The earliest known shoes date from Men S Shoes about Men S Shoes 8000 to 7000 BCE and were found in Oregon, USA in 1938[1]. However, the materials used for making shoes do not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably Men S Shoes in use Men S Shoes long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he has found evidence that the use of shoes began 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 Men S Shoes 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 called the sole.
Insole
The insole is the interior bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many Men S Shoes shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are often added for Men S Shoes 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 leather Men S Shoes outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles Men S Shoes made of natural Men S Shoes rubber or a Drew Shoes synthetic Men S Shoes imitation. Men S Shoes The outsole may comprise a single piece, or may comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the heel of the sole is Men S Shoes rubber for durability and traction, while the front is leather for style. Specialized shoes Men S Shoes will often Men S Shoes have modifications on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded Shoes For Crews in the outsole to grip the ground; many Demonia Shoes kinds of dancing shoes have Men S Shoes much softer or harder soles.
Midsole
The Men S Shoes layer in between Men S Shoes the outsole Men S Shoes and the insole that is typically there for shock absorption. Some types of Men S Shoes shoes, like running 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 Men S Shoes shoes. Some shoes may not have Men S Shoes a Men S Shoes midsole at all.
Heel
Women's fashion boots
The bottom rear part of a shoe is the heel. Its function is to support the Men S Shoes heel of the foot. They Men S Shoes are often made Men S Shoes of the same material as the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion or to make Men S Shoes the person Men S Shoes look taller, or flat for a more practical use.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has an upper Men S Shoes part that helps hold the shoe onto the foot. In the simplest cases, such as sandals or flip flops, this may be nothing Men S Shoes more than a few straps for holding the sole in place. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, Men S Shoes will Men S Shoes have a more complex upper. Men S Shoes This part is often decorated or is made Men S Shoes in a Men S Shoes certain style to Men S Shoes look attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 Men S Shoes , from 1967, describes a Men S Shoes method for producing a shoe-upper (Hain 1967).
Accessories to Men S Shoes shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to insert a Men S Shoes foot into a shoe by keeping the shoe Men S Shoes open and providing a smooth surface for the foot Naot Shoes to slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed inside the shoe when user is not wearing it, to help maintain the shoe's Men S Shoes shape.
Shoe Men S Shoes polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread on shoes Men S Shoes to improve appearance, glossiness, Men S Shoes and provide Men S Shoes protection.
Shoe brush and polishing cloth: used to apply polish Men S Shoes to shoes.
Overshoes or galoshes: a rubber covering placed over shoes Gola Shoes for rain and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: insert of Men S Shoes various materials for cushioning, improved fit, or reduced abrasion. These include padding Men S Shoes and inner Men S Shoes linings. Inserts may also be used to correct foot problems.
Shoe bag: a bag that Men S Shoes protects shoes against damage when they are not being Men S Shoes worn.
Shoe stretcher: a Men S Shoes tool for making Men S Shoes a shoe longer or Men S Shoes wider or for reducing discomfort in areas of a shoe.
Snow Men S Shoes shoe: a wooden or leather piece which Men S Shoes increases the area of ground covered by the shoe.
Shoelaces: a system used to secure shoes.
Types of shoes
Shoes Men S Shoes made from real crocodile skin, Men S Shoes in a conservation exhibit at 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 by sturdy leather uppers, non-leather outsoles, and wide profile.
Some designs of dress Men S Shoes shoes can be worn by 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 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 Men S Shoes the upper rising above 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 inserts to ease slipping the shoe Men S Shoes on.
Men's shoes
Men's shoes can be categorized by how they Men S Shoes are closed:
Balmorals: Men S Shoes the vamp Men S Shoes has a V-shaped slit to which the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In England, the balmoral is known as the Men S Shoes Oxford. The Men S Shoes word "Oxford" is used Men S Shoes by American clothing companies to market shoes that are not balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: the laces are tied to two pieces of leather Men S Shoes independently attached to the vamp; also known as Men S Shoes "open lacing". In England, the Blucher is Men S Shoes known as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: a Men S Shoes 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 Men S Shoes decorated in various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on the Men S Shoes vamp.
