A
Airport Friendly A shoe that contains no metal of any sort, allowing the wearer to pass through airport metal detectors.
All Terrain Sandal Any sandal that is meant for use in rafting, hiking, etc. Often waterproofed and with an all terrain outsole.
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Ankle Wrap Straps that are meant to be wrapped around and tied around the ankle for a stylish accent.
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Apron Toe A type of toe characterized by a large overlay that covers the front of the toe and has visible edges or stitching, to form a sort of apron on the front of the shoe.
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B
Bicycle Toe A type of toe characterized by two stitched straight line accents, so named because of their similarity to professional bicycling shoe detailing.
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Blucher Toe A type of toe characterized by a smooth, turned stitch border around the toe area, like an apron toe style in reverse.
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Boat Shoe A type of shoe originally meant to be worn aboard a boat, usually with a siped, non-slip outsole, often with side lacing details, almost always a casual shoe you can wear with or without socks.
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Boot Any footwear that rises to the ankle or higher, can be casual or dressy, practical or fashionable.
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Boot Heel Typically found on boots, this is a wide, stable type of heel that usually is not very high.
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Bootie A shoe that has the styling of a boot without the height, also called a shoe-boot or shootie
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Brocade A type of fabric, often with embroidered or embroidered-style elaborate designs, popular with Asian influenced looks.
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C
Cap Toe A type of toe style with a full toe overlay and a straight stitching line across the top part of the toe, often seen in dress shoes.
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Casual After Sport A type of casual shoe that's ideal for use after athletic activity, with sporty styling and comfort, but lacking an athletic shoe's technical features.
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Cheerleading Shoe A type of athletic shoe meant for competitive, high-impact cheerleading activity, often with switchable color accents to match team colors, and finger notches in the soles for use in acrobatics.
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Chelsea Boot A type of boot, usually ankle height, in a pull on style with elastic side panels. Popularized in England.
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Cleats Any traction enhancing spikes or nubs attached to the sole of an athletic shoe, often used in grass-based sports such as baseball, soccer, or golf to ensure sure footing.
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ClimaCool A venting and cooling system used by adidas brand footwear with flexible screened vents to keep feet cool.
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Clog A type of shoe, usually casual and comfortable, with an open or closed heel and a slip on style.
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Column Heel A type of women's high heel that's round and column-shaped.
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Corporate Casual A shoe that is clearly casual, but suitable for most casual Friday dress codes or relaxed corporate styles.
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Crepe Sole A type of sole characterized by a nubbly texture like crepe paper
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Croc Embossed Leather that has been embossed or stamped in a pattern simulating crocodile skin
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Cross Training Athletic shoes suitable for cross training activities, from running to aerobics to weight training
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D
Distressed Leather Leather that has been rubbed, scratched, or treated for a stylish effect
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Driving Moc A type of casual moccasin or slip on ideal for driving, with a flexible outsole, pedal-gripping sole, and a wraparound protected heel
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Dual Density Midsole Seen in running shoes, a midsole that employs two different densities of cushioning foam, with denser foam where the foot would normally tend to roll.
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E
Elastic Gore An elastic fabric panel inserted into shoes to provide stretch
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Energy Return In running and athletic shoes, it is the response after the foot strikes the ground, a sort of propulsion that helps maintain an effective gait or stride
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Engineer Boot Originally worn by the Army Corps of Engineers, it is a work style pull on boot characterized by instep and top straps
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Espadrille Any shoe that has woven rope or rope-look trim, usually in the sole area
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F
Faux Leather Simulated non-animal leather-like material, usually polyurethane
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Fisherman Sandal Type of sandal with woven or stitched vertical and horizontal straps, often with a closed toe
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Fitness Athletic shoes ideally suited for gym-style workouts
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Flat Heel Shoes with a very low or no heel height
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Flip-Flop A type of sandal, usually a thong, with a lightweight foam outsole that makes a flip-flop sound when you walk.
