The earliest known shoes date from about 8000 to 7000 BCE and were found Cool Shoes in Oregon, USA in 1938[1]. However, the materials used for making shoes do Cool Shoes not normally last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably in use long before this. Physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus believes he has found Cool Shoes evidence Cool Shoes that the use of shoes began in the period between about 40,000 and Cool Shoes 26,000 years ago, based on the fact that Cool Shoes the thickness of the bones Cool Shoes of the toes (other than the big Cool Shoes 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 Cool Shoes outsole to an athletic shoe
Sole
The bottom of a shoe is called the sole.
Insole
The insole Cool Shoes is the interior bottom of a shoe, which sits directly Cool Shoes beneath the Cool Shoes foot. Many shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and Cool Shoes extra insoles are often added for comfort or health reasons (to control the shape, moisture, or smell of Cool Shoes the shoe).
Outsole
The outsole is the layer in Cool Shoes direct Cool Shoes contact with the ground. Dress shoes have leather outsoles; casual Cool Shoes or work-oriented shoes Ferragamo Shoes have outsoles made of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may Cool Shoes comprise a single piece, or may comprise Cool Shoes separate pieces of Womens Size Shoes different Cool Shoes materials. Often the heel of the sole is rubber for durability and traction, while the front Cool Shoes is leather for style. Specialized shoes will often have modifications on this design: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the Cool Shoes outsole Skater Shoes to grip the Cool Shoes ground; many kinds of dancing shoes Cool Shoes have much softer or harder Cool Shoes soles.
Midsole
The layer in between the outsole and the insole Cool 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 puts the most pressure down. Different companies use different materials for the midsoles Cool Shoes 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 Cool Shoes heel. Its function Cool Shoes is to support the heel of the foot. They are often made of the same material as Cool Shoes the sole of the shoe. This part can be high for fashion or Cool Shoes to 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 Cool Shoes onto the foot. In the simplest cases, such as sandals or flip flops, this Cool Shoes may be nothing more than Cool Shoes a few straps for holding the sole in place. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will Hoover Shoes have Cool Shoes a more complex upper. This part is often decorated or is made in a certain style to look attractive. The U.S. Patent 3,355,535 , from 1967, describes a method for producing a shoe-upper (Hain 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: Cool Shoes can Cool Shoes be used to insert a foot into a shoe by Cool Shoes keeping the shoe open and providing a smooth surface for the foot to slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed inside Cool Shoes the shoe when Cool Shoes user is not wearing it, to help maintain the shoe's shape.
Shoe polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a Cool Shoes waxy material Cool Shoes spread on shoes to improve appearance, glossiness, and provide protection.
Shoe brush and polishing cloth: used to apply polish to shoes.
Overshoes or galoshes: Cool Shoes a Cool Shoes rubber covering placed over Cool Shoes shoes for rain Cool Shoes and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe Cool Shoes Soft Walk Shoes insert: insert of various materials for Cool Shoes cushioning, 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: a tool for making a shoe longer or wider or for reducing Cool Shoes discomfort in areas Cool Shoes of a shoe.
Snow shoe: a Cool Shoes wooden or leather piece which increases the area of ground covered Spira Shoes by the shoe.
Shoelaces: a system used to secure Cool Shoes shoes.
Types of shoes
Shoes made from Cool Shoes real crocodile skin, in a conservation exhibit at Cool Shoes Bristol Zoo, England.
Dress and casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized by smooth Cool Shoes and supple leather uppers, leather soles, and narrow sleek figure. Cool Shoes Casual shoes are characterized by sturdy leather uppers, non-leather outsoles, and wide profile.
Some designs of dress Cool Shoes shoes can Cool Shoes be worn by either gender. The majority of dress shoes have an upper covering, Nurse Shoes commonly made Dunham Shoes of leather, enclosing most Cool Shoes of the lower foot, but not covering the ankles. This upper part of Cool Shoes the shoe is often made without apertures or openings, but may Cool Shoes also be made with openings or even itself consist Cool Shoes 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 boot but certain styles may Cool Shoes be referred to as high-topped shoes or high-tops. Usually, a high-topped shoe is secured by laces or zippers, although Cool Shoes some styles have elastic inserts to ease Cool Shoes 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 the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In Cool Shoes England, the balmoral is known as the Oxford. The word "Oxford" Cool Shoes is used by American clothing companies Cool Shoes to market shoes that are not balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: the laces are tied to two pieces of Cool Shoes leather independently attached to the vamp; also known as "open lacing". Cool Shoes In England, the Blucher is known as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: Cool Shoes a buckle and strap instead Saucony Running Shoes of lacing
Various other closings exist but are less popular such as side-elastic closings.
