The earliest known shoes date from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and were found in Oregon, USA Avia Shoes in 1938[1]. However, the Avia Shoes materials used for making shoes do not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably in use long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Avia Shoes Trinkaus believes he has found evidence that the use of shoes began in the period between about Avia Shoes 40,000 and 26,000 years ago, based on the fact that Avia Shoes the thickness of the Avia Shoes 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 Avia Shoes this period.[1]
Parts of Avia Shoes a Avia Shoes shoe
Gluing a Avia Shoes new outsole to an athletic Avia Shoes shoe
Sole
The bottom of a shoe is called the sole.
Insole
The insole is Avia Shoes the interior Avia Shoes bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many shoes have removable and Avia Shoes replaceable insoles, and Avia Shoes 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 Avia Shoes contact with the ground. Dress shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles made of natural rubber or Avia Shoes a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a single piece, or may comprise Avia Shoes separate pieces of different materials. Often the heel of the sole is rubber Blowfish Shoes for durability Avia Shoes and traction, while the Avia Shoes front is leather for style. Specialized shoes will often Avia Shoes have modifications on this Avia Shoes design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded Avia Shoes in the Avia Shoes 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 that is typically there for shock Avia Shoes absorption. Some types of shoes, like running shoes, have another material for shock absorption, usually beneath the heel Avia Shoes where one Avia Shoes puts the most pressure down. Different companies use different materials for the midsoles of their shoes. Some shoes may not have a midsole Avia Shoes at 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 Avia Shoes are often made of the same material as the sole of the Avia Shoes shoe. Avia Shoes This part can be high for fashion Avia Shoes or to Avia Shoes make the person look taller, or flat Avia Shoes for a more practical use.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has an upper part Avia Shoes that helps hold Avia Shoes the shoe onto the Avia Shoes foot. In the Avia Shoes simplest cases, Avia Shoes such as sandals or Avia Shoes flip Avia Shoes flops, Avia Shoes this may be nothing more than a few straps for holding the Avia Shoes sole in place. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers Avia Shoes and most men's shoes, will have Avia Shoes a more complex Avia Shoes upper. This part is often decorated Avia Shoes or is made in a certain style to look attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 , from 1967, describes a Avia Shoes method for producing a shoe-upper Avia Shoes (Hain 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to insert a foot into a shoe Avia Shoes by keeping the shoe open and Avia Shoes providing a smooth surface for the foot to slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed inside the shoe when user is not wearing it, to help maintain Avia Shoes 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 to Avia Shoes apply polish to shoes.
Overshoes Chef Shoes or galoshes: a rubber Avia Shoes covering Avia Shoes placed over shoes Avia Shoes for rain and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: insert of Avia Shoes various materials for cushioning, improved fit, or reduced Avia Shoes abrasion. These Avia Shoes include padding and inner linings. Inserts may also be used to correct Character Shoes foot problems.
Shoe bag: Avia Shoes a Avia Shoes 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: Avia Shoes a wooden or Maury Shoes 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 Bristol Zoo, England.
Dress and casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized Avia Shoes by smooth and Avia Shoes supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow sleek figure. Casual shoes are characterized by sturdy leather uppers, non-leather outsoles, and wide profile.
Some designs of Avia Shoes dress shoes can be worn by either gender. Avia Shoes The majority of dress shoes have Avia Shoes an upper covering, commonly made of leather, enclosing most Avia Shoes of Avia Shoes the lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This Avia Shoes upper part of the shoe is often made without apertures or openings, but may also be made with openings or even itself consist Avia Shoes 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 Avia Shoes also available; a shoe with the upper rising above Avia Shoes the ankle is usually considered 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 Avia Shoes 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 Avia Shoes to which the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In Avia Shoes England, the balmoral Avia Shoes is known as the Oxford. The word Avia Shoes "Oxford" is Avia Shoes used Avia Shoes by American clothing companies to market shoes that are not balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: Avia Shoes the laces are Avia Shoes tied to two Avia Shoes pieces of leather independently attached to the vamp; also known as "open lacing". In England, the Blucher Avia Shoes is known as the Derby Avia Shoes shoe.