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Footbed the insole of the shoe, where the foot rests
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Full Grain Leather Leather that shows a natural texture or grain
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G
Gait Control In athletic running or walking shoes, a system of controlling the foot's movement within the running or walking step to prevent injury and fatigue
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Gardening Clog A type of footwear that is usually backless, rubber, and waterproof, ideal for gardening
Gore-Tex An advanced, lightweight waterproof material, ideal as a lining
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H
Haircalf Natural calfskin material with a soft furry texture
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Handle Drop In handbags, the length measured between the top of the bag and the center point of the handle
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Harness Boot A type of boot characterized by straps across the instep and heel, usually joined by a ring detail
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Herringbone Tweed A type of tweed fabric with a jagged line pattern
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Houndstooth Check A type of pattern with a diagonal tooth checked design
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Huarache A type of woven sandal-like casual shoe, originating in Mexico and Central America
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I
Insole The part of the shoe that the foot rests upon, usually cushioned
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Instep The area of the foot between the toes and the ankle, or the top front part of a shoe
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J
Jelly or Jellie A type of soft rubbery material, often transparent or translucent
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Jodhpur Boot Also called a Chelsea Boot, an ankle height slip on boot with elastic side panels
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K
Kitten Heel A type of heel that is set forward, usually low height
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L
Light Hiking Athletic shoes that are ideal for day hikes or approach hiking but are not ideal for long backpacking hikes or climbing
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Lining The material inside a shoe
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Lucite A type of clear hard plastic that is often used in dress shoes
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Lug Sole A sole with a heavy three dimensional traction pattern
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Lycra/Neoprene A blend of stretch fabric and neoprene rubber, ideal for a waterproof and sporty soft lining
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M
Mary Jane A type of women's shoe characterized by a strap across the instep
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Mersey Boot Also known as Beatle Boots, dress boots with a zippered side and a slightly raised heel
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Microfiber A type of closely knit smooth fabric often used in shoes
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Midsole The part of the shoe between the very bottom and where the foot rests, often cushioned
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Moc Toe A type of toe design with a seam and stitching details, originally seen in moccasins
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Moccasin Possibly the earliest type of shoe, a slip on style with visible stitching, often with a soft leather bottom
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Mod Style Style characteristic of the Mod era in the 1960's, with bold, high contrast geometric patterns and pop-art details
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Monk Strap A type of shoe designed like an oxford, but with a strap closure across the instep rather than a lace up front closure
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Motorcycle Boot Boots ideal for riding a motorcycle, often with thick, durable soles
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Mule A closed toe shoe with no back
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N
Nappa Leather A type of leather characterized by its stretchy, soft, smooth texture
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Negative Heel Popular in comfort footwear, a type of footbed with a lowered heel area designed for more natural foot placement
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Nubuck A type of leather that has been bucked or sanded for a smooth texture with a slight nap
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O
Orthotic A full or partial insole specifically designed for comfort and support
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Outsole The very bottom of the shoe, the part that contacts the ground
Overlay Detailing on a shoe made by layering material on top of other material
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P
Patent Leather A type of leather that has been varnished for a shiny finished
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Peekaboo Toe A type of closed toe with a small open panel allowing a glimpse of toe
Pinked Detailing characterized by a sawtooth edge
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Polyurethane A type of manmade material that can be made to have the look and feel of leather
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Pronation The inward rolling of the foot during running or walking, potentially a source of injury
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PU The commonly used abbreviation for polyurethane
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Pumps Women's dress shoes, usually slip on, often with enclosed toe and sides
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Q
Quarter Panel The sides of the shoe from the heel to the toe
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R
Retro Referring to popular style of the past
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Ruched A type of detailing characterized by gathered or pleated material with stitching accents
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Running Cushioning Running shoes characterized by a high degree of cushioning in the insole and midsole, designed for runners in need of maximum shock absorption
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Running Stability Running shoes characterized by a high degree of stabilizing elements, designed for runners in need of gait control
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Running - Supportive Cushioning Running shoes with a combination of cushioning and stabilized support, designed for runners needing both
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Running Trail Running shoes designed for running both on and off road, with increased stability and traction for irregular terrain
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S
Saddle Shoes Shoes with a contrast colored instep overlay or saddle, usually found on golf shoes or retro styles
Scalloped A type of detailing characterized by round wavy edges
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Sculpted Heel A type of high heel molded in one piece, usually out of high-impact plastic
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Siped A type of outsole with narrow grooves or channels, often found in boat shoes
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Slingback Shoes that are backless with a rear strap that goes around the upper heel, usually with a buckle or elastic panel
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Slouched Shoes with a baggy, gathered design that slouches down, usually found in boots
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Snip Toe A type of toe that is tapered, with a squared front as if snipped
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Sole Another word for outsole, the bottom part of the shoe
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Spandex/Neoprene A combination of stretchy Spandex fabric and soft neoprene rubber, a soft and waterproof material usually used as a lining
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Stacked Heel A heel that has horizontal lines, indicating that it is made up of stacked layers of leather, or a heel with that appearance
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Stiletto A high, tapered, narrow heel, also called a spike heel, named for a type of slim knife
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Strappy Sandal A sandal characterized by a multiple strap design
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Studio-Aerobic Athletic shoes ideally meant for aerobics and other studio fitness activities
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Suede Leather that has been sanded or roughed to produce a surface with a soft texture or nap
Sueded Fabric Fabric that has been given a soft nap to simulate the feel of suede leather
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Supination The rolling of the foot outward to the side while running or walking, can lead to serious injury
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T
Tailored Characterized by a fitted, precise design that follows the contours of the foot
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Thong Sandal Any sandal that has material that fits between the toes, especially the big and second toes
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Toe Ridge A horizontal ridge added into the footbed of some sandals to anchor and provide support and cushioning for the toes
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Toe Thong Post The part of a thong sandal that actually fits between the toes
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Trubuck An fabric with a durable but soft texture that simulates nubuck leather
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T-Strap A type of shoe with a single vertical strap linking the toe and ankle/heel areas
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Turf Cleats Permanent or removable plastic or rubber cleats on athletic shoes
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Twill Fabric A woven fabric material characterized by a smooth surface and durable wear
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U
Upper The part of the shoe that covers the top part of the foot, from heel to toe
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V
Vachetta Leather A type of soft cow leather
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Vamp The front center part of a shoe's upper
Vegetable Tanned Leather that has been tanned using a vegetable process, ideal for those with allergies to chromium or other tanning chemicals
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W
Water Sports Any sports such as rafting, kayaking, surfing, etc. that require footwear that is waterproof, quick drying, with all terrain traction
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Western Roper A type of Western boot characterized by a lower shaft, flared top, and medium round toe
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Wing Tip A type of shoe with overlays and stitched, perforated trim, usually a dress style
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Work Non-Safety Work boots that do not have a steel safety toe
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Work Safety Work boots that have a steel safety toe and conform to ANSI safety standards specified
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Wrestling Shoe Athletic shoes ideal for Greco-Roman wrestling, usually with a flexible split outsole and covered laces to conform to rules
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