Après-ski
Après-ski boots are comfortable, lined boots worn for relaxing outdoors or after winter sports. They are made of waterproof material.
Babies
"Birthday shoes" are ballet flats for children or adults featuring a strap across the instep.
Babouches
Babouches are flat shoes, a type of leather slipper without a heel and with an upturned toe. Babouches are commonly worn by men in traditional North African attire.
Ballerinas
Essential in spring, ballerina flats are women's shoes, light and flat, inspired by the dance slipper.
Sneakers
Another name for the sports shoe repurposed for everyday use.
Boats
Boat shoes are shoes designed for water sports, particularly on sailboats. They feature a non-slip sole, leathers tanned to resist seawater, and laces that loop around the neck of the shoe for quick removal and entry into the water.
Blake
Blake stitching is also called through-stitched. It is a simple and robust construction used on luxury shoes, elegant dress shoes with leather soles, loafers, monk strap shoes, derbies and oxfords.
Blake stitching involves sewing the sole from the inside out to join the inner and outer soles.
Boots
The English version of ankle boots, boots are closed shoes that cover the foot and ankle.
Boots
High-top shoes that enclose the foot and leg and usually come up to the knee.
Ankle boots
Booties are small, closed baby shoes that are high-top and fastened with laces.
Ankle boots
Ankle boots are closed shoes that cover the foot and ankle.
Loop
A buckle is a type of ring, with or without a prong, into which the strap of a shoe is slipped to close or decorate it.
Straight end
A straight-toe shoe is a shoe with a piece of leather stitched to the end. Straight toes are found on men's derbies and oxfords.
Hard End
A leather or rubber reinforcement that covers the toes and protects against minor impacts. Also called a toe cap.
Flowery tip
A brogue shoe is a shoe with perforations decorating the toe of the shoe, or the front part of the upper.
Bout Golf
The golf toe is found on derby and oxford-style shoes. The golf toe features numerous small perforations that aesthetically highlight the stitching and the toe of the shoe.
Bout Golf Fleuri
A shoe with a brogue toe is a shoe with perforations decorating the toe of the shoe, or part of the upper.
Reinforced toe
A leather or rubber reinforcement that covers the toes and protects against minor impacts. Also called a toe cap.
Flange
Part of a shoe in the form of a strap that is used to close or adjust using a buckle, Velcro or elastic.
Rear flange
A back strap is the strap attached to a shoe that is open at the back and which helps to hold the foot at the heel.
Camber
The arch is the curved part of the shoe at the level of the foot's support. Under the shoe, it's the part of the foot between the heel and the front of the shoe. It's therefore the open space under a heeled shoe.
Rubber
Rubber is a strong and elastic material used for soles, making shoes very flexible and comfortable. Rubber is also used as the upper material for shoes, such as rain boots.
Horsewoman
The riding boot is a flat-heeled boot that is the same shape as the boots used by riders for horseback riding.
Charentaise slippers
Charentaises are lined slippers often made of checkered fabric.
Footwear
The fit is the way in which a shoe adapts to the foot.
Slippers
Slippers are flat, soft indoor shoes.
Shoe polish
A set of creams designed to nourish, color and shine the leather of your shoes.
Tap shoes
Originally, tap shoes were shoes with metal taps at both ends of the soles that dancers used to strike the floor rhythmically and create a sound. Today, the name also refers to mules because they tend to click against the heel when walking.
College
Also called Penny Loafer or American moccasin. The loafer features a decorative tab sewn onto the top of the foot, called the platform.
Compensated
Wedge shoes are shoes with a very thick sole or heel, designed to... mode and comfort, to remain at ease even perched high up.
Buttress
A heel counter is a reinforcement at the heel that preserves the shape of the shoe and protects the foot. The heel counter is placed between the lining and the leather.
Blake Stitched
Blake stitching is also called through-stitched. It is a simple and robust construction used on luxury shoes, elegant dress shoes with leather soles, loafers, monk strap shoes, derbies and oxfords.
Blake stitching involves sewing the sole from the inside out to join the inner and outer soles.
Bolognese Cut
The Bolognese welt is a solution offering comfort and refinement, an expensive process used for luxury shoes.
The Bolognese welt is a Blake stitch construction without the insole. The shoe's lining is entirely tubular and goes all the way around the foot, so there are no internal seams that could interfere with or hinder comfort inside the shoe.
