How did I damage these shoes and how can I fix them?

[Infantry1982]

These are a new pair of Cole Haan's (purchased at the outlet). I was giving them a polish for the first time and sometime during the second coat, I noticed this discoloration on the left shoe:

Here's what I did:
1) I applied a coat of Allen Edmond's Conditioner/Cleaner the night before
2) I applied one coat of Allen Edmond's premium dark brown polish with a an old cotton Hanes T-shirt, brushed shined it with a little spit, and then applied a second coat and did the same. That was when I noticed the discoloration.

It looks as if the "finish" of the left shoe has been worn off a bit. My only thought that comes to mind is that I must have "rubbed" it off while applying the polish with the old T-shirt rag. I was using small circular motions and I didn't think I was rubbing too aggressively. I was using the same technique I have used in the Army for years.

If this is the case, I'm a little disappointed in how delicate the "finish" is on these shoes. Or did I just do something really wrong?

Thank in advance for your input.

 

[Patek14]

cleaner/conditioner can remove dye on shoes which it appears to have done. to recolor, use a shoe cream [polishes have very minimal colouring].

now what I would do is actually use MORE cleaner conditioner to remove more dye and lighten the shoes and then to a multi color antiquing job

 

[Infantry1982]

Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try.