split-sole). The sole is Mason Direct Shoes typically made of leather, Mason Direct Shoes with thicker material under the ball Punk Shoes and heel of Mason Direct Shoes the foot, and thinner Mason Direct Shoes and thus more flexible material under the arch so that the foot can be pointed to its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured by elastics that cross over the top of the foot. They are most commonly pink, white, black, or pale Mason Direct Shoes tan, Mason Direct Shoes although they may be made in specialty colours such as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. Mason Direct Shoes These Mason Direct Shoes typically have a two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., split-sole) to provide both flexibility and Mason Direct Shoes traction, and a Mason Direct Shoes low (one inch or shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by laces or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They fall into two categories for the two genres of dances as defined by Mason Direct Shoes the IDSF (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom Mason Direct Shoes and Latin American. Both Sesto Meucci Shoes are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom Mason Direct Shoes shoes Mason Direct Shoes are typically lace-ups with Mason Direct Shoes 1-inch heels and patent leather uppers. Ladies' Ballroom shoes are typically court shoes with low 2-inch heels, usually made of Mason Direct Shoes fabric so that they Mason Direct Shoes can be finished with a greater variety of colours to match the Mason Direct Shoes dancer's dress. The low Ballroom heel distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Latin American Mason Direct Shoes shoes have Mason Direct Shoes higher heels designed to throw the dancer's weight on to the toes and the soles are more flexible. Men's Latin shoes typically have 1.5-inch Mason Direct Shoes to 2-inch shaped heels while Ladies' Latin shoes have 2,5-inch to 3-inch heels, open-toed and strapped.
Dance sneakers. Also known as dansneakers, these are a Mason Direct Shoes combination of a sneaker and a Mason Direct Shoes dance shoe, with a reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a one to three inch heel, which are usually made Mason Direct Shoes of leather, and Mason Direct Shoes often have one or more straps across the instep to Mason Direct Shoes secure the foot during dance. They may come in soft-soled (suede) or Mason Direct Shoes hard-soled varieties. They may be converted to tap shoes by Mason Direct Shoes attaching taps.
Foot thongs. Variously called called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, these are Mason Direct Shoes slip-on, partial foot covers that protect the ball of a dancer's foot from skin Mason Direct Shoes abrasions while executing turns. From Marlboro Classics Shoes a distance, flesh colored Mason Direct Shoes foot thongs give a dancer the appearance of having bare feet.
Modern pointe shoes.
Ballet shoes.
Jazz shoes. This style is frequently worn by acro dancers.
A foot thong, viewed Mason Direct Shoes from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed to stand heavy wear, to protect the wearer, and provide high traction. Mason Direct Shoes They are generally Mason Direct Shoes made from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or comfort by nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly used for protection in industrial settings, construction, mining, and other Mason Direct Shoes workplaces. Protective Mason Direct Shoes features may include steel-tipped toes and Mason Direct Shoes soles Mason Direct Shoes or ankle Mason Direct Shoes guards.
Historical shoes
Footwear has been worn Walsh Fell Running Shoes for tens of thousands of years. Shoes of the past include:
Espadrilles: these Mason Direct Shoes sandals, Tango Dance Shoes which are still worn today, are Mason Direct Shoes found as early as the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe Mason Direct Shoes used to Mason Direct Shoes keep a person's feet dry outdoors. First worn in the middle Mason Direct Shoes ages, they Mason Direct Shoes continued in use even Mason Direct Shoes into the early 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe with a long-pointed toe, popular in Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: Mason Direct Shoes the historical shoe of many North American Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some shoes are made of hard but deformable material. After a person wears them multiple times, Mason Direct Shoes the material reforms to fit Mason Direct Shoes the wearer's feet. The Rockport Walking Shoes person Mason Direct Shoes is said to have broken in the Mason Direct Shoes shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water resistance (to some Mason Direct Shoes extent) Mason Direct Shoes and appearance, especially for leather shoes and boots.
Heel replacement: heels periodically wear Mason Direct Shoes out. Not all shoes are designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: soles also wear out. Not all Mason Direct Shoes shoes can have their soles replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When Mason Direct Shoes unfit for use, shoes can be treated as trash or municipal solid waste and disposed of. The exception can be with Mason Direct Shoes most Mason Direct Shoes athletic sneakers which can be recycled and turned into other raw materials. See Nike Grind as an example.
Someone who makes or repairs shoes in a shop is called a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In most parts of the world (Asia, Eastern Europe, parts of the Middle East and Africa, much of Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Ana-tech Shoes Alaska) it is customary to remove shoes when entering a house. In some areas of the United States, Mason Direct Shoes especially the Midwest, it is Mason Direct Shoes expected that visitors remove their Mason Direct Shoes shoes unless a host specifically Mason Direct Shoes invites them to leave their shoes on. People Mason Direct Shoes do this Mason Direct Shoes to avoid bringing dirt, mud or snow into the house. For some societies, Mason Direct Shoes including those in Mason Direct Shoes Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for guests.
In the Mason Direct Shoes Middle East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude to show the soles of the feet to Mason Direct Shoes others (even accidentally, such as by crossing the legs). Mason Direct Shoes In addition, in Thailand, it is an extreme insult Mason Direct Shoes for the foot, socks, or shoes to touch Mason Direct Shoes someone's head or be placed over it. Although feet touching heads is an extremely Mason Direct Shoes rare occurrence in any society, some Muay Thai boxers insult each other by "kicking" the opponent's Mason Direct Shoes head with their foot (most Muay Thai kicks Mason Direct Shoes are executed with the shin). |
