The earliest known shoes date Prom Shoes from about Prom Shoes 8000 to 7000 BCE and were found in Oregon, Prom Shoes USA in 1938[1]. However, the materials used for making shoes do Prom Shoes not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably in use long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he Prom Shoes has found Prom Shoes evidence that the use of shoes began in the period between about 40,000 and 26,000 years ago, based on Mephisto Shoes the fact that the thickness of the 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 this Prom Shoes period.[1]
Parts of Prom Shoes a shoe
Gluing a new Prom Shoes outsole to an Prom Shoes athletic shoe
Sole
The bottom of a shoe is called the sole.
Insole
The insole is the interior bottom of Prom Shoes a shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many shoes have removable and Prom Shoes replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are Prom Shoes often added for comfort or health Prom Shoes reasons (to control the shape, moisture, or smell of the shoe).
Outsole
The outsole is the layer in direct Prom Shoes 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 piece, or may Prom Shoes comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the heel of the sole is rubber for durability Prom Shoes and traction, while the front is leather for Prom Shoes style. Specialized shoes will often have modifications on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the Ellie Shoes outsole to grip the ground; many Prom Shoes kinds Prom Shoes of dancing shoes have much softer or harder soles.
Midsole
The layer in between the outsole and the insole Prom Shoes that is typically there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like running shoes, have another material for shock absorption, usually beneath the heel where one Prom Shoes puts the most pressure down. Prom Shoes Different companies use Prom Shoes different materials for the Prom 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 Prom Shoes heel. Its function is to support the Prom Shoes heel of the foot. Prom Shoes They Prom Shoes are often made of the same material as the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion or to Prom Shoes make the person look taller, or flat for a more practical use.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has an upper part that helps hold the shoe Prom Shoes onto the foot. In the simplest cases, such as sandals or flip flops, this may be nothing more than a few straps for holding the sole Prom Shoes 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 Prom Shoes attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 Prom Shoes , Prom Shoes from 1967, describes a method Swim Shoes for producing a shoe-upper (Hain 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to insert a foot Prom Shoes into a shoe by keeping the shoe open and providing a smooth surface for the foot to slide upon.
Shoe Prom Shoes tree: placed inside the shoe Prom Shoes when user is not wearing it, to help maintain the shoe's shape.
Shoe polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread on shoes to Prom Shoes improve appearance, glossiness, and provide protection.
Shoe brush and polishing cloth: used to apply polish to shoes.
Overshoes or galoshes: a rubber covering placed over Prom Shoes shoes for rain and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: insert of various materials for cushioning, Prom Shoes improved fit, or reduced abrasion. These include padding and inner linings. Inserts may also be used to correct foot problems.
Shoe bag: a bag that protects shoes against damage when they are not being worn.
Shoe stretcher: Prom Shoes a tool for making a shoe longer or wider or Cole Haan Shoes for reducing Prom Shoes discomfort in Prom Shoes areas of a shoe.
Snow Prom Shoes shoe: a Prom Shoes wooden or leather piece which increases the area of ground covered by the Prom Shoes shoe.
Shoelaces: a Prom Shoes system used to secure shoes.
Types of shoes
Shoes made from real crocodile skin, in a conservation exhibit at Prom Shoes Bristol Zoo, England.
Dress and casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized by smooth and supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow Prada Shoes sleek figure. Casual shoes are characterized by sturdy leather Prom Shoes uppers, non-leather outsoles, and Prom Shoes wide profile.
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Some designs of dress shoes can be Prom Shoes worn by either gender. The majority of dress shoes have an upper covering, commonly made of leather, enclosing most of the Prom Shoes lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This upper part of the Prom Shoes shoe is often made without apertures or openings, Prom Shoes but may also be made Prom Shoes 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 Prom Shoes 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 on.
Men's shoes
Men's Prom Shoes shoes can be categorized by how Prom Shoes they are closed:
Balmorals: the vamp has a V-shaped slit to which the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In England, the balmoral is known as the Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American clothing companies to market shoes that are Prom Shoes not balmorals, Prom Shoes such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: Prom Shoes the Prom Shoes laces are tied to Prom Shoes two pieces of leather independently Prom Shoes attached to the vamp; also known as "open lacing". In England, the Blucher is known as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: Prom Shoes a Prom Shoes buckle and Prom Shoes strap Prom Shoes instead of lacing
Various Prom Shoes other closings exist but are less popular Prom Shoes such as side-elastic closings.