Cap-toes: has an extra layer of leather that "caps" the toe. This is Men S Shoes possibly the most popular decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): The toe Men S Shoes of the shoe Men S Shoes is covered with a perforated panel, the wing-tip, which extends down Men S Shoes either side of the shoe. Brogues can be Men S Shoes found 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 tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Men S Shoes Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be found on the talk Men S Shoes page. See Wikipedia's Men S Shoes guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(December 2007)
Women's Men S Shoes shoes
There is a large variety of shoes available Men S Shoes for women, in addition to most Men S Shoes of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some broad categories are:
Pumps, known in the US and UK as ballerinas, ballet Men S Shoes pumps or skimmers, Men S Shoes are shoes with a very Men S Shoes low heel and a relatively short vamp, exposing much of the instep. They are Men S Shoes popular Men S Shoes for warm-weather wear, and may be seen as more comfortable than shoes with a higher heel.
High heels may be shoes with heels Men S Shoes 2 inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen Men S Shoes as having more sex appeal than low heels (see article for Men S Shoes 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 Men S Shoes 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: Men S Shoes 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, Men S Shoes leaving much of the foot exposed to air. They Men S Shoes are thus popular for warm-weather wear, because they let the foot be cooler than a closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle shoe: leather shoe Men S Shoes with a Men S Shoes contrasting saddle-shaped band over Men S Shoes the instep, typically white uppers Men S Shoes with black "saddle".
Loafer: a dress Off Broadway Shoes or casual shoe without laces; often with tassels, buckles, or Men S Shoes coin-holders (penny Men S Shoes loafers).
Boating shoes, also known as boat shoes and deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. Men S Shoes Laces, if present, are usually simple leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Often made of canvas or featuring a Men S Shoes white Men S Shoes sole. They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring or Men S Shoes scratching a boat deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) frequently made of leather. Some are designed to be used Men S Shoes in times of Men S Shoes bad weather, or simply Men S Shoes as an alternate style of casual or dress wear. Styles Men S Shoes include rubber boots and snow boots, Men S Shoes as Men S Shoes well as work boots Men S Shoes and hiking boots.
Slippers: Men S Shoes For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's and women's athletic shoes and special function shoes often Men S Shoes have less difference between the sexes than in dress shoes. In many cases these shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on Karos Shoes function than Men S Shoes style.
Sneakers/trainers (also called 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 varieties are available for basketball or tennis.
Running shoes: very similar to above, with additional emphasis on cushioning.
Track shoes: lightweight; often with plastic or metal cleats
A shoe for the right foot.
Cleat Brooks Shoes (shoe): a type of Men S Shoes shoe featuring molded or Men S Shoes removable studs. Usually worn while playing sports such as rugby, football, American football, or baseball.
A Men S Shoes shoe for the right foot.
Golf shoes: with "spikes" for better Men S Shoes 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 Men S Shoes around the edge of Men S Shoes each Men S Shoes 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 Men S Shoes athletic shoes. They have harder rubber soles/heels so as not to Men S Shoes damage bowling alley floors. They are often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a Men S Shoes shoe designed for rock climbing. They typically have a close fit, little if any padding, Men S Shoes and a smooth sticky rubber Men S Shoes sole with an extended rubber rand.
Hiking Men S Shoes shoes or boots: usually have a high somewhat stiff upper with many lace eyelets, Men S Shoes to provide ankle support on uneven terrain, Liz Claiborne Shoes with extra large traction on Men S Shoes 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 for skating on the bottom of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: a large, thick Men S Shoes plastic boot specially designed for attachment to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes have flat soles Men S Shoes for Men S Shoes a better grip on a skateboard. Men S Shoes They are very wide and have extra layers of padding to protect Men S Shoes the skateboarders feet.
Cycling shoes are equipped with a metal Men S Shoes or plastic Men S Shoes cleat to interface with clipless pedals, Men S Shoes 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 Men S Shoes 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 Men S Shoes or "comfort" shoes are made with pedorthic and Men S Shoes anatomically-correct Men S Shoes comfort qualities, such as padded Men S Shoes removable footbeds, wide toe boxes and Men S Shoes arch support are made especially for those with problematic feet.
Dance shoes
Pointe Men S Shoes shoes. Men S Shoes Designed for ballet dancing. These have a toe box that is stiffened with glue and a hardened sole so the dancer Men S Shoes can stand on the tips of their toes. They are secured by elastic straps and ribbons that are tied to the dancer's ankles.
