Archive for the ‘Shoes’ Category

Slip Resistant Shoes – Simple Guidelines

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010


High heels maybe fashionable among women and the thinner the heels get, the trendier is the perception. However if one tried these thin high heeled shoes out one, it’s not exactly easy to maintain balance and there would be a degree of amazement and awe at those who make it look so easy. However this is not exactly good for the feet as it put undue strain on the ankle and most importantly it tends to cause slips. Now the injuries one receives via slips maybe be critical and hence the solution seems to be slip resistance shoes. Well the ones who have injured themselves via the slips are not alone – in fact the whole corporate world is trying to solve this problem. Wonder why? Haven’t businesses got to make profits rather than look into slip resistance shoes?

Of course the slip resistant shoe industry has become a business of its own because companies have poured in significant funds in order to develop new and better slip resistant shoes. This was realized when firms came to know of the problems caused by the lack of slip resistant shoes – from injury to insurance expenses, slow down in the rate of business etc. To be more specific studies in the US private sector have shown that companies had lost amounts to the extent of 5 billion dollars due to slip related accidents. So it’s no wonder that the research and production of slip resistant shoes has become a million dollar industry of its own.

The need for slip resistant shoes is spread over a huge sector of the economy. To better understand this one has to just observe the floors at restaurants, clubs, hospitals, food processing plants and in certain kind of industries. The basic approach to developing a good set of slip resistant shoes is to improve its traction by improving the characteristics of the treading on the out sole of the shoe. The treading needs to maintain a suitable distance between the sole of the shoe and the slippery floor. The pattern of the treading is also important as closed patterns tend to lead to ineffective slip resistance. This happens because liquids and tiny objects happen to get stuck between the enclosed tread patterns. Hence it is better to have open and well spaced tread patterns in order to prevent the hydroplane effect. The treading should act against the line of motion in order to provide better traction. Quite simply, it is because if it were to act along the line of motion there would be no resistance. The material that the tread is made up of is also very important, as the softer materials provide better treading they also tend to wear out quickly.

To conclude wear and tear is a significant problem that causes slip related problems. So the replacement of one’s slip resistant shoes is important. Then again the agents that cause slips and the extent of slips that occur are different from environment to environment. A perfect example would be water on the floor of a restaurant when compared to the oil and grease in an automobile work shop. These are simple yet important considerations to keep in mind while selecting the right type of slip resistant shoes.

High Heel Shoes – Facts And History

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010


Some people attribute the existence of the high heel shoes to Catherine of Medici from Paris, who wore it owing to her short stature and became a part of the fashion shortly after. These fashionable shoes enjoy a varied history in men and women.

Initially, men and women both wore high heel shoes for centuries. The lower class walked barefoot and people wearing them were mostly popular figures such as actors. They wore high heel shoes indicating their social status and trying to gain importance. The men heels were primarily worn in the courts. The modern fashion came from Italian style ranging from 15 to 42 cm. During the 17th century there was a change stating that women wore high heel shoes to seduce and marry men. Later, Giovanni Casanova also declared his admiration for shoes that showed the beautiful legs of women.

The year 1791 brought a significant revolution when Napoleon banished high heel shoes attempting to illustrate equality. Regardless of Napoleonic code, Marie Antoinette in 1793 appeared wearing shoes of two inches to the scaffold. Once again in 1860s heels gained utmost popularity and the contraption of sewing machine bestowed with great varieties in high heel shoes. In fact, Victorians felt wearing them gave a symbolic curve to every woman. The late 19th century brought widespread popularity, but in 1930s the western shoe with heels received favorable response. In early 1960s, miniskirt came into full form and the stilettos emerged into fashion enhancing the look of legs. Stiletto heels are long and thin varying in lengths from 1 to 2 inches, and are especially for women.

Even the tennis shoes came high heeled. The heelless high heel shoes allowed women to wear all types of shoes. Though, it seemed to be the height of eccentricity, the gesture of having an assortment of fashion choices could not be ignored. Women love wearing shoes matching their outfit and appreciate wrapping their delicate and elegant feet. Especially, the high heel shoes certainly bring compliments as they look empowered and highly confident.

High heel shoes indicate fashionable footwear that raises the feet of the wearer significantly. The footwear creates an aesthetic feeling as a person appears slender and tall. Today, they are obtainable in diverse styles and shapes such as pumps, tapered, stilettos, blocks, blade and wedge. Fashion icons regard heels above 8.5cm as high and consider anything below it as medium or low heel. It is noted that women only wear them, but the Cuban heels and cowboy boots are worn by men as well. Initially, raised heels lead to slipping forward while riding, but over decades it became stylized.

