The earliest known shoes date from about 8000 to 7000 Womens Nike Shoes BCE and were found in Oregon, USA in 1938[1]. However, the materials used for making shoes do not Womens Nike Shoes normally Womens Nike Shoes last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably Womens Nike Shoes in use 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 Womens Nike Shoes that the Womens Nike Shoes thickness of Womens Nike Shoes the bones of the toes (other than the big toe) decreased during this period, on the premise that going barefoot Womens Nike Shoes 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. Womens Nike Shoes Many shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra insoles are often added Womens Nike Shoes for comfort or health reasons (to control the shape, moisture, or smell Womens Nike Shoes of the shoe).
Outsole
The outsole is the layer in direct contact Womens Nike Shoes with the ground. Dress shoes have leather outsoles; casual or work-oriented shoes have outsoles Womens Nike Shoes made of natural rubber or a synthetic imitation. The outsole may comprise a Womens Nike Shoes single piece, Womens Nike Shoes or may comprise separate pieces of different materials. Often the 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: athletic cleats have spikes embedded in the outsole to grip the ground; many kinds of dancing shoes have much softer or Womens Nike Shoes harder soles.
Midsole
The layer in between the outsole and the insole that is typically there for shock absorption. Womens Nike Shoes 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 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 support the Womens Nike Shoes heel of the foot. They are often made of the same material as the sole of the shoe. This part can be Womens Nike Shoes high for fashion New Balance Womens Crosstraining Shoes or to make the person look taller, or Womens Nike Shoes flat Womens Nike Shoes for a more practical use.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has Womens Nike Shoes an upper part that helps hold the shoe onto the foot. In the simplest cases, such as sandals or flip flops, this may be nothing Womens Nike Shoes more than a few straps for holding the sole in place. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will Womens Nike Shoes have a more complex upper. This part is Womens Nike Shoes 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 Womens Nike Shoes shoe-upper (Hain 1967).
Accessories to shoes
Shoehorn: can be used to insert a foot into a shoe Womens Nike Shoes by keeping the shoe open and providing a smooth surface for the foot to slide upon.
Shoe tree: placed inside the shoe when user is not wearing it, to Womens Nike Shoes help maintain the shoe's shape.
Shoe polishing equipment:
Shoe polish: a waxy material spread on shoes to improve appearance, glossiness, and provide Womens Nike Shoes protection.
Shoe brush and polishing cloth: used to apply polish Womens Nike Shoes to shoes.
Overshoes or galoshes: a rubber covering placed over shoes for Womens Nike Shoes rain and snow protection.
(Orthopedic) shoe insert: insert of various materials for 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 Womens Nike Shoes damage when Womens Nike Shoes they are not being worn.
Shoe Womens Nike Shoes stretcher: a tool for making a shoe longer Womens Nike Shoes or wider or for reducing discomfort in areas of a shoe.
Snow shoe: a wooden or leather piece which increases Womens Nike Shoes the area of ground covered by the 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 Womens Nike Shoes and casual shoes
Dress shoes are categorized Womens Nike Shoes by Womens Nike Shoes smooth and supple leather uppers, Womens Nike Shoes leather soles, Womens Nike Shoes and narrow sleek Womens Nike Shoes figure. Casual shoes are characterized by sturdy leather uppers, non-leather outsoles, and wide Womens Nike Shoes profile.
Some Womens Nike Shoes designs of dress shoes can be worn by either gender. The majority of dress shoes have Womens Nike Shoes an upper Womens Nike Shoes covering, commonly made of leather, enclosing most of the lower foot, but not covering the Womens Nike Shoes ankles. This upper part of the shoe is often made without apertures Womens Nike Shoes or openings, Womens Nike Shoes but may also be made with openings or even itself consist of a series of straps, e.g. an Womens Nike Shoes open toe featured in women's shoes. Shoes with Womens Nike Shoes uppers made high Womens Nike Shoes 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 be Womens Nike Shoes 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.
