No matter how much wisdom a person gains, there's always more to know. The same holds true in the world of shoes. Just when you think you know your terminology, there are new words to challenge you. The shoe encyclopedia has been filling your head with a good amount of knowledge. Are you ready for some more? Last time we discussed the burnish process, sipes, the metatarsal bones in the foot, as well as bunions. This week we will learn the shoe encyclopedia terms shoe anatomy, break, vibram and foxing.

Shoe Anatomy
A shoe anatomy is a diagram that details each part of the construction of a shoe. Just like an anatomy chart can be made for the human body, the same is true for the parts of a shoe. In past lessons of the shoe encyclopedia, we have discussed some of the parts of the shoe that would be depicted on such a diagram. Some of those include the vamp, heel and sole.

Break
We're not talking recess time at the playground here. When talking in shoe terms, a break refers to the crease that sometimes ends up going across the front of the shoe from normal, everyday use. Of course, if you always buy shoes with steel toes, you should be able to prevent this annoyance. However, that strategy could present a problem when looking for some strappy heels to go with that cute evening gown. Steel toe shoes don't exactly come in that style.

Vibram
You'll most often find vibrams on hiking boots. They are an outsole designed to be non-slip and durable. Both of those features are necessary when hiking in the mountains, especially during certain weather conditions. The trails can get slippery or even rough at times. Strength and traction are ultra important in these situations.

Foxing
Foxing is a rubber strip that joins together the upper portion of a shoe with the sole. Canvas shoes are a good example of those that use foxing. Foxing can be found in other styles as well, but canvas shoes are those that most commonly use foxing.

Welcome back to class, shoe students. It's time for another fun lesson from the shoe encyclopedia. Don't forget that if you've missed any previous lessons, you can always go back and review them on Zappos.com. Last time, we discussed the tap of the shoe, painful heel spurs and the welt of the shoe as well as shoes called slides. If you didn't catch that last lesson (or any previous ones), be sure to go back through and check. Today's four terms from the shoe encyclopedia will be burnish, sipes, metatarsal bones and bunions.

Burnish
To burnish a shoe is to create an antiquing effect in the leather of that shoe. Once burnished, the leather will have an antique or worn look. Burnished leather footwear can be seen in a variety of boot and shoe styles and sizes. Burnished shoes may be seen in footwear created for men, women or children.

Sipes
Deck shoes need to be created in a way that prevents slippage. That is where the sipes come in. Sipes is the pattern carved in a specific shape in the outsoles of deck shoes. That shape helps to distribute the water evenly and prevent slipping. Deck shoes with sipes can come in varied styles and sizes for men, women and children.

Metatarsal Bones
The metatarsal bones are those in the foot that aid the body in forward movements during walking or running. They are the five bones that make up the top part of the foot that goes from the instep to the toes. Without the metatarsals, the foot would not move or balance in the same way.

Bunions
The name may sound like a tasty dinner bread formed between buns and onions, but these are far from tasty and are not desirable at all, in fact. Bunions are painful swollen areas that occur on the bottom of the foot. These can often lead to permanent damage in the toe joint. There are special shoes for both men and women that can be worn to help relieve the pain and discomfort associated with bunions.

With the fall season upon us and the winter season close behind, switching up your athletic gear is at the peak of the horizon. This is the time of year when jackets and comfortable warm clothing are popular and staying trendy is not difficult. For those in climates that really get chilly, yet prefer to avoid the bulk felt with a coat, light layering is always an option. For most people it is all about comfort. What better way to feel comfortable than in something that is soft, warm and just heavy enough to provide the warmth needed without the feeling of being confined? Enter Moving Comfort Apparel.

Moving Comfort Apparel is a great line of outerwear that makes quality apparel ideal for runners, bikers and other athletes. The Nochill Hoodie is a perfect choice to add to your workout gear for the fall and winter. Made from 56% tactel nylon, 15% Lycra and 29% polyester, the semi-fitted fabric offers quick wicking and the perfect amount of stretch. The key features of the comfortable outerwear include non-chafe flat-seam construction, neck taping, a full-length zipper, signature thumbholes, pockets for storage, a semi-fitted style and the ease of machine-washable maintenance. Available in Blueberry Mist, Black Storm and Wild Rose Cherry Blossom, the Nochill Hoodie retails for $84.

