First pair of AEs

[rando]

So a couple weekends ago I went to the AE outlet at cabazon and bought my first pair of "nice" shoes. A pair of brown Niles, at $129 (quite a steal IMO). I was wondering if I need to do anything before I wear them? After searching it seems that people say to polish/wax them but I have no idea how to get started on that? Could I just take to a shoe shine person and be done? Thanks!

 

[GeorgePaul]

Originally Posted by rando

So a couple weekends ago I went to the AE outlet at cabazon and bought my first pair of "nice" shoes. A pair of brown Niles, at $129 (quite a steal IMO). I was wondering if I need to do anything before I wear them? After searching it seems that people say to polish/wax them but I have no idea how to get started on that? Could I just take to a shoe shine person and be done? Thanks!

See http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/C..._shoeshine.htm

 

[cvac]

Discontinued shoes have been sitting around for awhile usually.

I would suggest conditioning the leather with good shoe leather conditioner, like AE's own brand or something similar before doing anything with the shoes. I would not even put shoe trees in them before conditioning them.

Go to the AE website, there are instructions on how to polish and shoe care. Alternately, you could have them polished at a cobbler's shop. Shining them yourself is cheaper but if you are really pressed for time and don't mind paying for it, go to the cobbler.

 

[tlmusic]

Originally Posted by cvac

Discontinued shoes have been sitting around for awhile usually.

I would suggest conditioning the leather with good shoe leather conditioner, like AE's own brand or something similar before doing anything with the shoes. I would not even put shoe trees in them before conditioning them.

Go to the AE website, there are instructions on how to polish and shoe care. Alternately, you could have them polished at a cobbler's shop. Shining them yourself is cheaper but if you are really pressed for time and don't mind paying for it, go to the cobbler.

Good Advice!

 

[rando]

It seems I have to buy many products to clean/shine them properly. I know in the long run it is wayyy cheaper, but I really want to wear these shoes. How do I find a good cobbler, yellow pages or can I just take a shoe shine person in the mall or something?

 

[lee_44106]

Why did you buy the AE's in the first place? Was it because you were convinced, by reading the opinions on this forum, that it would be a pair of stylish and well-made shoes at an inexpensive price?

If so, why not follow the other suggestions and do some polishing yourself? If you can get online and type on a keyboard you can surely polish a pair of shoe. It ain't brain surgery. You need polish/wax, brush, and a piece of cloth. You can even substitute old T-shirts for the piece of cloth.

No third party polisher is going to treat your shoes as well as you are.

And all this effort it took for you to ***** about finding a good shoe polisher, you could've already polish the shoes yourself.

 

[kngrimm]

I'm kind of amazed... Rando, the advice given about conditioning the shoes is just 'good' advice.

I use AE conditioner on my shoes all the time and it helps to keep the leather looking healthy, but by no means is it a requirement... you can wear your shoes without it. You can wear your shoes without going to a cobbler...

The conditioner is just a suggestion...use your own judgement. If the shoes look fine then wear them...

I'd like to make one point kinda off topic. My 'suggestion' is to crease the shoes almost artificially... hear me out...

I've seen many pictures of expensive shoes here - $1000-$5000 and some of them look ugly as sin simply because of horrible creasing on the leather in werid spots...

The first time you put the shoes on, you can almost guide the initial crease and make it look how you want.. I think that's the best 'improvement' you can make...

good luck

 

[cvac]

If following instructions online is too hard for you, go to a reputable cobbler.

Tell him you want:

1. Cedar Shoe trees

2. Wax polish

3. Shoe cream

4. Horsehair shine brush

5. Leather shoe conditioner.

The cobbler will tell you what to get and explain how to use everything. The only other thing you need is a clean, old t-shirt and you're set. Do not use the same brush for brown shoes that you use on black shoes. Since these products last a long, long time, the cost per use is very low. You don't have to polish your shoes every time you wear them. Often dusting them off is sufficient, then polish every 3-4 wearings.