Shoes have been an important part of human life since the beginning of fashion. They have allowed humans to travel over various terrains and adapt to life in a number of climates. However, shoes wouldn't be what we know them as today if it weren't for the shoe accessories that developed along with our foot fashion. Some of the most commonly used shoe accessories today include shoe horns, shoe trees, shoelaces and shoe inserts.

History of Shoe Accessories:

Shoe Horns
Shoe horns evolved along with leather and hide shoe designs. Their purpose was to help a person get their shoes on more easily. They were traditionally made from wood, however, wealthy shoe owners had theirs made from bone, ivory, silver and shell. Today, shoe horns are still commonly made of wood; however, they are also made from plastic, glass and stainless steel.

Shoe Tree
The shoe tree was a remarkable invention. This device, traditionally made from cedar, was designed to fit into shoes when they were not occupied by feet. The shoe tree helped the leather to keep its shape, and the cedar of the shoe tree absorbed both foot odor and moisture left in the shoe. Today, you can still find cedar shoe trees; however, plastic shoe trees are more common.

Shoelaces
Perhaps the oldest shoe accessory in the world is the shoelace. Shoelaces can be traced back to 3,000 B.C. Their purpose is to secure footwear to the person's foot. However, while used in primitive shoes, shoelaces were replaced during subsequent shoe design eras with buckles, buttons, zippers and other closing devices. They didn't really emerge as the leader of shoe closures until the 20th century.

Shoe Inserts
One of the latest shoe accessories to hit the shoe market is the shoe insert. Shoe inserts are designed to make the shoe more comfortable to wear. Common shoe inserts include cushions, orthopedic supports and lifts. Basic shoe inserts can be bought at department and shoe stores, however, orthopedic shoe inserts usually have to be prescribed by podiatrists.