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<\/a>An A-Z of amazing shoes<\/p><\/div>A few weeks ago in this blog I was talking about the closure of several shoe chains and pointing out that if you are thinking of starting a business, whether it\u2019s online, a market stall or in actual premises, a shoe shop might be a great business to get off the ground. Everyone needs shoes after all!<\/p>\n
Where do you start though? Are you one of those people who think only the Dutch wear clogs? So you think a sole is a type of fish? Or do you assume that boat shoes are shoes that are decorated to look like ships? Here at Wholesale Clearance UK HQ we have been debating what different types of shoes are called, and looking online there’s not really a great deal of information in one place. With this in mind, if like us, you haven\u2019t a clue about types and styles of shoes, then this article is for you. Here\u2019s a handy reference guide <\/strong><\/em>for the types of shoes that are available for you to stock.<\/p>\n Ankle boots. Come to just above the ankle<\/p><\/div>Ankle boot<\/strong><\/p>\n As you can probably tell from the name, an ankle boot is a boot that only comes up as far as the ankle. The boot will generally be enclosed although recently some ankle boots have had a piece cut out so you can see the toes. Ankle boots can be any height and can be either casual or dressy depending on the materials used (the colour, the pattern or the fabric) and the decoration (buckles, ribbons, diamante).<\/p>\n Depending on the wearer, ankle boots can be a little unflattering as they make legs look shorter. Short or dumpy people should definitely avoid wearing them. High heeled versions can be very glamorous with short and smart dresses, or can add a touch of style to slim fitting jeans or trousers. Never wear wide cut, flared or baggy trousers or jeans with ankle boots. <\/p>\n Haten-shun!<\/p><\/div>Army boots<\/strong><\/p>\n Army boots are either ex-military boots designed to be worn by soldiers during actual combat or combat training, or they have been made to look like army boots for fashion purposes. Good military boots are expensive and will usually provide a combination of grip, ankle stability, and foot protection and waterproofed leather. They can be picked up in army surplus shops.<\/p>\n Army boots have long been a fashion icon among alternative pop cultures. Bikers have been wearing them for decades, and punks adopted them in the seventies. They have also been picked up by Goths, grunge, heavy metal, skinheads and those among the BDSM cultures (apparently \ud83d\ude09 ). Recently they have appealed to a more mainstream clientele because they are cheap, long lasting and can give a vintage or retro effect to fashion wear.<\/p>\n Athletic shoe<\/p><\/div>Athletic shoes (or plimsolls)<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018Athletic shoe\u2019 is a generic name for footwear used for sports and other physical exercise. Over the past twenty years or so, the plimsoll has become a fashion item and is used in everyday activities. The athletic shoe has had a variety of names including trainer, sandshoe, gym boot or jogger, tennis shoe or sneaker in the USA.<\/p>\n A plimsoll (of sorts)<\/p><\/div>In the UK we would recognise the athletic shoe as a plimsoll and would use it for indoor athletics. Plimsolls were introduced in the mid nineteenth century by Samuel Plimsoll. The early versions were made with a cotton canvas upper and leather sole and were designed for leisure or beach use. They were used on tennis and croquet courts and ordered in bulk for Army use. They were made compulsory for physical education use in the UK during the twentieth century. All British kids will have worn them at one time or another and there is a strong nostalgia for them.<\/p>\n Recognisable because of their soft sole and elasticated fit<\/p><\/div>Ballet shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Ballet flats or \u2018dolly shoes\u2019 <\/strong><\/em>are easily recognised. They are shoes that resemble the sort of thing a rag doll might wear. The ballet slipper has a very thin heel or no heel at all, and the upper is very soft and material like. They may simply be slip-ons or have some sort of elastic or adjustable string tie so that they can be adjusted around the top of the foot. Alternative versions will look like ballet slippers with ribbons that wrap around the ankle.