Ballet shoes Heel-less slippers Men S Shoes made of canvas Men S Shoes or leather, with either continuous or two-part sole (i.e., split-sole). The sole Men S Shoes is typically made of leather, with thicker material under the Men S Shoes ball and heel of Men S Shoes the Men S Shoes foot, and thinner and thus Men S Shoes more flexible material under the arch so that the foot can be Men S Shoes pointed to its utmost. Ballet slippers are Men S Shoes usually secured by elastics that cross over the top of the foot. They are most commonly Men S Shoes pink, white, black, or pale tan, although they may be made in Men S Shoes specialty colours such Men S Shoes as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have a two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., split-sole) to provide both flexibility and traction, and Men S Shoes a low (one inch or shorter) heel. Men S Shoes They are secured to the foot by laces or 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 Latin American. Both are Men S Shoes characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically Men S Shoes lace-ups Men S Shoes with 1-inch heels and patent leather uppers. Ladies' Men S Shoes Ballroom shoes are typically court shoes with low 2-inch heels, usually made of fabric so that they can be finished Men S Shoes with a greater Men S Shoes variety of colours to match the dancer's Men S Shoes dress. The Men S Shoes low Ballroom heel distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Latin American shoes have higher heels designed to throw the dancer's weight on to the toes and the soles are more Snow Shoes flexible. Men's Latin shoes Men S 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 Men S Shoes strapped.
Dance sneakers. Also known as dansneakers, these are a combination of a sneaker and a dance shoe, with a reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes Men S Shoes with a one to three inch Men S Shoes heel, which are usually made of leather, and often have one or more straps across Men S Shoes the instep to secure the foot during dance. They may come in Men S Shoes soft-soled (suede) or hard-soled varieties. They may be Men S Shoes converted to Men S Shoes tap Men S Shoes shoes by attaching taps.
Foot thongs. Variously called called Men S Shoes Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending Men S Shoes on the manufacturer, these are slip-on, partial foot covers that protect the ball of a dancer's foot from skin abrasions Men S Shoes 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. Men S Shoes This style is frequently worn by acro dancers.
A foot thong, viewed from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed to Men S Shoes stand heavy wear, to Men S Shoes protect the wearer, and provide high Men S Shoes traction. They are generally made from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms Men S Shoes or comfort by nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly Men S Shoes used for protection in industrial settings, construction, mining, and other workplaces. Protective features may include steel-tipped toes Men S Shoes and soles or ankle guards.
Historical shoes
Footwear has been worn Men S Shoes for tens of thousands of years. Shoes of Men S Shoes the past include:
Espadrilles: these sandals, which are still Men S Shoes worn today, are found as early as the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe Men S Shoes used to keep a 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 Men S Shoes of many Men S Shoes North American Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some Men S Shoes shoes are made of hard but deformable material. After a person wears Men S Shoes them multiple times, the material reforms to fit the wearer's feet. The person Men S Shoes is said to have broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water resistance (to some extent) and appearance, especially for leather shoes Men S Shoes and boots.
Heel replacement: heels periodically wear out. Not all shoes are designed to enable Men S Shoes this.
Sole replacement: soles also wear out. Not all shoes can have their soles replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When unfit for Men S Shoes use, shoes can be treated as Men S Shoes trash or municipal solid waste and disposed of. The exception Men S Shoes can be with most athletic sneakers which can be recycled and turned into other raw materials. See Nike Grind Men S Shoes as an example.
Someone who Men S Shoes makes or Men S Shoes repairs shoes in a shop is called Men S Shoes a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In most parts of Men S Shoes the world (Asia, Eastern Europe, parts of the Middle East and Africa, much of Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Men S Shoes Alaska) it is customary to remove Men S Shoes 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 Men S Shoes them to leave their shoes on. People do this to avoid bringing dirt, mud or snow into the house. For some societies, Men S Shoes including those in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for guests.
In the Middle East, parts of Africa, Men S Shoes Korea Men S Shoes and Thailand, it is considered rude to show Simple Shoes the soles of the feet to others (even accidentally, such as by crossing the legs). In addition, in Men S Shoes Thailand, it is an extreme insult for the foot, socks, or shoes Men S Shoes to touch someone's head or be placed over it. Men S Shoes 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). |