Monk-straps: a buckle Avia Shoes and strap instead Avia Shoes of lacing
Various other closings exist but are less popular such as side-elastic closings.
Men's shoes Avia Shoes can also be decorated in various ways:
Plain-toes: have Avia Shoes a sleek appearance Avia Shoes and no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: has an extra layer of leather Avia Shoes that "caps" the toe. This is possibly the most popular decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): The toe of the shoe is covered with Avia Shoes a perforated panel, the wing-tip, which extends down either side of the shoe. Brogues can be Avia Shoes found in Avia Shoes both balmoral and blucher styles. Please help improve Avia Shoes this section by Avia Shoes expanding it.
Further Avia Shoes information Avia Shoes might 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 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 as unisex. Some broad categories are:
Pumps, known in the US Avia Shoes and UK as ballerinas, ballet pumps or skimmers, are shoes with a very low heel and a relatively short Avia Shoes vamp, exposing much of the instep. They are popular for warm-weather Avia Shoes 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. Avia Shoes They are Avia Shoes often seen as Avia Shoes having more 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 very thick soles and heels
Moccasin: originated by Native Americans, a soft shoe without a heel and usually made Avia Shoes of leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, leaving much of the Avia Shoes foot exposed Avia Shoes to air. They are thus popular for warm-weather wear, because they Avia Shoes let the foot be cooler than Avia Shoes a closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle shoe: leather shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over the instep, typically white uppers with Avia Shoes black "saddle".
Loafer: a dress or casual shoe without Avia Shoes 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, Avia Shoes if present, are usually simple leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Often made Avia Shoes of canvas or featuring Avia Shoes a white sole. They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring or scratching a boat Avia Shoes deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) frequently made of leather. Avia Shoes Some are designed Avia Shoes to be used Avia Shoes 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 and Avia Shoes hiking boots.
Slippers: For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's and women's athletic shoes and special function shoes often have less difference between the sexes than in dress shoes. In many cases Avia Shoes these shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than style.
Sneakers/trainers (also called gym Avia Shoes 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 varieties are available for basketball or tennis.
Running shoes: very similar Avia Shoes 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 of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Usually worn Avia Shoes while playing sports such as rugby, football, American Avia Shoes football, or baseball.
A shoe for the right foot.
Golf shoes: with "spikes" for better grip in grass and Avia Shoes wet ground. Avia Shoes Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of metal but Avia Shoes replaceable "soft spikes" made of synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around the edge of each spike are much more common Avia Shoes 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 Avia Shoes harder rubber soles/heels so as not to damage bowling alley floors. They are often rented Avia Shoes or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a shoe Avia Shoes designed for rock climbing. They typically have Avia Shoes a close fit, little if any padding, and a smooth sticky rubber sole with an extended rubber rand.
Hiking shoes Avia Shoes or Avia Shoes boots: usually have a high somewhat stiff upper with Avia Shoes many lace eyelets, to provide ankle support on uneven terrain, with extra large traction Avia Shoes on the sole.
Walking 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 skates. They have various attachments Avia Shoes for skating on the bottom of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: a large, thick plastic boot specially designed Avia Shoes for attachment to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes have flat soles for a better grip on a skateboard. They are very wide and have extra layers of padding to Avia Shoes protect the skateboarders Avia Shoes 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 Avia Shoes thick snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes are used for mostly recreational purposes in winter.
Wrestling shoes are Avia Shoes light, flexible shoes that mimic bare feet while providing additional traction and Avia Shoes protection.
Orthopedic shoes
Orthopedic or Avia Shoes "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 Avia Shoes dancing. These have a toe box that is stiffened with glue Transit Shoes and a hardened sole so the dancer can stand on Avia Shoes the Avia Shoes tips of their toes. They are secured by elastic straps and ribbons that are Avia Shoes tied to the dancer's ankles.
