Modern society’s place an enormous importance on presentation, to fit in, we need to look great. This means dressing fashionably, in a stylish and sophisticated manner. This is not always that easy to achieve, we are all so busy fulfilling our responsibilities that we have little time to think about looking good. There are many techniques that can help us to improve the way we look, techniques that are simple and easy to achieve. The main problem in looking good normally comes down to shoes.There are many types of women’s shoes and here are the names and descriptions of many common and not so common types.

Pumps — These are shoes where the foot is supported all around the shoe front, back and on both sides and can have an ankle strap. The sole is a one piece type with a heel of any size with a high heel pump often called a stiletto.

Open toe shoe — This is basically a pump shoe as described above where the front is cut away to expose all of the toes. When this is done to only expose the big toe or middle toes using a smaller cutaway it would be referred to as a peep hole shoe.

Wedge Shoe — This is any type of heeled footwear where the there is no gap below the sole meaning the full length of the base of the shoe makes contact with the ground.

Mule — This type of shoe is one which has a heel but has no support around the ankle and rear of the shoe or another way to describe it is as a heeled flip flop. These can be completely closed at the front or cut away as an open toe or peep hole shoe.

Mary Jane — This can be a flat or heeled shoe which like a pump encloses the foot all the way around it. The front of this shoe will be square or very slightly rounded with a cross strap running across the foot central between the ankle and toes.

Boots — These are shoes which completely enclose the foot and can come in flat, wedge and heeled styles. There are various types with the shortest being the Ankle high boot which reaches just above the ankle then it’s the Knee high boot which stops just before reaching the knee and the Thigh high which covers the leg all the way to the thigh. Two lesser known boots are the crotch boots which reach all the way up the leg to the crotch and the Chap boot which is a modified crotch boot which has a piece of material which reaches over the hips and secured around the waist with a belt.

Sandals — These are where the sole of shoe can be flat, wedged or heeled and the upper part is made up of straps which can be arranged in any form to secure the shoe. This means that the toes and most of the sides and top are uncovered and the straps can even go up the leg towards the knee and this type of sandal is often called a gladiator sandal. Birkenstock sandal footwear are the favorite flat women’s sandals often called papillio sandals as they are made under license.

Oxford — This is the name given to a shoe which encloses the foot and is laced up along the top this can be a flat, heeled or wedge styled shoe.

D’Orsay — This is a shoe which has no sides, but has a support at the heel area and the toes are covered this can be with or without an ankle strap.

Platform — this is a shoe which has a multiple layered sole to elevate the wearer.

Amongst the most popular women’s sandals are papillio sandals and the Birkenstock sandal

M&S are pleased to be able to offer a range of shoes and slippers to suit every size and season. They will help you find footwear that looks great with any outfit and then have it delivered direct to your doorstep. Looking great from head to toe has never been easier with their superb collection of shoes. From summer sandals to winter boots, they’ve got footwear covered, whatever the weather. Their collection of shoes might be stylish and fashionable, but they won’t compromise on comfort or quality, so you can step out looking and feeling great every day. At Your M&S you have access to exclusive shoe designs and online offers which aren’t available in store. Simply browse Women’s, Men’s and Kid’s shoes and slippers to find the style of shoes that you’re looking for and then order online. Shoe shopping’s never been so easy!

Most people will judge a man by the shoes he is wearing. Wearing a well-maintained, elegant pair of shoes is one of the most powerful style statements that any man could make. But with the price tag on good shoes ranging anywhere from $100 to well over $1,000, that statement is not cheap to make.

Here are some things you should do if you want to make your sole investments last longer.

Think of Water as the Enemy!
One of the primary commandments of maintaining any article made of leather is to protect it from water. Remember that leather comes from a biological source, so moisture tends to wreak havoc on the material and undo the treatments that were painstakingly applied to it. Water repellent treatments, usually available in cans or bottles for under $10, should be applied as soon as you get your shoes, and before you first use them.

Before applying the repellent, wipe the entire shoe down with a warm cloth (you can leave a rag over the heater to warm it). Aside from removing any dust and debris that might get trapped in the leathers finish, the heat dilates the pores on the surface of the leather. This improves the absorption of the chemical into the material, making for more thorough and long-lasting protection. Reapply repellent as necessary or instructed.

Polish Makes Perfect
Shoe polish does more than just clean your shoes. Aside from helping maintain the appearance of the leather, the chemicals in modern polishes also act as a treatment for the shoe. They help moisturize the leather, extending its lifespan considerably in the long run. You may want to use a professional-grade, cream-based polish instead of that liquid stuff in easy-apply bottles, as the former has much better moisturizing properties.

Polishes come in a variety of colors and quite a wide range of blacks and browns. When choosing shoe polish, it is a good idea to bring the intended pair of shoes along with you to the store. It will help you get just the right shade so that your prized pair does not end up with discolorations, streaks or a patina because of the differences in shade.

Good Shoes Do Not Grow on Trees
With all the disposable leather shoes nowadays, not everyone appreciates the value of shoetrees. You have to remember that leather is not a fixed material; it has a tendency to shrink or expand, conforming to the shape of your foot and mechanical pressure. Shoetrees fill out the main body of the shoe, making it conform to the default shape and smoothing out and crinkles and creases.

Cedar is the prime wood for shoetrees because it has the unusual ability to absorb smells and odors from within the shoe. It can also absorb some amount of moisture, minimizing the H2O that makes contact with the leather. Although professional shoe shops sell cedar shoetrees for upwards of $20, the benefits are well worth the expense.

Maintaining leather shoes is a process, an ongoing commitment. While you are still planning to wear that pair of leathers, you are best off doing all these things to make it last for as long as possible.