Leather Gucci Shoes - Leather Care & Protection

[EViS]

I have just returned from Florence, Italy, with two new pairs of leather Gucci shoes. One pair is a tan colour whilst the other is brown with brown suede on the top part of the shoe.

From my research so far, I believe the leather used by Gucci is aniline (unfinished) and thus marks easily from water (a drop soaks in immediately). This creates a problem for me here in Britain where we experience rain for a majority of the year....

My Questions:

a ) Could someone confirm this as being the type of leather used by Gucci for their shoes?
b ) Is there any way I can protect the leather from becoming damaged in the rain?
c) If not, what is the best way to care for the shoes if they do get rained upon?

I called Gucci this morning regarding these questions who weren't helpful at all!

 

[lee_44106]

Don't know what quality leather they use, but I'm pretty sure it ain't top of the line.

Just polish shoes with wax and wear.

I have a pair of Gucci loafer from the mid 90's that I've only waxed once. I've had it Topy'ed and wear it as a beater shoe. No harm, no foul. Hanging on well so far. I also only wear it about once a month, max, though.

 

[ginlimetonic]

Yeh Gucci sales do tend to be unhelpful if you're callign them. Their salary is based on commission generated from sales, and you're not padding their next month's paycheck.

Besides, Salespeople wouldn't know as much about shoe care as the established members here.

I read in a few threads- don't wear leather soles out in the rain and walk on concrete, unless you want a ruined shoe.

 

[Nick V.]

Bring them to a local cobbler for sole guards. While you're there pick up a can of waterproof spray (non silicone) and some cream polish. Apply two light coats of waterproof let dry between coats. Then polish. This should help.

 

[mr monty]

Originally Posted by lee_44106

Don't know what quality leather they use, but I'm pretty sure it ain't top of the line.

Just polish shoes with wax and wear.

I have a pair of Gucci loafer from the mid 90's that I've only waxed once. I've had it Topy'ed and wear it as a beater shoe. No harm, no foul. Hanging on well so far. I also only wear it about once a month, max, though.

Not top of the line? Maybe not all styles. I have a few that are pretty good. You have to pick and choose with Gucci. Yours are holding up better than alot of so called top-of-line brands.

 

[fcuknu]

the leather defiantly is NOT top of the line. there are some nice pieces, but very very mid range.

 

[EViS]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Thus, if the leather is not 'top of the line', what is the best way to look after it? Everything I have read on the web says not to use ANYTHING on it and merely wipe them with a cloth after every use...

Is this right? Hence, lee_44106 I'm worried about applying any form of polish or wax onto the surface...

 

[Ziss]

Originally Posted by EViS

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Thus, if the leather is not 'top of the line', what is the best way to look after it? Everything I have read on the web says not to use ANYTHING on it and merely wipe them with a cloth after every use...

Is this right? Hence, lee_44106 I'm worried about applying any form of polish or wax onto the surface...

This is definitely not true. Leather should be treated with shoe cream or polish regularly or it dries up. If you want your leather shoes to last more than a season, you have to take care of them.

What you read may have referred to the suede part of the shoes? Suede should be treated with water proofing spray, and cleaned with a suede brush if you get stains. For stains that won't go away with the brush, use a suede soap. Brush in the soap with lukewarm water, then rinse. But don't rinse too much - the soap is actually nourisihing for the suede. Let them dry in shoetrees in room temperature.

For the leather part, use a water based shoe cream or wax based polish. Cream nourishes the leather a bit better, polish gives more shine and is more water resistant. Don't use fat/oil.

 

[suited]

Even if the leather was the finest leather known to man it would never been given any credit on here because it's Gucci.

 

[mr monty]

Originally Posted by suited

Even if the leather was the finest leather known to man it would never been given any credit on here because it's Gucci.

+1 Some think the only shoes from Gucci are sneakers and lightweight loafers. The have
have always carried a classic line.

 

[EViS]

Originally Posted by suited

Even if the leather was the finest leather known to man it would never been given any credit on here because it's Gucci.
Could you expand on that please? What exactly do you mean?

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

they're just saying gucci isnt a favored brand around here.

I was under the impression the same company that made gucci's shoes made the 'italian' polo RL shoes.

So with that in mind, they're pretty nice shoes, but again certainly not the same quality as some of the higher end shoes favored on this board.

Ethier way,

Cream polish, then wax polish.

get a good horse hair shoe brush also.

 

[fcuknu]

I thought Sergio Rossi made Gucci shoes.

 

[samurai]

I own a few pairs of Gucci loafers, and treat them like my other shoe, i.e. polish and occasional leather conditioner. The leather and workmanship seem perfectly good to me. I don't wear them in the rain any more than I would any other leather soled shoe.

I don't buy these any more because imo the price is not in keeping with what you get. Also, I am less inclined to wear logos these days. Logos are just too 1998, and not in keeping witha classic style of dressing.

Now that I'm thinking about it, the best way to wear Gucci loafers is letting them get distressed and pair them with old jeans in the warm weather...

 

[EViS]

Thanks for those replies guys

. I would have never paid retail price for them, but at 60% discount for my favourite designer brand and my first ever 'designer shoes', I'm not going to complain. But I'm glad I have been educated about their inferior quality to other brands for future reference

. Is there any shoe polish and wax (available in the UK) that you can recommend? Also, what should I apply to the suede? Again, any specific brands of product?