Summer is a great time of year. The hot weather makes such activities as boating and swimming desirable. And if you are headed out for a day on the lake, whether for fishing, sailing or water skiing, boat shoes are a must-have.

Boat shoes are not traditionally considered very stylish. They are very simple: canvas (the fashion gods shudder) or leather uppers attached to a rubber sole. The rubber sole, one might guess, is meant to keep the wearer from slipping on the deck of a boat that is most likely wet. In earlier times, boat shoes resembled moccasins more than anything else. Now, though, boat shoes are becoming as high tech as any other shoe.

Worried about foot odor out there on the lake? Some boat shoes are treated with special products that help maintain “all day freshness.” Concerned about stains? You can get boat shoes that are made from stain resistant materials. Is there anything nanotechnology can’t do? Additionally, high-quality boat shoes made with real metal eyelets are often treated with products that resist rust. After all, you don’t want your shoes to get rusty.

Many boat shoes are also made with soles that are molded so that proper support is given to the foot. Your feet can become sore while you are out there padding around on the deck of a boat. Now you can enjoy space age comfort, even while escaping the space age on your sail boat, with items such as venting, sun protection and secured tab collars. Plus, you can get special grip soles that are made with advanced traction to keep you from falling off your boat.

It is also possible to get boat shoes made from a variety of fabrics and different features for different activities. Want special fishing boat shoes? You can get those. No matter what you

Perhaps no shoe holds as much fascination for the general public as the pointe shoe . While few people will wear them because of the strength and special training required, many will admire them. But the pointe shoe as we know it today was not always the dominant symbol of ballet. Early ballet, in fact, did not even include female dancers, and when they were first introduced in the late 17th century, they wore not pointe shoes on stage but high heels, which were reflective of the court shoes of the time.

Women’s ballet shoes largely lost their heels at the turn of the 19th century (although heeled ballet shoes exist to this day as “character shoes” for certain types of roles and dances). Dancers had the freedom to fully pointe and flex their feet thanks to ballet slippers, but early pointe work from this period was done with the aid of stage machines that hoisted dancers into the air on wires. As pointe work began to develop, dancers had to rely on soft shoes made of layers of leather and fabric and were limited in the range and length of work that could be performed en pointe.

As pointe shoes developed, a range of materials were employed to create the hard platforms and supportive soles that allowed dancers to stand on their toes. These have included wood, which is still often used in the shanks of the shoes that support the arch, steel (which went out of fashion with the rationing of the WWII era) and today’s most common materials — layers of burlap and glue.

While pointe shoes, unlike ballet slippers, are not to be experimented with by untrained dancers, the beauty of this specialty shoe can be seen reflected in many shoe trends, including ankle ribbons and narrow, square toes on shoes of all heel heights that hug the foot. These pointe shoe-influenced designs have appeared on many celebrities including Bjork and Lara Flynn Boyle, although regrettably often paired with dresses that were fashion “don’ts.”

One of the classic shoes is the Mary Jane. A Mary Jane is a very basic shoe with a strap across the top. Most of the time, a Mary Jane has a low heel, and traditionally these are black shoes, often made from patent leather. Today, though, in keeping with evolving styles and a desire for individuality, Mary Janes are taking on new life. There are Mary Jane pumps , and there are Mary Janes that comes with large, chunky heels. There are even sneaker-style Mary Jane shoes. It is also possible to find Mary Janes made from different materials, with large and embellished buckles and in a variety of colors.

Where the name “Mary Jane” Originated

Back in the early 1900s, Richard Outcault created a comic strip called Buster Brown. Buster Brown was rather popular, and he had a sister named Mary Jane. While both siblings wore the simple, strapped shoes in the comic, they ended up being named after the female character (I guess calling them “Buster Browns” just didn’t have the same appeal).

At any rate, Outcault was no idiot. In 1904 he went to the World’s Fair and began selling licenses like crazy to companies who wanted to use his comic characters to help sell their products. The Brown Shoe Company (hmmm … not idiots, either, seeing an opportunity to use Buster Brown to represent Brown shoes) bought a license from Outcault and began doing its best to cement a connection between beloved comic characters and shoes.

Mary Janes Today

In the past, Mary Janes were associated mainly with little schoolgirls. Now, though, Mary Jane shoes are worn by women of all ages. And where they used to be worn by boys as well, there are very few males these days who would feel comfortable wearing a pair of Mary Janes.

