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