Designed to allow athletes to perform well despite uncomfortable temperatures, the Moving Comfort Endurance Tight is the perfect match for the Nochill Hoodie. Stay warm and comfortable while running with the perfect endurance tight made from 88% polyester and 12% Lycra and featuring no-chafe flat-seam construction to allow a comfortable workout. This is the perfect piece to layer under slightly heavier gear due to its smooth construction. The Endurance Tight has both front and back yoke-waistband curved design lines for comfort and fit, in addition to a stretch-draw cord. Available in black, the retail price is $56 for the Endurance Tight.

The key to good workout gear is high-quality fabric and construction, fit and of course comfort, which are all offered with Moving Comfort Apparel.

Wearing stilettos is a challenge however it is definitely doable with a little help from Foot Petals. Rather than allow the foot to slide down towards the toe of the shoe, which is almost inevitable depending on how the stiletto is made, the use of Foot Petals makes the shoe more comfortable and works as a stop gap to the foot sliding downward.

What are Foot Petals? Basic Foot Petals are a unique collection of products designed to adhere to the lining or insole of the shoe or other area with an adhesive backing to prevent slipping, sliding and rubbing of the foot. Foot Petals are made from PORON, which is performance urethanes designed to help stop friction, which helps to prevent blisters and calluses. Additionally, the design of the products helps to protect the bones and tissue of the foot and enhance the comfort of wearing desirable shoes such as stilettos.

When wearing stilettos, women tend to either grip their toes or walk awkwardly to prevent the sliding of the foot downward, which in time throws off the alignment of the body. Foot Petals Tip Toes, one of the many Foot Petals products, work as a preventative to long term damage by simply applying the shaped rubber patch to the area of the shoes where protection is needed.

Foot Petals offers a product called the Stiletto Foot Stylist Kit. The unique kit consists of items such as Killer Kushionz, Heavenly Heelz, Tip Toes, Strappy Strips, Sole Stopperz and Haute Heelz. Killer Kushionz are full insoles designed to provide precision support. Heavenly Heelz are designed to be applied to the back of the heel and cushions the tender area of the heel that is prone to blistering. Strappy Strips, on the other hand (or foot), provide comfort to shoes with straps. Foot Petals Sole Stopperz protect the soles and provides a non-slip surface. Finally Foot Petals Haute Heelz are designed as shock absorbers.

The Foot Petals Stiletto Foot Stylist Kitis available in Black Iris, Buttercup or White Lily and retails for $50.

Hello again, fellow shoe lovers. Shoe talk is getting exciting, isn't it? In the last lesson, you learned about the shoe lift, injection-molded construction, cordovan leather and Minktex lining. Today, the shoe encyclopedia offers four more interesting terms. You'll learn about crepe rubber, the Brannock device, the shoe counter, as well as shoe dressing. For a little extra fun, try guessing what the terms mean before continuing on with the lesson. Test your guessing skills against the meanings to see how close you were.

Crepe Rubber
Sorry to ruin your taste buds, but this is not the type of crepe you'll be seeing at the breakfast table. I don't recommend tasting this one at all, but wearing it is perfectly fine. Crepe rubber is a type of rubber used in shoe soles. It has a crinkled texture and is a crude, natural rubber. Many different shoe styles for both women and men can contain soles made from crepe rubber.

Brannock Device
In order to ensure accurate sizing and fit of shoes, it is a good idea to measure each foot properly. The Brannock device can help with that. It measures both the length and width of the foot to determine appropriate sizing. The Brannock device can be found in the fitting area of many shoe stores.

Counter
In order for the heel to retain its shape, it must have all the right layers. One of those layers is the counter. It is a stiff material located between the lining and the upper inside of the heel. Due to its stiffness, the counter can play an important role in retaining the shape of the heel in a shoe.

Dressing
Ranch or Italian? Well, actually, neither. When talking shoes, dressing is the process of applying gloss or finish to the outside of the shoe. Without gloss or finish, shoes can wear out more rapidly. A protective coating or dressing is a good feature for a pair of shoes. Many shoes have some type of dressing on them. Women's and men's boots, dress shoes, casuals and more can all have dressing, including children's styles.

