How do I take care of my first pair of good shoes

[lgn15]

Hello,

Looking for advice on how to take care of my first pair of good shoes. I work in an office and wear the same shoes 5 days a week. So far have been wearing black oxfords from Walmart and buying new ones yearly. Recently I bought the following instead of a new pair of Walmart hunger busters:

UNLINED FULL STRAP PENNY LOAFERS 80708 UETAM

UNLINED FULL STRAP PENNY LOAFERS IN BROWN VEGANO...

www.carminashoemaker.com

For some background I do very little walking besides House>Car>Office and reverse. However, that walking includes through snow during Canadian winter.

I have no experience at all with taking care of shoes and want these to last as long as possible... any tips?

 

[mercury]

First of all, if you wear them 5 days a week, they won't last as long as they should.
You should at have at least two pairs so you can alternate them. This gives the shoes time to rest and moisture to evaporate in between wears.

Also you should get a pair of wooden shoe trees for them (eg from Woodlore). Leave them in the whole time you aren't wearing the shoes to help them maintain their shape.

 

[EZB]

First real dress shoe purchase is shell Carmina...baller. Please buy at least two pairs!

 

[lgn15]

First of all, if you wear them 5 days a week, they won't last as long as they should.
You should at have at least two pairs so you can alternate them. This gives the shoes time to rest and moisture to evaporate in between wears.

Also you should get a pair of wooden shoe trees for them (eg from Woodlore). Leave them in the whole time you aren't wearing the shoes to help them maintain their shape.

I will have to get shoe trees then , the other things is I see there are shoe creams, conditioners, moisturisers, polishers.. etc. Do I have to use this stuff? Can I just clean my shoes with water?

 

[EZB]

I will have to get shoe trees then , the other things is I see there are shoe creams, conditioners, moisturisers, polishers.. etc. Do I have to use this stuff? Can I just clean my shoes with water?

Shell cordovan is special. It rarely needs anything except brushing. Get a good pig-bristle brush, and brush until your arms fall off! You can condition it with bick4, venetian shoe cream, or saphir renovateur. Be careful with the latter two (especially saphir), as the conditioner will pull off a bit of pigment. You probably will not notice the pigment pulled off, but you will notice that you moved it to the edging or laces

 

[ter1413]

You may want to invest in qty 2 of something like that ^. Keep 1 at home and one in the office.

 

[papado]

Shell cordovan is special. It rarely needs anything except brushing. Get a good pig-bristle brush, and brush until your arms fall off! You can condition it with bick4, venetian shoe cream, or saphir renovateur. Be careful with the latter two (especially saphir), as the conditioner will pull off a bit of pigment. You probably will not notice the pigment pulled off, but you will notice that you moved it to the edging or laces

Not to rain on the parade but the link is directing me to some vegano leather loafers which aren't shell so we may need to adjust the advice given.

 

[lgn15]

Not to rain on the parade but the link is directing me to some vegano leather loafers which aren't shell so we may need to adjust the advice given.

.. The shoes are in calf leather I believe. LOL

 

[EZB]

Not to rain on the parade but the link is directing me to some vegano leather loafers which aren't shell so we may need to adjust the advice given.

Ooh? I somehow saw it say cordovan. Maybe my brain is stuck on shell.

In that case, bick4 every few weeks or when dry, VSC if you want, saphir cream polish

 

[notdos]

There are some great shoe polishing tutorials on YouTube.

 

[alset_rl]

I highly recommend watching youtube videos from the channel 'The Elegant Oxford'. You will learn everything you need to know about caring for your shoes.