The earliest known shoes date Womens Dress Shoes from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and were found in Oregon, USA Womens Dress Shoes in 1938[1]. However, the materials used for making shoes do not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably Womens Dress Shoes in use Womens Dress Shoes long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Womens Dress Shoes Trinkaus believes he has Womens Dress Shoes found evidence that the use of shoes began Womens Dress 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 Womens Dress Shoes big toe) decreased Womens Dress Shoes during this period, on the premise that going barefoot Adio Skate Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes shoe is called the sole.
Insole
The insole Womens Dress Shoes is the interior bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are often added Womens Dress Shoes 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 Clown Shoes the ground. Dress shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles made of natural Womens Dress Shoes rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a single piece, or may Womens Dress Shoes comprise separate pieces Womens Dress Shoes of different materials. Often the heel of the Womens Dress Shoes sole is rubber for durability and traction, while the front is leather for style. Specialized shoes will often have modifications on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the outsole to grip Womens Dress Shoes the Womens Dress Shoes ground; many kinds of dancing shoes have much softer or harder soles.
Midsole
The layer in between the outsole and Womens Dress Shoes the Womens Dress Shoes insole that is typically there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like running Womens Dress Shoes shoes, Womens Dress Shoes have another material for shock absorption, usually beneath the Womens Dress Shoes heel where one puts the most pressure down. Different companies use different materials Womens Dress Shoes for Womens Dress Shoes the midsoles of their Womens Dress Shoes shoes. Some shoes Womens Dress Shoes may not have a midsole Brand Name Shoes at Womens Dress Shoes all.
Heel
Women's fashion boots
The bottom rear part of a shoe is the heel. Its function is Womens Dress Shoes to Womens Dress Shoes support the Womens Dress Shoes heel of Womens Dress Shoes the foot. They are often made Womens Dress Shoes of the same material as the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for Womens Dress Shoes fashion or to make the person look taller, or flat Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes as sandals or flip flops, this may be Womens Dress Shoes nothing more than a few Womens Dress Shoes straps for holding the sole in place. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will have a Womens Dress Shoes more complex upper. This part Womens Dress Shoes is often decorated or is made in a certain style to Womens Dress Shoes look attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 Womens Dress Shoes , 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 Womens Dress Shoes by keeping the shoe Womens Dress Shoes open and providing a smooth surface for the foot to slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed inside Womens Dress Shoes the shoe when user is not wearing Womens Dress Shoes it, to 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 Womens Dress Shoes to apply polish to Womens Dress Shoes 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 inner linings. Inserts may also be used to correct foot Womens Dress Shoes problems.
Shoe bag: a bag that protects shoes against damage when they are not being worn.
Shoe stretcher: a tool for making a shoe longer or Womens Dress Shoes wider or for reducing discomfort Womens Dress Shoes in areas of a shoe.
Snow shoe: a wooden or leather Womens Dress Shoes piece Womens Dress Shoes which increases the area of ground covered by the shoe.
Shoelaces: a system used to secure shoes.
Types of Uggs Shoes shoes
Shoes made from real crocodile skin, in a conservation exhibit at Womens Dress Shoes Bristol Zoo, England.
Dress and casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized by smooth and supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow sleek Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes majority of dress shoes have an upper Womens Dress Shoes covering, commonly made of Womens Dress Shoes leather, enclosing most of the lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This upper part of the shoe is often made without apertures or Womens Dress Shoes openings, but may Womens Dress Shoes also be made with 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 ankle is usually considered a Womens Dress Shoes boot but certain styles may be referred Womens Dress Shoes to as high-topped shoes or high-tops. Usually, a high-topped shoe is Womens Dress Shoes secured by laces or zippers, although some styles have elastic inserts to ease slipping Womens Dress Shoes the shoe on.
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Men's shoes
Men's shoes can be categorized by how they are closed:
Balmorals: the Womens Dress Shoes vamp has a V-shaped slit to which the laces are attached; also known as "closed Womens Dress Shoes lacing". Womens Dress Shoes In England, the balmoral is known as the Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American clothing companies to Womens Dress Shoes market shoes that are not balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: the laces are Womens Dress Shoes tied to two pieces Womens Dress Shoes of leather independently attached to the vamp; also known as "open lacing". In England, the Blucher is known Womens Dress Shoes 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 decorated in Womens Dress Shoes various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: has an extra layer of leather that "caps" Heelys Shoes 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 either side of the shoe. Brogues can be found Womens Dress Shoes in both balmoral and blucher styles. Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.
