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Shoe
A shoe is an item of footwear. Shoes may vary from a simple flip-flop to a
complex boot. Shoes may have high or low heels, although in western
cultures, high heels are considered a woman's style. Shoe materials include
leather or canvas. Athletic shoe soles may be made of rubber.
History
The earliest known shoe dates from about 7000 BCE and was found in
California. However, the materials used for making shoes does not normally
last for thousands of years, so shoes were probably 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 that the thickness of the bones of the toes (other
than the big toe) decreased during this period, presumably because going
barefoot results in greater bone growth before this period.[1]
Parts of a shoe
Sole
The bottom of a shoe is named the sole.
Insole
The insole is the interior bottom of a shoe, which sits directly beneath the
foot. Many shoes have removable and replaceable insoles, and extra 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. The material of
the outsole depends on the function, dressiness, and quality of the shoe,
but is generally very durable material, since it experiences the most
stress. 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 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
harder soles. These soles can be as hard as concrete, and very sturdy.
Heel
The bottom rear part of a shoe is the heel. These come in a variety of sizes
and are usually made to support the large stresses applied to the heel of
the foot. They are often made of the same material as the sole of the
shoe.This part can be high to make the person look taller, or flat.
Vamp, or upper
Any shoe has 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 more than
a few straps for holding the sole in place. Closed footwear, such as boots,
sneakers and most men's shoes, will usually have a more complex upper. This
part is normally decorated or is made in a certain style to look fashionable
and attractive for the buyer.
Accessories to shoes
* Shoe horn - can be used to insert a foot into a shoe 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 help
maintain the shoe's shape
* Shoe polishing equipment
* Shoe polish - a material spread on shoes to improve appearance,
glossiness, and provide protection
* Polishing cloth - a piece of fabric used to apply polish to the shoe
* Overshoes or galoshes - a rubber covering placed over shoes for rain and
snow protection
* (Orthopedic) shoe insert - insert of various materials for cushioning,
improved fitt, or reduced abrasion. These include padding and inner linings.
Inserts may also be used to correct foot problems
* Shoe bag - a bag that protects the 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.
Types of shoes
Dress and casual shoes
Image:Leather-Shoes.jpg
Casual shoes, made of leather
Dress shoes are categorized by smooth and supple leather uppers, leather
soles, and narrow sleek shape. 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
is often made without apertures or openings, but may also be made 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 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 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 England, the balmoral is known as the
Oxford. The word "Oxford" is used by American clothing companies to market
shoes that are not Oxfords, such as rubber-sole bluchers.
* Blüchers - 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 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
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 - has an extra layer of leather that 'caps' the toe. This is
possibly the most popular decoration
* Wing-tips - The toe of the shoe is covered with a perforated panel, the
wing-tip, which extends down either side of the shoe. Wing-tips can be found
in both balmoral and blucher styles. In England this is called a brogue.
Women's shoes
There is a large variety of shoes available for women. Some broad categories
are:
Pumps, known in the US as ballerinas 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
shoes with a higher heel.
High heels may be shoes with heels 2 inches (5 cm) or higher. They are often
seen as having more sex 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 shoe,
but is equipped with a heel, making it a kind of novelty dress shoe
Either gender
* Clog
* Platform shoe - shoe with very thick soles and heels
* Moccasin - originated by American Indians, 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 closed-toed shoe would.
* Saddle shoe - leather shoe with a contrasting saddle-shaped band over 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 as boat shoes and 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. They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring 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 rubber boots and snow boots,
as well as work boots and hiking boots.
* Slippers - Usually for night use, commonly worn with pajamas
Athletic shoes
Men's and women's athletic shoes and special function shoes often have less
difference between the sexes 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, and have good traction. Special varieties 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
* Cleats - a type of shoe featuring molded or removable studs. Usually worn
while playing sports such as rugby, football, American football, or baseball
* Golf shoes - with "spikes" for better grip in grass and wet ground.
