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Weird creasing of Alden nst cordovan

post #1 of 10
1/26/12 at 10:36pm
Thread Starter 
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Hi,
I have a 7 month old pair of nst Alden Cordovan #8. In the first month, they got wet once, and ever since then, have lost the nice smooth creasing they had when brand new. After getting wet, I let them dry out over a period of several days. These get worn 1-2 times a week.

The texture now looks grainy, as in my pictures. The nice color differential is also gone. I've gone back to tassels in hk, where I got them, and they didn't know how this could be restored to how they looked before. Anyone have any ideas on what I can do to:
1) get the contrast in color back
2) get rid of the grainy texture


Tia
Edited by mrclam - 1/26/12 at 10:57pm
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post #2 of 10
1/26/12 at 10:49pm
Thread Starter 
FWIW, I've already brushed these like crazy. This is my first pair of cordovan shoes, so I'm not sure if I'm missing something.
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post #3 of 10
1/27/12 at 12:01am
They look a size big
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post #4 of 10
1/27/12 at 12:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CYstyle View Post

They look a size big

My left/right feet are different sizes(right foot larger). When I was trying them on, the sales guy suggested not sizing down any further as it would impair my right foot. That seems to be my experience. The texture of the crease is not pleasant on either side. Could the size be the reason?
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post #5 of 10
1/27/12 at 8:02am
I'm no expert on Cordovan, but I understand that it's core property is a really tight, compressed pore. Apparently when the tannery is completing the leather, a glass bottle is used to compress the leather. It is important that the pores not be allowed to expand. This is why Saphir has a specific Cordovan Polish formulated not to expand the pores (which regular polishes can).

It is possible that the water caused the pores to expand, which is why the shoe is creasing.

You could use a Deer Bone to try to re-compress the pores and smooth out the creasing.

Hope this helps.

Sorry about the shoes!
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post #6 of 10
1/27/12 at 10:47am
Screams too big to me. The crease does look wicked, you're right.

If you can afford Aldens, can you afford custom shoes? It might be worth it for you if you have different sized feet and are dropping $500ish per pair.
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post #7 of 10
1/27/12 at 10:52am
I'd agree with the others that they look too big for your feet.

Saphir Renoveteur rubbed in with the back of a metal spoon could help with the grainyness.
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post #8 of 10
1/27/12 at 11:02am
Alden will produce a pair of shoes in mismatched sizes for no extra cost. Your salesman should have known that. Consider shopping elsewhere in the future.

Here's what I would suggest.
  1. Take a damp warm wash cloth and give your shoes a quick wipe down.
  2. Quickly dry them off with a dry wash cloth. Make sure to rub the creases.
  3. Repeat a few times
  4. Take a spoon, or buy a deer bone, and rub the creases until they get warm to the touch. Continue for a while longer.
  5. Apply Reno

See if that helps. If not, and it really bothers you, send them back to Alden for a recraft.
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post #9 of 10
1/27/12 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you all for your advice.
Quote:
I'm no expert on Cordovan, but I understand that it's core property is a really tight, compressed pore. Apparently when the tannery is completing the leather, a glass bottle is used to compress the leather. It is important that the pores not be allowed to expand. This is why Saphir has a specific Cordovan Polish formulated not to expand the pores (which regular polishes can).

It is possible that the water caused the pores to expand, which is why the shoe is creasing.

You could use a Deer Bone to try to re-compress the pores and smooth out the creasing.

Hope this helps.

Sorry about the shoes!
I will try this, don't now if I'll be able to find deer bone in Hong Kong, but I'll order online if need be.
Quote:
Screams too big to me. The crease does look wicked, you're right.

If you can afford Aldens, can you afford custom shoes? It might be worth it for you if you have different sized feet and are dropping $500ish per pair.
Do both shoes look too big? Or just the left?

I'm not quite at the point where I want to go down the custom shoe route. My feet are just slightly different, perhaps half a size at most. (Actually, my left foot has like a 20% arch while my right foot is almost totally flat, so the shapes of my feet are different in themselves.)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joenobody0 View Post

Alden will produce a pair of shoes in mismatched sizes for no extra cost. Your salesman should have known that. Consider shopping elsewhere in the future.
Here's what I would suggest.
  1. Take a damp warm wash cloth and give your shoes a quick wipe down.
  2. Quickly dry them off with a dry wash cloth. Make sure to rub the creases.
  3. Repeat a few times
  4. Take a spoon, or buy a deer bone, and rub the creases until they get warm to the touch. Continue for a while longer.
  5. Apply Reno
See if that helps. If not, and it really bothers you, send them back to Alden for a recraft.

I'll give this a shot.
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post #10 of 10
1/27/12 at 5:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrclam View Post

Thank you all for your advice.
I will try this, don't now if I'll be able to find deer bone in Hong Kong, but I'll order online if need be.
Do both shoes look too big? Or just the left?
I'm not quite at the point where I want to go down the custom shoe route. My feet are just slightly different, perhaps half a size at most. (Actually, my left foot has like a 20% arch while my right foot is almost totally flat, so the shapes of my feet are different in themselves.)
I'll give this a shot.

The left a size big def but the right too. try sizing down. I never had the need but as according to Joenobody0 if they will do different sizes for no extra cost I'd def take advantage of that
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