Shoe Glossary

A vamp isn’t just that girl at Starbucks that eyes your boyfriend while she takes your order.

Check out my shoe glossary – setting straight vamps, soles, kitten heels, pumps, wedges, stilettos, and more.

Ankle boot: n. (also known as “demi boot”) a boot with a shaft up to the ankle. See also “chukka boot.”

Sergio Rossi denim ankle boots
Athletic shoe: n. a shoe specially designed to be worn during athletics. One of the most popularly athletic shoes is a basketball shoe.

Ankle strap: n. a strap attached to the back of the shoe, across the ankle. Ankle straps usually feature a buckle and elastic for adjustable fit. See also “T-strap” and “Mary Jane.”

Chanel beige quilted satin ankle strap pumps
Athletic shoe: n. a shoe specially designed to be worn during athletics. One of the most popularly athletic shoes is a basketball shoe.

Back seam: n. the seam that runs up the back of a shoe.

Ballet flat: n. a flat shoe with a round toe, thin sole, and usually a little bow decorating the vamp. Audrey Hepburn popularized ballet flats as street shoes during the 1950’s. See also “flat.”

Delman Shoes silver satin ballet flats
Boot: n. a shoe that covers at least the entire foot and usually the ankle, calf, and sometimes thigh. Boots come in a wide variety of materials and styles, and were first created as work wear.

Via Spiga black suede boots
Buckle: n. a clasp at that joins one end of material to another. Buckles are often decorative as well as functional. See also “ankle strap.”

Cap toe: n. (also known as “tip”) a piece of leather that covers the toe of a shoe. Cap toes may serve for reinforcement of the toe or may be merely decorative. See also “wing tip.”

Prada gray leather cap-toe pumps
Buckle: n. a clasp at that joins one end of material to another. Buckles are often decorative as well as functional. See also “ankle strap.”

Chukka boot: n. an ankle boot with laces. Chukka boots typically have a plain toe. See also “ankle boot.”

Michael Kors Kors brown suede chukka boots
Clog: n. a shoe with a wooden, often platform sole. Clogs are typically leather mules. See also “mule.”

Ralph Lauren red suede clogs
Court: n. a classic closed-toe shoe with a medium to high heel. May have a pointed or rounded toe.

D’Orsay: n. a pump with one or two sides of the shoe cut out. See also “pump.”
Prada brown leather d’orsay pumps
Espadrille: n. a wedge shoe with a sole/heel of braided rope. Espadrilles usually feature ankle ties or straps, and were first popularized in the 1940’s. See also “ankle straps” and “wedge.”

Ralph Lauren orange canvas espadrilles.
Flat: n. a shoe with a low to no heel.

Kate Spade turquoise flats
Flip-flop: n. (also known as “toe post” or “thong”) a flat sandal with one or two straps against the skin between the big and second toes.

Ralph Lauren blue flip-flops
Galosh: (also known as “rain boots” or “wellies”) n. a waterproof boot or overshoe designed to protect you from wet weather. Galoshes are typically made of rubber. See also “boot.”

Ralph Lauren: Polo fuchsia galoshes
Gore: n. an elastic panel inserted into one or both sides of a shoe to make the shoe easier to put on. Gores are often used in ankle boots. See also “ankle boot.”

Ralph Lauren cognac leather ankle boots
Kiltie: n. a decorative flap of fringe over a shoe’s vamp. Kilties usually decorate loafers and moccasins. See also “loafer,” “moccasin,” and “vamp.”

Loafer: n. a typically flat, leather shoe that resembles a moccasin. See also “moccasin.”

Michael Kors brown suede loafer pumps
Mary Jane: n. a shoe with a strap across the front of the shoe, usually right above the vamp. Mary Jane flats were popular during the early 1960’s, and the look was made popular again by Marc Jacobs. See also “flat.”

Delman polka dot mary jane pumps
Moccasin: n. a loafer in style with more decorative stitching. Moccasins are usually flat and made of suede.

Delman Shoes blue leather moccassins
Mule: n. a slip-on shoe without straps or ankle support.

Cesare Paciotti black leather mules.
Outsole: n. the outermost sole of a shoe that comes into contact with the ground.

Peep-toe: n. a shoe with a small cutout in the front to slightly reveal the toes.

Gucci gold studded peep-toes.
Penny loafer: n. a loafer with a strap across the vamp that has a cut-out in the shape of lips. Originally it was fashionable to stick decorations in this cut-out, perhaps including pennies. See also “loafer.”

Michael Kors tan leather penny loafer pumps
Piping: n. a thin strip or “pipe” of leather that usually decorates the seam of a shoe. Piping is also popular on handbags.

Pump: n. a high-heeled court. See also “court.”

Dolce & Gabbana green satin stiletto pumps
Riding boot: n. a boot specially designed for riding horses or mortocycles. Riding boots can also refer to fashion boots designed to resemble utilitarian riding boots. See also “boot.”

Sandal: n. an open-toe and open-back shoe.

Ralph Lauren hot pink suede sandal
Slide: n. a sandal with an open toe and open back, with one band across the toes. See also “sandal.”

Prada fuchsia leather stiletto slides
Sling-back: n. a shoe with a strap across the heel to hold the foot in.

Kenneth Cole lilac faux croc slingbacks
Slipper: n. a shoe that “slips” on. See also “mule.”

