A monk strap (or monk shoe) is a style of dress shoes with no lacing, instead secured on the feet by one or multiple buckles and straps. It is a moderately formal shoe: less formal than a full Oxford (American: Balmoral); but more so than an open Derby. In between these, it is one of […]

Oxford shoes, which were among the first men’s laced shoes, were worn in the 17th century, often by men attending a university. Unlike their predecessors, early laced shoes were cut smaller than the foot, which gave men a mincing step. They were associated with foppery, fine dressing and a particular social class. These shoes are […]

Throw off that pleated skirt, baggy sweater, bobby sox and loafers and grab your poodle skirt and saddle shoes, it’s time to rock and roll! In the post-war era of jive, jitterbug and The King, Elvis Presley, a two-toned snappy shoe replaced the respectable penny loafer. That crazy new footwear was the saddle shoes and […]

The term sneakers can refer to many forms of athletic shoes with rubber soles. It may not apply specifically to certain types of athletic shoes that are designed for some applications. For instance soccer or football shoes might be called cleats instead, and some people make a distinction between sneakers and cross-trainers or running shoes. Others call […]

The word moccasins was first introduced into English in 1612, from a Virginia Algonquian language, most likely Powhatan (makasin ‘shoe’), though similar words exist in Narragansett (mokussin), Micmac (m’kusun), and Ojibwa (makasin). The term is used in a general sense to refer to any piece of footwear made of soft leather (most often deerskin). The shoes are […]