The Jump Shoes tone Womens Dress Shoes or style of this article or section may Womens Dress Shoes 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 and UK as ballerinas, ballet Womens Dress Shoes pumps or skimmers, are shoes with a very low heel Womens Dress Shoes and a relatively Womens Dress Shoes short vamp, exposing much of the instep. They are Womens Dress Shoes popular for warm-weather wear, and may be seen Womens Dress Shoes as more comfortable than Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes low heels (see Womens Dress Shoes article for Womens Dress Shoes discussion) and are thus commonly worn by women for formal occasions or social outings.
Sneaker Womens Dress Shoes 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 of leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, leaving much of Womens Dress Shoes the foot exposed to air. They are thus popular Womens Dress Shoes for Womens Dress Shoes warm-weather wear, Womens Dress Shoes because they let the foot be cooler than Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes a Womens Dress Shoes loafer, Womens Dress Shoes but more casual. Laces, if present, are usually Womens Dress Shoes simple leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Often made of canvas or featuring a white sole. They Womens Dress Shoes have soft soles/heels to avoid marring or scratching a boat deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) frequently made of Womens Dress Shoes leather. Some are designed to be used in times of bad weather, Track Shoes or simply Womens Dress Shoes as an alternate style of casual or Womens Dress Shoes dress wear. Styles include rubber boots and snow boots, as well as work boots and hiking boots.
Slippers: For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's and Womens Dress Shoes women's athletic shoes and special function shoes often have less difference between the sexes than in dress Womens Dress Shoes shoes. In many cases Womens Dress Shoes these shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function Womens Dress Shoes than style.
Sneakers/trainers (also called gym shoes or tennis shoes): general purpose athletic Womens Dress Shoes shoes; made out of rubber, cloth, and/or plastic to be Womens Dress Shoes lightweight, flexible, and have good traction. Special varieties are available for basketball or tennis.
Running Womens Dress Shoes shoes: very similar to above, with additional emphasis on cushioning.
Track Womens Dress Shoes shoes: lightweight; often with plastic or metal cleats
A shoe Womens Dress Shoes for the right foot.
Cleat (shoe): Womens Dress Shoes a type of shoe featuring Womens Dress Shoes molded or removable studs. Womens Dress Shoes Usually worn while playing sports such Womens Dress Shoes as rugby, football, American football, Womens Dress Shoes or baseball. Womens Dress Shoes
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A shoe for the right foot.
Golf shoes: with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of metal but replaceable "soft spikes" Womens Dress Shoes made of synthetic plastic-like materials Womens Dress Shoes with prongs distributed radially around Womens Dress Shoes the edge of Womens Dress Shoes each spike are much Womens Dress Shoes more common today (and are required on many golf Womens Dress Shoes courses since they cause less damage to the greens).
Bowling Womens Dress Shoes shoes: intermediate style between ordinary dress shoes and athletic Peltz Shoes shoes. They have harder rubber Womens Dress Shoes soles/heels so as not to damage bowling alley Womens Dress Shoes floors. They Womens Dress Shoes are often Womens Dress Shoes rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a Womens Dress Shoes shoe designed for rock climbing. They typically have a close Womens Dress Shoes fit, little if any padding, and a 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 Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes the hiking boot, may have Womens Dress Shoes air holes, may not be water proof.
Skating shoes: typically called skates. Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes boot specially Womens Dress Shoes designed for attachment to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes have flat Womens Dress Shoes soles for a better grip on a Womens Dress Shoes skateboard. They 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 Womens Dress Shoes support the foot.
Snowshoes are special shoes Womens Dress Shoes for walking Womens Dress Shoes 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, Womens Dress Shoes wide toe boxes and arch support are made especially for Womens Dress Shoes those with problematic feet.
Dance shoes
Pointe shoes. Designed for ballet dancing. These have a Womens Dress Shoes toe Womens Dress Shoes box that is stiffened with glue and a hardened sole so Womens Dress Shoes the dancer can stand on the tips of Womens Dress Shoes their toes. Womens Dress Shoes They are secured by Womens Dress Shoes elastic straps and ribbons Womens Dress Shoes that are tied to Womens Dress Shoes the dancer's Womens Dress Shoes ankles.