France later created high heel shoes ideal for men and women. This trend declined during the French revolution, but resurfaced in 1800s. The shoes went through several changes such as the late 70s preferred low heels, while the late 80s and early 90s were happy with high heels. In this period, the heels shape changed from 70s with block to 90s with tapered and 80s and post 2000 with stilettos. Recently, the shoes heights vary from 4cm (kitten heel) to 10 cm (spike or stilettos). The extreme high heel shoes are available in 13 cm and have aesthetic reasons to be worn. However, they cannot be worn practically everyday.

High heel shoes are popular among women as it adds height to the wearer and give an aesthetic appeal. It is also believed to alter the angle of the foot and also enhances the calves shape.

Quality Shoes-what Traits to Look for

Saturday, June 5th, 2010


Ben Franklin probably didn’t say “show me a grumpy man and I’ll show you a man with bad shoes”, but he should have. They say that shoes make the man, and they’re right on that one in more ways than one. Good, quality shoes do more than make you look good – they make you feel good. A pair of high quality shoes makes your feet happy, and when your feet are happy, the rest of you is in a much better frame of mind to deal with your day. Poorly made and ill-fitting shoes are at the root of many a miserable day, and here’s why.

Poorly made shoes hurt more than your feet.

Your feet are your skeleton’s foundation. When there’s a problem with the foundation of a building, the symptoms can show up in cracks in the walls or ceilings, floors that tilt in the wrong direction – even in electrical and plumbing problems. The same is true with your body. When your shoes don’t support your feet properly, your legs and hips and spine and shoulders and neck try to compensate. Taking any of those out of alignment can cause discomfort, pain and other problems.

You’re far more likely to notice the discomfort of things like bunions and blisters caused by rough seams, heel pain from poor support and generally aching feet from shoes that constrict them. Between the obvious pain caused by shoes that aren’t made well and the more subtle effects of poorly fit and low quality shoes, you can end up in constant low-level pain. Who can think clearly and be cheerful when their feet and their body are in pain?

How high quality shoes can help

Well-made, quality shoes like those made by Naot support your feet in a number of different ways. Naot shoes are designed to keep your feet happy. The heel cup is designed to keep your heels steady, preventing your ankles from tilting when you walk. The shank that runs from the heel to the ball of your foot gently encourages your feet to distribute your weight evenly. A roomy toe box gives your toes the room they need to move and grip the ground while you walk – even if they’re not actually in contact with the ground.

The materials that go into making up your shoes also make a big difference. Real leather breathes, wicking moisture away from your feet and letting air circulate around them. That means cooler feet, less chance of infection and a lot less stinky feet.

What to look for in quality shoes

Now that you know why quality shoes are important, let’s talk about how to choose a good pair of shoes that will support your feet – and your body – properly.

-First, look at the shoe.

Style may be important to your eye, but there are other things to look for. Are the seams straight and evenly stitched? Is the leather smooth and well-finished? Does the shoe LOOK well-made?

-Feel the shoe.

Take the shoe in both hands and try to twist it. It should have a little give, but not bend out of shape easily.

Try to bend the shoe in half so that the heel and toe meet. Again, it should have a little give, but you shouldn’t be able to fold it. The shank of the shoe should prevent the shoe from bending beyond the ball of the foot.

Push up against the bottom of the toe of the shoe. The front of the shoe should bend easily so that your toes and the balls of your feet can do their work.

-Poke around inside the shoe.

Go on, push your hand inside the shoe and feel around. You should feel no protruding seams or rough areas. The inner surface should be comfortably padded and smooth. The tongue of the shoe should have enough padding to let you lace shoes without cutting into the top of your foot.

-Check the materials.

The uppers and lining of the shoes should be leather. Leather breathes and molds to fit your feet comfortably. You may not be able to look under the shoe’s hood, so to speak, but you can ask about other materials. A steel shank is the most supportive, and leather soles will wear far better than most manmade materials.

-A few last things:

Excellent quality shoes like Naot clogs and sandals can be pricey, but it’s money well-spent. Still, like anything else, shoes do show wear. You’d hate to find a pair of shoes that fit perfectly and make you feel so good – only to have to replace them in just a few years. A good quality pair of shoes will last you up to ten years – if you care for them properly. Look for shoes that can be resoled and reheeled easily. Naot shoes are among the most versatile in this respect – you can replace the entire shoe bed when needed to keep them feeling fresh, new and comfortable for years.