<\/p>\n Ballet flats have been used in fashion since the sixteenth century when men and women wore the version known as pompes. They went out of fashion during the seventeenth and eighteenth century when high heels became all the rage, but high heels were a sign of status favoured by the likes of Catherine de Medici and Marie Antoinette and they went out of fashion for a while post French Revolution. <\/p>\n When Audrey Hepburn wore ballet slippers with skinny jeans in Funny Face in 1957, the world went crazy for them again. However, you should only wear ballet slippers if you are a) a ballet dancer or b) an Audrey Hepburn clone. Anyone with any sort of weight or anyone with a fat heel or ankle should not be seen dead in them. Similarly if you\u2019re walking any sort of distance, avoid them like the plague because they are non-supportive and have little if any grip.<\/p>\n Reef Shoes. Look at those tootsies!<\/p><\/div>Beach shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Beach Footwear has certainly changed over the years. It can, and has been taken to mean flip flops<\/strong>, sandals or crocs but now it usually refers to neoprene reef shoes. Reef shoes are the kind that you can wear when swimming, rock pooling or snorkelling. It saves cutting your feet if you stand on something sharp, and also helps if you are walking over pebbly beaches. <\/p>\n Mediterranean coloured boat shoes<\/p><\/div>Boat shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Boat shoes are also frequently referred to as deck shoes or topsiders. They tend to be made with canvas or leather and have non-marking rubber soles as part of the design. As the name suggests they are essentially designed for use on a boat, but as with many styles, they drift in and out of fashion. They are perfect for boat use because the soles are cut in such a way (called \u2018siping\u2019) that they can provide grip on a wet deck. Using leather in the shoes allows for the application of oil to the upper which will repel water. The stitching needs to be highly durable so that it does not rot. Boat shoes have come into their own since the 1980s (very Miami Vice) but beware! The whole look can only be carried off as long as the wearer does not utilise socks. <\/p>\n The tallest boots of all!<\/p><\/div>Boots<\/strong><\/p>\n Boots are an item of footwear that traditionally cover the whole of the foot and ankle, with many types extending above the ankle. Some boots rise as high as the knee or even the hip. The majority of boots will have a heel that is easily distinguishable from the sole although wedges and platforms are an exception to this. Boots are usually worn with socks in order to prevent blisters, especially when new.<\/p>\n Boots are usually pretty supportive of the foot and ankle and so are mainly worn for functional purposes \u2013 to keep the wearer warm and supposedly to exclude the elements: snow, rain, mud etc. Unfortunately most fashion boots do not keep out the elements. Certain boots are manufactured specifically to protect against hazards on construction sites, or during strenuous activities. Bovver boots – pretty cool, eh?<\/p><\/div>Bovver boots<\/strong> <\/p>\n Bovver boots are boots that have been adopted into fashion (see also army boots <\/strong>above) by punks and skinheads, Goths and students. More recently women have enjoyed wearing them with pretty frocks. If you wear bovver boots you are either a) looking for trouble or b) trying too hard.<\/p>\n Bowling for Britain<\/p><\/div>Bowling shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone knows what bowling shoes are. You hire them from a bowling alley. You take off your lovely new shoes and replace them with scuffed, old and cheesy bowling shoes that were worn by a million strangers with fungal nail infections before you, right? Right. The thing is that bowling shoes have been especially designed to be smooth and flat. The idea is that they are not worn outside in the elements and the soles therefore remain slick and free of debris. If the soles are not slick, you run the risk of slipping on the smooth surface of the bowling rink.<\/p>\n Beyond the obvious role of bowling shoes in bowling alleys, there has been some movement in fashion circles to wear bowling shoes out and about. Style conscious Mods are particularly keen on their chic, smooth look as of course were Two-Tone followers in the late 70s and early 80s. A top tip from those in the know, is to mix a little black polish into the cracks to give shade to the shoe, making it look older. So if you\u2019re seeking to complete your Paul Weller look, consider yourself told.<\/p>\n Brogues<\/p><\/div>Brogues<\/strong><\/p>\n Ah brogues. A style classic. The word comes from the Scottish for shoe (br\u00f2g) and the Gaelic br\u00f3g. The brogue is instantly recognizable by its sturdy leather uppers with decorative perforations (or “broguing”) and its low heel. Brogues can be worn as either a shoe or a boot. Cleats<\/p><\/div>Cleats<\/strong><\/p>\n Cleats have been in use among athletes since at least the 1500s. In 1526 \u2018football boots\u2019 were listed in King Henry VIII\u2019s Great Wardrobe. Cornelius Johnson, shoemaker to the King, made the King a pair of hand-stitched boots <\/strong>\u201cto play football\u201d in. The shoes were made of strong leather. New methods and materials for making cleats coincided with the emergence of The Football Association in 1863 with football becoming an organized game in England.