Goodyear welted
The Goodyear welt or welted welt is a construction method characteristic of high-end shoes.
A Goodyear-welted shoe consists of two seams:
- The first seam joins the upper part of the shoe (the shaft) to the insole (the insole) via the welt stitch.
- the second "small stitch" seam attaches the welt to the outsole (or wear sole).
This construction, specific to luxury leather shoes (derby, oxford, ankle boot...), is a guarantee of quality shoes allowing for great longevity.
Norwegian Stitched
Norwegian welt construction is a type of construction derived from Goodyear welt construction which leaves the edges of the welt visible as well as the seams linking it to the upper and the sole.
Stitched Sandal
The sandal stitching is a method of joining the outsole, upper, and insole all around the foot. This type of stitching is primarily used on summer shoes and is characterized by the continuous stitching around the sole.
Cleats
A lugged sole has cleats of a specific depth allowing for better grip.
Pancake
The crepe sole of a shoe with a raw rubber texture. It's a very comfortable sole, as seen on Clarks Originals shoes.
Leather
Leather is the skin of an animal after tanning and treatment, used as a component of footwear.
Suede leather
Suede leather is a type of velvet leather. Nowadays, deerskin is no longer used; what is actually used is calfskin suede, which is calfskin leather used on the flesh side.
Oily leather
Oiled leather is thick, round, supple, very comfortable, particularly suited to wet weather.
Nappa leather
Nappa leather is a smooth and elastic sheepskin leather.
Nubuck Leather
Nubuck is a velvety, soft, and patinated leather. To care for your nubuck leather shoes, use a brush and an eraser.
Full grain leather
Grainy texture of the leather.
Suede leather
Suede is a very soft leather. To care for your nubuck leather shoes, use a brush and an eraser.
Patent leather
Patent leather is regular leather with a very glossy finish. To achieve this glossy finish, a layer of varnish or lacquer is applied in the final stages of tanning.
Thigh-high boots
Thigh-high boots are boots that come up more or less high on the thigh. Now adapted for city wear and connoting a very sexy look, thigh-high boots were once worn by musketeers as work boots.
Suede
Suede leather is a type of velvet leather. Nowadays, deerskin is no longer used; what is actually used is calfskin suede, which is calfskin leather used on the flesh side.
Low-cut
A closed-toe shoe with a minimum heel height of 4 cm. The upper may be made from a single piece of material with a single seam at the heel. This type of shoe is also called a pump and is generally considered a high-end shoe.
Cut out
Shoe with exposed heel. An elastic strap or one closed with a buckle secures the back of the foot.
Derby, Derbies
Derby shoes are dress shoes with laces, for both men and women, featuring two wing-shaped panels on the tongue where the laces are attached. Unlike Oxfords, derbies allow the shoe to open wider for easier foot insertion.
Lining
The lining is the fabric, leather or other synthetic material that makes up the inside of the shoe.
Shoe tree
A shoe tree is a foot-shaped instrument used to stretch shoes. It is placed inside the shoe to maintain the shape of the foot and smooth out creases and wrinkles.
Upper
The vamp is the front part of a shoe. On a dress shoe with laces, for example, the vamp is the entire front part from the toe to the laces.
Insert
An insert is the addition of a material to decorate a shoe.
High heels
Classic and timeless, pumps are closed women's shoes with a heel measuring at least 4 cm. These shoes are also called low-cut shoes.
Open-toe pumps
An open-toe pump is a low-cut shoe with an open toe or a back strap. It is therefore a pump that is open at the front or the back.
Pumps-sandals
A pump-sandal is a low-cut shoe with an open toe or a back strap. It is therefore a pump that is open at the front or the back.
Espadrilles
Espadrilles are canvas shoes with braided rope soles. They are perfect summer shoes.
Ferret
The ferrule is the small metal or plastic sheath that covers the end of a shoelace and makes it easier to pass through an eyelet.
Fisherman sandals
Fisherman sandals, also known as fisherman shoes, are closed-toe sandals with horizontal and vertical bands on either side of the shoe.
Knee pads
Knee pads are boots that go above the knee. An extension added to the upper of the shoe covers the knee.
Ghillies
Ghillies are shoes inspired by typical Scottish footwear. They are characterized by their lacing, the cord of which passes through eyelets located around the neckline, and sometimes wraps around the ankle.
