Keep Warm With Slippers: Your Questions Answered
November 22, 2024
There's so much to know about slippers. They're an affordable treat for your feet that help you to feel comfortable and relaxed. These days slippers aren’t just for nightwear, they're perfect for indoor use at any time of day during the cold weather. Find out all you need to know about your slippers, so you can put your feet up!
Where Did Slippers Originate?
The word 'slippers' came from the verb 'to slip'. The earliest record for a slipper was in the 12th century by a southern Song dynasty officer where he described two types of slippers he saw in modern day Vietnam. In the west, slippers were first recorded around 1478. It is unknown who first made slippers.
Not all slippers are called mules. Mules are actually shoes that are backless and have closed toes. Some slippers also follow this style, hence why they are also known as mules.
What Are Slippers?
Slippers are comfortable, warm, slip-on shoes that are usually worn inside. Sometimes they can be called house shoes, clogs, mules, sandals and slip shoes.
Slippers can be made from a variety of different materials, such as suede, cotton, and leather, although leather slippers are often harder to come by. As they are worn indoors, the materials used to make them don't need to be as hardwearing as those used for outdoor shoes. This is why there's so much choice when it comes to slippers! You can choose from a variety of different styles:
- Slipper Boots
- Sandal Slippers
- Moccasin Slippers
- Closed Slippers
- Evening Slippers
- Slipper Socks
There’s such a wide array available for all the family, from pretty ladies slippers and cute girls slippers, to robust men’s slippers and fun boy’s slippers. There are so many different styles, you're bound to find something that you love.
Slippers: Size and Fit
Slipper sizes are the same as normal shoe sizes but sometimes can be a little larger as the fit is quite loose and relaxed, so you should get your normal size and if that doesn't fit then go down a size. The whole point of slippers is warmth and comfort, so go for the slippers that feel comfortable to you.
The style of slippers you chooses is strictly a personal opinion. You may like boot slippers more than you like heelless slippers, so test a few different styles out and find out which one you prefer most. Also take into consideration how cold your feet get, you might prefer boot slippers in the depths of winter or on un-carpeted floors, but moccasins could offer you a great option for transitioning in the chilly, unpredictable weather during Spring & Autumn.
Some styles of slippers are considered to be better for your feet than others. If you plan to wear your slippers a lot it's worth being aware of this. Hard sole slippers provide more support for the feet than soft sole slippers, mainly because the soft sole can wear down easily which results in the inside of the foot being positioned lower than the outside of the foot. This can be helped by only wearing your slippers inside, but eventually they will wear down and won't be as comfortable as they once were.
Why Wear Slippers?
There are lots of reasons to wear slippers! They can improve grip, keeping you safer around the home, provide warmth & comfort, and also save your socks from excessive wear. They will keep your feet nice and warm without having to put the heating up sky high, and having warm feet helps you to feel warm all over. Slippers are mostly worn in the home, but if they have hard soles many of us are guilty of popping outside in them from time to time!
Nearly all pairs of slippers are quite flexible, roomy and airy so you don't have to worry about swollen feet. Relax in your slippers and give your feet a rest. Slippers with grip are usually the way to go when pregnant or for the elderly, who often suffer from foot and ankle swelling and are looking for relief. They provide support, warmth and comfort all at once. Lined boot slippers are usually the warmest you'll find but all slippers are significantly warm and great for keeping your feet cosy!
If you're travelling on a long journey such as a long haul flight, you might want to take your slippers with you for a bit of extra comfort and warmth. You can wear your normal slippers on a plane, just don't forget to pack them in your hand luggage!
Cleaning Your Slippers
If your mules are made out of cotton, you can machine wash them. Wash them on a warm, never hot, gentle wash, if you want them to dry, put them on a low heat or you can let them air dry.
If you don't want to risk putting them into the washing machine, you can hand wash them in warm, soapy water.
Here's how: Put the slippers in the water solution and make sure they're soaking up the water, scrub them together to get the dirt off, then leave them to sit for around ten minutes. This will not damage the material. Rinse the slippers and squeeze the excess water out, and let them dry.
Some people find that their slippers can get quite smelly and unpleasant. Your slippers tend to smell when you come home from a day on your feet and put your slippers straight on. If you do this, you're taking the sweat or smell from your shoes straight to your slippers. Slippers can also smell when they are worn without socks. The synthetic materials most slippers are made of can trap odours passed from the sweat glands on the feet.
Keep your slippers smelling fresh by only wearing when your feet are clean, with a clean pair of socks underneath. You'll need to wash them regularly too to keep odours at bay, and you can try sprinkling in some baking soda to absorb odour in between washes.
Don't let your feet suffer, keep them comfy, cosy and warm with a pair of slippers. Many people consider popping on their slippers at the end of a long day one of life's little luxuries. Choose your favourite pair & enjoy!
Check out the shoezone blog for more style tips and footwear suggestions for every occasion.