In-House Slippers
This is more along the lines of a category and not a specific type. All slippers are designed for indoor use. But some slippers can be worn outside because they have hard soles which protects them from the ground, sand, or pavement with the notable exception of flip flops. In-house slippers are designed to be worn primarily indoors and usually denote comfort and style as opposed to durability.
In-house slippers can be made from any material associated with footwear, but they often have soft soles as opposed to hardened ones such as rubber or plastic. They are often quite stylish and designed for appearance as much as comfort.
Outdoor Slippers
A general category of slippers rather than a specific type, outdoor slippers are designed as the name suggests to be worn outdoors. They will have a hard sole that is flexible but designed for outdoor environments. They will mostly enclose the feet and are made for short-distance excursions such as getting the morning paper, retrieving letters from the mailbox, and taking a short walk to visit the neighbor.
But they are not designed for long-distance walking as that falls into the category of being a shoe. Outdoor slippers encompass different types such as moccasins, flip flops, and sliders.
What follows are the two basic types of slippers, closed heel, and open heel. Each type will have several different styles of slipper that either have an open or closed heel.
Closed Heel Slippers
A closed slipper is arguably the most common type of slipper. These are slippers that fully enclose the foot from toes to heel. They are normally made from flexible materials such as fabric, plastic, or other substance. The difference between closed slippers and shoes is one of purpose. A closed slipper is designed to be worn indoors.
Closed slippers are often plain, but many will have decorative patterns or color schemes. They often have hard plastic soles which will make a noise on wooden or tile floors.
Ballet Slippers
It might be argued that ballet slippers are more like socks. They are made from very soft material and designed to wrap the feet much like a sock or moccasin. The difference is that the material itself is designed for the specific purpose of ballet.
A ballet slipper does enclose the heel, albeit barely, and will have soft straps that secure the slipper to the ankle. The slipper itself is designed for presentation, which is why it is associated with the ballet. However, it can also be worn for elegant occasions.
Evening Slippers
This is a decorative slipper that is often called a “Prince Albert”. This refers to Albert, Prince Consort who made this type of slipper famous. However, evening slippers is the more familiar term.
The slipper itself is made from velvet and features a grosgrain bow. You can often find the initials of the person who owns the slippers on the top. Plus, the soles are made from leather. This type of slipper is meant to be more expensive but offers considerable comfort combined with its style to make a statement.
Moccasins
This is a slipper that is made entirely from soft leather. The term “moccasin” is an Algonquian word that applies to all similar footwear created by Native Americans. The term stuck because the Algonquian tribe was the first encountered by the European settlers.
There is no separate heel and it surrounds the foot for protection. Using a simple gathered seam the moccasin can be worn outdoors as it was designed, although the soft leather will wear out quickly when walking on hard surfaces.