Goodyear
The Goodyear welt, or welted welt, is a construction method characteristic of high-end shoes.
A Goodyear-welted shoe consists of two seams:
- the first seam joins the upper part of the shoe (the upper) to the insole (the first) by the welt seam ;
- the second "small stitch" seam attaches the welt to the outsole (or wear sole).
This construction, specific to luxury leather shoes (derby, oxford, ankle boot...), is a guarantee of quality shoes allowing for great longevity.
The name Goodyear refers to the inventor of this process, Charles Goodyear Jr., son of Charles Goodyear.
GORE-TEX
Gore-Tex® is a patented fabric. This technology has two main properties: it is both waterproof (hydrophobic) and breathable, making it a comfortable fabric to wear during outdoor sports activities. Its waterproofness is due to its chemical composition, which notably incorporates polytetrafluoroethylene.
Gaiter
A gaiter is a type of covering, usually made of fabric or leather, that covers the calf or leg depending on its length. Very fashionable, gaiter sandals leave the foot exposed and cover the ankle with a more or less wide piece of fabric that is slipped on.
Heel height
The heel is the rigid part under the sole that raises the back of the foot. Its shape and height vary depending on the type of shoe. Heel height is measured along a vertical line on the outside of the shoe, from where the sole meets the heel to the ground.
Stem height
The upper is the set of parts of the shoe excluding the sole.
Jodhpur
Jodhpur shoes are easy-to-wear boots thanks to their slightly elasticated sides. These shoes are directly inspired by the jodhpurs worn by horsemen.
Shoelaces
Shoelaces are a type of shoe closure; they are flat or round cords made of silk, cotton, or leather, usually finished with awls. The laces are passed through eyelets or hooks to close the shoe; they can also be wrapped around the ankle.
Tongue
The tongue is the strip that starts from the base and remonte on the top of the foot. The tongue serves to protect the instep under the laces or Velcro straps.
Strap
Part of a shoe that ties around the ankle.
Loafers
This English term refers to moccasin-type shoes, therefore slip-on shoes, without buckles or laces.
Low Boots
Low boots are ankle boots, often with a heel, that stop just below the ankle. They differ from dress shoes because they cover the top of the foot like boots.
Mary Jane
Mary Jane shoes are ballerina flats or pumps, decorated with a buckle and fastened around the ankle or over the top of the foot.
Jellyfish
Today associated with the Méduse brand, Meduse shoes are sandals or flat shoes made of transparent or light-colored plastic.
Microfiber
Microfiber is a very tightly woven fabric often used in shoemaking.
Moccasins
Moccasins are low, flexible shoes without laces. The top of the foot is called the platform.
Molière
Low shoe with two ear-shaped inserts on the tongue where the laces are placed, with a pointed end at the front.
Mules
Mules are slippers or sandals that leave the heel uncovered.
Nappa
Nappa leather is a smooth and elastic leather made from sheepskin.
Nubuck
Nubuck is a leather with a velvety, soft, and patinated appearance. To care for your nubuck leather shoes, use a brush and an eraser.
Barefoot
Barefoot shoes are shoes with thin soles held in place by straps.
Carnations
Eyelets are the holes through which a shoelace is threaded.
Oxford
Oxford is the English term for shoes of the brogue type. Brogues are low-cut, lace-up shoes with quarters that lace up over the instep. Unlike derbies, brogues have a narrower opening for inserting the foot.
Slippers
Slippers are indoor shoes without a heel or upper.
Skate
A skate is a half-outsole placed under the forefoot.
Penny Loafers
The Penny Loafer is a moccasin with a decorative tab sewn onto the top of the foot, called the vamp. Originally, American students would slip a lucky penny into the stitching on the vamp of the loafer. In French, it is also called the Collège or Mocassin Américain.
Plateau
The platform is the piece located on top of the forefoot of moccasins and moccasin-style shoes.
Platform
Platform shoes are shoes with a thick midsole.
Shoe sizes
Foot length is indicated in shoe sizes. There are several standards: French sizes, English sizes, American sizes, and Japanese sizes. Some manufacturers have adopted their own sizing charts.
First cleanliness
The first insole is the inner sole of the shoe on which the foot rests inside the shoe.
Pump
Another name for babies, the English word "pump" means ballerina flat or high heels, usually with a round toe.