Men's Prom Shoes shoes can Prom Shoes also be decorated in various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: has an extra layer Prom Shoes of leather that "caps" 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 in both balmoral Prom Shoes and blucher styles. Please help improve this section by expanding Prom Shoes it.
Further information Prom Shoes might be found Prom Shoes 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 Prom Shoes variety of shoes available for Prom Shoes women, in addition to most of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Prom Shoes Some broad categories are:
Pumps, known in the US and UK as ballerinas, ballet pumps or skimmers, are shoes Prom 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 Prom Shoes be seen as more Prom Shoes Sofft Shoes comfortable Prom Shoes than shoes with a higher heel.
High heels may be shoes with heels 2 Prom Shoes inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen as having more Prom Shoes sex appeal than low heels Prom Shoes (see article for discussion) Prom Shoes and are thus commonly worn by women Prom Shoes for formal occasions Prom Shoes or social outings.
Sneaker boot and sneaker Prom Shoes 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 Prom Shoes leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, leaving much of the Prom Shoes foot exposed to air. They are thus popular Prom Shoes for warm-weather Prom Shoes wear, because they let the Prom Shoes foot be cooler than Prom Shoes a closed-toed Prom Shoes shoe would.
Saddle shoe: leather shoe with a Prom Shoes contrasting saddle-shaped band Prom Shoes over the instep, typically Prom Shoes white uppers with black "saddle".
Loafer: a dress or casual shoe without laces; often Prom Shoes with tassels, buckles, or coin-holders (penny loafers).
Boating shoes, also known as boat shoes and Prom Shoes deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. Laces, if present, are usually simple leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Often made of canvas or featuring a white sole. Prom Shoes They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring Prom 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 or dress wear. Styles include Prom Shoes rubber boots and snow boots, Prom Shoes as Prom Shoes well Prom Shoes as work boots and hiking boots.
Slippers: For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's and women's athletic shoes and Prom Shoes special function Prom Shoes shoes often have Prom Shoes less difference between the sexes than in dress shoes. In many cases these shoes can be Prom Shoes worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than style.
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Sneakers/trainers (also called gym shoes or tennis shoes): general purpose athletic shoes; made out of Prom Shoes rubber, cloth, and/or Prom Shoes 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 (shoe): a type of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Usually worn while playing sports such as Prom Shoes rugby, football, American football, Prom Shoes or baseball.
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" 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 courses since they cause less damage to the greens).
Bowling shoes: intermediate style between ordinary dress Prom Shoes shoes and athletic shoes. They have harder rubber soles/heels so Prom Shoes as not to damage bowling alley floors. They are Prom Shoes often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a Prom Shoes shoe designed for Prom Shoes rock climbing. They typically have a Prom Shoes 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 provide ankle support on uneven terrain, with extra large traction on the sole.
Walking shoes: have Prom Shoes a more flexible sole than the Prom Shoes running shoe, lighter in weight than the hiking boot, may have air holes, may not be water proof.
Skating shoes: typically Prom Shoes called skates. They have various attachments for skating on the bottom of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski Prom Shoes boot: a large, thick plastic boot specially designed for attachment Prom Shoes to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes have flat soles Prom Shoes for a Prom Shoes better grip on a 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 Tennis Shoes well as Prom Shoes a stiff sole to maximize power transfer and support the foot.
Snowshoes are special shoes for walking in thick snow. In temperate Prom Shoes climates, snowshoes are used for mostly Prom Shoes recreational purposes Prom Shoes in winter.
Wrestling shoes are light, flexible shoes that Prom Shoes mimic bare feet while providing additional traction and Prom Shoes protection.
Orthopedic shoes
Orthopedic or "comfort" shoes are made with pedorthic and anatomically-correct comfort Prom Shoes 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 dancing. These have a toe box that is stiffened with glue and a hardened sole Prom Shoes so Prom Shoes the dancer can stand on the tips of their toes. They are secured by elastic Prom Shoes straps and ribbons that Prom Shoes are tied to the Prom Shoes dancer's ankles.