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Men's shoes
Men's shoes can be categorized by how they are Womens Nike Shoes closed:
Balmorals: Womens Nike Shoes the vamp has a V-shaped Womens Nike Shoes slit to which Womens Nike Shoes the laces are attached; also known as "closed lacing". In England, Womens Nike Shoes the balmoral is known as the Womens Nike Shoes Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American clothing companies to market shoes that are Womens Nike Shoes not balmorals, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
Bluchers: the laces are Womens Nike Shoes tied to two pieces of leather independently attached to the vamp; also Womens Nike Shoes known as "open lacing". In Womens Nike Shoes England, the Blucher is known as the Derby shoe.
Monk-straps: a buckle and strap instead of lacing
Various other closings exist but are less popular such as side-elastic Womens Nike Shoes closings.
Men's shoes can also be decorated in various ways:
Plain-toes: have a sleek appearance and no extra decorations on the Womens Nike Shoes vamp.
Cap-toes: has an extra layer of leather that "caps" the toe. This is Womens Nike Shoes possibly the most popular Womens Nike Shoes decoration.
Brogues (American: wing-tips): The toe of the Womens Nike Shoes 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 and blucher styles. Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the Womens Nike Shoes talk page Etries Running Shoes 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 variety of shoes available for women, in addition to most Womens Nike Shoes of the men's styles being more accepted as unisex. Some broad categories are:
Pumps, Womens Nike Shoes known in the US and UK as ballerinas, ballet pumps or skimmers, Womens Nike Shoes are shoes Womens Nike Shoes with a very low heel Womens Nike Shoes 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 shoes Womens Nike Shoes with a higher heel.
High heels Womens Nike Shoes may be shoes with Womens Nike Shoes heels 2 inches Steel Toed Work Shoes (5 Womens Nike Shoes cm) or higher. Womens Nike Shoes They are often seen as having more sex appeal than low heels (see article for discussion) and are thus commonly worn Womens Nike Shoes by women for Womens Nike Shoes formal occasions or social outings.
Sneaker Womens Nike Shoes boot and sneaker pump: Fake Designer Shoes a shoe that looks like Womens Nike Shoes an athletic shoe, but Flame Shoes is equipped Womens Nike Shoes with a heel, making it a kind of novelty dress shoe.
Either gender
Women's sandals
Clog
Platform shoe: shoe with very thick Womens Nike Shoes soles and heels
Moccasin: Womens Nike Shoes originated by Womens Nike Shoes Native Americans, a soft shoe without a Womens Nike Shoes heel and usually made of leather.
Sandals: open shoes Womens Nike Shoes consisting of a sole and various straps, leaving much Womens Nike Shoes of the foot Womens Nike Shoes exposed to air. They are thus popular for warm-weather wear, Womens Nike Shoes because they let the foot be cooler than a closed-toed Womens Nike Shoes shoe would.
Saddle shoe: leather shoe with a Womens Nike Shoes contrasting saddle-shaped band over the instep, typically Womens Nike Shoes white uppers with black "saddle".
Loafer: a dress or casual shoe without laces; often with Womens Nike Shoes tassels, buckles, or coin-holders (penny loafers).
Boating shoes, also Womens Nike Shoes known as boat shoes and deck shoes: similar to a loafer, but more casual. Womens Nike Shoes Laces, if present, are usually simple leather (often two-tone) with no frills. Often Womens Nike Shoes made of canvas or featuring a white sole. They Womens Nike Shoes have soft soles/heels to avoid Womens Nike Shoes marring or scratching a boat Womens Nike Shoes deck.
Boots: Long shoes (covering the ankle) Womens Nike Shoes frequently made of leather. Some are designed to be used in Womens Nike Shoes times Womens Nike Shoes of bad weather, or simply as an alternate style of casual or Womens Nike Shoes dress wear. Styles include rubber boots and snow boots, as well Womens Nike Shoes as work boots and hiking boots.
Slippers: Womens Nike Shoes For indoor use, commonly worn with pajamas.
Athletic Womens Nike Shoes shoes
Men's and Womens Nike Shoes women's athletic Womens Nike Shoes shoes and special Womens Nike Shoes function shoes often have less difference between the sexes Womens Nike Shoes than in dress shoes. In many cases these shoes can be worn by either sex. Emphasis tends to be more on function than Womens Nike 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, Ivory Satin Shoes and have good traction. Special varieties are available for basketball or Womens Nike Shoes tennis.
