The earliest known shoes date from about 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 in use long before Nursing Shoes this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he has found evidence that the use of shoes began in the period Nursing Shoes between about 40,000 Nursing Shoes and 26,000 years ago, based on Orthopedic Shoes the fact that the thickness of the bones of the toes (other than the big toe) decreased during Nursing Shoes this period, on the premise that Nursing Shoes going barefoot results in greater bone Nursing Shoes growth Nursing Shoes before this period.[1]
Parts of a shoe
Gluing a new outsole Nursing Shoes to an athletic shoe
Sole
The bottom of a shoe is called the sole.
Insole
The insole is the interior Nursing Shoes bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath Nursing Shoes the foot. Many shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra Nursing Shoes 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 contact with the ground. Dress Nursing Shoes shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles made Nursing Shoes of Nursing Shoes natural Nursing Shoes rubber or a synthetic Nursing Shoes imitation. The outsole Nursing Shoes may comprise a single piece, or may comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the Nursing Shoes heel of the sole is rubber for durability and traction, Nursing Shoes while the front is leather Nursing Shoes for style. Specialized shoes Nursing Shoes will often have modifications on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the outsole Nursing Shoes 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 Nursing Shoes is typically there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like Nursing Shoes running shoes, have another material for shock absorption, usually beneath the heel where one Nursing Shoes puts the most pressure down. Different companies use different materials for the Nursing Shoes midsoles of their shoes. Some shoes may not have a midsole at all.
Heel
Women's fashion boots
The bottom rear part of a shoe is the heel. Its function is to Nursing Shoes support the Nursing Shoes heel of the foot. They are often made of the same material Nursing Shoes as the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion or to Nursing Shoes make the person look taller, or flat for a more practical use.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has an upper part that helps Nursing Shoes hold the shoe onto the foot. In the Nursing Shoes simplest cases, such as Nursing Shoes sandals or flip flops, this may be nothing 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 complex upper. This part is often decorated or is made in a certain style to look Nursing Shoes attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 , from 1967, describes a method for Nursing Shoes producing a shoe-upper Nursing Shoes (Hain 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to insert a foot into a shoe by keeping the shoe open and providing a smooth surface for Nursing Shoes the foot to Nursing Shoes slide Nursing Shoes upon.
Shoe Nursing Shoes tree: Nursing Shoes placed inside the shoe when user is not wearing it, to help maintain the shoe's shape.
Shoe Sperry Shoes polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread on shoes to improve appearance, glossiness, and provide protection.
Shoe brush and polishing cloth: Nursing Shoes used to apply polish to shoes.
Overshoes or galoshes: a rubber covering placed over shoes Nursing Shoes for rain and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: insert of various materials for Nursing Shoes cushioning, improved fit, or reduced abrasion. These include padding and inner linings. Inserts may also be used to correct foot Nursing Shoes problems.
Shoe bag: a bag that protects shoes against damage when they are not being worn.
Shoe stretcher: Nursing Shoes a tool for Nursing Shoes making a shoe longer or wider or for reducing discomfort in areas of Nursing Shoes a shoe.
Snow shoe: a wooden or Nursing Shoes leather piece which increases the area of Nursing Shoes ground covered by the shoe.
Shoelaces: a system used Nursing Shoes to secure shoes.
Types of shoes
Shoes made from real crocodile skin, in a Nursing Shoes conservation exhibit at Bristol Zoo, England.
Dress and casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized by smooth and Nursing Shoes supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow sleek figure. Casual Nike Running Shoes shoes are Nursing Shoes characterized by sturdy leather uppers, non-leather outsoles, and wide profile.
Some designs Nursing Shoes of dress Nursing Shoes shoes can be worn by either gender. The majority of dress shoes have an upper covering, commonly made of Nursing Shoes leather, enclosing most of the lower foot, but not covering the Nursing Shoes ankles. This upper part of the shoe is often Nursing Shoes made without apertures or openings, but may also be made Nursing Shoes with openings or even itself consist of a series of straps, e.g. an open toe featured Adidas Shoes in women's shoes. Nursing 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 Nursing Shoes 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 Nursing Shoes or zippers, Nursing Shoes although some styles have elastic inserts to ease slipping the shoe on.
