Shoes are footwear for men, women, and children. They come in a variety of styles and textures including leather, faux leather, and canvas. Shoes are made up of different parts: sole, insole, outer sole, midsole, and heel. These parts help to tell the type of shoe you are looking for and the type of support the shoe can provide.
In looking back at shoes from the past, there is a misconception that platform shoes and high heels were functional - that they kept the feet out of the mud. More realistically, just like today, high heels were fashionable, not sensible.http://www.allaboutshoes.ca/en/heights_of_fashion/index.php They were also a sign of rank through the ages. In ancient Egypt, slaves wore palm leaf sandals. Aristocrats wore pointed toed sandals.http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/history-of-shoes
The aristocratic women of ancient Greece owned many pairs of shoes, at least 20, with a style to match every occasion. Things have not changed much over the centuries where shoes are concerned.
Wedding Shoes - Shoes and wedding traditions have a long history. "Something borrowed, something blue, and a hay penny in the bride's shoe." A hay penny is a half-penny and very small. They are still perceived as good luck for the marriage.http://www.allaboutshoes.ca/en/perfect_pair/index.php?sub_section=110&target_table=perfect_pair
Shoe Sizing
Shoe sizing is based on the length of the foot from the big toe to the heel. For the U.S., sizes begin at one and it is estimated that a women's shoe size is about 1 1/2 times smaller than a man's. For instance, if a woman wears a size 8, then if she were to wear a man's shoe she would need a 6.5 or 7. In the U.S. the most common shoe size for men is 10.5 and for women it's 8.5.
Skechers Shape Ups
In 2010, Skechers released a new type of sneaker called Shape Ups. Endorsed by former NFL quarterback Joe Montana, these new sneakers were advertised as being able to improve ones posture and balance. However, reviews of these sneakers have been lukewarm since release. Some civil lawsuits have also resulted from the sneakers, mainly for false advertising. Despite the criticisms, Skechers is fighting the cases in court and continues to stand by the sneaker.http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9HGRUCO0.htm
Types of Shoes
- For Men:
- For Women:
- High Heels
- Pumps
- Ballet Flats
- Loafers
- Boots
- Sneakers
- Sandals
- Clogs
- Moccasins
- Boat Shoes
- Slippers
- Speciality:
- Orthopedic Shoes
- Ballet Shoes
- Jazz Shoes
- Character Shoes
History of Shoes
The history of shoes, dating from the caveman to the nineties, is depicted in this video. There are images of Egyptian shoes, Mesopotamian shoes, Grecian shoes for men and women, Etruscan, Roman, East Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Northern European Footwear, Medieval, Renaissance, shoes from the 17th century, 18th century – this was when the buckle was added – and 19th century shoes. Then the video narrows down the time frame. 1900 – 1919, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and the 1970s.
References
Fast Facts
-
Description
Shoes are clothing accessories to protect the feet
-
Demographic
Available for men, women, and children
-
Shoe History
Earliest shoes date back to 8000 BC
-
Foreign Customs
In some countries it is customary to remove your shoes before entering a house
-
Shoe Repair
One who repairs shoes is a cobbler