<\/p>\n From the 1840s, it was possible to harden rubber and stop it from decaying. This process known as vulcanization, was especially beneficial in the production of cleats. From the 1890s studs were first used to make football cleats and the concept of spiked and studded shoes for other sports began to emerge at this time too. It was in the 1890s, that a British company (now known as Reebok), developed the earliest known spiked leather running shoes.<\/p>\n From the 1920s, detachable cleats were first introduced and by the 1970s, players could wear footwear with short, rubber cleats for use on artificial turf. These days, different types of cleats exist for different surfaces. The guidelines on https:\/\/www.pureartificialgrass.co.uk\/<\/a> will guide you in finding the right match.<\/p>\n Flexibility!<\/p><\/div>Climbing shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n A climbing shoe is again aptly named. It is a specialized type of footwear that has been designed for more adventurous people to wear when they stylishly want to traverse mountains and such like. They are supposed to be closely fitting (well you wouldn\u2019t want your shoe to come off at 1500 feet would you?). There\u2019s no padding either. You can actually feel the rocks with your toes. The rubber sole is sticky. These shoes are completely unsuitable for anything except rock climbing and have yet to break into fashion.<\/p>\n Clop clop<\/p><\/div>Clogs<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever been to Holland, you\u2019ll know exactly what clogs are. Clogs are shoes that are made either in part or completely from wood. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a clog as a “shoe with a thick wooden sole”. Whole foot clogs are those that have a wooden upper covering the whole of the foot to near the ankle, like the Dutch klomp. They are also known as “wooden shoes”. Clogs aren\u2019t just a part of Dutch and European folklore however, they have been adopted around the world, although their design often varies by culture.<\/p>\n Traditional clogs have often been a \u2018peasant\u2019 type of footwear, worn by those having to undertake heavy labour. They are still used as protective clothing in agriculture and in some factories and mines even today because they are strong, functional and protect your feet.<\/p>\n Clogs have also used been used in several different styles of dance as they make a great sound when they are clacked against the floor. For evidence of this you only have to visit this video \ud83d\ude09 http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qcR3U77nPv4<\/a><\/p>\n Court Shoe with Rose decoration<\/p><\/div>Court shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n A court shoe (in Britain) or pump <\/strong>(in the USA) is usually a slip on shoe with a low-cut front. Some have ankle straps. They are traditionally worn by women although there have been male versions throughout history too \u2013 particularly at ceremonial or formal occasions when they are known as \u2018opera slippers\u2019 or \u2018patent pumps\u2019.<\/p>\n Women\u2019s pumps are generally heeled, but the heel itself varies, they can be closed toe with a wide heel, or open toed with a stiletto or kitten heel <\/strong>as fashion frippery dictates. Note<\/strong>: a kitten heel is one that is medium height.<\/em> You knew that didn\u2019t you? A puppy heel is taught at dog obedience classes. <\/p>\n In the UK, we would understand “pumps” to refer to flat or low-heel dancing or ballerina shoes. The word pump can also apply to plimsolls<\/strong>. In the USA however, a pump would have a higher heel. <\/p>\n Pretty pumps pimp an outfit \ud83d\ude42<\/p><\/div>Pumps <\/strong>are good to wear at work, with uniforms or suits, as they tend to be classy and unfussy. Depending on the materials used in their construction you can wear them with anything really: jeans, dresses, trousers. Pump construction is simple. They will have a whole-cut leather top and a full leather sole that is either glued onto the bottom (the cheaper styles) or sewn (expensive styles). Many pumps will have some form of decoration such as a bow on the front or the heel.<\/p>\n Girl’s cowboy boot<\/p><\/div>Cowboy boots<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019d have to have been in hibernation on the moon for your whole life not to know what a cowboy boot is, but just in case some of our readers are space cadets and need reminding, a cowboy boot is a riding boot that has been historically worn by cowboys. They have a \u2018Cuban heel\u2019 <\/strong><\/em>which is described as a broad but moderately high straight-sided heel on a shoe or boot.