Men's shoes Cool Shoes can 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 of leather that Cool Shoes "caps" the toe. This is possibly the most popular decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): The toe of the shoe is covered Cool Shoes with Cool Shoes a perforated panel, the wing-tip, which extends down Cool Shoes either side of the shoe. Brogues can be found in both balmoral and blucher styles. Please help improve this section by expanding Cool Shoes it.
Further information might be Cool Shoes found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.
The tone or style Cool Shoes of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns Chinese Laundry Shoes 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 Cool Shoes variety of shoes available for women, in addition to Cool Shoes most of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some broad categories are:
Pumps, known in the Discount Dance Shoes US and UK as ballerinas, ballet pumps or skimmers, Cool Shoes are shoes with a very low heel and a relatively short vamp, exposing much of the instep. They are popular for warm-weather Cool Shoes wear, and may be seen as more comfortable than shoes Cool Shoes with a higher heel.
High heels may be shoes with Cool Shoes heels 2 inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often seen as having more sex appeal than low heels (see article for discussion) and Cool Shoes are thus commonly worn by women for formal occasions or social outings.
Sneaker boot and sneaker pump: a shoe that looks Cool Shoes like an athletic shoe, but is equipped with a Cool Shoes heel, making it a kind of Cool Shoes novelty dress Cool Shoes 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 the foot exposed to air. They are thus popular for warm-weather wear, because they let the foot be cooler than a Cool Shoes closed-toed shoe would.
Saddle shoe: leather Cool Shoes shoe Cool Shoes with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over the Cool Shoes instep, typically white uppers with black "saddle".
Loafer: a dress or casual shoe Cool Shoes without laces; often with tassels, buckles, or coin-holders (penny loafers).
Boating shoes, also known as boat shoes and deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. Cool Shoes Laces, if present, are usually simple leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Often made of canvas Cool Shoes or featuring a white Cool Shoes sole. They Cool Shoes have soft soles/heels to avoid marring or scratching Cool Shoes a boat deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) frequently made of leather. Some are designed to be used in Cool Shoes 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 Cool Shoes with pajamas.
Athletic shoes
Men's and women's athletic Cool Shoes shoes and special function shoes often have less difference Cool Shoes between the sexes than Cool Shoes in Cool Shoes dress shoes. In many cases these shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function Cool Shoes than style.
Sneakers/trainers Cool Shoes (also called gym shoes or tennis shoes): general purpose athletic shoes; made out of rubber, Cool Shoes 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 Cool Shoes 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.
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 Cool Shoes metal but replaceable "soft spikes" made of synthetic plastic-like Cool Shoes materials with prongs distributed radially Cool Shoes around the edge of each spike are much more common Cool Shoes today (and are required on many Cool Shoes golf courses since they cause less damage to the greens).
Bowling shoes: intermediate style between ordinary dress shoes and athletic shoes. They have harder rubber soles/heels so as Cool Shoes not to Cool Shoes damage bowling alley floors. They are often rented or loaned at bowling alleys.
Climbing Cool Shoes shoes: a shoe designed Cool Shoes for rock climbing. They typically have a close fit, little if any padding, and a smooth sticky rubber sole with an extended rubber Cool Shoes rand.
Hiking shoes or boots: usually have a high somewhat stiff upper with Cool Shoes many lace eyelets, to provide ankle Cool Shoes support Cool Shoes on uneven terrain, with extra Cool Shoes large traction on the sole.
Walking Cool Shoes shoes: have a more flexible sole than the running shoe, lighter in weight than the hiking boot, may have air holes, may not be Cool Shoes water proof.
Skating shoes: typically called skates. Cool Shoes They have various Cool Shoes attachments for skating on the bottom Cool Shoes of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: a large, thick plastic Cool Shoes boot specially designed for attachment to the Cool Shoes ski.
Skateboarding shoes have flat Cool Shoes soles for a better grip Cool Shoes on a skateboard. They are very Cool Shoes wide and have extra layers of padding Cool Shoes to protect the skateboarders feet.
Cycling shoes are Cool Shoes equipped with a metal or plastic cleat to interface with Cool Shoes clipless pedals, as well as Cool Shoes a stiff sole to Cool Shoes maximize power transfer and support the foot.
Snowshoes are special shoes for walking Cool Shoes in thick snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes are used for mostly recreational Cool Shoes purposes in winter.
Wrestling Cool Shoes shoes are light, flexible shoes that mimic bare Cool Shoes feet while providing additional traction and protection.