Ballet shoes Heel-less slippers made Avia Shoes of canvas or leather, with either continuous or two-part sole (i.e., split-sole). The sole is typically made of leather, Avia Shoes with thicker material Avia Shoes under the ball and heel of the foot, and thinner and thus more flexible material under the arch so that the foot can be pointed to Avia Shoes its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually Avia Shoes secured by elastics that Avia Shoes cross over the top of the foot. They are most commonly pink, white, black, or pale Avia Shoes tan, although they may be made Avia Shoes in specialty colours such Avia Shoes as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have a two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., split-sole) to Avia Shoes provide both flexibility and traction, and a low (one inch or shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by laces or Avia Shoes elastic Avia Shoes inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They fall into Avia Shoes two categories for the two genres of dances as defined by the Avia Shoes IDSF (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom and Latin American. Both are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups with 1-inch heels Avia Shoes and patent leather uppers. Ladies' Avia Shoes Ballroom shoes are typically court shoes with low 2-inch heels, usually made of fabric Avia Shoes so that they can be finished with a greater variety of colours to match the dancer's Avia Shoes dress. The low Ballroom heel Avia Shoes distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Latin American shoes have Avia Shoes higher heels designed to throw the dancer's weight on to the toes and the soles Avia Shoes are more flexible. Men's Latin Avia Shoes shoes typically Avia Shoes have Avia Shoes 1.5-inch to 2-inch shaped heels while Ladies' Latin shoes have 2,5-inch to 3-inch Avia Shoes heels, open-toed and Avia Shoes strapped.
Dance sneakers. Also known as dansneakers, these are a combination of a sneaker Avia Shoes and a dance shoe, with a reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a one to three inch Avia Shoes heel, Avia Shoes which are usually made of leather, and often have one or more straps across the instep to secure the foot Avia Shoes during Avia Shoes dance. They may come in soft-soled (suede) or hard-soled varieties. They may be converted to tap shoes by Avia Shoes attaching Avia Shoes taps.
Foot thongs. Avia Shoes Variously called Avia Shoes called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, Avia Shoes 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 thongs give a Avia Shoes dancer the appearance of having bare Avia 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 shoes are designed Avia Shoes to stand heavy wear, to Avia Shoes protect the wearer, and provide high Avia Shoes traction. They are generally made from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather Avia Shoes outsoles. Sometimes they are Avia Shoes used for uniforms or comfort by nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They Avia Shoes are commonly used Avia Shoes 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 Avia Shoes sandals, which are still Avia Shoes worn today, are found as early as Avia Shoes the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe used to keep a person's feet dry outdoors. First worn Avia Shoes in the middle Avia Shoes ages, they continued in use Avia Shoes even into the early 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe Avia Shoes with a Avia Shoes long-pointed toe, popular in Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: the historical shoe of many North Avia Shoes American Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some shoes are made of hard but deformable Avia Shoes material. After a person wears them multiple times, Avia Shoes the Discontinued Born Shoes material reforms to fit the wearer's feet. The person Avia Shoes is said to have broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water resistance (to some extent) Avia Shoes and appearance, especially for leather shoes and boots.
Heel replacement: heels periodically wear out. Not all shoes are designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: Avia Shoes 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 Avia Shoes 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 the Middle East and Africa, much of Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Alaska) it is customary to Avia Shoes remove shoes when entering Avia Shoes a house. In some Avia Shoes 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 bringing dirt, mud or snow into the Avia Shoes house. For some societies, including those in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for Avia Shoes guests.
In the Middle Avia Shoes East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude to show the soles of Womens Designer Shoes the Avia Shoes feet to others (even accidentally, such as by crossing the legs). In addition, in Thailand, Avia Shoes it is an extreme insult for the Avia Shoes foot, socks, or shoes to touch someone's head Avia Shoes 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 Thai kicks are executed with the shin). |
