Dress and casual shoes
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 also made with openings or even a connected series of straps, e. g. an open toe feature in women's shoes. Shoes with ankle length (covering the ankles) upper bodies are also available. Such shoes often have zippers to open them.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Women's shoes
- Heels - shoes with short, sturdy heels
- Flats - shoes with almost no heel at all
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- Ballerina shoes, aka, ballet flats - mimicking the appearance of ballet shoes, pointe shoes.
- Medium height heels ("kitten" heels have less than 2 inches of height)
- High heels
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- Stiletto heels - high, usually pointed, heels
- Killer heels - very high, usually 4" or greater, heels, worn for their glamour- or sex-appeal
- Open-toed shoes - sometimes called "peep toe"
- Mary Janes
- Espadrilles - a casual sandal, with a canvas top and a rope sole
- Mule - a close-toed, open-heeled slipper
[edit] Either gender
- Clog
- Platform shoe - shoe with very thick soles and heels, mainly worn by women in the U.S.
- Loafers - 'slip-on' shoes with no lacing
- Moccasin - originated by American Indians
- Sandals - open shoes consisting of a sole and various straps
- 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)
[edit] 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
- boating shoes - also similar to above. They have soft soles/heels to avoid marring or scratching a boat deck.
- track shoes - lightweight; often with plastic or metal cleats
- football shoes - with plastic or metal cleats
- 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.
- 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.
- climbing shoes
- orthopedic shoes - specially designed for people with foot problems.
- skating shoes - typically called skates. They have various attachments for skating on the bottom of the shoe portion.
- ice skates
- roller skates
- inline skates
- ski boot - a large, thick plastic boot specially designed for attachment to the ski.
- skateboarding shoes- used for skateboarding but also worn by teenagers for fashion
- 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.
- 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
- 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. A lot of people wear them for comfort because of their width and soft padding.
[edit] Comfort Shoes
Shoes that 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.
[edit] Categories
- shoes are any type of footwear worn on the foot, and to prevent further argument, shoes include slippers, any type of heel shoes, uggs, and anything else you wear on your foot (not socks).
[edit] Dancing shoes
- dance shoes - special shoes made for tap, jazz, ballet or ballroom dancing.
- pointe shoes - shoes designed for professional ballet dancing.
- tango/flamenco dance shoes.
- dance sneakers (or dansneakers)- a combination of a sneaker and a dance shoe, with a block toe like a dance shoe
- Character shoes- special shoes usually used in plays and can be adapted into tap shoes
- irish step dancing shoes- green shoes with gold coins in them
[edit] 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.
[edit] Snow shoes
Snowshoes are special shoes for walking in thick snow. In temperate climates, snowshoes are used for mostly recreational purposes in winter.
[edit] Boots
Boots are special shoes that are 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.
[edit] Historical Shoes
Footwear has been worn for tens of thousands of years. Shoes worn in 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.
