Footwear » Shoe Types

clog - made from tough materials like alder, birch, sycamore or breech, clogs were cheap, durable and very strong; they were shaped to fit the foot and worn with thick socks or stuffed with hay, straw or bracken for bare feet; the upward turned toe made it easier to walk; called "klompen" in Dutch, these shoes have been a cultural mark in The Netherlands for several centuries; used primarily as a work shoe, it was especially popular during the Industrial Revolution in northern France, England, and the low countries.

go-go boots - go-go boots were popularized by Nancy Sinatra's song, "These Boots Were Made For Walking," and became a symbol of the 1960s.

jellies - shoes made of molded plastic in a variety of colors which were a huge fad in the 1980s.

moccasin - adopted in cold climates by North American Indians, Eskimos, Laplanders and Siberian tribesmen; the distinctive seam on the upper of a modern moccasin is all that remains of the puckering string that was gathered and tied about the ankles to give all over protection to the foot.

sneaker - U.S. Rubber developed the first sneaker, called Keds, in 1917. The word "sneaker" was coined quite literally because the rubber sole made the shoe stealthy — all other shoes, with the exception of moccasins, made noise when you walked.