Women's shoes on display in a shop window, July 2005

Shoes made from real crocodile skin, in a conservation exhibit at Bristol Zoo, England

An abandoned shoe, Kåre Sand, Wadden Sea, Denmark

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Shoes

A shoe is an item of footwear. more...

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Parts of a shoe

Sole

The bottom of a shoe, which gives the shoe its structure, is named the sole. It usually consists of several layers, and is usually a separate piece from the upper shoe (though not always, as in the case of wooden shoes).

Insole

The insole is the interior bottom of the 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, for example.)

Mid-sole

The mid-sole is a layer situated between the in-sole and the out-sole, found in some shoes. Often it will provide cushioning and shape to the in-sole.

Outsole

The outsole is the layer in direct contact with the ground. The material of the outsole varies depending on the function, dressiness, and quality of the shoe, but is generally very durable material, since it experiences the most stress. Dressier 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 distinct 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.

Heel

Some shoes have a distinctive raised heel; often this is a separate piece from the outsole and can be replaced. Leather was used in the past, and is still used in some performance tennis shoes, but harder materials are usually more desirable. Plastic, rubber, or other polymer materials are now also used. Some shoes, such as the vivo barefoot use a Kevlar sole for high flexibility. Fortified cork is sometimes used in heels or soles so the shoes are lightweight. Although higher heels are usually only worn by women, a surprising number of men wear heels, as they have since approximately 1500, first to keep their feet in the stirrups, then for fashion, predominantly throughout the counts in the 1600s and 1700s. Wear of heels by men resurfaced briefly in the 1970s, and has again resurfaced, not only in fashion shows, but on the streets in major cities.

Vamp, or upper

Any shoe also has an upper part that separates the foot from the air, and 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 under the foot. Closed footwear, such as boots, sneakers and most men's shoes, will usually have a more complex upper.