By now you'd think the shoe encyclopedia would be running out of words and phrases. Worry not, my shoe-savvy friends. There are still plenty more shoe terms to fill up your shoe-thirsty mind. In the last lesson, you learned about static dissipating footwear, a moisture-control compound called Dri-Lex, vegetarian shoes and Jodhpur boots that were made for equestrian activities. This lesson will teach you about the lift you get when wearing your favorite skimmers. It will also teach you about a special process in creating shoe soles, a type of leather derived from horses and a thin lining created for warmth.

Lift
When creating a heel for lifting a shoe, there are several layers of leather or leather-board used. A lift is one of those various layers. A lift can be used in many types of shoes, including skimmers, wedge boots, cowboy boots, and many more styles and types. A lift can be contained in both men's and women's shoe styles.

Injection Molded Construction
This term sounds like it may have something to do with building a house. However, the facts are quite the contrary. This type of construction is instead related to shoes. Injection molded construction is one process for making shoe soles. In this process, melted PVC (or another similar compound) is injected into the sole mold. This method is most often used during mass shoe production.

Cordovan
No, this is not some new type of gas-saving van everyone will soon be taking over the roads with. Although, inventing one of those may not be such a bad idea. Back to the shoes, cordovan is actually leather derived from the rear side of horses. When this type of leather goes through tannage, it turns into a black cherry color. Cordovan is used both to describe this type of leather, as well as to describe the color.

Minktex
Minktex is a type of lining. The lining is lightweight, but allows for comfort and warmth, due to an open cell foam rubber that it backs. Minktex can be featured in boots or other footwear and can be part of a removable lining.

You feel the fire in your gut and the chill around your face as your adrenaline rises preparing for snowboarding season. Several pairs of the coolest snowboarding boots on the planet are part of your personal gear including Burton, Vans, DC, Lesportiva and Forum Constant Snow Board Boots. And chances are your wardrobe includes the coolest outer gear including Full Stone Fire Beanies and the coolest jackets and vests to create layers of warmth. But what's under those snow boots?

Snowboarders are passionate about their sport, their gear and definitely their skills. So why take chances when it comes to foot comfort?foot comfort? One of the best ways to insure comfort is with the perfect socks. To the passionate snowboarder the right socks definitely make a difference. Why worry about what's under those snow boots? The perfect sport socks to wear with snow boots is the Eurosock Board Camo. Available in winter, brown, green or gray camo, in addition to being one of the most comfortably fitting socks, the Eurosock Board Camo collection is stylish.

There are a couple of features that make the Eurosock Board Camo the perfect sock for the snowboarder. Eurosocks come with comfortably fitted, finished tops, and a choice of either rolled, welted tops or ribbed cups designed to keep the sock up. Another top quality sock is the Eurosock Board Camo, which has the absence of the seam that causes friction.

Designed as the perfect socks for snowboarding, Eurosock Board Camo socks are made from Spandex with mechanical knits and technical fibers, which create the feel and performance of a "second skin." Other key features of the Eurosock Board Camo socks include the "elasticized ankle brace" and the "ankle flex zone," which provides support for the Achilles tendon and keeps the sock fitting perfectly around the ankle by eliminating wrinkles. The toe-pocket area has a similar design to ensure wrinkling is avoided. Finally Eurosocks have ergonomically shaped, anatomical padding to absorb impact. Wearing Eurosocks for snowboarding ensures you won't worry about what's under those boots.

The shape and design of the foot is genetic. That being said, a lot of foot pain is associated with the shape of one's foot, the arch and a variety of other attributes. Other foot pain however may be a result of lifestyle activities such as one's choice of sports. Trying to find ways to cope with conditions, such as plantar fasciitis and other issues particular to athletes is challenging. Short of going to the podiatrist and constantly performing the necessary exercises, there are other alternatives that can be added to the routine to help avoid the pain associated with plantar fasciitis.

Foot problems can attack a person of any age. Realizing that help is available is important. For athletes that regularly participate in high-impact sports, heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis is quite common. One readily available alternative solution is the use of Superfeet Insoles.

Superfeet Insoles were originally created by the sports division of a podiatric laboratory. Today, Superfeet Premium Insoles offer a variety of insole products based on the type of feet, as well as providing the proper support for the foot, based on the specific sport and activity. Superfeet Premium Insoles are designed to provide, not only comfort and support, but also shock absorption to those who participate in high-impact activities.

