From Aglets to Zoccoli, the world of fashion is full of unique and beautiful concepts. The fashion experts at gothamcityonline are pleased to share this comprehensive guide of shoe and footwear terms and definitions. So whether you're buying boots, pumps, wedges, plaforms, mules, sandals, sneakers, heels or clogs, our guide will help you buy with a bit more confidence. Visit our eBay store anytime to put your knowledge to the test! This guide continues on other pages due to space limitations.

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Maltese Lace - A kind of fabric made from fine metal screen constructed to show openings through it; usually ornamental and with a specific pattern. Also known as Reticella lace.
Manolos - Slang for gorgeous and expensive shoes; derived from the name of high-end shoe designer, Manolo Blahnik, who is known for his artful stillettos.
Mary Jane - A type of women's shoe, usually with a closed toe, that features a strap across the vamp or instep; also known as baby-doll shoes.
MCD - Montrail Continental Divide (MCD). A heel wrap located in the heel where the upper and midsole join which is designed to reduce movement of the back of the foot.
Medial - The side of a shoe's outer that would face the shoe on the other foot.
Memory Foam - A dense material that molds to the form of the foot, often used for shoe insoles.
Mersey Boot - A type of closed toe shoe that extends up to just past ankle height, featuring a low cuban heel, and often 2 large, visible elastic panels, one extending down either side of the shaft, or a zipper closure; also known as a Beatle boot.
Mesh - Material woven or knotted with open, evenly spaced holes.
Metallic - A word to describe something that has reflective and iridescent properties; resembling metal.
Microfibre - A man-made material that is soft, durable, flexible and very easy to clean; also known as kanebo.
Midsole - The part of the shoe between the inner and outer sole; can also be used to refer to a covering for that part of the shoe.
Mirrored Heel - A heel of any shape that is covered by mirrors or a very reflective, usually silver surface, such as stainless steel.
Moc Toe - A type of closed toe shoe with visible stitching creating a seam or gathered effect along the perimeter of the toe box.
Mocassin Lasted - A process of sewing the sole of the shoe directly to the upper.
Moccasin - A type of flat, closed toe, slip-on shoe with visible stitching creating a gathered effect along the perimeter of the toe box; often made entirely of soft leather.
Mod Style - A type of shoe with characteristics from the 1960s British youth culture; usually featuring bright, high contrast colors or patterns.
Monk Strap - A type of closed toe, flat shoe with a buckle or strap that fastens over the instep or vamp; similar to an oxford.
Monks - A type of closed toe, flat shoe with a buckle or strap that fastens over the instep or vamp; similar to an oxford.
Moon Boot - A brand of thick, insulated, waterproof boots with a non-slip sole and often bungee cord detailing.
Motorcycle Boot - A closed toe shoe that extends above ankle height and features 2 or 3 strips of a material, usually leather, layered across the instep, behind the heel, and sometimes below the arch of the outsole. The 2 or 3 strips of material usually connect at the sides of the shoe via a metal ring. Also known as a harness boot.
Mukluk - A brand of boot featuring a moccasin-style, leather upper, and almost knee-high shaft height segmented by a section of real or faux fur. The top of the boot shaft features a drawstring and two fur pom-poms. The term is now used to describe any boot with similar styling.
Mule - A type of closed toe, slip-on shoe, of any heel height, with an open back.
Muslin - A plain-woven cotton fabric of any weight, heavy to sheer.

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Nailed Construction - When the parts of a shoe are attached to one another by nails; an alternative to stitching.
Nappa Leather - A type of material made from the hide of an animal, typically referring to cowhide, and featuring a smooth and soft texture.
Negative Heel - A type of heel that is made lower than the height of the insole; usually seen in comfort footwear.
Neoprene - A synthetic rubber material, often used as an upper or lining in shoes that may be used for activities involving water.
Nubuck - A type of soft leather with a suede feel.

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Orthotic - A device used for the support, immobilization or treatment of muscles, joints, or bones. With shoes, the word usually refers to special types of insoles that serve one or more of these purposes.
Outsole - The outside bottom portion of a shoe that touches the ground.
Overlay - The joining of two or more pieces of material by sewing or layering them on top of one another for decorative purposes; can also known be known as a lapped seam when used for shoe construction.
Overshoe - A rubber or plastic covering that fits over regular shoes usually used for protection from rain and snow; also known as patten.
Oxford - A type of closed toe, flat shoe with laces that tie over the instep or vamp; usually made of leather.

