The earliest known shoes date from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and 1950s Shoes were found in Oregon, USA in 1938[1]. However, the materials used for making shoes do not normally last for thousands of years, 1950s Shoes so shoes were probably in use 1950s Shoes long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he has found evidence that the use 1950s Shoes of shoes began in the period between 1950s Shoes 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 in greater bone growth before this period.[1] Parts of a shoe Gluing a new outsole to an athletic shoe Sole The bottom of a shoe is 1950s Shoes called the sole. Insole The insole 1950s Shoes is the interior bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many shoes have 1950s Shoes removable and replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are often added for comfort or health reasons (to control the shape, moisture, or smell of the shoe). Outsole The outsole is the layer in direct contact with the ground. Dress shoes have 1950s Shoes leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have 1950s Shoes outsoles made of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a single piece, or may comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the heel 1950s Shoes of the sole is rubber for durability and traction, while the front is leather for style. Specialized shoes will often 1950s Shoes have modifications on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the outsole to 1950s Shoes grip the ground; many kinds of dancing shoes have much softer or harder soles. Midsole The layer in between the 1950s Shoes outsole and the insole that is typically there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like running shoes, have another material 1950s Shoes for shock absorption, usually beneath the heel 1950s Shoes where one puts the most pressure down. Different companies use different materials for the midsoles of their shoes. Some shoes may not have a midsole at 1950s Shoes 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 1950s Shoes make the person look taller, or flat for a more practical use. Vamp, or upper Any shoe has an upper part that helps hold the shoe onto the foot. In the simplest cases, such as sandals or flip flops, this may be nothing more 1950s Shoes 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 1950s Shoes is often decorated or is made in a certain style to look attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 , from 1967, 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 open and providing a smooth surface for the foot 1950s Shoes to slide upon. Shoe tree: placed inside the shoe when user is not wearing it, to 1950s Shoes help maintain the shoe's 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 1950s Shoes to apply polish to shoes. Overshoes 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 abrasion. These include padding and Sporting Shoes Supplies inner linings. Inserts may also be used to correct foot problems. Shoe bag: a bag that protects shoes against damage when they are 1950s Shoes not being worn. Shoe stretcher: a tool for making a shoe longer or wider or for 1950s Shoes reducing discomfort in areas of a shoe. Snow shoe: a wooden or leather 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 1950s Shoes Bristol Zoo, England. Dress and casual shoes Dress shoes are categorized by smooth and supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow sleek figure. Casual shoes are characterized 1950s Shoes 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 1950s Shoes of the lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This upper part of the shoe is often made without apertures or 1950s Shoes openings, but may also be made with 1950s Shoes 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 cover the ankles are also available; a shoe with the upper rising above the 1950s Shoes ankle is usually considered 1950s 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 1950s Shoes slipping the shoe 1950s Shoes on. Men's shoes Men's shoes can be categorized by how they are closed: Balmorals: the vamp has a V-shaped slit to which the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In England, the 1950s Shoes balmoral is known as the Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American 1950s Shoes clothing companies to market shoes that are not balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers. Bluchers: the laces are 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 of lacing Various other closings exist but are less popular such as side-elastic closings. Men's shoes can also be 1950s Shoes decorated in 1950s Shoes various ways: Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no 1950s Shoes 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 1950s Shoes perforated panel, the wing-tip, which 1950s Shoes extends down either side of the 1950s Shoes shoe. Brogues can be found in both balmoral and blucher styles. Please help improve this 1950s Shoes section by expanding it. Further information might be found 1950s Shoes on the talk page or at requests for 1950s Shoes expansion. The tone or 1950s Shoes style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(December 2007) Women's shoes There is a large variety 1950s Shoes of shoes available for women, in addition to most of 1950s Shoes the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some 1950s Shoes broad categories are: Pumps, 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 much of the instep. They are popular for warm-weather wear, and may be seen as more comfortable than shoes with a higher heel. High heels may be shoes with heels 2 inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen as having more sex appeal than low heels 1950s Shoes (see article for discussion) and are thus commonly worn by women for formal occasions or social outings. Sneaker boot and sneaker pump: a shoe that looks like an athletic shoe, but 1950s Shoes 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 1950s Shoes and heels Moccasin: originated by 1950s Shoes Native Americans, a soft shoe without a heel and usually made of leather. Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, Leisure Shoes Supplies leaving much of the foot exposed to air. Heelies Shoes They are thus popular for warm-weather wear, because they let 1950s Shoes the foot be cooler than a closed-toed shoe would. Saddle shoe: leather shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band 1950s Shoes over the instep, typically white uppers 1950s Shoes with black "saddle". Loafer: a dress or casual shoe without laces; often with tassels, buckles, or coin-holders (penny loafers). Boating shoes, also known as boat 1950s Shoes shoes and deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. 