Superfeet Premium Insoles are color coordinated to shoe type and the athlete's sports. Case in point: the Superfeet Premium Yellow Insoles are designed for the individual requiring a narrow heel and wide forefoot. Ideal for ice skaters, hockey players and road cyclists, Superfeet Premium Yellow Insoles offer a bacterial control system, a stabilizer system for support, and high-density foam for comfort in addition to other features.

Superfeet Premium Wintergreen Insoles are designed for the individual who is an active snowboarder, skier, or one whose activity or job requires the use of snow boots and removable insoles. These insoles are designed to prevent heel pain, align the bones of the foot and provide metatarsal support. The moderately priced Superfeet Premium Insoles, which average $45 a pair, can put one on track to foot health.

By now you'd think the shoe encyclopedia would be running out of words and phrases. Worry not, my shoe-savvy friends. There are still plenty more shoe terms to fill up your shoe-thirsty mind. In the last lesson, you learned about static dissipating footwear, a moisture-control compound called Dri-Lex, vegetarian shoes and Jodhpur boots that were made for equestrian activities. This lesson will teach you about the lift you get when wearing your favorite skimmers. It will also teach you about a special process in creating shoe soles, a type of leather derived from horses and a thin lining created for warmth.

Lift

When creating a heel for lifting a shoe, there are several layers of leather or leather-board used. A lift is one of those various layers. A lift can be used in many types of shoes, including skimmers, wedge boots, cowboy boots, and many more styles and types. A lift can be contained in both men's and women's shoe styles.

Injection Molded Construction

This term sounds like it may have something to do with building a house. However, the facts are quite the contrary. This type of construction is instead related to shoes. Injection molded construction is one process for making shoe soles. In this process, melted PVC (or another similar compound) is injected into the sole mold. This method is most often used during mass shoe production.

Cordovan

No, this is not some new type of gas-saving van everyone will soon be taking over the roads with. Although, inventing one of those may not be such a bad idea. Back to the shoes, cordovan is actually leather derived from the rear side of horses. When this type of leather goes through tannage, it turns into a black cherry color. Cordovan is used both to describe this type of leather, as well as to describe the color.

Minktex

Minktex is a type of lining. The lining is lightweight, but allows for
comfort and warmth, due to an open cell foam rubber that it backs.
Minktex can be featured in boots or other footwear and can be part of a removable lining.Minktex is a type of lining. The lining is lightweight, but allows for comfort and warmth, due to an open cell foam rubber that it backs. Minktex can be featured in boots or other footwear and can be part of a removable lining.

What better way to eliminate stress than to get involved in dance classes? Whether stress is caused by a job, personal situation, high school, college midterms or just the speed bumps of life, learning to dance is a great way to get in shape and eliminate stress while having fun. They key is that you want to get geared up properly with professional dance shoes.

With all of the dance shows on primetime such as "Dance War," "So You Think You Can Dance," and "Dancing with the Stars," more and more youths enter competitions to eagerly pursue their dreams of learning to dance or perfecting dance skills with the goal of becoming professionals.

Okay, so you think you can dance? Then get geared up with professional dance shoes beginning with practice shoes. Bloch makes one of the top practice shoes, which are available in either black or tan and sizes 5 to 12. Features of the Bloch practice shoes include breathable perforated leather, a wide 1 ¼ Cuban heel, V-shape stretch sides, adjustable laces, V elastic inserts, cushioned insoles and suede outsoles. The retail price is $68 for a pair of Bloch practice shoes.

Another of the professional dance shoes to add to one's gear is Leo's Full Sole Jazz Tap Shoe. Definitely one of the top pieces of professional dance gear to keep stashed in one's dance bag, Leo's Full Sole Jazz Tap Shoe includes features such as a one-inch heel, full grain leather upper, Leo's Dura Tap system, Scored Eva half-inch sole behind taps designed for flexibility, a cotton lining for comfort and perfect balance and weighting. This versatile design for men and women retails for approximately $68.