Richelieux
Oxfords are low-cut, laced shoes with quarters that lace up over the instep. Unlike Derbies, Oxfords have a narrower opening for inserting the foot.
Clogs
Clogs are shoes that cover the toes while leaving the heel of the foot exposed. Traditionally, clogs are made from a single piece of hollowed-out wood or simply have a wooden sole.
Sacchetto
The Sacchetto construction is a technical process requiring great dexterity. This technique, also known as "leather sock" construction, guarantees extremely flexible shoes, giving the foot a comfortable feel while walking and preventing the development of pressure points.
Salome
Salomé shoes are shoes with a strap across the instep, often in a "T" shape. Elegant, this shape is found on women's pumps or sandals.
Sandals
Sandals are summer shoes consisting of a simple sole held to the foot by straps, cords or bands.
Shameless
Closed men's shoe including a tongue and two elastic bands allowing it to be put on very easily.
Cowboy boots
Cowboy boots are western-style boots with a pointed toe and a rounded collar, mounted on a heel of varying height.
Scratch
Velcro or hook-and-loop fasteners are fastening systems for shoes. Practical and quick, Velcro closures on children's shoes help them put their shoes on by themselves.
Non-slip sole
An anti-slip sole is a sole whose materials or texture prevent the foot from slipping.
Outsole
The outsole is the outer sole, the part of the shoe in direct contact with the ground.
Outsole
The outsole is the part of the shoe in direct contact with the ground and can be made up of several parts in different materials, soft or hard, depending on the type of shoe.
Insole
The insole is the inner part of the shoe that sits directly under the foot. Some shoes have removable and replaceable insoles. Additional insoles can be added to a shoe for comfort or to adjust the fit. Discover our leather, cork, and foam insoles.
Midsole
The midsole is the part located between the insole and the outsole. Some shoe brands use this technology to cushion impacts.
Faux leather
Faux leather is a fabric treated to resemble leather. It is not genuine leather.
Sneakers
A sporty shoe designed for everyday use and not for practicing a specific sport.
Shoes
It is a generic word that refers to a shoe that covers the foot and fastens over it.
Spartans
Spartan sandals are multi-strap sandals whose leather straps cross over the foot and/or tie around the calf.
Stiletto
Stilettos are chic and sexy pumps with a stiletto heel. They are also called pencil heels.
Suede
Suede, also known as velvet leather, has a very soft texture. To care for your nubuck leather shoes, use a brush and an eraser.
Heel
The heel is the rigid part under the sole that raises the back of the foot. Its shape and height vary depending on the type of shoe. Heel height is measured along a vertical line on the outside of the shoe, from where the sole meets the heel to the ground.
Stiletto heel
A high-arched pump with a stiletto heel of over 7 centimeters. Belonging to the fetishist's collection, stiletto heels can reach heights of 15 cm on a simple sole and up to 30 cm with platform soles.
Shoe heel
A block heel is a fairly thick heel, making it more stable, and is covered in leather or has a leather-like finish. Block heels are designed for intensive walking and all-day comfort in high heels.
Wedge heel
A wedge heel is a thick heel that extends under the arch to connect to the sole. Wedge shoes are designed with the aim of mode and comfort, to remain at ease even perched high up.
Semi-wedge heel
A semi-wedge heel is a wedge heel whose lower surface is slightly concave under the arch.
Tennis
Tennis shoes are low-cut, canvas sports shoes with a flexible, non-slip sole and a rubber toe cap.
Stem
The upper is the set of parts of the shoe excluding the sole.
Flip-flops
Beach shoes, usually made of lightweight plastic, consisting of a sole and a toe post.
Trotters
Trotters are women's dress shoes with flat or ankle-strap heels. While the term doesn't refer to a specific shoe model, it simply means that they are shoes suitable for walking in the city.
Velcro
Velcro or hook-and-loop fasteners are fastening systems for shoes. Practical and quick, Velcro closures on children's shoes help them put their shoes on by themselves.
Velvet
Suede is a very soft leather. To care for your nubuck leather shoes, use a brush and an eraser.
Varnished
Patent leather is regular leather with a very glossy finish. To achieve this glossy finish, a layer of varnish or lacquer is applied in the final stages of tanning.
Zoccoli
Mule comprising a wide leather strap fixed to a thick wooden sole.
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