1950s Shoes Laces, if present, are usually simple leather (often two-tone) with 1950s Shoes 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 1950s Shoes used in times of bad weather, or simply as an alternate style of casual or 1950s Shoes dress wear. Styles include rubber boots and 1950s Shoes snow boots, as 1950s Shoes well as work boots and hiking boots. Slippers: For indoor use, 1950s Shoes commonly worn with pajamas. Athletic shoes Men's and women's athletic shoes 1950s 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 either 1950s Shoes sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than style. Sneakers/trainers (also called gym shoes or tennis shoes): 1950s Shoes general purpose athletic shoes; made out of rubber, cloth, and/or plastic to be lightweight, flexible, and have good 1950s Shoes traction. Special varieties are available for basketball or tennis. Running shoes: very similar to above, with additional emphasis 1950s Shoes on cushioning. Track shoes: lightweight; often with plastic or metal cleats A shoe 1950s Shoes for the right 1950s Shoes foot. Cleat (shoe): a type of shoe 1950s Shoes featuring 1950s Shoes molded or removable studs. Usually worn 1950s Shoes while playing sports such as rugby, football, American football, or baseball. A shoe for the right foot. Golf shoes: 1950s Shoes with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of metal but replaceable "soft spikes" made of synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around the edge of 1950s 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 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 1950s Shoes smooth sticky rubber sole with an extended rubber rand. Hiking 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 1950s Shoes have air holes, may not be 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, thick plastic 1950s Shoes boot specially designed for attachment to the ski. Skateboarding Earth Shoes Clearance shoes have flat soles for a better grip on a skateboard. They 1950s Shoes are very wide and have extra layers of padding to protect the skateboarders feet. Cycling shoes are equipped with a metal or plastic cleat to interface with clipless pedals, as well as a stiff sole to maximize power transfer and support the foot. Snowshoes are special shoes for walking in thick snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes are used for mostly recreational purposes in winter. Wrestling shoes are 1950s Shoes light, flexible shoes that mimic bare feet while providing 1950s Shoes 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. These 1950s Shoes have a toe box that is stiffened with glue 1950s Shoes and a 1950s Shoes hardened sole so the dancer can stand on the tips of their toes. They are secured by elastic straps and 1950s Shoes 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 typically made of leather, with thicker material under the ball and heel 1950s Shoes of the foot, and thinner and thus more flexible material under the arch Grace Wedding Shoes so that 1950s Shoes the foot can be pointed to its 1950s Shoes utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured by elastics that 1950s Shoes cross over the top of the foot. 1950s Shoes They are most commonly pink, white, 1950s Shoes black, Debut Shoes or pale tan, although they may be made in specialty colours such as red or 1950s Shoes 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 1950s Shoes shoes. Ballroom shoes. They fall into two categories for the two genres of dances as 1950s Shoes defined by the IDSF (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom and Latin American. Both are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups with 1-inch 1950s Shoes heels and patent leather 1950s Shoes uppers. Ladies' Ballroom shoes are typically court shoes with low 2-inch heels, usually made of fabric so that they can 1950s Shoes be finished with a greater variety of colours to match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom heel distributes the dancer's 1950s Shoes weight across the foot while Latin American shoes have higher heels designed to throw the dancer's 1950s Shoes weight on to the toes 1950s Shoes and the soles are more flexible. Men's Latin shoes typically have 1.5-inch 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 combination of a sneaker 1950s Shoes and a dance shoe, with a reinforced rubber toe. Character shoes. Shoes with a one to three inch heel, which are usually made of leather, and often have one or more straps across the instep to secure the foot during dance. They may come in soft-soled (suede) or hard-soled varieties. They may be converted to tap shoes by attaching taps. Foot thongs. Variously called called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, these are slip-on, partial foot covers that protect the ball of a dancer's foot from skin abrasions while executing turns. From a distance, flesh colored foot 1950s Shoes thongs give a dancer the 1950s Shoes appearance of having bare feet. Modern pointe shoes. Ballet shoes. Jazz shoes. This style 1950s Shoes is frequently worn by 1950s Shoes acro dancers. A foot thong, 1950s Shoes viewed from the underside. Work 1950s Shoes shoes Work shoes are designed to stand heavy wear, to protect the wearer, and provide high traction. They are generally made from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or comfort by 1950s Shoes nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly 1950s Shoes used for protection in 1950s Shoes industrial settings, construction, mining, and other workplaces. Protective features may include steel-tipped toes and soles or 1950s Shoes ankle guards. Historical shoes Footwear has been worn for tens of thousands of years. Shoes 1950s Shoes of the past include: Espadrilles: these sandals, which are still worn today, 1950s Shoes are found as early 1950s Shoes as the 14th century. Patten: a European wooden overshoe 1950s Shoes used 1950s Shoes to keep a person's feet 1950s Shoes dry outdoors. First worn in the middle ages, they continued in use even into the early 20th century. Poulaine: 1950s Shoes a shoe with a long-pointed toe, popular in Europe in the 1400s. Moccasins: 1950s Shoes the historical shoe 1950s Shoes of many North American Indian tribes. Maintenance Breaking-in: Some shoes are made 1950s Shoes of hard but deformable material. 1950s Shoes After a person wears them multiple times, the material reforms to fit the wearer's feet. The person is said to have broken in the shoes. Polishing: for protection, water resistance (to some extent) and appearance, especially for leather shoes and boots. Heel replacement: heels periodically wear out. Not all shoes are designed to enable this. Sole replacement: soles also wear out. Not all shoes can have their soles replaced. Shoelace replacement. When unfit for use, 1950s Shoes shoes can be 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 1950s Shoes makes or repairs shoes in a shop is called a cobbler. Shoe etiquette In most parts of 1950s Shoes the world (Asia, Eastern Europe, parts of the Middle East and Africa, much of 1950s Shoes Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Alaska) it is customary to remove shoes when entering a house. 1950s Shoes In some areas of the United States, especially the Midwest, it is expected that visitors remove 1950s Shoes their shoes unless a host specifically invites them to leave their shoes on. People do this to avoid bringing 1950s Shoes dirt, mud or snow into the house. For some societies, including those in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for guests. In 1950s Shoes the Middle East, parts 1950s Shoes of Africa, Korea 1950s Shoes and Thailand, it is considered 1950s Shoes rude to show the soles of the feet to others (even accidentally, such as by crossing the legs). In addition, in Thailand, it is an extreme insult for the foot, socks, or shoes to touch someone's head or be placed over it. Although feet touching heads is an extremely 1950s Shoes rare occurrence in any society, some Muay Thai boxers 1950s Shoes insult each other by "kicking" the opponent's head with their foot (most 1950s Shoes Muay Thai kicks are executed 1950s Shoes with the shin).