The earliest known shoes date Off Broadway Shoes from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and were found in Oregon, USA Off Broadway Shoes in 1938[1]. Off Broadway Shoes However, the Off Broadway Shoes materials used for making shoes do not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably in use Off Broadway 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 Off Broadway Shoes the bones of the toes (other than the big toe) decreased during this Off Broadway Shoes period, on the premise that Off Broadway Shoes going Off Broadway Shoes barefoot results in greater bone Off Broadway Shoes growth before this period.[1]
Parts of a shoe
Gluing a new outsole to an athletic Off Broadway Shoes shoe
Sole
The bottom of a shoe is called the sole.
Insole
The insole is the interior bottom Off Broadway Shoes of Off Broadway Shoes a shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot. Many shoes Off Broadway Shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are often added for comfort Off Broadway Shoes or health reasons (to control the shape, moisture, or smell of Off Broadway Shoes the shoe).
Outsole
The outsole is the layer in direct contact with the ground. Dress shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles made Off Broadway Shoes of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a single piece, or may comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the Off Broadway Shoes heel of the sole is rubber for durability and traction, while the front is leather for style. Specialized shoes will often have modifications on this design: Off Broadway Shoes athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the outsole Off Broadway Shoes to grip the ground; many kinds of dancing shoes have much softer or harder Off Broadway Shoes soles.
Midsole
The layer Off Broadway Shoes in between the outsole and the insole that is typically Off Broadway Shoes there for shock absorption. Some types of shoes, like running shoes, have another material for shock absorption, Off Broadway Shoes usually beneath the heel where one puts the most pressure Off Broadway Shoes down. Different companies use different materials for the midsoles of their shoes. Some shoes may not Off Broadway Shoes have a midsole 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 Off Broadway Shoes the foot. They are often made of the same Off Broadway Shoes material Off Broadway Shoes as the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion Off Broadway Shoes or to make the person look taller, Off Broadway Shoes or flat for a more Off Broadway Shoes practical use.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has an Off Broadway Shoes upper part that helps hold the shoe onto the foot. In the simplest cases, such as sandals or Off Broadway Shoes flip flops, this may be nothing more than a few straps for holding the sole in place. Off Broadway Shoes Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most Off Broadway Shoes men's shoes, will have a Off Broadway Shoes more complex upper. This part Off Broadway Shoes is often decorated or is Off Broadway Shoes made in a certain style to look attractive. The U.S. Patent Off Broadway Shoes 3,355,535 Off Broadway Shoes , from 1967, describes a method for producing a shoe-upper (Hain Off Broadway Shoes 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to Off Broadway Shoes insert a foot into Off Broadway Shoes a shoe by keeping the shoe open and providing a smooth surface for the foot to Off Broadway Shoes slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed Off Broadway Shoes inside the shoe when user Off Broadway Shoes is not wearing it, to help maintain the shoe's shape.
Shoe polishing Off Broadway Shoes equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread on shoes to improve appearance, glossiness, and provide protection.
Shoe brush and Off Broadway Shoes polishing cloth: used Off Broadway Shoes to apply polish to shoes.
Overshoes or galoshes: a rubber Off Broadway Shoes covering placed over shoes for rain and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: Off Broadway Shoes insert of various materials for cushioning, improved fit, or reduced abrasion. These include Off Broadway Shoes 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: a tool for making a shoe longer or wider or for reducing discomfort in areas of a shoe.
Snow shoe: a wooden Off Broadway Shoes or leather piece which increases the area of ground covered by the Off Broadway Shoes 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 by smooth and supple leather Off Broadway Shoes 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 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 Off Broadway Shoes is often made without apertures or openings, but may also be made with openings Off Broadway Shoes or even itself consist of a series Off Broadway Shoes of straps, Off Broadway Shoes e.g. an open toe featured in Off Broadway Shoes women's shoes. Shoes with uppers made Off Broadway Shoes high to cover the ankles are also available; a shoe with the upper rising above the ankle is usually considered a Off Broadway Shoes boot but certain styles may be referred Off Broadway Shoes to as high-topped Off Broadway Shoes 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 shoes can be categorized by how they are closed:
Balmorals: the vamp has a V-shaped slit to which Off Broadway Shoes the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In England, Off Broadway Shoes the balmoral is known Off Broadway Shoes as the Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American clothing companies to market shoes that are not balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: the laces Off Broadway Shoes are tied to two pieces of leather independently attached to the vamp; also known as "open lacing". In England, the Blucher is Off Broadway Shoes known as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: a buckle and strap instead of lacing
Various other closings Off Broadway Shoes exist but are less popular such as side-elastic closings.