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Patent Leather - Any type of leather, usually cowhide, that has been varnished to create a hard, glossy surface.
Patten - A rubber or plastic covering that fits over regular shoes usually used for protection from rain and snow; also known as overshoes and sometimes clogs.
Pearlized - A description for something that resembles pearls; a glossy nearly neutral color with various colored undertones.
Pebbled Grain - A leather finish where the leather is embossed to resemble small, raised circular shapes covering the entire surface.
Peekaboo Toe - A type of toe style with a small, usually centered opening at just the tip of the end of the shoes footbed, allowing one or two toes to visibly peek out; also known as a peep toe.
Peep Toe - A type of open toe style with a small, usually centered opening at just the tip of the end of the shoes footbed, allowing one or two toes to visibly peek out; also known as a peekaboo toe.
Penny Loafer - A closed toe, flat, slip-on shoe, usually made of leather, and featuring a notch at the vamp originally created to hold a penny.
Perforation - Multiple holes bored or pierced into a piece of material, often in a decorative pattern or for ventilation especially in sneakers.
Pianelle - An Italian word for chopine - a term used in the 16th and 17th centuries for a women's shoe with a very high sole; a platform shoe.
Pigskin Leather - A type of material made from the skin of pigs.
Pinked - A finished edge detail featuring a saw-toothed pattern along the length.
Piping - A narrow trim that is stitched in the seams or along the edges of an item; often in a contrasting color.
Pitch - The distance between the front part of the sole that meets the ground and the back part of the sole or heel; usually an important degree to consider when constructing shoes with very high heels.
Platform Heel - A heel formed without any gap under the entire length of the shoe sole, with height created through the thickness of that heel; can also be combined with a wedge heel, by making the platform's height taller at the heel end of the shoe.
Pointy Toe - A closed toe style with an elongated, tapered footbed that comes to a point at the end, usually with the space for the toes ending before from the end of the shoe.
Polished - A type of finish that is smooth and glossy and is usually created via friction.
Polyurethane - A man-made material created to mimic leather; also known as PU.
Polyvinyl Chloride - A shiny, man-made plastic material, often used for shoe soles, heel counters, and sometimes uppers; also known as vinyl, or PVC.
Poulaine - A men's shoe with a long pointed toe, from the medieval period.
Protective Toecap - An additional layer in the toe area of a shoe or boot.
PU - A man-made material created to mimic leather; also known as Polyurethane
Pump - A type of women's heeled shoe, usually with a heel height of at least 1 in, a closed toe and slip-on styling.
PVC - A shiny, man-made plastic material, often used for shoe soles, heel counters, and sometimes uppers; also known as polyvinyl chloride, or vinyl.

=========== Q ===========

Quarter - The back area of the shoe, not including the sides of the shoe.
Quarter Lining - A covering, generally made of leather or fabric, over the inside of the back area of the shoe, not including the sides of the shoe.
Quarter Panel - The lateral and/or medial side of a shoe extending from the heel to the end of the toe area.
Quilted Mesh - Two pieces of mesh fabric that have been stitched together for additional durability.

=========== R ===========

Raffia - The fiber of a raffia palm tree usually used as cord for tying and weaving; often used to cover the midsole of espadrilles.
Rand - Leather strip used to level of the sole before the heel is attached; when referring to rock climbing shoes, a piece of leather or rubber that runs along the top side of the shoe
Recede Toe - The part of the last that forms the toe box or the end of the shoe if preceeds the toebox.
Reticella Lace - A kind of fabric made from fine metal screen constructed to show openings through it; usually ornamental and with a specific pattern. Also known as Maltese lace.
Retro - Invoking nostalgia or relating to a style or fashion from the past.
Rhinestone - An imitation gemstone usually made of glass or plastic.
Riding Boot - A type of closed toe shoe, extending to at least knee height, with a low, chunky heel and often made of leather for durability; also known as an equestrian boot.
Rim - The opening in a shoe's upper where the foot enters; also known as the throat, collar, or topline.
Ring Toe - A type of open toe style shoe with a ring of material attached to the footbed that one or more toes fit into. The toe ring can be decorative or used to attach the shoe to the foot.
Rivet - A headed pin or bolt of metal passed through a material and then beaten or pressed down on the plain end to secure it or create a second head.
Rock-Climbing Shoe - A shoe specifically designed for the sport of rock climbing; usually a very flexible shoe with a slip-lasted or board-lasted sole made of sticky rubber.
Roper - A closed toe shoe that extends above ankle height and features a dip in the top of the shaft towards both the front and the back of the shoe. These shoes often also feature a chunky, stacked heel and pull straps attached to the top of the boot shaft; also known as a cowboy boot or western boot.
Round Toe - A type of closed toe style that is rounded at the end of the footbed around the toe box.
Rubber Reinforcement - The process of making rubber stronger or more pronounced, usually accomplished by adding useful materials like carbon black and base rubber during the manufacturing; increases sole durability on shoe.
Ruffle - The effect created when a strip of fabric is gathered or pleated on one edge.
Running shoe - An athletic shoe used for running, but generally not used to describe shoes used for the sport of track; another word for a sneaker or trail shoe.
Russian Boot - A handmade shoe originating in Russia, composed entirely of felt. The shoe shaft is ankle high or taller and often worn as a warm layer put inside a rubber boot for water resistance; also known as a Valenki.
Rutched - A material that has been manipulated to look as if it has been pulled along a single line of stiching, creating loose folds, wrinkles or pleats.