Boots with inconsistent colors -- what to do?

[sveisa]

Greetings,

I bought a pair of AE boots about a year ago. I immediately noticed that the color is a little darker on one of the boots, but as I'm an idiot I assumed the color difference would go away as I broke them in. A year later, they're still a little inconsistent.

What can I do? I haven't used colored cream on them, just leather balm.

(I did a search for similar threads and found one that didn't really resolve the issue, in part because the poster didn't attach a photograph.)

 

[EZB]

Greetings,

I bought a pair of AE boots about a year ago. I immediately noticed that the color is a little darker on one of the boots, but as I'm an idiot I assumed the color difference would go away as I broke them in. A year later, they're still a little inconsistent.

What can I do? I haven't used colored cream on them, just leather balm.

(I did a search for similar threads and found one that didn't really resolve the issue, in part because the poster didn't attach a photograph.)

My recommendation is this:

(1) Saphir Renovateur (maybe renomat)
(2) Saphir cream polish in a darker pigment--perhaps medium brown. Maybe even mix a bit..tobacco?

 

[sveisa]

Cheers for the reply. So I have Saphir Renovateur. How would you use it? Same amount for each side? Why will it help? Excuse my ignorance here.

 

[Reiver]

My recommendation is this:

(1) Saphir Renovateur (maybe renomat)
(2) Saphir cream polish in a darker pigment--perhaps medium brown. Maybe even mix a bit..tobacco?

I agree with this solution.

Renovateur is a cleaner/conditioner which may remove some of the inconsistency in the colour. I would apply it evenly on both boots and rub it in gently. You don’t need to use much though.

A darker cream applied sparingly should help gain a more consistent colour afterwards. Even a light couple of coats of wax polish in a similar shade may help.

I would leave the boots for a while between renovateur and the cream and try not to over apply any product as this often worsens any problem.

 

[Reiver]

That said those bouts may well be Horween Chromexcel in which case I’m not sure shoe cream or wax polish are recommended.

Someone else may be able to confirm this.

If it is Chromexcel then just a good condition followed by plenty of brushing may even them out.

 

[sveisa]

Ah thanks, yes these are the Vancouver boots, which are Chromexcel.

 

[Reiver]

Ah thanks, yes these are the Vancouver boots, which are Chromexcel.

Great, I would think probably just go with some renovateur and skip the cream then.

Once conditioned and dried out then a good thorough brushing should blend them in a bit.

With wear and future conditioning the uneven finish should fade further.

 

[Reiver]

But they don’t need conditioning too frequently as they can get saturated with it.

 

[sveisa]

Cheers, much appreciated.

 

[Steve Smith]

Besides differential polishing, when they are not being worn store the darker boot in direct sunlight and the lighter one in a box. This is definitely a long game strategy but it works. I have bought many pairs of Brooks Brothers shoes over the years which were store demos. One shoe was very sun faded and lightened. My method is a minor hassle and takes time but it works. I have taken Alden for BB shell cordovan shoes from terribly mismatched to a pretty close color match.

By the way, I suspect that Claudio Del Vecchio would raise hell if he realized that his stores were doing this. The guy is very detail oriented and if you look at this situation it is easily remedied. The problem is that his first quality product is being greatly devalued. The solution is to rotate the store display shoes every 6 months or so. There would still be some wear and tear from handling, but the resulting shoes would be saleable and wearable after a quick polishing, unlike the example which I will post below.

Here is my only project going on now. Just started a few weeks ago with the 'one in a window and one in the box' plan. In 12 or 18 months they will be close enough in color that differential polishing will make them at least wearable as a pair. This is a pair of Peal & Co calf shoes with a $700+ retail sticker on the sole.

 

[sveisa]

Thank you very much for your reply, I will probably keep one out during the summer!