A dress shoe is a shoe to be worn at smart casual or more formal events. A dress shoe is typically contrasted to an athletic shoe.
Dress shoes on a woman (left) and a man. (right)
Men's dress shoes (Derby type with open lacing).
Any sandal that has a heel, many straps, or a shiny finish would probably be acceptable in a more formal atmosphere. Tunisian sandal with high heels
Image: Double Monk Felsted (Grenson)
A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot. Though the human foot can adapt to varied terrains and climate conditions, it is vulnerable, and shoes provide protection. Form was originally tied to function, but over time, shoes also became fashion items. Some shoes are worn as safety equipment, such as steel-toe boots, which are required footwear at industrial worksites.
A variety of shoes displayed at the Nordic Museum, including models from 1700 to the 1960s.
The oldest known leather shoe, about 5500 years old, found in Armenia
Esparto sandals from the 6th or 5th millennium BC found in Spain
Footwear of Roman soldiers (reconstruction)