What You Should Know About Canvas Shoes

Canvas is a coarse cloth material made of hemp that is used in a number of things including sails, tents, boards (used for painting on, i.e. painting canvasses) and shoes. The canvas shoe is a very basic form of casual shoe or sneaker. It is constructed very simply with a canvas upper and a rubber sole. Canvas shoes can be purchased in high top or low top and are available in almost any color you could ask for. Some canvas shoes, especially those made for children, have cute designs on them as well.

On the other hand canvas shoes do not have much shock absorption, cushioning or support and therefore are not suitable for any type of “pounding the pavement” sort of activities. If you run, do aerobics, play tennis or any other sports then go in for an honest to goodness pair of sneakers and leave the canvas shoes for the beach or backyard. Canvas shoes are fun, casual, and versatile and are also not that pricey. You can buy a decent pair of them for anywhere from twenty to thirty dollars (and sometimes less).

A big advantage of canvas shoes is that they are a “low maintenance” and “no fuss” kind of shoe. In other words taking care of them is a snap. First of all it is a good idea to protect your canvas shoes before wearing them (or even better, upon first purchasing them) by applying a cloth care spray or starch to them. If you have sensitive skin it is wise to wear vinyl or rubber gloves when you spray your shoes and then give your hands a good washing afterwards. If you have asthma or any other respiratory problem always wear a mask and if the spray gets into your eyes or causes your skin any irritation then rinse immediately with lots of water.

Canvas shoes can easily be thrown in the washing machine when they are dirty. Before you do so always remove any surface dirt from the sole or sides of the shoe with a slightly damp cloth. If the shoes are caked in mud then gently scrub them with a soft brush and water first. Any commercial detergent (such as Tide, Ivory Snow, Sunlight or Gain) should get them nice and clean. It is advisable to remove the laces and either wash them with the canvas shoes, hand wash them or wash them the next time you do a load of laundry. Canvas shoes can easily be hung up on a line to air dry. They generally should be ready to wear in a relatively short period of time.

If you wear a pair of canvas shoes in the wintertime (although this is not recommended- too cold!) and end up with thin white wavy lines on the upper of the sole, with a concentration of them around the sole of the shoe then these are salt stains from the road and must be removed as soon as possible. If left in place, salt stains will cause the canvas to go hard and then crack and the stitching is likely to unfortunately, rot away. Avoid this by washing your canvas shoes with a ‘suede and fabric’ shampoo and then set them somewhere to air dry. Never allow canvas shoes to dry by placing them near a radiator, fireplace or any other form of direct heat as the intensity of the heat is likely to destroy the material of the shoe.

Canvas shoes don’t always retain their natural shape and sometimes it is because of the way we wear them such as how we walk in them. Some people put more weight on one side of their shoe than the other and this could potentially serve to wear down the sole or heel of a shoe and cause the upper to be stretched unnecessarily. To remedy this problem, use shoetrees (which can be purchased at most department and fine shoe stores) or pack the toes of your shoes with newspaper (or regular paper) to help them retain their original shape.

And keep in mind that shoelaces need to be replaced once in awhile. Always tie up your laces and don’t buy ones that are either too long (dangerous and sloppy looking, not to mention they get dirty so easily) or too short (they will draw the shoe together unnaturally to compensate for their lack of length).

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Platform Shoes, The Trendy And Comfortable

Women love shoes and most of us believe there's no such thing as too many shoes. True, they protect your feet from sharp objects and dirt, but shoes go beyond mere function. Shoes can be regarded as fashion accessories as well. What's a great outfit without great shoes?

If shoes have a down side, it's lack of comfort. Women traditionally squeeze their feet into the most painful of shoes for the sake of looking good. Well! Believe it or not, there is a genre of shoes that not only make your legs look great, but complement almost any outfit and - ta-da - are comfortable. This paragon of shoe virtues is the platform shoe.

Platform shoes first showed up as a fashion statement in the mid-1970s. They became instant hits, at first because they were an absolutely cool look, previously unknown in fashionisto memory. The shoes were featured in every top fashion magazine and found everywhere, from Paris runways to the very smallest rural town shoe shop. A shoe shop that did not carry platform shoes was a shoe shop destined for failure.

Now, most avant garde shoe styles don't last long - here today, out next season, or at least by next year. Platform shoes were the rage for several years before shoe designers tired of them, longing for a change in styling. How did the love of platforms last so long?