<\/p>\n The cowboy boot has a rounded or pointed toe and no lacing. They are generally made from cowhide (yeeha!!) but can also be made from more exotic skins such as alligator and snake or even the skin of endangered animals such as elephants (very bad! Don\u2019t encourage it!). If you\u2019re a cockney cowboy you can have your cockney cowboy boots made of eel.<\/p>\n Apparently, there are two basic styles of cowboy boots. The western is the classic version of course. It reaches mid-calf and the heel is over one inch high (I wonder if cowboys were traditionally bow legged and short?). The other style is the \u201croper\u201d style that has a short boot shaft that stops above the ankle but before the middle of the calf, and a low and squared-off “roper” heel, shaped to the sole of the boot, usually less than one inch high.<\/p>\n Cowboy boots can be decorated in a variety of ways but topstitching, and cut outs of geometric patterns are very popular.<\/p>\n Bright and breezy – yes they let the air circulate so are surprisingly unsweaty<\/p><\/div>Crocs<\/strong><\/p>\n Crocs were originally been developed as a spa shoe, with the first model unveiled in 2002 in Florida. Crocs are made from a foam resin named Croslite which moulds itself to a wearer’s feet and offers medical benefits according to some podiatrists. The shoes come in a bright range of twenty colours suiting men, women and children. Fittings vary because Crocs are manufactured in a number of countries such as Italy, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vietnam and China. in a variety of styles. They are manufactured in Crocs facilities in Mexico, and contract manufacturers in. Fake \u2018crocs\u2019 are widely available.<\/p>\n Crocs can be decorated with Jibbitz, little decorations that can be clipped into the ventilation holes in the shoes. A “Fuzz Collection” with removable woolly liners has ensured that Croc loving Brits can continue to wear the footwear will into winter.<\/p>\n Stylish even on a penny farthing<\/p><\/div>Cycling shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Cycling shoes are shoes used for people who like to ride their bicycles fast. It is possible to ride a bicycle in flip flops<\/strong>, (see below) but if you stub your toe on a kerb it can get messy. There are any number of designs of cycling shoes depending on how fast you ride your bicycle, and what sort of cycling you do (on road? Off road? At the Olympics?) The key features are: that the shoes have a rigidity, for more-efficient transfer of power from the cyclist and his or her thighs (Sir Chris Hoy?) to the pedals; weight; and a method of attaching the shoe to the pedal. Most cycling shoes do not have laces these days. The cycling shoe is not an item of fashion, except for those that like to dress in skin tight lycra and ride in pairs around country lanes oblivious to the traffic jams they are causing.<\/p>\n Ahoy there! Deck shoes.<\/p><\/div>Deck shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Deck shoes are also known as boat shoes or topsiders. (See boat shoes <\/strong>above). They have non-marking rubber soles designed for use on a boat, but have increasingly found their way into fashion. They should be worn without socks.<\/p>\n Smart dress shoes<\/p><\/div>Dress shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n A dress shoe is an item of footwear that you would wear at a smart casual or more formal event. Dress shoes are supposedly worn when you \u2018dress up\u2019 for a special occasion or an evening out for example, although increasingly many people wear them as their daily shoes if they wish to look smart. <\/p>\n Men’s dress shoes will usually be black or brown although burgundy, oxblood, chestnut, cordovan or white are alternative options. They will be made of leather, this includes the outers, lining, and sole. The uppers and seams will be decorated in a variety of ways such as stitching and brogueing (see brogues above). <\/p>\n Sling back in your slingbacks<\/p><\/div>Women’s dress shoes come in the full spectrum of colours of course including black, silver, gold, tan or white, but anything goes. Invariably a dress shoe is high heeled. Pumps <\/strong>with kitten heels <\/strong>(see court shoes <\/strong>above) are a good dress shoe. Slingbacks <\/strong>are another option. Slingbacks are similar to pumps except they will have a strap that wraps around the back of the foot so that the heel is exposed. Some sandals can be used as dress shoes, but they must have a heel, have straps, and usually a shiny finish.