Men's Off Broadway Shoes shoes can also be decorated Off Broadway Shoes in various ways:
Plain-toes: Off Broadway Shoes have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on the vamp.
Cap-toes: has an extra layer of leather that "caps" the toe. Off Broadway Shoes 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 Off Broadway Shoes side Off Broadway Shoes of the shoe. Brogues can be 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 Off Broadway Shoes or Off Broadway Shoes style of this article or section may not Off Broadway Shoes be Off Broadway Shoes appropriate for Off Broadway Shoes Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be found on Off Broadway Shoes the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(December 2007)
Women's shoes
There is a Discount Running Shoes large variety of shoes available for women, in addition Off Broadway Shoes to most of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some Off Broadway Shoes broad categories are:
Pumps, known in the Off Broadway Shoes US Off Broadway Shoes 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 Off Broadway Shoes wear, and may be seen as more comfortable than Off Broadway Shoes shoes with Off Broadway Shoes a higher heel.
High heels may be shoes with heels 2 inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen as having more sex Off Broadway Shoes 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 Off Broadway Shoes shoe, but is equipped with a heel, making it a Off Broadway Shoes kind Off Broadway Shoes of novelty dress shoe.
Either gender
Women's sandals
Clog
Platform shoe: shoe with very thick soles and heels
Moccasin: originated by Native Americans, Off Broadway Shoes a soft shoe without a heel and usually Off Broadway Shoes made Off Broadway Shoes of leather.
Sandals: open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, leaving much of the foot exposed to air. They are thus popular for warm-weather wear, because they let the foot be cooler than Off Broadway Shoes a closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle shoe: leather shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over the instep, typically white uppers with black Off Broadway Shoes "saddle".
Loafer: a dress or Off Broadway Shoes casual shoe without laces; often with tassels, buckles, or coin-holders (penny loafers).
Boating shoes, also known as boat shoes and deck shoes: similar Off Broadway Shoes Gothic Shoes 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 Off Broadway Shoes white sole. They have soft Off Broadway Shoes soles/heels to Off Broadway Shoes avoid marring or scratching a boat Off Broadway Shoes deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) frequently made Off Broadway Shoes 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 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 women's athletic shoes Off Broadway Shoes and special function shoes often have less difference between the sexes than in dress Off Broadway Shoes shoes. In many cases these shoes can be Off Broadway Shoes worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than style.
Sneakers/trainers (also called Off Broadway Shoes gym shoes or tennis shoes): general purpose athletic shoes; made Off Broadway Shoes out of rubber, cloth, Off Broadway Shoes and/or plastic to be lightweight, flexible, and have good traction. Special varieties are available for basketball or tennis.
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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 Off Broadway Shoes (shoe): a type of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Usually worn while playing Off Broadway Shoes sports such as rugby, Off Broadway Shoes football, American football, or Off Broadway Shoes baseball. Off Broadway Shoes
A shoe for Off Broadway Shoes the right foot.
Golf shoes: Off Broadway Shoes with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground. Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of metal Off Broadway Shoes but replaceable "soft spikes" made of synthetic Off Broadway Shoes plastic-like materials with prongs distributed radially around the edge of Off Broadway Shoes 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 shoes and athletic shoes. Off Broadway Shoes They have harder rubber soles/heels so as not to damage bowling alley floors. They are Off Broadway Shoes often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing shoes: a shoe designed Off Broadway Shoes for rock climbing. They typically have Off Broadway Shoes a Off Broadway Shoes close fit, little if any padding, and a smooth sticky rubber sole Off Broadway Shoes 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 a more flexible sole Off Broadway Shoes than the running shoe, Wide Width Shoes lighter Off Broadway Shoes in weight than the hiking boot, may have air holes, may not Off Broadway Shoes be water proof.
Skating shoes: typically Off Broadway Shoes called skates. They have various attachments for skating on the bottom of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: Off Broadway Shoes a large, thick plastic boot specially designed for attachment to the ski.
Skateboarding Off Broadway Shoes shoes have flat soles for a Off Broadway Shoes better grip on a skateboard. Off Broadway Shoes They are very wide and have extra layers of Off Broadway Shoes padding to protect the skateboarders feet.
Cycling shoes are equipped with a metal Off Broadway Shoes or plastic cleat to Off Broadway Shoes interface with clipless pedals, as well as a Off Broadway Shoes stiff Off Broadway Shoes sole to maximize power transfer and support the foot.
Snowshoes are special shoes for walking in thick Off Broadway Shoes snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes are used for mostly Off Broadway Shoes recreational purposes in winter.
Wrestling shoes are light, flexible shoes that Off Broadway Shoes mimic bare feet while providing additional traction Off Broadway Shoes and protection.
