The earliest known shoes date Maury Shoes from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and were found in Oregon, USA in 1938[1]. However, the materials used for making shoes do not Maury Shoes normally last for thousands of Maury Shoes Vans Skate Shoes years, so shoes Maury Shoes were probably in use long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he has found evidence that the use Maury Shoes of shoes began in the period between about 40,000 and 26,000 years ago, based on the Maury Shoes 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 Maury Shoes this period.[1]
Parts of a shoe
Gluing a new outsole to an athletic shoe
Sole
The bottom of a shoe is called Maury Shoes the sole.
Insole
The insole is the interior bottom of a Maury Shoes shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many shoes have 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 Maury Shoes the layer in direct contact Maury Shoes with the ground. Dress shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have Maury Shoes outsoles made of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a Maury Shoes single piece, or may comprise separate Maury Shoes pieces of Maury Shoes different materials. Often Maury Shoes the heel of the sole Maury Shoes is rubber for durability and traction, Maury Shoes while the front is leather for style. Specialized shoes will Maury Shoes often have 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 the outsole and the insole Maury Shoes that is typically there for shock absorption. Some Maury Shoes types of shoes, like Maury Shoes running Maury Shoes shoes, Maury Shoes have another material for shock absorption, usually beneath the heel 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 all.
Heel
Women's fashion boots
The bottom rear part Maury 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 sole of the Maury Shoes shoe. This part can Maury Shoes 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 upper part that Maury Shoes helps hold the shoe onto the foot. In the simplest cases, such as sandals or flip flops, this may be nothing Gravity Defyer Shoes more than a Maury Shoes few straps for holding the Maury Shoes sole Maury Shoes in place. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will have a Maury Shoes more Maury Shoes complex upper. This part is often decorated or is made in a certain style to look attractive. The Maury Shoes U.S. Patent 3,355,535 , Maury Shoes from 1967, describes a method Maury Shoes for producing a Maury Shoes shoe-upper (Hain 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to insert a foot into Maury Shoes a shoe by keeping the shoe open and providing a smooth surface for the Maury Shoes foot to slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed inside the shoe when user is not wearing it, to Maury Shoes help maintain the shoe's Lehigh Safety Shoes shape.
Shoe polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread on shoes Maury Shoes to improve appearance, glossiness, and provide Maury Shoes protection.
Shoe brush and polishing cloth: used 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 Maury Shoes for cushioning, improved fit, or reduced abrasion. These include padding and inner linings. Inserts may also be used to correct Maury Shoes foot problems.
Shoe bag: a bag Maury Shoes that protects shoes against damage when Maury Shoes they are not being worn.
Shoe stretcher: a tool for Maury Shoes making a shoe Maury Shoes longer or wider or for Maury Shoes reducing discomfort Maury Shoes in areas of a shoe.
Snow shoe: a wooden or leather piece which Maury Shoes 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 Maury Shoes exhibit at Bristol Maury Shoes Zoo, England.
Dress and Maury Shoes casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized Maury Shoes by smooth and supple leather uppers, Maury Shoes 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 by Maury Shoes 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 the shoe is often made without apertures or openings, but may also be made Maury Shoes with openings or even itself consist of Maury Shoes a series of straps, e.g. an open toe featured Maury Shoes in women's shoes. Shoes with uppers made high to cover the ankles are also Maury Shoes available; a shoe with Maury Shoes the upper rising above the Maury Shoes ankle is usually considered a boot but certain styles may be Maury Shoes referred to as high-topped Maury Shoes shoes or high-tops. Usually, a high-topped shoe is secured by laces Maury Shoes or Maury Shoes zippers, Maury Shoes although some styles Maury Shoes have elastic inserts to ease slipping the shoe 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; Maury Shoes 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 are not balmorals, Maury Shoes such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: the laces are tied to Maury Shoes two pieces of leather independently attached to the Maury Shoes vamp; also known as Maury Shoes "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 Maury Shoes closings.
Men's shoes can also be decorated in various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and Maury Shoes no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: has Maury Shoes an extra layer of leather that "caps" the toe. This is possibly the most popular decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): The Maury Shoes toe of the shoe is covered with a perforated panel, the wing-tip, which extends down either side Maury Shoes of the shoe. Brogues can be found in both balmoral Maury Shoes and blucher styles. Please help Maury Shoes improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found Maury Shoes on the talk page or at requests for expansion.