Originally the spikes or "cleats" were made of metal but replacable "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 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, also known as 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 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.
o Ice skates
o Roller skates
o 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 very wide and have extra layers of padding to protect the
skateboarders feet. Many young people wear them for comfort.
* Cycling shoes are equipped with a metal cleat to interface with clipless
pedals, as well as a stiff sole to maximize power transfer and support the
foot.
* Snowshoes are special shoes for walking in thick snow. In temperate
climates, snowshoes are used for mostly recreational purposes in winter.
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 - shoes designed for ballet dancing, which have the toe box
stiffened with glue and a hardened sole so the dancer can rise on the tips
of her (or his) toes
* Ballet slipper - heel-less slippers made of canvas or leather, with
usually a leather sole that may be continuous or in two parts (split-sole) -
stiffer leather sole over the ball of the foot and over the heel, with the
part of the shoe under the arch made of the softer material of the upper, so
as the foot can be pointed to its utmost. Ballet slippers are usually
secured by elastic straps. They are most commonly pink, white, black, or
pale tan, although they may be made in specialty colours such as red oor
blue.
* Jazz shoe - similar in basic structure to a split-sole ballet slipper,
jazz shoes usually have a longer vamp, securing the foot by laces or elastic
inserts. Unlike ballet slippers, jazz shoes usually have a low (1" or under)
heel.
* Tango/flamenco dance shoes
* Dance sneakers (or dansneakers)- a combination of a sneaker and a dance
shoe, with a block toe like a ballet slipper
* Character shoes - shoes with a 1"-3" heel, which are usually made of
leather, and often have one or more straps across the instep to secure the
foot during dance. They may come in soft-soled (suede) or hard-soled
varieties. They may be adapted into tap shoes by attaching taps.
Work shoes
Work shoes are designed to stand heavy wear, to protect the wearer, and
provide 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
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 worn today, are found as early
as the 14th century.
* Patten (shoe) | 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 into the early 20th century.
* Poulaine: a shoe with a long-pointed toe, popular in Europe in the 1400s.
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 resistance (to some extent) and
appearance, especially for leather 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 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 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 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, especially the Midwest, it is expected that visitors remove their
shoes unless a host specifically invites them to leave their shoes on.
People 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 East, parts of Africa, Korea and Thailand, it is considered
rude to show the 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 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 opponent's head
with their foot (most Muay Thai kicks are executed with the shin).
Shoes in literature
Shoes play an important role on the fairy tales Cinderella and The Red
Shoes. In literature and film, an empty shoe or a pair of shoes signifies
death.[citation needed]
Sizes
* Units for shoe sizes vary widely around the world. European sizes are
measured in Paris Points, which are worth two-thirds of a centimetre. The UK
and American units are approximately one-quarter of an inch, starting at 8¼
inches. Men's and women's shoe sizes often have different scales. Shoes size
is often measured using a Brannock Device, which can determine both the
width and length of the foot.
References
Further reading
* History of footwear in Norway, Sweden and Finland : prehistory to 1950,
ISBN 91-7402-323-3
* Patrick Cox: Wit, Irony, and Footwear, Tamasin Doe (1998) ISBN
0-8230-1148-8
* Shoes : A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers & More, ISBN
0-7611-0114-4
* A Century of Shoes: Icons of Style in the 20th Century, Angela Pattison
ISBN 0-7858-0835-3
* Shoes , Elizabeth Cotton (1999) ISBN 1-55670-894-7
* Shoes : A Lexicon of Style, Valerie Steel ISBN 0-8478-2166-8
* Mad About Shoes, Emma Bowd ISBN 1-84172-353-3
* Bootism : A Shoe Religion, Penina Goodman, Michael Duranko (2003) ISBN
0-7407-3832-1
* The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say about You, Meghan Cleary, Sydney Van
Dyke ISBN 0-8118-4501-X
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