Men's shoes
Men's shoes can Nursing Shoes be categorized by how they are closed:
Balmorals: the vamp has a V-shaped slit to which the laces are Nursing Shoes attached; also known Nursing Shoes as "closed lacing". In England, the Nursing Shoes balmoral Nursing Shoes is known as the Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American Nursing Shoes clothing companies to market shoes that are not balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: the laces are tied to two pieces of leather independently attached to the vamp; also known as "open lacing". In England, the Blucher is known Nursing Shoes as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: a Nursing 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 decorated in various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: Nursing Shoes has an extra layer of leather that "caps" the toe. This is possibly the Nursing Shoes most popular decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): Nursing Shoes The toe of the shoe is covered with a perforated panel, the wing-tip, which extends down Nursing Shoes either side of the shoe. Brogues can be found in both balmoral and blucher styles. Please help improve this section Nursing Shoes 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 Florsheim Shoes not be appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be Nursing Shoes found on the talk page. Nursing Shoes 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, Nursing Shoes 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 pumps or skimmers, are 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 more comfortable than Nursing Shoes shoes with a higher heel.
High Nursing Shoes heels may be shoes with heels 2 Nursing Shoes inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen as having more sex appeal than low Nursing Shoes heels (see article for discussion) and are thus commonly worn by women Nursing Shoes for formal occasions Nursing Shoes 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 Nursing Shoes a heel and usually made of leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, leaving much Nursing Shoes of Nursing Shoes the foot exposed to air. They are thus popular for warm-weather wear, because they let the foot Nursing Shoes be cooler than a closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle shoe: leather shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over Nursing Shoes 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 Nursing Shoes as boat shoes and deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. Laces, if present, are usually simple leather (often two-tone) with Nursing Shoes no frills. Often made Nursing Shoes of canvas or featuring a white sole. They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring Nursing Shoes 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 Nursing Shoes or dress wear. Styles include rubber boots and snow boots, as well Nursing Shoes as work boots and hiking boots.
Slippers: Nursing Shoes For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's and women's athletic shoes Nursing Shoes and Nursing Shoes special function shoes often have less difference between the sexes Nursing Shoes than in dress shoes. In many cases these shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than 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, Nursing Shoes and have good traction. Nursing Shoes 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 (shoe): a type of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Usually worn while playing sports such as rugby, football, American football, or baseball. Nursing Shoes
A Nursing Shoes shoe for the right foot.
Golf shoes: with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Originally the spikes or "cleats" Nursing Shoes were made of metal but replaceable "soft spikes" made of synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around the edge of each spike are much more common today (and are required on many golf Nursing Shoes courses since they cause Nursing Shoes 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 to damage bowling alley floors. They are often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a shoe designed for rock climbing. They typically have a close 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 Nursing Shoes provide ankle support on uneven terrain, with extra large traction on the sole.
Walking shoes: Nursing 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 plastic boot specially designed for attachment to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes have flat soles for a better grip on a skateboard. They are Nursing Shoes very wide and have extra layers of padding to protect Nursing Shoes the skateboarders feet.
Cycling Nursing Shoes shoes Nursing Shoes are equipped with a metal or plastic cleat to interface with clipless pedals, as well as a stiff sole Nursing Shoes to Nursing Shoes maximize power transfer and support the foot.
Snowshoes Nursing Shoes are special shoes Nursing Shoes for walking Nursing Shoes in thick snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes are Nursing Shoes used for mostly recreational purposes in Nursing Shoes 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, Nursing Shoes such as padded removable footbeds, wide toe Nursing Shoes boxes and arch support are made especially for Nursing Shoes those with problematic feet.
Dance shoes
Pointe shoes. Designed for Nursing Shoes ballet Nursing Shoes dancing. These have a toe box that is stiffened with glue and a hardened sole so the dancer 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 Nursing Shoes slippers made of canvas or leather, with either Nursing Shoes continuous or Nursing Shoes two-part Red Shoes sole (i.e., split-sole). The sole is typically made of Nursing Shoes leather, Nursing Shoes with thicker material under the Nursing Shoes ball Nursing Shoes and heel of the foot, Nursing Shoes and thinner Nursing Shoes and thus more flexible material under the arch Nursing Shoes so that the foot can be pointed Nursing Shoes to its utmost. Nursing Shoes Ballet slippers are usually secured by elastics that cross over Nursing Shoes the top of the foot. They are most commonly pink, white, black, or pale tan, although they may be made in specialty Nursing Shoes colours such as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have a two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., split-sole) to provide Nursing Shoes both flexibility and traction, and a low Nursing Shoes (one inch or shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by Nursing Shoes laces or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They fall into two categories for the two genres of dances as defined by Nursing Shoes the IDSF (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom and Latin American. Both are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes Nursing Shoes are typically Nursing Shoes lace-ups with 1-inch heels and patent leather Nursing Shoes uppers. Ladies' Nursing Shoes Ballroom shoes are typically court shoes with low 2-inch heels, usually made of fabric so that they can be finished with a greater variety of colours to match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom Nursing Shoes heel distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Latin American shoes Nursing Shoes have higher heels designed to throw Nursing Shoes the dancer's weight on to Nursing Shoes the toes Nursing Shoes and the soles are more Nursing Shoes flexible. Men's Latin Nursing Shoes shoes typically have 1.5-inch to 2-inch shaped heels while Ladies' Latin shoes have 2,5-inch to Nursing Shoes 3-inch heels, open-toed and strapped.
