Our Footwear, Which One Is Your Favorite?

Pointe shoes

Pointe shoes are a special kind of shoes for ballet. These shoes are like the basic need of ballet dancers, since they need them for pointe work (i.e., ballet position in which the body is balanced on the extreme tips of the toes). Sometimes these shoes are called “toe shoes”. Before the French Revolution women’s ballet shoes were heeled. After the revolution they became non-heeled and were tied with ribbons to secure the feet.

They are normally worn by female dancers, though male dancers may wear them for unorthodox roles such as the ugly stepsisters in Cinderella, Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, or men performing as women in dance companies such as Les Ballets Trockadero and Grandiva. They are manufactured in a variety of colors, most commonly in shades of light pink.

Moccasins

The moccasin is a soft and flexible shoe originally worn by North American Indians. Different tribes had different types of moccasins. The soft soles don’t only offer protection for the feet, but also the comforting for the wearers to feel the ground.

A moccasin is a slipper, made of deerskin or other soft leather, consisting of a sole and sides made of one piece of leather, stitched together at the top, and sometimes with a vamp (additional panel of leather). Though sometimes worn inside, it is chiefly intended for outdoor use, as in exploring wildernesses and running. The sole is soft and flexible and the upper part often is adorned with embroidery or beading. Etymologically, the moccasin derives from the Algonquian language Powhatan word makasin (cognate to Massachusett mohkisson / mokussin, Ojibwa makizin, Mi'kmaq mksɨn), and from the Proto-Algonquian word *maxkeseni (shoe).

Clown shoes

What makes a clown funny? Well, of course his slapstick actions and attire. One trademark of a clown is his shoes. What’s so special about them? Well, standard clown shoes are usually three times the size of the clown’s regular shoe size.

Bakiak

These are another pair of wooden sandals. In some parts of Indonesia, people like to wear this footwear even though it’s not comfortable due to its sturdiness. Surprisingly, In the Philippines, bakiak is the name of the Philippines’ national sandals. Of course the bakiak that they have are fancier than ours.

Dutch clogs/Klompen

A clog is a type of footwear made in part or completely from wood. Clogs are used worldwide and although the form may vary by culture, within a culture the form often remained unchanged for centuries.

The Dutch clog was traditionally a work shoe made of a single block of wood initially worn during the Industrial Revolution between 1815-1914. Because of the rigidity of the material, a pair of socks was needed whenever people wanted to wear klompen. Surely they could also be worn barefoot with he help of some thick straw padding. Traditional clogs were often worn in heavy labor. Today they remain in use as protective clothing inagriculture and in some factories and mines. Clogs are also used in several different styles of dance. When worn for dancing an important feature is the sound of the clog against the floor. This is one of the fundamental roots of tap, but with the tap shoes the taps are free to click against each other and produce different sound to clogs.

Havaianas

When you think about something fashionable that’s really Brazilian, you should think about the Havaianas, a Brazilian flip flop brand exported internationally. The name Havaianas is a Portuguese word for Hawaiians. The simple and functional design inspired by Japanese rice straw sandals and the use of good material that makes a pair of Havaianas lasts longer than the usual flip flop have won people’s hearts and resulted in about 105 million pairs of Havaianas produced yearly.

Espadrilles

 

Espadrilles, or alpargatos, as they are called in their country of origin Spain, have been made in Catalonia since the 14^th century as peasant footwear. They are made of cotton fabric or canvas with soles made of rope or rubber material that’s molded to look like rope. The soles may be flat, platform, or wedge-shaped. Once peasant footwear, espadrilles have become more popular, especially In Spain and the Philippines where many people wear them during summer.

Espadrilles are normally casual flat, but sometimes high heeled shoes originating from the Pyrenees. They usually have a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of rope or rubber material moulded to look like rope. The jute rope sole is the defining characteristic of an espadrille, the uppers vary widely in style. In French Canada, however, espadrille is the usual term for running shoes or sneakers.

Once peasant footwear, espadrilles have grown in popularity, especially in Catalonia and the Basque Country, where many men and women wear them during the spring and summer months. Designer espadrilles are now widely available. They are usually manufactured in Bangladesh and Spain. Modern espadrilles are predominantly for women, though some men's shoes are made in this style. As of 2012, they are a trend in Mexico.

The soles of espadrilles may be flat, platform or wedge shaped, and can be made of natural fiber or synthetic fiber rope, or flexible synthetic materials cast to resemble rope. Uppers may be made from nearly any substance, and may have open or closed toes, open or closed backs, and can be slip-on or tied to the ankle with laces. Thousands of varieties of espadrilles can be found, from inexpensive bargain brands to high priced designer brands.

Getas

Getas are a pair of Japanese wooden sandals usually worn with a kimono. Getas were not made or worn for fashion, but simply for a practical reason: to prevent the kimono from getting mud-splattered. Geta (木屐/下駄) are a form of traditional Japanese footwear that resemble both clogs and flip-flops. They are a kind of sandal with an elevated wooden base held onto the foot with a fabric thong to keep the foot well above the ground. They are worn with traditional Japanese clothing such as kimono or yukata, but (in Japan) also with Western clothing during the summer months. Sometimes geta are worn in rain or snow to keep the feet dry, due to their extra height and impermeability compared to other footwear such as zōri.

Boots

A boot is a type of footwear and a specific type of shoe. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece. Traditionally made of leather or rubber, modern boots are made from a variety of materials. Boots are worn both for their functionality – protecting the foot and leg from water, snow, mud or hazards or providing additional ankle support for strenuous activities – and for reasons of style and fashion. High-top athletic shoes are generally not considered boots, even though they do cover the ankle, primarily due to the absence of a distinct heel.

Slip-on Shoes

Slip-ons are typically low, lace-less shoes. The style most commonly seen, known as a loafer or slippers in American culture, has a moccasin construction. First appearing in the mid-1930s from Norway, Aurlandskoen (Aurland Shoe), they began as casual shoes, but have increased in popularity to the point of being worn in America with city lounge suits. They are worn in many situations in a wide variety of colours and designs, often featuring tassels on the front, or metal decorations (the 'Gucci' loafer).

On college campuses, loafers are worn casually. Loafers are comfortable shoes and can be worn "fashionably" by both men and women, with jeans, shorts, pants, and dresses. They come in a variety of colors, styles, and brands. Loafers are very comfortable and do not harm the feet.

Oxford Shoes

An Oxford is a style of laced shoe characterized by shoelace eyelet tabs that are stitched underneath the vamp, a construction method that is also sometimes referred to as "closed lacing". Oxfords first appeared in Scotland and Ireland, where they are occasionally called Balmorals after the Queen's castle in Scotland, Balmoral. 

Oxfords are traditionally constructed of leather and were historically plain, formal shoes but are now available in a range of styles and materials that complement both casual and formal forms of dress. It is derived from the Oxonian, a half-boot with side slits that gained popularity at Oxford University in 1800. The side slit evolved into a side lace that eventually moved to the instep, as students rebelled against knee-high and ankle-high boots. The toe cap can either be lined with two narrow rows of stitching, perforated holes along the end cap stitching (quarter-brogue), perforated holes along the end cap stitching and on the toe cap (semi-brogue), or a semi-brogue with the classical wingtip design (full-brogue).