The tone or style of this article or section may not be Maury Shoes appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles Maury Shoes for suggestions.(December 2007)
Women's shoes
There is a large variety of shoes Maury Shoes available for women, Maury Shoes in Maury Shoes addition to most of the men's styles Maury Shoes being more accepted as Maury Shoes unisex. Some broad categories are:
Pumps, known in the US and Maury Shoes 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 Maury Shoes 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 Maury Shoes Cinderella Shoes having more sex appeal than low heels Maury Shoes (see article for Maury Shoes discussion) and are thus commonly worn by women for Maury Shoes formal occasions or social outings.
Sneaker boot and sneaker pump: a shoe that looks like an Maury Shoes athletic shoe, Maury Shoes 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 Maury Shoes by Native Americans, a soft shoe Maury Shoes without a heel and usually made of leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and Maury Shoes various straps, leaving much of the foot exposed Maury Shoes to air. They are thus popular for warm-weather wear, because they let the foot be cooler than a closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle shoe: Maury Shoes leather Maury Shoes shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over the instep, typically white uppers 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 shoes and deck Marc Ecko Shoes shoes: similar to a Maury Shoes loafer, but more casual. Laces, if present, Maury Shoes are Maury Shoes usually simple leather (often two-tone) with Maury Shoes no frills. Often made of canvas or featuring Maury Shoes a white sole. They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring or Maury Shoes scratching a boat deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) Maury Shoes frequently made of Maury Shoes leather. Some are designed to be used in times of bad Maury Shoes weather, or simply as an alternate style of casual or dress Maury Shoes wear. Styles include rubber boots and snow boots, as well as work boots and Maury Shoes hiking boots.
Slippers: For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic Maury Shoes shoes
Men's and women's Maury Shoes athletic shoes and special function shoes Maury Shoes often have Maury Shoes less difference between the sexes than in dress shoes. In many cases these shoes Maury Shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than style.
Sneakers/trainers (also called gym shoes or Maury Shoes tennis shoes): general purpose athletic shoes; made out of Maury Shoes rubber, cloth, and/or plastic to be lightweight, flexible, Maury Shoes and have good traction. Special varieties are Maury Shoes available for basketball or tennis.
Running shoes: very similar to Maury Shoes above, with additional emphasis on cushioning.
Track shoes: lightweight; often Maury Shoes with plastic or metal cleats
A shoe for the right foot.
Cleat (shoe): a type of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Usually worn while playing sports such as rugby, Maury Shoes football, American football, Maury Shoes or baseball.
A shoe for the Maury Shoes right foot.
Golf shoes: with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Originally the spikes or Maury Shoes "cleats" were made of metal but replaceable "soft spikes" made of synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around Maury Shoes the edge of each spike Maury Shoes 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 Maury Shoes to damage bowling alley floors. They are often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a shoe Maury Shoes designed for rock climbing. They typically have a close fit, little if any padding, and a smooth sticky rubber Maury Shoes sole with an extended Maury Shoes rubber rand.
Hiking shoes or boots: usually have a high somewhat stiff upper with Cheap Skate Shoes many lace eyelets, to provide ankle support on uneven terrain, with extra large traction on the Buster Brown Shoes sole.
Walking shoes: have a more flexible sole than the running shoe, lighter Maury Shoes in Maury Shoes weight Maury Shoes than the hiking boot, may have air holes, may not be water proof.
Skating shoes: typically called skates. They Maury Shoes have various attachments for skating on the bottom of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: a large, thick Maury Shoes plastic boot specially designed for attachment to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes Maury Shoes have flat soles for a better grip on a skateboard. They are very wide and have Maury Shoes extra layers of padding to Maury Shoes protect the skateboarders feet.
Cycling shoes are equipped with a metal or plastic cleat to interface with clipless pedals, as well as Maury Shoes a stiff sole to maximize power transfer and support the foot.
Snowshoes are special shoes for walking in thick snow. In temperate climates, Maury Shoes snowshoes are used for mostly recreational purposes in winter.
Wrestling shoes are light, flexible shoes that mimic bare feet while providing Maury Shoes additional traction and protection.