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Running shoes: very similar to above, with additional emphasis on cushioning.
Track Womens Nike Shoes shoes: Womens Nike Shoes lightweight; often with plastic Womens Nike Shoes or metal cleats
A shoe for the right foot.
Cleat (shoe): a type of shoe Womens Nike Shoes featuring molded or Womens Nike Shoes removable studs. Usually worn while playing sports such Womens Nike Shoes as rugby, football, American football, or baseball.
A shoe for the right foot.
Golf shoes: with "spikes" for better grip in grass Womens Nike Shoes and wet ground. Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of metal but Womens Nike Shoes replaceable "soft spikes" made of synthetic plastic-like materials with prongs Womens Nike Shoes distributed radially around Womens Nike Shoes the edge of each spike are much more common today (and are required on many golf Womens Nike Shoes courses Womens Nike Shoes 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 not to damage bowling alley floors. They Womens Nike Shoes are often Womens Nike Shoes 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 Womens Nike Shoes rubber sole with an extended rubber rand.
Hiking shoes or boots: usually have a high somewhat stiff Womens Nike Shoes upper with many lace eyelets, to provide ankle Womens Nike Shoes support on uneven terrain, with extra large traction on the sole.
Walking shoes: have a more flexible sole than the Womens Nike Shoes running shoe, lighter in weight than Womens Nike Shoes the hiking boot, may have air holes, may not be water proof.
Skating shoes: typically called skates. They have Womens Nike Shoes various attachments for skating on Womens Nike Shoes the bottom of the shoe portion.
Ice skates
Roller skates
Inline skates
Ski boot: a large, thick plastic Womens Nike Shoes boot specially designed for attachment to the ski.
Skateboarding shoes have flat soles for a better grip on a skateboard. They are very wide and have extra layers Womens Nike Shoes of padding to protect the skateboarders feet.
Cycling shoes are equipped Womens Nike Shoes with a Womens Nike Shoes metal or plastic cleat to Womens Nike Shoes interface with Womens Nike Shoes clipless pedals, as well as a stiff sole to maximize power transfer and support Ladies Golf Shoes the foot.
Snowshoes are special shoes for walking in thick snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes Athletic Pink Puma Running Shoes are used for mostly recreational purposes in winter.
Wrestling shoes Womens Nike Shoes are light, Womens Nike Shoes 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, such as padded removable footbeds, wide toe boxes and arch support Womens Nike Shoes are made especially for those with problematic feet.
Dance shoes
Pointe shoes. Designed for ballet dancing. These have a Womens Nike Shoes toe box that is stiffened with glue and a hardened sole so the Womens Nike Shoes dancer can stand on the tips of their toes. Womens Nike Shoes They are secured by elastic Dubois Pennsylvania Running Shoes straps and ribbons Womens Nike Shoes that are tied to Womens Nike Shoes the dancer's Womens Nike Shoes ankles.
Ballet shoes Heel-less slippers made of canvas or Womens Nike Shoes leather, with either continuous or two-part sole (i.e., Womens Nike Shoes split-sole). The sole is Womens Nike Shoes typically made of leather, with Womens Nike Shoes thicker material under the ball and heel of the foot, and thinner and thus more flexible material Womens Nike Shoes under the arch so Womens Nike Shoes that the foot can be pointed to its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually secured by elastics that cross Womens Nike Shoes over the top of the foot. They are most commonly pink, white, black, or pale tan, although they may be made in specialty colours such as red or blue.
Jazz Womens Nike Shoes shoes. These typically have a two-part, rubberized sole Womens Nike Shoes (i.e., split-sole) to provide Amanda Shoes both flexibility and traction, and a low (one inch Womens Nike Shoes or shorter) heel. They are secured to Womens Nike Shoes the foot Womens Nike Shoes by laces Womens Nike Shoes or elastic inserts.
Tango/flamenco dance shoes.
