Shoe types and maintenance By: Oluwaseun Boye - Hot Secret Naija

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Sunday 28 March 2021

Shoe types and maintenance By: Oluwaseun Boye

According to  Wikipedia, A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration and fashion. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time and from culture to culture, with appearance originally being tied to function.


Though the human foot is adapted to varied terrain and climate conditions, it is still vulnerable to environmental hazards such as sharp rocks and temperature extremes, which shoes protect against.
Shoes play an essential role in every outfit. After all, the right footwear can quickly make or mar your look. So, if you want to appear stylish, it is important to have the right shoes on hand to complete and complement your dressing.

The definition of  footwear ranges from person to person. For some, heeled sandals are casual, for others, slip on sneakers do the trick.



Your feet are important and often the most ignored part of your body. So you need to care for them.
Throbbing feet are often considered a sign of a long day of hard work, and its usually just accepted as inevitable. However,  muscle and joint pains could all be coming from those tired and throbbing feet because of improper shoe choices, therefore to stop the unnecessary aches and pains, you need to get the support your body deserves.


The type of shoes you wear matters, you need supportive work shoes so they can take pressure off your back and spine, and make long days on your feet a bit less uncomfortable.

When it comes to picking out footwear for athletic activities, there are running shoes, walking shoes, and more; but the key to choosing the right one for you is to select the one that matches the activity you do the most. Don’t forget to try them on with the proper socks, too.


Tight, narrow, and improper shoe wear can lead to bunions or make them worse. Not only that, a lot of unnecessary injuries can occur or worsen from the wrong shoe choices, such as corns, ankle strains, and fractures.


Regardless, you need to have a variety of throw-on shoe options in your closet.
There are varieties of shoe styles for women, each with their own identity and history. Female footwear styles are well known for being desirable and beautiful as well as being functional. The wide array of women's shoe styles can sometimes make one confused as to what's what, and when certain women's shoe types should be worn.


Be that as it may,there are certain ladies shoe styles that are more appropriate and practical for different situations, and certain styles of shoes will suit particular situations or outfits more than others. 

Casual shoes 

They are female shoe types that you wear on a day to day basis. These are usually teamed with womens casual wear for a relaxed look. As some ladies do not like to wear heels in the day time as well at the night time, there are also heels which might fall into the category of ‘casual’. Comfier heels that are not too high, or wedges, might fall into this category due to them being far easier and more comfortable to wear. 



Wedges
A wedge heel can give an outfit a more polished look without actually having to wear excruciating heels. Wedges are far more comfortable to wear, especially a lower wedge.



Ballerinas


A pretty and practical solution to casual, everyday footwear. Ballet pumps are a flat slipper type shoe that are an essential item to have in a wardrobe. Ballerinas are such a versatile shoe that come in every print, colour and pattern imaginable, from classic nude to wild animal prints and bright colours.


Lace up 
Lace up is a catch all term for any shoes that fastens with laces. They can be brogues, loafers, heels, ballerina pumps or any other shoe.


Lace up shoes tend to be slightly sturdier and can provide additional support for your feet, as well as providing an adjustable fastening that can be tightened or loosened to suit your feet.


Pumps
Pumps are the most flexible pair of shoes for women , all you need do is to know what colour of shoes go with everything, and pick your self a pair of pumps in that shade!
Stilettos
Defined by the thin, high heel. The shoe style is such that it can work as formal footwear for ladies and glamorous style shoes in one go! 



Kitten heels
kitten heel is a short, slender heel, usually from 1.5 inches to 1.75 inches high, with a slight curve setting the heel in from the back edge of the shoe. Known to be the favourite of power-packed women like Audrey Hepburn, Michelle Obama, and Hilary Clinton, these are on the top  5 list of best women formal shoes.

Sling back heels

Characterized by a strap that crosses behind the heel or ankle, these classy pair of shoes are a must-have in a women’s formal shoes collection.



Open Toe Sandals

Keeping it simple, and easy to breathe, open toe sandals are the best type of shoes to be wearing during the hot weather

Scarpin

The most beloved type of formal shoes for women, the right Scarpins go perfectly with pencil skirts, trousers, suits, different types of dresses, and all other kinds of work wear.

Loafers

The most popular and commonly used form of the slip-on, loafers are also known as slippers. For women, these have to be the most comfortable types of formal shoes.

Experts however pointed out that Shoes should be kept in a cool, dry place. If space permits, store your shoes on shelves or in cubbies. For small-space dwellings, hang a shoe bag with many pockets on the back of a door or put shoe racks or shelves on the floor of the closet. If you keep shoes in their original boxes, label them for easy identification.

Before you place them in their respective spots, remember to wipe your shoes clean of dirt so it doesn't dry and stain the material. Stuffing the shoes with tissue paper or shoe trees will keep them from sagging or losing their shape over time.

Although well-made shoes with stitched soles and structured uppers can be repaired over and over again, you can prevent urgent trips to the cobbler by adding a little protection when the shoes are still new.

SHOE MAINTENANCE
Clean and protect your shoes, no matter the material.
Leather: Polish leather shoes every third or fourth time you wear them. Apply shoe polish with a horsehair applicator. Let polish set, and then buff shoes with a soft cotton cloth. Over time, the wax polish will dull the sheen of the shoes and block the pores of the leather. To remove buildup, use a cleaning solvent designed to dissolve oil-based stains. Apply according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Follow the cleaning with another application of waterproofing spray. After the shoes have dried, polish them once more to restore the oils.



Suede: Carefully remove dust from the shoes’ surfaces using a nylon brush. With a soft cotton cloth, apply a liquid cleanser made specifically for suede. Cover the shoes’ surfaces completely.

Once the shoes are dry, use the brush to restore the nap. Suede erasers can be used to clean scuff marks.

Patent leather: To keep it clean and supple, polish with spray-on furniture polish. For an occasional quick fix, you can restore the shine to patent-leather shoes with an ammonia-based glass cleaner and a soft cotton cloth.

Don’t wear your shoes on consecutive days. Moisture from your feet can damage leather and distort the shape. Leave shoes out for a day in a well-ventilated place before returning them to storage or wearing them again.

Keep shoes free of dust, which can damage leather by drying it out or by trapping moisture. Give your closet a once-over every four months or so.

Clean muddy or worn footwear. Use a gentle leather cleaner. You may be able to treat some stains on your own, depending on the type of stain and the severity. Baby wipes are terrific for removing dark scuffs from leather shoes. For water-based stains on suede or nubuck, use a suede eraser, or go over the affected area very lightly with an emery board, being careful not to disturb the grain of the suede.

It is generally believed that shoes can tell up to 90% of information about their owner. For example, the shoes that are not new but still look good indicate that the owner is responsible.  People are often judged by their shoes, that's why you should always keep them clean and tidy!

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