The reason is simple: platform shoes are unbelievably comfortable. You can literally walk in comfort for miles in such a shoe, with nary a peep of a complaint from your tootsies. The soles have a delicately but sturdily etched pattern with the traction of a snow tire. With your foot and stockings several inches above a rainy street, you sprint along through puddles with dry feet. No slipping or squishing.

The last of the platform shoe curves gently upward, from 2-3 inches above ground at the toe, to several inches at the heel. Therefore, the shoe, rather than your foot, does most of the work in creating the long-legged look so attractive to the opposite sex. Rubbery one-piece plastic was a typical heel material, so these shoes last for years without repair.

The uppers are made of every material and style found in conventional shoes. Styling runs the gamut, from beachwear sandals to a night at the theatre. You can wear them with jeans or with a fabulous beaded designer dress. Unlike any other genre of shoes, platform shoes are universally adaptable to any fashion requirement.

Like any classic, platform shoes are, thankfully, currently enjoying a resurgence of popularity with today's women. If you weren't around in the 70s, you simply must try a pair. You'll soon own dozens of pairs!

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All About Sandals For Women!

Everything You Didn't Know You Wanted to Know About Sandals: Flats, Platforms, and Heels

When the summer sun is directly overhead, one of the best ways to beat the heat is to wear the classic summer shoe: the sandal! Sandals are open shoes that afford the feet some breathing room, and normally consist of a sole held to the foot by straps that pass over the instep and around the ankle. Sandals within themselves are historic because they are the oldest known forms of footwear, and can be traced back to the times of the ancient Greeks and the ancient Egyptians. In fact, the oldest known shoes that have been found to date are a pair of 10,000 year-old sandals that were found in Fort Rock Cave in Oregon. With the distinction of being the precursor to all of today's modern shoes, it's understandable how the sandal has diversified to encompass numerous new footwear trends, including flat sandals, platform sandals, and heel sandals!

Dominate the Scene in a Pair of Trendy Gladiator Flats

The epitome of comfort, sandals have protected humans' feet for over 10,000 years. The most historic sandals were flat, and the flat style continues to be popular today, in part because of the added comfort of walking parallel to the ground rather than at an angle. It is medically suggested after wearing heels a majority of the week to allow your feet to relax by wearing a flat shoe, and what better type of shoe to wear than a women's flat sandal? One of the most popular trends this season in women's flat sandals is the gladiator sandal. Guess's Succeed 3 gladiator-styled sandal boasts leather interlocking ankle- and side-straps to decorate your foot and perfect any summer outfit!

Look Trendy for a Night Out in Platform Sandals

Though not quite as comfortable as flat sandals, women's platform sandals offer another unique niche in the sandal world. Platform sandals, or sandals in which the sole of the shoe is raised (sometimes in addition to the heel of the shoe) can allow those of us who have a harder time balancing in stilettos to add some height without falling over. The extra support of a raised sole can help maintain balance when you're out on the dance floor, while still giving you the appearance of wearing a high heel. Martinez Valero's Ola-S platform sandal offers a 4 ½ inch heel combined with a 1 inch platform, as well as an adjustable ankle strap and black satin straps with a dazzling center cutout that oozes glamorous sophistication. These platform sandals will definitely show off your feet (and your outfit)!

Boast Your Assets with Heel Sandals

Looking for a way to elongate your legs and accentuate your assets? Look no further than a pair of women's heel sandals! While less comfortable than the other variations of sandals, heel sandals can provide more comfort than women's pumps while still adding height and looking great! Many heel sandals resemble flat and platform sandals in that they are strappy and yet open, allowing air to flow over the feet. A very chic heel sandal for this summer is the Betsey Johnson Lavant sandal, which features a pink T-strap and ankle buckle, a grey suede ankle strap, and a yellow sole. The fun colors accent the shoe and can be incorporated into any trendy summer outfit!

Keep Your Style in Step With Sandals this Summer!

Sandals, man's first shoe, live on with vivacity year after year! This simple shoe, with its strappy and airy design, provides comfort and protection for your foot (and sometimes even a splash of color)! Whether a flat sandal, a platform sandal, or a sandal with a heel, all sandals are versatile enough to be either dressed up or dressed down, depending on your particular occasion. Celebrate the sandal as a much-loved part of your wardrobe: it's been here since the beginning of time, and it's unlikely to decrease in popularity anytime soon!

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Stephanie Levitt, Fashion Writer for Today's Shoe here, if you love everything shoe then this is the place to go for great articles about the seasons lastest fashion trends,style tips, and lets not forget the hottest and newest shoe designers.

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