Can This be Fixed? (Lighter vs Darker Shoe)

[furo]

Got these shipped to me, and clearly one has been exposed for quite some time to lighting as a floor model. Any suggestions?

I plan on trying to lighten the other shoe w/ natural sunlight, but maybe there's a better way, as in darkening the floor model safely?

FYI the original color is Chestnut

 

[furo]

And also forgot to mention, I applied some Lexol conditioner to the lighter shoe but it didn't darken it

 

[Tropicalist]

Actually if you just wear them 99% wouldn't notice the difference in shades

 

[furo]



Actually if you just wear them 99% wouldn't notice the difference in shades

?

It's a significant difference, and I think even the photos show that

 

[clapeyron]

did you buy them as seconds? or were they not advertised as floor models?

I think there was a post similar to this recently where someone bought AE cordovan seconds and ended up returning them since people told him it would either take too long to darken them by sunlight or it will crack the leather if you expose them to artificial radiation.

 

[furo]

No no not seconds... just the last pair in stock so they sent me the floor model... also... I think shell cordovan is a whole different story... I would hope that calf is easier to darken or lighten but not positive

 

[sportin_life]

When I've had slight differences in shades, typically I use a polish for the darker shoe on both and the difference becomes unnoticeable after polishing.

 

[tomee]



No no not seconds... just the last pair in stock so they sent me the floor model... also... I think shell cordovan is a whole different story... I would hope that calf is easier to darken or lighten but not positive

id send them back unless a significant discount was applied

 

[MyOtherLife]

Unless you were pre-warned about this discoloration, send them back.

 

[hobo_ken]

A darker polish would help that floor model out immensely. It looks dry and in need of some polish/wax.

 

[furo]



id send them back unless a significant discount was applied

Yes they were 50% off, and possibly the only pair left anywhere in this size

 

[lee_44106]

Renovateur, followed by some appropriate cream polish.

 

[furo]

Here they are today after 5 (yes five) coats of neutral Kiwi polish on the right shoe only (I read somewhere on the forum that neutral can darken your shoes)





I'm not sure what to do next, these may not be salvageable

 

[GBR]

Oxblood polish, sparingly, on the lighter one perhaps.

 

[flyboy]

Kiwi Oxblood would probably work. I had a similar situation; one or two light coats will do it.