Dance sneakers. Also known as Nursing Shoes dansneakers, these Nursing Shoes are a combination of a sneaker and a dance shoe, with a reinforced Nursing Shoes rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a one to three inch heel, which are usually made of leather, and often have Nursing Shoes one or Nursing Shoes more straps across the instep to secure the foot during dance. They may come in Nursing Shoes soft-soled (suede) or hard-soled varieties. They may be converted to Nursing Shoes tap shoes by attaching taps.
Foot thongs. Variously called called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, Nursing Shoes these are slip-on, Nursing Shoes partial foot covers that protect the Nursing Shoes ball of a dancer's foot from skin abrasions while executing turns. From a distance, flesh colored foot Nursing Shoes thongs give a dancer the appearance of having bare feet.
Modern pointe Nursing Shoes shoes.
Ballet Nursing Shoes shoes.
Jazz shoes. This style is Nursing Shoes frequently worn Nursing Shoes by acro dancers.
A foot thong, viewed from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed Nursing Shoes to stand heavy wear, Nursing Shoes to protect the wearer, and provide Nursing Shoes high traction. They are generally made from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or comfort by nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly used Nursing Shoes for protection Nursing Shoes in industrial settings, Nursing Shoes construction, mining, and other workplaces. Protective features may include steel-tipped toes and soles or Nursing Shoes ankle guards.
Historical Nursing Shoes shoes
Footwear has been worn for tens of thousands of years. Shoes of the past include:
Espadrilles: these sandals, which are still worn today, are found as Nursing Shoes early as the 14th Nursing Shoes century.
Patten: a European wooden Nursing Shoes overshoe used to keep a person's feet Nursing Shoes dry outdoors. First worn Nursing Shoes in the middle ages, they continued in use even into the early 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe with a Nursing Shoes long-pointed Nursing Shoes toe, popular in Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: the historical shoe of many North American Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some shoes are made of hard but deformable Nursing Shoes material. After a person wears them multiple times, the material reforms to Nursing Shoes fit the wearer's feet. The person is Nursing Shoes said to have broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water resistance (to Nursing Shoes some extent) and appearance, especially for leather shoes and Nursing Shoes boots.
Heel replacement: heels Nursing Shoes periodically wear out. Not all shoes Nursing Shoes are designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: Nursing Shoes soles Nursing Shoes also wear out. Nursing Shoes Not all shoes can have Nursing Shoes their soles replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When unfit for use, shoes can be Nursing Shoes treated Nursing Shoes as trash or municipal solid waste and disposed of. The exception can be with most athletic sneakers Nursing Shoes which can be Nursing Shoes 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 Nursing Shoes Africa, much of Northern Europe and Nursing Shoes Canada, as well as Alaska) it is customary to remove shoes when entering a house. In some areas of the United States, especially Nursing Shoes the Nursing Shoes Midwest, it is expected that visitors remove their shoes unless Nursing Shoes a host Nursing Shoes specifically Nursing Shoes invites them to leave their shoes on. People do this to avoid bringing dirt, Nursing Shoes mud or snow into the house. For some societies, including those Nursing Shoes in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for guests.
In the Middle East, parts Nursing Shoes of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude to Nursing Shoes show Nursing Shoes the soles of the feet to Nursing Shoes others (even accidentally, such Nursing Shoes as by crossing the legs). In addition, in Thailand, it is an extreme insult for the foot, socks, or shoes to touch someone's head or Nursing Shoes be placed over it. Although feet Nursing Shoes touching heads is an extremely rare occurrence in any society, some Muay Thai boxers insult each other by "kicking" the Nursing Shoes opponent's head with their foot (most Muay Thai kicks are executed with the shin). |