Orthopedic shoes
Orthopedic or "comfort" shoes are made with pedorthic and anatomically-correct Cool Shoes comfort qualities, such Cool Shoes as padded removable footbeds, wide toe boxes and arch support are made especially for those with problematic feet.
Dance Cool Shoes shoes
Pointe 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 Cool Shoes of their toes. Cool Shoes They are secured by elastic Cool Shoes straps and ribbons that are tied to the dancer's ankles.
Ballet shoes Cool Shoes Heel-less slippers made of canvas or leather, with Cool Shoes either continuous Cool Shoes or two-part Cool Shoes sole (i.e., split-sole). The sole is typically made of leather, with Cool Shoes thicker material under the ball and heel of the foot, and thinner and thus more Cool Shoes flexible material under Cool Shoes the arch so that the foot can be pointed to its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured by Cool Shoes elastics that cross over Cool Shoes the top of the Cool Shoes foot. They are most commonly pink, white, black, or pale tan, although they may be made in Cool Shoes specialty colours such as red or blue.
Jazz shoes. These typically have Cool Shoes a two-part, rubberized sole (i.e., split-sole) to provide both flexibility and traction, and a low (one inch or shorter) heel. They are secured to the foot by laces or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They fall into two categories for Cool Shoes the two genres of Cool Shoes dances as defined by the IDSF (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom and Cool Shoes Latin American. Both Cool Shoes are characterised Cool Shoes by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups with 1-inch heels and Cool Shoes patent leather uppers. Ladies' Ballroom shoes Footjoy Golf 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 Cool Shoes match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom heel distributes the dancer's weight across the Cool Shoes foot while Latin American shoes have higher heels designed to throw Cool Shoes the dancer's weight on to the Cool Shoes toes and the soles are more flexible. Men's Cool Shoes Latin shoes Cool Shoes typically have Cool Shoes 1.5-inch Cool Shoes to Cool Shoes 2-inch shaped heels while Ladies' Latin shoes have 2,5-inch Cool Shoes to 3-inch heels, open-toed and strapped.
Dance sneakers. Also known as dansneakers, these are a combination of a Cool Shoes sneaker and a dance shoe, with a Cool Shoes reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a one to three inch heel, Cool Shoes which are usually made of Cool Shoes leather, and Cool Shoes often have one or more Cool Shoes straps across the instep to secure the foot during dance. They Cool Shoes 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 and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, these are slip-on, Cool Shoes partial foot covers that protect the ball of 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 Cool Shoes style is frequently worn by acro dancers.
A foot thong, viewed from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed to stand heavy Cool Shoes wear, to protect the wearer, and provide high traction. They are generally Cool Shoes made from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or comfort by Cool Shoes nurses, waitresses, police, military personnel, etc. They are commonly used for protection in industrial settings, Cool Shoes construction, mining, and other workplaces. Protective features Cool Shoes may include Cool Shoes steel-tipped toes and soles Cool Shoes or Cool Shoes ankle guards.
Historical Cool Shoes shoes
Footwear has been worn for tens of Cool Shoes thousands of years. Shoes of the past include:
Espadrilles: these sandals, which are still worn today, are found as Cool Shoes early as the Cool Shoes 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 use even Cool Shoes into Cool Shoes the early 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe with a long-pointed toe, popular in Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: the historical shoe of many North American Indian tribes.
Maintenance
Breaking-in: Some Squash Shoes shoes are made of hard but deformable material. After a person wears them multiple times, the material reforms to fit the wearer's feet. The person is said Cool Shoes to have broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water resistance Cool Shoes (to some extent) and appearance, especially for leather shoes and boots.
Heel replacement: heels periodically wear out. Cool Shoes Not all shoes are designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: soles also Cool Shoes wear out. Not all shoes can have Cool Shoes their soles replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When unfit for use, shoes can Cool Shoes be treated as trash or municipal solid waste and disposed of. The exception can be with most athletic sneakers which Cool Shoes can be 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 Cool Shoes cobbler.
Shoe Cool Shoes etiquette
In 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 to remove shoes when entering a house. In some areas of the United States, Cool Shoes especially the Midwest, it is Cool Shoes expected that visitors remove their shoes unless a host specifically invites them to leave their shoes on. People Cool Shoes do this to avoid bringing dirt, mud or snow Cool Shoes into Cool Shoes the house. For Cool Shoes some societies, including those in Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for guests.
In the Middle East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude to show the soles of the feet to Cool Shoes others (even accidentally, such as by Cool Shoes crossing Cool Shoes 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 feet touching heads is an extremely rare occurrence in any society, some Muay Thai boxers insult each other by "kicking" the Orange Shoes opponent's head with their foot (most Muay Thai kicks are executed with the shin). |
