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