Glossary of Shoe Terms
Everything you always wanted to know about shoes but didn't know who to ask! 

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• Patent Leather
• A well-varnished leather typically made from cattle hide that has a shiny appearance.
   
• Pebbled Grain
• An embossed leather grain finish resembling a pebble surface.
   
• Penny Loafer
• A slip on footwear style with a slit over the instep; a "good luck" penny or other coin is traditionally placed in the slit.
   
• Perforation
• A pattern of small holes punched into the trim of a shoe for decoration or ventilation.
   
• Pinking
• A saw-tooth shaped edging on the trim of a shoe.
   
• Piping
• A decorative, narrow strip of leather that usually follows the seam of a shoe; can be of contrasting color or material.
   
• Pitch
• The angle of the back part of the heel where it meets the sole, compared to the front.  On a high heeled shoe, the pitch should be at a larger angle to stabilize the heel.
   
• Platform Shoe
• A footwear style featuring a thick sole at the front; typically has a high heel to balance the higher height of the sole.  Example
   
• Polyurethane (PU)
• A light, flexible synthetic material frequently used as an alternative to leather in footwear and accessories.
   
• Pouch Bag
• A soft, rounded handbag typically featuring a drawstring closure; especially popular for bridal and evening wear.  Example
   
• Pronation
• The inward rotation of the foot as it strikes the ground, causing shoe wear on the inner side of the outsole.
   
• Pump
• A low-cut, closed women's shoe style in all heel heights from flat to sky high.  Example
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• A semi-rigid plastic, typically used in heel counters and outsoles for extra support.
   
• Quarter
• The rear portion of a shoe, covering the heel and sides of the back, and often joined by a back seam.
   
• Quarter Lining
• A leather or fabric material lining the inside rear part of a shoe.
   
• Rim
• The part of the shoe where the foot enters, also known as the topline or collar.
   
• Saddle Oxford
• An oxford style shoe featuring a contrasting-color strip of fabric across the vamp,
   
• Safety Shoe
• Footwear constructed for use in an industrial setting, often designed with safety features such as steel-toe reinforcement and water and oil proof treatments.
   
• Sandal
• A simple footwear construction consisting of a footbed, heel, and strips of leather or fabric.  Example
   
• Satchel Bag
• A structured handbag with a wide, flat bottom, locking hardware, and double handles.
   
• Shaft Height
• The measurement of the shaft of a boot taken from the inside seam where the instep and sole meet to the top of the boot shaft.
   
• Shearling
• Sheepskin or lambskin with the wool still attached, often used as a warm lining for boots and slippers.  Also used decoratively.
   
• Shoe Horn
• A curved metal of synthetic tool used to aid in slipping the foot into a shoe.
   
• Shoe Sizes
• Uniform increments of one sixth inch between half and full sizes, based on a decree by King Edward of England in 1324.
   
• Side Leather
• Leather from the sides of cattle, divided by the backbone.
   
• Silicone
• A slippery polymeric material used in waterproofing.
   
• Sipes
• A razor pattern cut in the outsoles of deck shoes to help prevent slipping and disperse water.
   
• Slide
• A footwear style featuring an open back and open toe, with leather, synthetics, or fabric across the front of the foot.  Example
   
• Slingback
• A shoe held to the foot by a strap across the back, usually adjusted by a buckle or elasticized for secure fit.  Example
   
• Slip-on
• A footwear construction designed to be slipped onto the foot with no further adjustment.
   
• Snakeskin
• Rough, scaly textured leather crafted from the skin of snakes.
   
• Sock Liner
• The insole inside of a shoe that the foot rest on.
   
• Sole
• The bottom part of a shoe, not including the heel.
   
• Sole Leather
• A heavy, cattle hide leather used for the soles of shoes.
   
• Split Leather
• A soft, suede like leather that is made from the lower layers of a hide that have been slip away from the upper.
   
• Straight Last
• A last used to create a very straight shoe for the purpose of preventing severe pronation.
   
• Suede
• Leather that has been abraded to create a nappy, soft surface.
   
• Supination
• The outward rolling of the foot while walking, in contrast to overpronation.
   
• Synthetic Materials
• Materials other than genuine leather that are designed to look and function like leather.

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