<\/p>\n Elevator Shoes – give you a little extra lift<\/p><\/div>Elevator shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Now the phrase \u2018elevator shoes\u2019 stopped me in my tracks. I had never heard of them and assumed they were something that a bell boy might wear in a lift in the USA. Turns out however, that elevator shoes are shoes that have thickened sections in the insoles (also known as lifts!) under the heels to make the wearer appear taller. I have heard and don\u2019t know is this is true, that Tom Cruise wears lifts. Elevator shoes can increase the height of a wearer by 2 or 3 inches and even as much as 5 and a half inches.<\/p>\n Yay, espadrilles! Summer’s here!<\/p><\/div>Espadrilles<\/strong><\/p>\n Now espadrilles I have heard of and am a huge fan of. They remind me of hot summer days, the smell of baking skin and candy floss. Espadrilles are usually casual flat shoes although recently there has been a tendency for them to be wedged. They originate from the Pyrenees (fourteenth century) although some versions were known to exist 4000 years ago. They have a coloured canvas or cotton fabric upper with a distinctive flexible sole that is made of rope. Some versions have a rubber sole that is moulded to look like rope. Often women\u2019s espadrilles will have laces that are wrapped around the ankle to hold the shoes in place. Traditional espadrilles are worn by both men and women.<\/p>\n Like clogs <\/strong>(see above) espadrilles were once the footwear of peasants but now many men and women wear them during the summer, the world over. Fashion espadrilles have soles that can be flat, platform or wedge shaped, and can be made of natural fibre or synthetic fibres. Toe styles may be open or closed, with open or closed backs. Espadrilles may be slip-on or tied. There are thousands of versions of the popular shoe from inexpensive versions you buy at the beach to high priced designer brands. <\/p>\n A flip flop<\/p><\/div>Flip-flops<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s hear it for the humble flip-flop. This is an amazing piece of footwear that gets its name because of the noise it makes when you wear it. Flip-flops, also known as thongs, or slappies) are a marvellous creation. They\u2019re simply a flat flexible sole with a Y-shaped strap that passes between your toes. Absolute genius! Imagine owning the patent for the flip-flop!<\/p>\n To be fair, some flip-flops are a little more sophisticated and can be held to the foot with a single strap over the front of the foot rather than a thong. The flip-flop is eternally popular and has been worn by zillions of people over the centuries through hundreds of cultures the world over. Ancient Egyptians were wearing flip-flops 4000 years ago. <\/p>\n An even more magnificent flip flop<\/p><\/div>A word of warning. Flip-flops can damage your health (see cycle shoes <\/strong>above). Flip-flops are known to be responsible for many injuries, including ankle sprains and broken bones. They do not support your feet so if you\u2019re walking long distances it is best not to wear them. Flip-flops offer little or no protection against common hazards so you\u2019re liable to stub your toes. It is possible to buy flip-flops with thickly cushioned soles and those that have a strap that goes around the ankle\u2026. Although if it has a strap around the ankle, surely it\u2019s not a flip-flop?<\/p>\n For those of us without webbed feet<\/p><\/div>Flippers<\/strong><\/p>\n (See swimfins <\/strong><\/em>below).<\/p>\n Gosh, so this is what a galosh looks like!<\/p><\/div>Galoshes<\/strong><\/p>\n Probably the best word ever for any type of footwear is the word \u2018galoshes\u2019. It is derived from the French word \u2018galoches’ which in turn was drawn from a Gaulish shoe known as a gallicae. Galosh is used to describe a rubber boot that is often slipped over shoes to prevent them from getting muddy and wet. The word galoshes in Britain is also used interchangeably with \u2018rubber boots<\/strong>\u2019 and \u2018Wellington boots\u2019<\/strong>. They are also known around the world as boat shoes (but not to be confused with the boat shoes <\/strong>or deck shoes <\/strong>described above), dickersons, or overshoes. However, proper galoshes are slipped over other shoes and this is the key difference as they can prevent more vulnerable shoes from damage. Originally the gallicae had a wooden sole (a clog <\/strong>sole see above) but today the galosh is almost always made of rubber.