T-strap: n. (also known as “T-bar”) a shoe with an ankle strap attached perpendicularly another strap that connects to the vamp, forming a “T.” T-strap shoes were first popularized in the 1920’s as the shoes were easy to dance in.

Giuseppe Zanotti emerald leather T-strap pumps
Vamp: n. the front part of a shoe that covers the toes and part of the foot.

Wing tip: n. a wing-shaped toe cap. See also “cap toe.”
Giuseppe Zanotti wing-tip slingbacks

TYPES OF HEELS

Cone heel: n. shaped like a cone, a cone heel is circular at its top and tapers down to a point.

Calvin Klein tan leather cone heel pumps
French heel: n. (also known as “Louis heel”) a heel with a curved back. French heels are various heights.

Kenneth Cole black French heel slingbacks
Kitten heel: n. a short (about 1-2”) version of the stiletto. See also “stiletto.”

Gucci oxblood leather kitten heel pumps
Platform: n. a raised sole (usually ½” or more) with a heel. Platforms were first popularized in the US during the 1930′s and 40′s.

Marc Jacobs peach suede platform sandals
Platform wedge: n. a wedge heel combined with a platform sole. Platform wedges were first popularized during the 1930’s and had a resurgence in the 1970’s. See also “platform.”
Casadei striped platform wedges
Stacked heel: n. (also known as a “built heel”) a heel built of layers of material, usually slices of wood.

Stiletto: n. a slim, tall heel that tapers towards the bottom. Stilettos were first popularized in the 1950’s.

Manolo Blahnik red felt fringed d’orsay stilettos
Wedge: n. a solid heel joined to the sole, creating a wedge-like shape. See also “espadrille.”
Donal Plinder red suede wedge pumps

TYPES OF LEATHER

Alligator skin: n. leather made from an alligator’s skin. Often times embossed leather is designed to look like alligator skin. See also “embossed leather.”
Giuseppe Zanotti green alligator sandals
Calfskin: n. leather made from a very young cow’s skin. Calfskin is usually soft. See also “kipskin.”

Crocodile skin: n. (also known as “croco”) leather made from a crocodile’s skin. Often times embossed leather is designed to look like crocodile skin. See also “embossed leather.”
Valentino black crocodile pumps
Embossed leather: n. leather imprinted with a design. Embossed leather’s design is usually very textured and imitates more exotic skins, such as snakeskin or alligator. Embossed leather is often used in place of more exotic skins.
Giuseppe Zanotti grey embossed leather flats
Goatskin: n. leather made from a goat’s skin. See also “kidskin.”

Imitation leather: n. any manmade material designed to look and feel like leather. See also “vinyl.”

Kidskin: n. leather made from young goats or “kids.” Kidskin is usually soft. See also “goatskin.”

Kipskin: n. leather made from young cattles’ skin.

Lambskin: n. leather made from a young sheep’s or “lamb’s” skin. See also “sheepskin.”

Lizard: n. leather made from a lizard’s skin. See also “snakeskin.”

Napa leather: n. sheepskin typically less than two years old. Napa leather is usually noted as being more supple than other sheepskins. See also “sheepskin.”

Patent leather: n. leather varnished to the point that it shines.
Manolo Blahnik black patent leather flat boots
Pebbled: n. (also known as “pebbled grain”) leather embossed to resemble a bumpy or “pebbled” surface.
Dolce & Gabbana rust pebbled leather boots
Pigskin: n. leather made from a pig’s skin.

Shearling: n. lambskin or sheepskin with its wool still attached, often for warmth and decoration. Shearling is popular for coats and boots. See also “lambskin,” “sheepskin,” and “Uggs.”
Giuseppe Zanotti black shearling boots
Sheepskin: n. leather made from sheep. Sheepskin with the wool still attached is known as “shearling.” See also “lambskin” and “shearling.”

Snakeskin: n. leather made from a snake’s skin. Snakeskin has a scaley texture and is more popularly used on handbags than shoes.
Dolce & Gabbana brown snakeskin slingbacks
Vinyl: n. (also known as “polyvinyl chloride” or “PVC”) a shiny plastic similar to patent leather.
Pollini green vinyl high heel slide sandals

SPECIFIC TYPES OF SHOES

Choo: n. short for “Jimmy Choo,” a Choo is a shoe by Jimmy Choo.

Chucks: n. (also known as “Chuck Taylors”) Converse canvas sneakers in the style of Chuck Taylor All Stars. Chucks are the most popular types of Converse.

Manolo: n. short for “Manolo Blahnik,” a Manolo is a shoe by Manolo Blahnik.

Mukluks: n. moccasin boots with rabbit fur uppers and pom-poms. Mukluks became popular after Uggs, in about 2005.

Uggs: n. a flat, suede boot lined in sheepskin. Originally designed for wear after skiing, Uggs became popular street shoes in 2004.

BOOKS ABOUT SHOES

Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers & More

» More about Shoes : A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers & More.
» Buy Shoes : A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers & More now, via Amazon.

Shoes

» More about Shoes.
» Buy Shoes now, via Amazon.

How to Walk in High Heels

» More about How to Walk in High Heels now.
» Buy How to Walk in High Heels now, via Amazon.

Women’s Shoes in America, 1795-1930

» More about Women’s Shoes in America, 1795-1930.

» Buy Women’s Shoes in America, 1795-1930 now, via Amazon.