While today clogs generally refer to chunky, backless slip-on shoes for women, historically the clog was defined by both shape and material. Traditional clogs have a wooden sole, but those are rarely seen in today’s fashion shoes. When they are, it usually has a bit of added rubber on the bottom for both traction and durability.

Although we generally associate clogs with the Nordic countries, wooden shoes that can be termed clogs have historically been worn all over Europe, including the British Isles and Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece, where they were most predominant in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today these wooden shoes often remain part of traditional ethnic dress and are still worn because they are considered to promote health. In some cases, the clog remains as a wooden over-shoe to protect a delicate and expensive footwear from mud and rain.

For those in the United States, clogs have two main associations. The first is clog dancing, which originated in Europe. Clog dancing is a competitive dance sport in both the United States and Europe, although the shoes usually used now do not visually resemble the historical wooden clog, but tend to look more like a men’s dress shoe with a boxy toe and are very loud (thanks to wood or metal plates) when dancing.

Otherwise, when it comes to clogs, many Americans think of 1970s fashion, where natural fibers, ropes and wood were popular in all manner of shoes for men and women.

While some of today’s clogs hark back to that retro 1970s look, clogs are now often made of rubber or other comfortable materials, appear in both vibrant and natural tones and bear little resemblance to their wood ancestors. Today’s clogs appear in a range of heel heights, and some clogs can be appropriate for men and women, although the style is dominated by women’s shoes.

Crocs and their imitators represent the most recent evolution of the clog. These shoes, which started as comfortable gardening shoes, have become a fashion trend for both genders thanks to their easy wear-ability, multiple colors, unisex design and futuristic shaping.

A look at the new shoe on the scene, yoga sneakers.

One of the new buzzwords in athletic shoes is the yoga shoe or sneaker, which may seem a bit weird for an activity that is generally practiced barefoot.. However, the truth is that people wear a wide variety of footwear for yoga, including ballet slippers, jazz shoes and specialized “foot thongs.” The yoga sneaker is the sturdiest of these choices and is essentially a stylish, flexible athletic shoe that molds to the foot while also being durable enough to be worn outdoors. Because the shoes are extremely comfortable and more streamlined than a traditional athletic shoe, they are an increasingly popular trend with both those who do and don’t practice yoga, including celebrities.

Adidas , Reebok , and smartdogs all make stylish yoga shoes that are appropriate both in and out of the studio, but you should be sure not to wear the same pair for both! It’s bad form to wear streets shoes in a yoga or dance studio because while you might not be practicing barefoot, many other people often are.

Because traditionally yoga has been practiced barefoot the yoga shoe is a recent invention designed to cater to Western preferences while also capitalizing on the ever increasingly specialized world of athletic shoes. The yoga shoe itself has evolved form the dance sneaker, itself only a few decades old. The dance sneaker has the traction and support of a regular athletic shoe, but also includes a highly flexible sole that is often split to accentuate the shape of a pointed foot, breathable material, and a sturdy toe box to allow for pointe work.

The yoga shoe eliminates the toe box and has slimmed the sole down while also reunifying it. This creates a profile more similar to that of a slipper, but with extreme flexibility and strong support just like the dance sneaker. Made of breathable materials, yoga shoes let your feet breathe, wick sweat, and most importantly, can be tossed in the washing machine without much hassle — not something that can be said for most other high fashion trend items.

Because of their light weight, Yoga shoes make great walking shoes and are also ideal as shoes for the commuter that doesn’t want to wear high heels on the bus or subway. While new to the shoe scene, the yoga shoe will surely continue to evolve, possibly splitting off into in-studio and outdoor versions built around the same principles of flexibility, support and style.

High heel shoes provided the impetus for the modern way of making shoes.

One of the more interesting facts about shoes is that high heel shoes provided the impetus for the way that modern shoes are made. Often, we think of high heel shoes as fashionable and even sexy – the perfect compliment to the perfect dress. However, high heel shoes provided us with more than a way to make a good looking gal look great: they are also the reason that modern shoes are sold in pairs.

The origin of high heel shoes

These popular feminine accouterments actually originated in Turkey. Sometime in the 1400s, shoes with flat bottoms and heels between seven inches and 18 inches appeared. The main idea was to elevate fashionable women in long dresses above the muddy streets. The fashion emigrated to Italy in the 1500s, and the famous Catherine de Medici (who married the future king of France) made them popular. She brought the style to France, and then it traveled to England. Of course, the ladies in France and England wanted the highest shoes imaginable and often took the entire 18 inches. As one might guess, such an arrangement meant that a servant on either side of the lady was required in order prevent her plopping face-first into the mud.

