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Cordovan Color for Burgundy Shoes?

post #1 of 15
4/12/11 at 1:10am
Thread Starter 
Hi, I'm looking for a quick answer and having issues using Google to find it.

I need to polish my shoes up before tomorrow night, and I can't find "Burgundy" colored shoe polish at the local store. I did find a Kiwi can with the color labeled "Cordovan", and it seems similar, but I'm unsure. Is Cordovan the correct color for a Burgundy AE shoe, or should I seek out a can labeled burgundy? Thx.

-Jon
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post #2 of 15
4/12/11 at 1:33am
Cordovan is a darker polish than burgundy. Do not use cordovan polish if you want your loafers to remain true burgundy.

I have experience with this; I used cordovan polish on burgundy Bass penny loafers. The first time it imparted dark streaks to the loafers but managed to bring them to a polish. I have since polished the loafers with cordovan polish perhaps one dozen times. The loafers have taken on a overall darker, complicated, patinated appearance. They have a certain piquancy.
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post #3 of 15
4/12/11 at 1:49am
I made the same mistake. Kiwi cordovan is almost black so gives and antique/streaky result on burgundy. What you need is Kiwi oxblood polish for a true burgundy finish.
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post #4 of 15
4/12/11 at 4:24am
Saphir has a special Cordovan polish. It comes in black, burgundy, brown, neutral.

Cordovan itself is actually not a colour, but a material. There is no "Cordovan Colour" although Cordovan is most commonly burgundy.
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post #5 of 15
4/12/11 at 10:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leaves View Post
Saphir has a special Cordovan polish. It comes in black, burgundy, brown, neutral.

Cordovan itself is actually not a colour, but a material. There is no "Cordovan Colour" although Cordovan is most commonly burgundy.

This is one of those things where despite the fact that Cordovan is a material with colors of its own right, many companies will sell leather that is a burgundy or just darker than color, and they will call the leather something like Cordovan Calf.

Which seems like an oxymoron, but the look of a #8 shell shoe is often referred to has "cordovan" when you purchase a darker red shoe, regardless of leather.

Kiwi Cordovan shoe polish to me looks purple, and I don't use it on shell shoes... Go figure.
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post #6 of 15
4/12/11 at 10:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leaves View Post
Cordovan itself is actually not a colour, but a material. There is no "Cordovan Colour" although Cordovan is most commonly burgundy.

I think it is understood that we're using "cordovan" as a shorthand for the most popular rendition of cordovan polish, which is a color made by kiwi. I beleive the lion's share of people here know that cordovan is a material, not a color.
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post #7 of 15
4/12/11 at 9:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pgd3 View Post
Which seems like an oxymoron, but the look of a #8 shell shoe is often referred to has "cordovan" when you purchase a darker red shoe, regardless of leather.

Interestingly enough, the actual #8 shell may not be that color-- before Alden gets hold of it. If you go to Lattanzi's shop they will have a bunch of #8 cordovan shoes about and they are all dark brown with not a hint of purple. Much nicer if you ask me, although perhaps not nice enough to justify a $6K price tag for bespoke.
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post #8 of 15
4/12/11 at 9:40pm
Kiwi's Cordovan polish and Burgundy are very similar. It won't make much of a difference.
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post #9 of 15
4/13/11 at 12:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebel222 View Post
Kiwi's Cordovan polish and Burgundy are very similar. It won't make much of a difference.

The cordovan polish I used is Kiwi. It didn't match the leather on my Bass Weejuns.
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post #10 of 15
4/13/11 at 4:16am
I would say don't polish them with anything other than the appropriate color (which can be ordered from AE online or an AE store).

Good luck.
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post #11 of 15
2/8/12 at 6:03pm

I want to renew this thread...

 

Have some merlot AE Park Ave's on the way and I am trying to find the right color for polishing. 

 

Seems like there are many different options out there and I can probably just be safe and go with the matched polish/was combo AE makes.

 

But, I want to get everyone's opinion...I was thinking of maybe using Kiwi but don't know which color to use - Burgundy or Cordovan

 

Was also thinking of buying the Alden Color 8 wax and use that - but didn't want to get others opinion - maybe some has already tried this?

 

I have heard Alden wax is just Kiwi as well (seems like AE and Alden wax are both Kiwi - but only through rumors).

 

Any and all help is appreciated - thanks in advance.

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post #12 of 15
2/8/12 at 11:41pm
I've used BB cordovan-colored paste wax for my AE burgundy-colored cordovans smile.gif
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post #13 of 15
2/9/12 at 6:42am

Thanks.

 

I also want to make sure that using a "cordovan" paste is good even though the AE merlots are not "cordovan leather"

 

I guess just overall I am looking for people with experience shining burgundy shoes and what success they have had with whatever products.

 

Any pictures?

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post #14 of 15
2/11/12 at 8:27pm

I guess one main thing I am looking at is - could I use Color 8 Alden polish on AE burgundy and get good results?

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post #15 of 15
2/11/12 at 9:20pm
I just use AE's wax/polish. It's simple for me that way.
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