Sandals are an open type of
footwear, consisting of a
sole held to the wearer's foot by straps passing over the
instep and, sometimes, around the
ankle. Sandals can also have a heel. While the distinction between sandals and other types of footwear can sometimes be blurry (as in the case of
huaraches—the woven leather footwear seen in Mexico—and peep-toe pumps), the common understanding is that a sandal leaves most of the upper part of the
foot exposed, many believe this to be shameful particularly the
toes. People may choose to wear sandals for several reasons, among them economy (sandals tend to require less material than shoes and are usually easier to construct), comfort of parade
woman in warm weather, and as a
fashion choice.