Ballet shoes Heel-less slippers made of canvas or leather, with either continuous Prom Shoes 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 Prom Shoes the foot can Prom Shoes be pointed to Prom Shoes its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured by elastics that cross over the top of the foot. They are most Prom Shoes commonly pink, white, black, or pale tan, although they may be made in specialty colours such as red or Prom Shoes blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have a two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., split-sole) to provide Prom Shoes both Stride Rite Shoes flexibility and traction, and a low (one inch or shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by laces or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco Prom Shoes 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 characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups with 1-inch heels and patent leather uppers. Ladies' Prom Shoes Ballroom shoes are typically court shoes Prom Shoes with low 2-inch heels, usually made of fabric so Prom Shoes that they can be Prom Shoes finished with a greater variety of colours to match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom heel distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Latin American shoes have Prom Shoes higher heels Prom Shoes designed Prom Shoes to throw the dancer's weight Prom Shoes on to Prom Shoes the toes and Prom Shoes the soles are more flexible. Men's Latin shoes typically have Prom Shoes 1.5-inch to 2-inch shaped heels while Ladies' Latin shoes have 2,5-inch to Prom Shoes 3-inch heels, open-toed and strapped.
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Dance sneakers. Also known as dansneakers, Prom Shoes these are a combination of a sneaker and a dance shoe, with a reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a one to three inch heel, which are usually made of Prom Shoes leather, and Prom Shoes often have one or more straps across the instep to secure the foot during dance. They may come in soft-soled (suede) or Prom Shoes hard-soled varieties. They may be converted to tap shoes by attaching taps.
Foot thongs. Variously called called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending Prom Shoes on the manufacturer, these are slip-on, partial Prom Shoes foot covers that protect the ball of Prom Shoes a dancer's foot 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 Prom Shoes style is frequently Prom Shoes worn by acro dancers. Prom Shoes
A foot thong, viewed Prom Shoes from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed to stand Diabetic Shoes heavy wear, to protect the wearer, Prom Shoes and provide high traction. They are generally Prom Shoes made from sturdy leather Prom Shoes uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or comfort by nurses, Prom Shoes waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly used for protection in Prom Shoes industrial settings, construction, mining, and other workplaces. Protective features may include steel-tipped toes and soles or Prom Shoes ankle guards.
Historical shoes
Footwear has been worn for tens Prom Shoes of thousands Prom Shoes of years. Shoes of the past include:
Espadrilles: these sandals, which are still worn today, Prom Shoes are found as early as the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe used to keep Prom Shoes a person's feet dry outdoors. Prom Shoes First worn in the middle ages, Prom Shoes they continued in use even into the early 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe with a long-pointed toe, popular in Europe in the Prom Shoes 1400s.
Moccasins: Prom Shoes the historical shoe Prom Shoes of many North Prom Shoes American Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some shoes are made of hard but deformable material. After a person wears them multiple times, the material Prom Shoes reforms Prom Shoes to fit the Prom Shoes wearer's feet. The person is said to have broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for Prom Shoes protection, water resistance (to Prom Shoes some extent) and appearance, especially for leather Prom Shoes shoes and boots.
Heel Prom Shoes replacement: heels periodically wear out. Not all shoes are Prom Shoes designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: soles also wear out. Not all shoes can have Prom Shoes their soles replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When unfit for use, shoes can be treated Prom Shoes as trash or municipal solid waste and disposed of. The exception can be with most athletic sneakers which can be recycled and Prom Shoes turned into other raw materials. See Nike Grind as an Prom Shoes example.
Someone who makes or repairs shoes in a shop is called Prom Shoes a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In most parts of Prom Shoes the world (Asia, Eastern Europe, parts of the Middle Prom Shoes East and Africa, much Prom Shoes of Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Alaska) it is Prom Shoes customary to remove shoes when entering a house. In Prom Shoes some areas of the United States, especially the Midwest, it is expected Prom Shoes that visitors remove their shoes unless Prom Shoes a host specifically invites them to leave their shoes on. People Prom Shoes 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 Prom Shoes East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude to Prom Shoes show the Prom Shoes soles of the feet to others (even accidentally, such as by crossing the legs). In addition, in Thailand, it is an extreme insult for the foot, socks, or Prom Shoes shoes to touch Prom Shoes someone's head or be placed over it. Although Prom Shoes 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 Prom Shoes shin). |
