A shoe is worn on one’s foot to protect the feet and to offer comfort while one walks. They’re not only used for comfort and protection but also for decoration. There are different shoe designs in different cultures that have evolved through the generations. The history of footwear tells us that this evolution was as a result of fashion trends, necessity, and the availability of raw materials.
While most shoes are gender specific and can only be worn by either men or women, others are unisex and can be worn by both genders.
In this article, we’ll focus on the different types of footwear for men and women. The most common ones are:
- Flip Flops
Flip-flops are a type of footwear that is mostly used indoors. They neither have laces nor any types of fastenings. These feature two thin straps that join together to form a V-shape at the front. Flip-flops are not gender specific and can be worn by persons of any age.
- Sneakers
Sneakers are usually made out of rubber, canvas, or leather and are popularly worn by athletes. This is because they’re designed for physical exercise and sports. Sneakers are also worn by both men and women as casual footwear.
- Brogues
Brogues are a type of shoes that feature perforations on their material that are used for decoration. They also feature a separation at the visible edges of the material. Brogues can be worn as everyday outdoor footwear.
- Oxfords
Oxfords are also referred to as Balmorals. Even though this type of shoe is meant to be worn by men, gender boundaries have been broken as women can nowadays be seen rocking them stylishly to both formal and fashion events. Oxfords feature a V-slit where the laces are attached.
- Boots
Boots are a special type of shoe that is designed to offer protection to its wearer whenever they’re in harsh environments such as mud or rocks. They are generally made of rubber and leather and are made to protect the lower legs including the ankles.
- Loafers
Loafers also do not have any kind of laces. To put on a loafer, all you need to do is to simply slip it on; for this reason, loafers are also referred to as slip-ons. Loafers are worn by men, women, and kids.
- Boat Shoes
These shoes are also referred to as topsiders or deck shoes. The upper side of a boat shoe is designed in such a way that it’s stain proof and water repellent. There are some boat shoes that have laces and others that do not.
- Scandals
Sandals are simple footwear that features very minimal straps. Most of the wearer’s foot remains exposed so they’re ideal for wearing during the warm, hot, and sunny weather.
- Monk-straps
Instead of using laces, monk-straps shoes use buckles and straps for securing the shoe around the foot. There are some designs that feature a single strap while other designs feature two straps. Monk-straps are an example of official footwear that can be worn with a suit.Source:
- High Heels
High-heeled footwear is commonly worn to social gatherings as well as to formal meetings. They are characteristic of a heel that is about 2 to 7 inches high. Stilettos are the most popular type of heels; their heel post is often very narrow. Other types include the peep-toe heels, cone heels, kitten heels, spool heels, and espadrille heels.
Source: houseapparel.wordpress.com
