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Vamp

The vamp of a shoe is the front portion of the upper which covers the toes and part of the foot. The vamp is where most of the shoe's decoration and design is held. The vamp is the part of the upper to which the tongue and eyelets are connected. The vamp can also be referred to as the upper of the shoe, which as described before is where the main portion of a shoe's design is held. In this case, it is the vamp that differentiates shoes from one another. It creates the style of the shoe; when you decide you like a shoe, you are saying you like the design of its vamp. The vamp can be made of different materials and can even be a different material from the rest of the upper. Some materials used to make the vamp are:

• Leather
• Suede
• Plastic
• Rubber
• Canvas
• Mesh
• Synthetic Fibers
• Wood

The vamp, along with the rest of the upper, denotes the style of a shoe. For instance, if the upper consists of a thong strap, then the shoe becomes a flip-flop or a thong sandal. If the upper is entirely covered but features a backless heel then the shoe becomes a mule. Essentially, it is the vamp and upper that holds the mystery and wonder of the shoe.