Ballet shoes Heel-less slippers made of canvas or leather, Womens Dress Shoes 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 thus more flexible material under the arch so that the foot can be pointed Womens Dress Shoes to its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured by elastics that cross over the top of Womens Dress Shoes the foot. They are most commonly pink, white, black, or pale Womens Dress Shoes tan, although they may be made in specialty colours such as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have a Womens Dress Shoes two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., split-sole) to provide both flexibility Womens Dress Shoes and traction, and a low (one inch or shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by laces Womens Dress Shoes or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They Womens Dress Shoes fall into two categories for the two genres Womens Dress Shoes of dances Womens Dress Shoes as defined by the IDSF (International DanceSport Womens Dress Shoes Federation): Ballroom and Latin American. Both are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups with Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes they can be finished with a greater variety of colours to match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom heel Womens Dress Shoes distributes the dancer's weight Womens Dress Shoes across Womens Dress Shoes the foot Womens Dress Shoes while Latin American shoes have higher heels designed to throw the dancer's weight on Womens Dress Shoes to Womens Dress Shoes the toes and the soles are more flexible. Men's Latin Womens Dress Shoes shoes typically have Womens Dress Shoes Lebron James Shoes 1.5-inch to 2-inch Womens Dress Shoes shaped heels while Ladies' Latin Womens Dress Shoes shoes have 2,5-inch to 3-inch heels, open-toed and strapped.
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Dance sneakers. Also known as dansneakers, these are a combination of a sneaker and a dance shoe, Womens Dress Shoes with a reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a Womens Dress Shoes one to three inch heel, which are usually made of Womens Dress Shoes leather, and often have one or more straps across the instep to Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes and FootUndeez, Womens Dress Shoes depending on the manufacturer, these are slip-on, partial foot covers that protect Bicycle Shoes the ball of a dancer's foot Womens Dress Shoes 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 style is frequently worn by acro dancers.
A Womens Dress Shoes foot thong, viewed from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed to stand heavy wear, to protect the Wholesale Women Shoes wearer, Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly used for protection in industrial settings, construction, mining, and other Womens Dress Shoes workplaces. Womens Dress Shoes Protective features may include steel-tipped toes and soles or ankle guards.
Historical shoes
Footwear has been worn for tens of thousands of Womens Dress Shoes years. Shoes of the Womens Dress Shoes past include:
Espadrilles: these sandals, which are Womens Dress Shoes still worn today, Womens Dress Shoes are found as early as the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe used to keep a person's feet dry outdoors. Womens Dress Shoes 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 Womens Dress Shoes Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: the historical shoe of many North American Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some shoes are made of Womens Dress Shoes hard but deformable Capezio Dance Shoes material. After a person wears them multiple times, Womens Dress Shoes the material reforms to fit the wearer's feet. The person is said Womens Dress Shoes to have broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water resistance Fallen Shoes (to some extent) and appearance, especially for leather shoes and boots.
Heel replacement: heels periodically wear out. Not all shoes are designed Womens Dress Shoes to enable this.
Sole replacement: Womens Dress Shoes soles also wear out. Not all shoes can have their soles replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When unfit for use, shoes can be treated Womens Dress Shoes as trash or municipal Marty S Shoes solid waste and disposed of. The exception can be with most athletic sneakers Womens Dress Shoes which can be recycled and turned into Womens Dress Shoes other raw materials. Womens Dress Shoes See Nike Womens Dress Shoes Grind as an example.
Someone who makes or repairs shoes in a shop Womens Dress Shoes is Womens Dress Shoes called a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In Womens Dress Shoes most parts of the world (Asia, Eastern Womens Dress Shoes Europe, parts of the Middle East and Africa, much of Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Alaska) Womens Dress Shoes it is customary to remove shoes when entering a house. Womens Dress Shoes In some areas Womens Dress Shoes of the United States, especially the Midwest, it is expected that Womens Dress Shoes visitors remove their shoes Womens Dress Shoes unless a host Womens Dress Shoes 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 guests.
In the Middle East, parts of Africa, Korea and Womens Dress Shoes Thailand, it is considered rude to show the soles of the feet Womens Dress Shoes to Womens Dress Shoes others (even accidentally, such as by crossing the Womens Dress Shoes legs). In addition, in Thailand, it is an extreme insult for the foot, socks, or Womens Dress Shoes shoes to touch someone's head or be placed over it. Although feet touching heads is an extremely rare occurrence in any Womens Dress Shoes society, some Muay Thai boxers Womens Dress Shoes insult each other by Womens Dress Shoes "kicking" the opponent's head with their foot Womens Dress Shoes (most Muay Thai kicks are executed with the shin). |