When the time comes for a sexy dance such as the Paso Doble, there is only one type of shoe that can possibly be worn, and that of course is a pair of Franco Sarto dance shoes in black patent leather. The gloriously sexy shoe has crisscross instep straps, a lightly padded footbed, manmade soles and a three-inch stacked heel. The sexy Franco Sarto dance shoe retails for approximately $85.

So you're still tracking the shoe lingo, huh? Hey, you never know when you might need to speak the language of shoe. Now you can impress your friends with your knowledge while shopping at Zappos. If you've been following along with the shoe encyclopedia faithfully, at this point in the game, you've learned about a wide variety of shoe terms. If you've missed any of the past shoe encyclopedia installments, feel free to go back and check up. You won't regret the extra knowledge gained. Every little bit helps, right? In the last shoe lesson, we covered ground on The Office, motion-control, napa leather and piping.

Pebbled Grain
Isn't this the stuff used on playgrounds? Nope, not this time. When it comes to shoes, a pebbled grain actually is a form of leather. Its texture resembles that of a pebbled surface. Pebbled grain can be featured on a variety of shoe styles for both men and women including sandals. Generally, pebbled grain is used for dress shoes.

Pinking
Pinking is a zig zag strip of fabric used to decorate shoes or other items. Pinking generally occurs on women's and little girl's shoes. Usually it is done on dress shoes or shoes that are fancier in nature. Pinking shears, or special scissors with shaped edges, are used to create the designs.

Contoured Footbed
A contoured footbed is a special comfort feature available in a variety of shoes. When a shoe has a contoured footbed, this means the footbed, or insole, molds to fit the foot's shape. Shoes made for every day comfort, as well as other styles and designs may feature a contoured footbed. These are generally featured in shoes aimed at comfort and protection.

Lizard
Yes, you actually can get yourself some shoes made from lizard skin if you feel so inclined. The lizard skin is processed much in the same way as leather. In fact, lizard is considered to be a type of leather. Lizard leather comes in various shoe and boot styles and can be found in sizes for both men and women.

Still coming back for more of the shoe encyclopedia, huh? You must really be outsmarting your fellow so-called shoe savvy friends by now. Some past shoe encyclopedia lessons have included types and styles of shoes, such as the mule toe or sling back. Others have included shoe terms that relate to parts of the shoe, such as the cap toe or the lug sole. Also included have been medical and fashion terms. In this seventh shoe encyclopedia lesson, you'll be learning about piping, The Office, Napa Leather, and motion control.

Piping
Piping is a thin strip of fabric, which is generally used for the decoration of shoes, handbags and clothing. In shoes with piping, leather is often, but not always, the fabric of choice. Piping can be found in a variety of shoe styles, such as boots, dress shoes and even slippers.

The Office
No, I'm not referring to the popular TV sitcom. Although, those characters may enjoy this version of The Office. Trying to finish off that special business ensemble that you can make all your own? The one that will impress the right people? Choosing the right shoes can help. The Office is an exclusive Zappos spot for business execs to pick up some great office shoes. Both men's and women's styles are available.

Napa Leather
Looking for a softer version of leather? Try Napa Leather, which is a soft version of sheepskin. Napa leather can be used in the whole shoe upper like in the Vaneli Wassilla, or just in the design, as with the Tony Lama 1249-L boots that can be found on Zappos.

Motion Control
If your athletic shoes have motion control, this means they have special devices to help control the occurrence of inward rolling of the foot, or pronation. Most of the time, motion-control shoes are meant for athletes who have little to no arch. They can also be used as extra support for those who are heavy runners.

Cinderella may have been in love with her glass slippers, but they definitely do not compare with the perfect slippers. There is something about slippers that tones down one's mood and influences feelings of comfort and relaxation. No matter what task may be at hand at home, whether it is a home repair, hanging out with friends watching football or just chilling, wearing the perfect slippers evokes feelings of down time and rejuvenation.

Just ask a teen who has absolutely no problem wearing Ugg Slippers outdoors or to run an errand. Today's slippers for teens are as cool as their shoes, even for the guys. Chances are, if you haven't seen a teenager in the Ugg Slippers for guys, you soon will, especially with the holidays coming up. These gifts are sure hits. So bypass the gift cards that never get used and don't try to pick out clothes. Instead move towards the comfort items and pick up the coolest perfect slippers available.