Orthopedic shoes
Orthopedic or "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. Drew Shoes Designed for ballet 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 Off Broadway Shoes shoes Heel-less slippers Off Broadway Shoes made of canvas or leather, with either continuous or Off Broadway Shoes two-part sole Off Broadway Shoes (i.e., split-sole). The sole is typically Off Broadway Shoes 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 to its utmost. Off Broadway Shoes Ballet slippers are usually secured by Off Broadway Shoes elastics that cross over the top of the foot. They are most commonly pink, white, Off Broadway Shoes black, or pale tan, although Off Broadway Shoes they may be Off Broadway Shoes made in specialty colours such as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have a two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., split-sole) to provide Off Broadway Shoes both flexibility and traction, and a low (one inch Off Broadway Shoes or shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by laces or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco Off Broadway Shoes dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They Off Broadway Shoes fall into two categories for the two genres of dances as defined by the IDSF Off Broadway Shoes (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom and Latin Off Broadway Shoes American. Both are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups with 1-inch Off Broadway Shoes heels and patent leather Off Broadway Shoes uppers. Ladies' Ballroom shoes are typically court shoes with low 2-inch heels, usually made of fabric so that they can Off Broadway Shoes be finished with a greater variety Off Broadway Shoes of colours to match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom Shoes For Crews 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 Off Broadway Shoes and the soles are more flexible. Demonia Shoes Men's Latin 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 strapped.
Dance sneakers. Off Broadway Shoes Also known as dansneakers, these are a Off Broadway Shoes combination of a sneaker and a dance shoe, with a reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a one to three Off Broadway Shoes inch heel, which are usually made of leather, and often have one or more straps across the instep to secure the foot during Off Broadway Shoes dance. They may Off Broadway Shoes come in soft-soled (suede) or hard-soled varieties. They may Off Broadway Shoes be converted to tap shoes by Off Broadway Shoes attaching taps.
Foot thongs. Variously called called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, these Off Broadway Shoes are slip-on, partial foot covers that protect Off Broadway Shoes the ball of a dancer's Off Broadway Shoes foot Off Broadway Shoes from skin abrasions Off Broadway Shoes while executing turns. From a distance, flesh colored foot thongs give a Off Broadway Shoes dancer the Off Broadway Shoes appearance Off Broadway Shoes of having bare feet.
Modern pointe shoes.
Ballet shoes.
Jazz shoes. This style is Off Broadway Shoes frequently worn by acro Off Broadway Shoes dancers.
A Off Broadway Shoes foot thong, viewed Off Broadway Shoes from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed to stand heavy wear, to protect Off Broadway Shoes the wearer, and Off Broadway Shoes provide high traction. They are generally made from sturdy leather uppers Off Broadway Shoes and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or comfort Off Broadway Shoes by nurses, waitresses, police, military Off Broadway Shoes personnel, etc. They are commonly used 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 sandals, which are still Off Broadway Shoes worn today, Off Broadway Shoes are Off Broadway Shoes found as early as the 14th century.
Patten: a European wooden overshoe used to keep a person's feet dry outdoors. First worn in the middle ages, they continued in Naot Shoes use even into the early 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe with a long-pointed Off Broadway 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 material. After a person wears them multiple times, the material reforms to fit the wearer's Off Broadway Shoes feet. Off Broadway Shoes The person is said to have broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water resistance (to some extent) and appearance, especially Off Broadway Shoes for leather shoes and boots.
Heel replacement: heels periodically wear out. Off Broadway Shoes Not all shoes are Off Broadway Shoes designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: 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 waste and disposed of. The exception can be with most athletic sneakers which can be recycled Off Broadway Shoes and turned into other raw materials. See Nike Grind Off Broadway Shoes as an example.
Someone who Off Broadway Shoes makes or repairs Gola Shoes shoes in a shop Off Broadway Shoes is called a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In Off Broadway Shoes 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 Off Broadway Shoes to remove shoes Off Broadway Shoes when entering a Off Broadway Shoes house. In some Off Broadway Shoes areas of the United States, especially the Midwest, it is expected that visitors remove their Off Broadway Shoes shoes unless Off Broadway Shoes a host specifically invites them to leave their shoes on. People do this to Off Broadway Shoes avoid bringing dirt, mud or snow into the house. For some societies, including those in Asia, indoor footwear may be Off Broadway Shoes provided for guests.
In the Off Broadway Shoes Middle East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude to Off Broadway Shoes show the soles of the feet to others Off Broadway Shoes (even Off Broadway Shoes accidentally, such 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 be placed over it. Although Off Broadway Shoes feet touching heads is an extremely rare occurrence in any society, some Muay Off Broadway Shoes Thai boxers insult each other by "kicking" the opponent's head with their foot (most Muay Thai kicks are executed with the shin). |