Orthopedic shoes
Orthopedic or Maury Shoes "comfort" shoes Maury Shoes are made with pedorthic and anatomically-correct Maury Shoes comfort qualities, such as padded removable footbeds, wide toe boxes and arch support are made especially for those Maury Shoes with problematic feet.
Dance shoes
Pointe shoes. Designed for ballet dancing. These have a toe box that is stiffened with glue Maury Shoes and a hardened sole so the dancer can Maury Shoes stand on the tips of their toes. Maury Shoes They are Maury Shoes secured by elastic straps and ribbons that are tied to the dancer's ankles.
Ballet Maury Shoes shoes Heel-less slippers made of canvas or Maury Shoes 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 of the foot, and thinner and Maury Shoes thus more flexible Maury Shoes material under the arch so that the foot can be Maury Shoes pointed to its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured by elastics that cross over the top of the foot. They are most Maury Shoes commonly pink, white, black, or pale tan, although Maury Shoes they may be made Maury Shoes in specialty colours such as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have a two-part, Blowfish Shoes rubberized Maury Shoes sole (i.e., Maury Shoes split-sole) to provide both Maury Shoes flexibility and Maury Shoes traction, and a low (one Maury Shoes inch or shorter) Maury Shoes heel. Maury Shoes They are secured to the foot by laces or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They Maury Shoes fall into two categories for the two genres of Maury Shoes dances as 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 Maury Shoes heels and patent leather uppers. Ladies' Ballroom Maury Shoes shoes are typically court shoes with low 2-inch heels, Maury Shoes usually made Maury Shoes of fabric so that they can be finished with a greater variety of colours to match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom heel distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Maury Shoes Latin American shoes have Maury Shoes higher heels designed to throw the dancer's weight on to the toes Maury Shoes and the soles are more flexible. Men's Latin shoes Maury Shoes typically have 1.5-inch Maury Shoes to 2-inch shaped heels while Ladies' Maury Shoes 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 and a dance shoe, with a reinforced rubber Maury Shoes 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 Maury Shoes during dance. They may come in soft-soled (suede) or hard-soled varieties. They may be converted to tap Maury Shoes shoes by attaching taps.
Foot thongs. Variously called Maury Shoes called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, these are slip-on, partial foot covers that Maury Shoes protect the ball of a dancer's foot from skin abrasions while Maury Shoes executing turns. From a distance, flesh colored Maury Shoes foot thongs give a dancer the appearance of having bare feet.
Modern Maury Shoes pointe shoes.
Ballet shoes.
Jazz shoes. This style is frequently worn by acro dancers.
A foot thong, viewed Maury Shoes from the underside.
Work Maury Shoes shoes
Work shoes are designed to stand Maury Shoes heavy wear, to protect the wearer, and provide high traction. They are generally made from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes Maury Shoes they are used Maury Shoes for uniforms or comfort by nurses, Maury Shoes waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly used for protection in industrial settings, construction, mining, and other workplaces. 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 are still Maury Shoes worn Maury Shoes today, are found as early as the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe used to keep a Maury Shoes person's feet dry outdoors. First worn in the middle ages, they continued in use even into the early 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe with a long-pointed toe, popular in Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: the historical shoe Maury Shoes 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, 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: Chef Shoes heels Maury Shoes 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, 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 Maury Shoes Grind as an example.
Someone who makes or Maury Shoes repairs shoes in a shop is called a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In most parts of Maury Shoes the world (Asia, Eastern Europe, parts of Maury Shoes the Middle East and Africa, much of Northern Europe and Canada, as Maury Shoes 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 specifically invites them to leave their shoes on. People do this to avoid Maury Shoes bringing dirt, mud or snow into the house. Maury Shoes For some societies, including Maury Shoes those Maury Shoes in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided Maury Shoes for guests.
In Maury Shoes the Middle Maury Shoes East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude to show the soles of the feet to Maury Shoes others (even accidentally, Character Shoes 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 Maury Shoes head or Maury Shoes be placed over it. Although feet touching heads is Maury Shoes an extremely rare occurrence Maury Shoes in any society, Maury Shoes some Muay Thai boxers insult each other by "kicking" the opponent's head with their foot (most Muay Thai kicks are executed with the shin). |