Case in point, the Ugg Slippers for guys are called Sampson and are available in a black, dark brown and western brown with a genuine sheepskin lining. The slip-on style slipper is made of a rich leather upper and a rubber sole, in other words, they last much longer than the average slipper. They are a great gift and definitely an excellent comfort item that retails for approximately $100.

Of course guys can't outdo the girls. One of the coolest perfect slippers for girls is the Ugg Cluggette, which is a slip on with a closed toe. The Ugg Cluggette is made of genuine sheepskin. Available in lilac, orchid, sand, chocolate, muslin and several camo prints, the Ugg Cluggette retails for approximately $84.

Ugg Slippers have a style for everyone, which is another excellent reason they are the perfect slipper. Ugg Slippers start at infant size, and styles are created for infants through adults for a slipper that is long-lasting and definitely considered the perfect slipper. Goodbye glass slippers.

So you've come back for another lesson in shoe talk, eh? You must be getting good at shoe lingo by now. You may even be able to stump the shoe salesman with your shoe encyclopedia knowledge. Aw, c'mon, you know you are eager to try it out at least once -- or twice. Shoe parts, shoe-making processes, specialty collections and more have been discussed. In this week's lesson, you will be following that trend with a medical foot condition, a type of shoe measurement, a synthetic material and a style of shoe with safety in mind.

Safety Shoe
Safety first, right? The safety shoe is one designed specifically with the consumer's safety in mind. Most safety shoes have steel toes. Safety shoes can also include other safety features, such as waterproofing and oil-resistant fabrics and materials. Designed for the professional, the Timberland Pro collection of work boots and shoes is an example of safety coupled with comfort and style. The Timberland brand is well known among the pros for its safety and durability.

Polyurethane (PU)
Polyurethane, or simply PU, is a chemical-based synthetic material. It is commonly used to create faux leather. Hey now, when I said "PU," that was not a reference to a foul odor. Although, if you've got an odor problem, you may wish try some odor-fighting polyurethane shoes.

Shaft Height
The shaft height is the inside measurement of the boot's shaft from bottom to top, starting at the arch. If you were at thinking of a mine shaft instead, you may want to pick up a set of climbing shoes before you head off to explore.

Neuroma
Neuroma is a foot condition that a person could be born with due to a defect. It can also be caused by wearing shoes too narrow for the foot, wearing high-heeled shoes or injuries. If you have neuroma, this means that the two metatarsals on your feet have pinched the nerve located between them. The pinching action causes a tissue mass to form on this nerve. That mass is known as a neuroma.

Comfort boots actually exist. For all the women who think they have to give up style for comfort, it just is not so. There are a wide variety of brands that offer boots specifically categorized as comfort boots including Clark's, Hush Puppies, LaCanadienne, Easy Spirit, Aerosoles, Born Biddy, Gabriella Rocha and Lucchese, to name a few. If you are vertically challenged, heel height doesn't have to be sacrificed, and if you are tall, heel height is accommodated. Most importantly, comfort and style definitely do not have to be sacrificed.

So what is different about comfort boots as opposed to other boots? There are a few features that enhance comfort boots, providing not only a well fitting boot, but a comfortable boot. If you're looking to purchase comfort boots from an online retailer, all of the features should be provided prior to purchasing. Several of the top features to look for include: cushioned insoles designed to absorb shock, which reduce foot fatigue and pressure; rubber outsoles with tread detailing designed to provide a lasting grip while walking; OrthoLite foam shock absorbing foot bed, which is designed to reduce shock; an EVA Midsole, which is also designed to absorb shock and create an ease in walking; and rubber outsoles with ABS heels which help to reduce the weight of the shoe.

The price for comfort boots ranges just like any other boots based on the brand and quality of boot. A classic example is a pair of black patent leather Aerosoles Patrol Car comfort boots, which retails for $89 and has a 2 ¾-inch heel. If looking for a higher heeled comfort boot, a great example is the Gabriella Rocha Studio Scarlet comfort boot in gray with lace up front eyelets and a 3-inch heel retailing for $99. Lucchese, on the other hand, actually offers comfort boots in the form of cowboy boots. Lucchese boots are known as the best fitting cowboy boot made. Lucchese comfort boots generally range from $500 and upward, are made to last a lifetime and are worth every penny.