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