<\/p>\n Score a hole in one with these golf shoes<\/p><\/div>Golf shoes<\/strong><\/p>\n Another stunning fact is that golf shoes are used by golfers to play golf in. They should prevent the golfer’s feet from sliding around on the course as they manoeuvre themselves into position to make their next stroke. Golf shoes can be expensive and are not generally a requirement for playing golf on most golf courses but if people are serious about their game, they are a sensible purchase. Golf shoes are rigid with a firm base, that supports the ankle and are weighty to give added support to the golf player. Traditional golf shoes have metal spikes on the soles that will dig into the surface of the course, however many more modern versions of the golf shoe now use softer rubber spikes in order to do less damage to the green. Spiked golf shoes should only be worn on a golf course. The spikes will damage a parquet floor if you try to tap dance during your tea break in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n A rainboot for you to wear while singing and dancing around lampposts. We won’t laugh.<\/p><\/div>Gumboots<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s hear it for the humble gumboot. In Britain we know them as \u2018rubber boots\u2019 <\/strong>and \u2018Wellington boots\u2019 <\/strong>as well as wellies<\/strong>, wellingtons, topboots, billy-boots, gumbies, gummies, rainboots, and Vulcanised shin-high flexi-pumps (well, not in my house they\u2019re not!). The Wellington boot was a leather Hessian boot that was popularised by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington that became hugely popular with the \u2018What ho!\u2019 echelons of British society in the early 19th century.<\/p>\n We have a love affair with wellington boots in the UK because of how useful they are in wet and muddy conditions. They are usually made from rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) a halogenated polymer. They generally reach to just below the knee, although it is possible to get shorter boots and taller \u2018waders\u2019. <\/p>\n Renowned for their use in factory and industrial settings, for many years they were only available to the public in pleb black and Sloane green but now you can buy them as a fashion accessory in every colour and pattern you can imagine. It\u2019s not just kids who can splash through the puddles, singing these days.<\/p>\n Why bother with the rest of the shoe? Just wear the heels.<\/p><\/div>Heel<\/strong><\/p>\n A heel is the back part of the human foot, below and behind the ankle. When your shoes are too tight you can get blisters on your heels. A heel can also be part of a stocking, shoe, or the like that covers the back part of the wearer’s foot. Beside the toe, the heel is the most likely part of a sock to wear out. Fact.<\/p>\n Meanwhile a shoe heel <\/strong>is the projection at the back of a shoe which rests below the heel bone. It\u2019s a functional part of the shoe that lifts you up and supports your weight. The shoe heel is used to improve the balance of the shoe, and increase your height. It can also alter your posture for better or for worse and it can be used for decorative purposes. <\/p>\n Do not be fooled for a moment into thinking that high heels <\/strong>are a modern invention. They have in fact been around for millennia. High heeled shoes are depicted in ancient Egyptian murals on tombs and temples, but are recorded in earlier pictures of men and women wearing elevated shoes in ancient Persia. <\/p>\n Short monarchs such as Mary Tudor, have been shown to wear heels as high as they could get away with and from the early 19th century, high heels <\/strong>were popular with both men and women. Louis XIV of France had some made in 1660 that were four inches high and high heels have really continued in popularity with men ever since, apart from the French Revolution when they were seen as a sign of extravagance and opulence and were frowned upon. High-heeled platform shoes<\/strong> were very popular with men during the 1970s.<\/p>\n Heels (Types of)<\/strong><\/p>\n Kitten heel<\/p><\/div>Kitten heel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n If you would like to recognise a kitten heel<\/strong>, note that it is a short and slender heel. It is generally 3.5 centimetres (1.5 inches) to 4.75 centimetres (1.75 inches) high and has a slight curve that sets the heel in from the edge of the shoe. The kitten heel was widely popularized by Audrey Hepburn in the 1950s.<\/p>\n Stiletto heel. Ouch!<\/p><\/div>Stiletto heel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n If you have ever had your foot trodden on by a woman in stiletto <\/strong>heels, you will know that stiletto heels should come with a health warning. A stiletto heel is a high heel attached to boots and shoes that is long and thin. It is named after the stiletto dagger. The stiletto heel can vary from 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) to 25 cm (10 inches) or more if a platform sole is used, and are sometimes defined as having a diameter at the ground of less than 1 cm. The heel can sometimes flare out a little at the top-piece (the tip). A real stiletto <\/strong>heel has a stem of solid steel or alloy. There are cheaper variations that are moulded plastic with an internal metal tube but they rarely achieve the true stiletto shape.