Sole Responsibility: Taking Care of Leather Shoes
By Hendrik Pohl
Most people will judge a man by the shoes he is wearing. Wearing a well-maintained, elegant pair of shoes is one of the most powerful style statements that any man could make. But with the price tag on good shoes ranging anywhere from $100 to well over $1,000, that statement is not cheap to make. Here are some things you should do if you want to make your sole investments last longer.
Think of Water as the Enemy!
One of the primary commandments of maintaining any article made of leather is to protect it from water. Remember that leather comes from a biological source, so moisture tends to wreak havoc on the material and undo the treatments that were painstakingly applied to it. Water repellent treatments, usually available in cans or bottles for under $10, should be applied as soon as you get your shoes, and before you first use them.
Before applying the repellent, wipe the entire shoe down with a warm cloth (you can leave a rag over the heater to warm it). Aside from removing any dust and debris that might get trapped in the leathers finish, the heat dilates the pores on the surface of the leather. This improves the absorption of the chemical into the material, making for more thorough and long-lasting protection. Reapply repellent as necessary or instructed.
Polish Makes Perfect
Shoe polish does more than just clean your shoes. Aside from helping maintain the appearance of the leather, the chemicals in modern polishes also act as a treatment for the shoe. They help moisturize the leather, extending its lifespan considerably in the long run. You may want to use a professional-grade, cream-based polish instead of that liquid stuff in easy-apply bottles, as the former has much better moisturizing properties.
Polishes come in a variety of colors and quite a wide range of blacks and browns. When choosing shoe polish, it is a good idea to bring the intended pair of shoes along with you to the store. It will help you get just the right shade so that your prized pair does not end up with discolorations, streaks or a patina because of the differences in shade.
Good Shoes Do Not Grow on Trees
With all the disposable leather shoes nowadays, not everyone appreciates the value of shoetrees. You have to remember that leather is not a fixed material; it has a tendency to shrink or expand, conforming to the shape of your foot and mechanical pressure. Shoetrees fill out the main body of the shoe, making it conform to the default shape and smoothing out and crinkles and creases.
Cedar is the prime wood for shoetrees because it has the unusual ability to absorb smells and odors from within the shoe. It can also absorb some amount of moisture, minimizing the H2O that makes contact with the leather. Although professional shoe shops sell cedar shoetrees for upwards of $20, the benefits are well worth the expense.
Maintaining leather shoes is a process, an ongoing commitment. While you are still planning to wear that pair of leathers, you are best off doing all these things to make it last for as long as possible.
About The Author
Pohl is an regular author about mens fashion. Writing is something he does for fun. During the day he manages his online necktie retailer http://www.ties-necktie.com/ - a store he founded together with his father in 2004.