How high heel shoes influenced modern footwear

High heel shoes’ origin as a fashion statement also influenced other types of shoe making. Prior to high heel shoes, all shoes were made with the same pattern (called a last). There was no difference between the right and left shoe. Instead, buyers walked into a shop and tried to find two different shoes that were the same size and color. Shoes were paid for individually. But high heel shoes changed all of that. Because of the heel, it was no longer sufficient to have the same last for both shoes. Matching shoes, made differently for right and left (called “crookeds”), meant that shoes had to be sold in pairs from then on out.

Florence, Italy is a dream location for a destination wedding . From wineries and vineyards to cycling and running, Florence is the perfect location for guests, and the best location for lovers.

There’s no place more beautiful and perfect for a destination wedding than Florence, Italy. Nestled in Tuscany, surrounded by wineries, vineyards, hills, and history, Florence, Italy offers both newlyweds and their wedding guests the perfect wedding experience. Experience a romantic wedding, gorgeous scenery, delicious wine and food, and the opportunities to hike, and explore the best of what Italy has to offer.

The Logistics of a Destination Wedding in Florence

There is a bit of red tape involved with a destination wedding in Florence. The best course of action is to hire an Italian wedding planner to help handle the logistics. Many locations for destination weddings, such as Poggio ai Merli, can help take care of additional details, such as caterers, florists, photographers, and more. Accept the help, and be sure to get as much as you can in writing.

Selecting the Perfect Location for a Destination Wedding in Florence

Filled with churches, villas, hamlets, hotels, and history, Florence has so many options for a destination wedding. A trip to scout locations is a must for the bride and groom to be. The wedding my family and I recently attended in Florence took place just outside of the city in Scandicci, with the wedding in a Catholic Church built in 1000, and a reception at Poggio ai Merli. Both were beautiful and classic selections.

Planning Ahead for the Guests for a Destination Wedding in Florence

Give guests 9 to 12 months notice for a destination wedding in Italy. The trip is a major one, and for family and friends, can also double as a lengthy European vacation if they have the time to plan accordingly. Send save the date letters, offer flight options, include hotel and accommodation selections, and be sure to include a full itinerary of events and dates.

What Else is on the Agenda after a Destination Wedding in Florence?

There’s so much to see and do in Florence. One of the best options is hiking or cycling in the greater region of Tuscany, if you are so inclined. If your guests are the outdoorsy types, remind them that they can rent bicycles, but that they may want to invest in a good pair of running or cycling shoes before they depart for their Tuscan holiday. If running and cycling aren’t on the agenda, suggest winery visits, vineyards, museums, or walks around Florence that are suitable for families as well as singles.

How a ceremonial Roman shoe still conveys status today.

Mules are simple shoes with a complicated story. Available in a wide variety of styles and commonly worn by both genders, the mule is defined simply as a backless shoe. It can be a sandal, a clog, a sneaker, high- or low-healed, casual or formal. This variety can make the shoe seem uniquely modern, especially in the way the mule is increasingly used in unexpected fashion pairings – such as, for women, a formal, high-heeled version paired with jeans.

The mule though, has ancient roots, and it has nothing to do with the animal. The shoe’s name actually derives from the Latin word mulleus, which was a type of ceremonial shoe worn by highly placed government officials in ancient Rome. Then mules were always a dark, red leather, but today the name indicates the cut of the shoe rather than its color or purpose.

The mule as an indicator of status has, however, been a constant for the shoe. A laborer would derive little use out of a shoe that could so easily slip off the foot, and it certainly wasn’t a style that would protect from the elements, meaning that anyone who owned mules, surely had the luxury of owning other pairs of shoes as well.

Mules, of course, went from magistrates to nobles and it was at court that the flashy luxury of the shoe shone. High-heeled mules for both genders were popular in the Baroque-era and many examples predictably come from Versailles and the other elaborate courts of the era.

Today’s mules are often styles to showcase a less flashy luxury. Mule versions of sneakers indicate casualness, but also imply the luxury of owning athletic shoes merely for fashion. Men’s mules also indicate a wealthy but casual lifestyle. Usually leather and entirely inappropriate at the office, the male mule indicates a well-dress leisure life. The habit of women using mules to dress up jeans or favoring low, but narrow heeled mules that can be deceptively difficult to walk in are also luxury indicators.

This conveyance of status is somewhat unique for a shoe-style that has become so ubiquitous, but regardless of the mule’s ancient origins, it has adapted well to the modern world where mass production has brought a greater sense of luxury to so many people.