Ballroom shoes. They fall into Womens Nike Shoes two categories for the two genres Womens Nike Shoes of dances as defined Womens Nike Shoes by the IDSF (International DanceSport Federation): Ballroom and Latin American. Both are characterised by suede soles. Mens' Ballroom shoes are typically lace-ups Womens Nike Shoes with 1-inch heels and patent leather uppers. Ladies' 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 Womens Nike Shoes to match the dancer's dress. The low Ballroom Womens Nike Shoes heel distributes the dancer's weight across the foot while Latin American shoes have Womens Nike Shoes higher heels designed to throw the dancer's weight on Womens Nike Shoes to the toes and Womens Nike Shoes the soles Womens Nike Shoes are more flexible. Womens Nike Shoes Men's Latin shoes typically Womens Nike Shoes 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.
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Dance sneakers. Also Womens Nike Shoes known as dansneakers, these are a combination of a sneaker and a dance shoe, with Womens Nike Shoes a reinforced rubber toe.
Character shoes. Shoes with a one to three inch heel, which are usually made of leather, and Womens Nike Shoes often have one or more straps across Womens Nike Shoes the instep to secure the foot during dance. They may come in soft-soled (suede) or hard-soled varieties. They may be converted Womens Nike Shoes to tap shoes by attaching taps.
Foot thongs. Variously called called Foot Paws and FootUndeez, depending on the manufacturer, these are slip-on, partial foot covers that protect the ball of a dancer's foot from skin abrasions while executing turns. From a distance, flesh colored foot Womens Nike Shoes thongs give a dancer the appearance of Womens Nike Shoes having bare feet.
Modern Womens Nike Shoes pointe shoes.
Ballet shoes.
Jazz shoes. This style is frequently worn by acro dancers.
A foot thong, viewed from the underside.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed to stand heavy wear, to protect the wearer, and provide high traction. They are Womens Nike Shoes generally made from sturdy leather uppers and non-leather outsoles. Sometimes they are used for uniforms or Womens Nike Shoes comfort by nurses, waitresses, police, military Womens Nike Shoes personnel, etc. They are commonly used for protection in industrial settings, construction, mining, and Womens Nike Shoes other Womens Nike Shoes workplaces. Protective Womens Nike Shoes 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 Womens Nike Shoes sandals, which are Womens Nike Shoes still worn today, are 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 Womens Nike Shoes in use even into the early Who Invented Shoes 20th century.
Poulaine: a shoe with a long-pointed toe, popular in Europe in the 1400s.
Moccasins: Womens Nike Shoes the Womens Nike Shoes historical shoe of many North American Indian Womens Nike Shoes 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 feet. The person is said to have broken in the shoes.
Polishing: for protection, water Womens Nike Shoes resistance (to some extent) and appearance, especially for leather Womens Nike Shoes shoes and boots.
Heel replacement: heels periodically wear out. Not all shoes are designed to enable this.
Sole replacement: soles also wear out. Not all shoes can have their soles replaced.
Shoelace replacement.
When Womens Nike Shoes unfit for use, shoes can be treated as trash or municipal solid waste Womens Nike Shoes and disposed of. The exception can be with most athletic sneakers which can be Womens Nike Shoes recycled and turned into other raw materials. See Nike Grind Womens Nike Shoes as an example.
Someone who makes or repairs shoes in a shop is called a cobbler.
Shoe etiquette
In most parts of Avanti Puma Shoes Soccer White the Womens Nike Shoes world (Asia, Eastern Europe, Womens Nike Shoes parts of the Middle East and Africa, much of Northern Europe and Canada, as well as Alaska) it is customary to remove shoes Womens Nike Shoes when entering a house. In some areas of the United States, especially Womens Nike Shoes the Womens Nike Shoes Midwest, it is expected that Womens Nike Shoes visitors remove their shoes unless a host specifically invites them Womens Nike Shoes to leave their shoes on. People do this to avoid bringing dirt, mud or snow into the house. For some societies, including those in Womens Nike Shoes Asia, indoor footwear may be provided for guests.
In the Middle East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered rude Womens Nike Shoes to show the soles of the feet to others (even accidentally, such as by crossing the legs). In addition, Womens Nike Shoes in Thailand, it is an extreme insult for the foot, socks, or shoes to touch Womens Nike Shoes 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" Womens Nike Shoes the opponent's head Womens Nike Shoes with their Womens Nike Shoes foot (most Muay Thai Womens Nike Shoes kicks are executed with the shin). Womens Nike Shoes |
