Alden cordovan polish !!!???

[vogda]

Are we sure that is a good idea polish alden cordovan natural (or also black i believe) with the wax ?(as at A.o.C explain)Or is better to just brush that fantastic leather ?''''''



Alden Cordovan Plain Toe Blucher Oxford 990


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[vogda]

Alden

 

[Roger]

The usual recommendation with shell cordovan is to polish it sparingly--less often and using less polish than with calfskin shoes. Otherwise, the polish will build up on the leather because shell cordovan is not porous enough to absorb polishes the way calfskin does. So, a schedule like, perhaps, applying a little polish once every ten or a dozen wearings would seem about right. In between polishings, brushing and buffing with a cloth is all that's necessary. As for the kind of polish to use, Alden recommends using their special shell cordovan polish for this kind of leather, and I think you couldn't go wrong using it. I don't know whether regular shoe polish (with wax content) would work just as well on shell cordovan, but other forumers could probably comment on that.

 

[well-kept]

A pair of my Alden #8 shells needed new heels. I took them back to the place I bought them - no names but they're one of the major Alden retailers in the U.S. - that also has a repair service. To the salesman who took the repair order I very clearly specified "no polish". He looked at me like I was nuts. "We NEVER put any kind of polish on shell cordovan" he said. "It doesn't need it. Just brushing and buffing." I answered "Great. I never put anything on mine." On the order slip he wrote "Do not polish". Relieved, I left my shoes.

Picked them up today. The uppers were covered in some kind of dark gunk. Brought them home and wiped them repeatedly with paper towels, which came away black. I mean... really.

 

[pkincy]

The AE store recommended their cordovan shoe cream (and specifically said no polish).

So I sparingly use the cordovan cream every few wearings.

Perry