<\/p>\n East to spot a spool heel<\/p><\/div>Spool heel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n A spool heel <\/strong>is an interestingly named heel. It is wide at the top and bottom and narrower in the middle, and therefore resembles a cotton reel. Historically spool heels were fashionable in Europe during the Baroque and Rococo periods, the 1860s and 1950s. <\/p>\n Wedge Heel<\/p><\/div>Wedge heel<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Wedge heels <\/strong><\/em>are extremely fashionable at the moment. They are a sole in the form of a wedge that is usually a single piece of material, normally rubber or wood, and this serves as both the sole and the heel and makes the shoe or boot high-heeled. Men’s wedge boots are more commonly called \u201cwedgies” and should not be confused with the playground trick of yanking a man\u2019s pant up from his trousers, splitting his bottom cheeks and causing immense pain to the victim and hilarity everywhere else. Wedged boots for men became popular during the 1970s and are making a comeback in the 2010s.<\/p>\n A pair of modern platforms<\/p><\/div>Platform heel <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Platform high heels <\/strong>are made of cork, plastic, rubber, or wood (see also clogs above). They add height and have been worn since ancient times although most recently they were popular among glam rockers in the 1970s and are currently enjoying a resurgence of popularity with women. Platform heels are thought to have been worn in Europe in the eighteenth century in order to avoid the muck of urban streets, as there were no sewers and human and animal waste was simply thrown out of windows.<\/p>\n Why would you want to walk in these? This can’t be comfortable.<\/p><\/div>High heels<\/strong><\/p>\n High heels <\/strong>are used on footwear to raise the heel of the person wearing the item. High heels make the heel higher than the toes. If both the heel and the toes are raised the same amounts then this is a platform heel <\/strong>and will not be considered a high heel. High heels are used by women to give the illusion of longer, and slimmer legs rather like wonder bras give the illusion of cleavage. High heels can come in a variety of styles including stiletto (see above), pump (court shoe see above), block, tapered, blade, and wedge (see above). Jimmy Choo and Gucci insist that a “low heel” is less than 2.5 inches (or 6.4 centimetres), while heels between 2.5 and 3.5 inches (6.4 and 8.9 cm) are considered “mid heels”, and anything over that is considered a “high heel”. <\/p>\n A high top in a manner of speaking – this comes up over the ankle<\/p><\/div>High-top sneakers<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The high-top is a shoe, that looks rather like a plimsoll <\/strong>(see above) but that extends significantly over the wearer’s ankle and is high above the ankle (hence high-top). It is commonly an athletic shoe, particularly for basketball and was once known as a \u2018basketball shoes\u2019. High-tops should not be confused with shorter-length boots such as ankle boots <\/strong>(see above), since high-tops usually refer to athletic shoes (hence the likeness to plimsolls). A sneaker <\/strong>is an American term for an athletic shoe.<\/p>\n Take a hike!<\/p><\/div>Hiking boots<\/strong><\/p>\n Hiking boots are also known as walking boots <\/strong>and have been designed to be sturdy and supportive, especially for people who want to walk or hike in mixed terrain over a distance. Quality and durability are extremely important and so many walkers will invest a great deal of money in a pair of good hiking boots.<\/p>\n Good hiking boots can be used to walk considerable distance over rough terrain, while protecting the wearer\u2019s feet against water, mud, rocks, etc. The boots tend to be heavy with thick soles and heel. Hiking boots should give adequate ankle support and be fairly stiff, but the footwear should not be too loose or too tight as this can cause blisters and sore feet or toes. Many hiking boots can also be used for other outdoor activities such as backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, and hunting.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\nWomen\u2019s boots come in a zillion different styles \u2013 with stiletto, tapered or spike heels, platform of wedged heels, with pointed or rounded toes.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>
\nModern brogues have their origins as a simplistic shoe with an untanned hide as the upper, which had a number of perforations in it in order to allow water to drain out when crossing boggy areas. They were long considered to be outdoor or country footwear rather than for formal or business occasions, but these days they are smart footwear and you can wear them anywhere.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>