Matt Finish On Tan Shoes

[samurai]

Whenever I see my doctor I have to admire his shoes. Two weeks ago he had on an old pair of Allan Edmonds lace-ups, in beautiful and perfect condition.

The interesting thing about them was that they looked as if he didn't give a crp. about maintaining them. They were faded to a very light tan and the finish was matt, like he never polished them or even gave them a thought.

At first I thought he just doesn't care about his shoes, but then realised that yes he does indeed care about them, as they were totally elegant. They looked as if he had left them sitting out in the desert sun for a few weeks, giving them a bleached out almost chalky surface. There was not a stain or scuff mark on them, and they were in perfect shape.

Has anybody seen this, and how would I go about achieving this look?

BTW I'm new here so just go easy... Cheers, Larry.

 

[LesterSnodgrass]

Matt = the name of your friend

Matte = lacking or deprived of luster or gloss

 

[acidboy]

I'd rather keep my dress shoes nice and shiny.

 

[samurai]

Originally Posted by LesterSnodgrass

Matt = the name of your friend

Matte = lacking or deprived of luster or gloss

Thanks Lestter...

 

[samurai]

Originally Posted by acidicboy

I'd rather keep my dress shoes nice and shiny.

A novel approach. Thanks for the input. Larry.

 

[GuidoWongolini]

other than a few dress shoes (in black) which are highly polished, I try & keep my brown shoes matte or with a slight aged patina - this is achieved by using creams or conditioner not wax.

 

[yfyf]

Maybe they were suede?

A fresh coat of leather conditioner with no buffing should give you a similar effect. I like it, but it's definitely not something that lasts. Sooner or later, you probably just end up with shoes with smudgy fingerprints.

 

[samurai]

Originally Posted by el Guapo WOngO!

other than a few dress shoes (in black) which are highly polished, I try & keep my brown shoes matte or with a slight aged patina - this is achieved by using creams or conditioner not wax.

Thanks Guapo, I'm going to try that.

 

[edmorel]

I never have my shoes polished, don't like shiny shoes and I think brown shoes look better with no gloss so the leather quality and patina shines through. Clean 'em and cream 'em. Works well for shoes and girls.

 

[samurai]

Originally Posted by yfyf

Maybe they were suede?

A fresh coat of leather conditioner with no buffing should give you a similar effect. I like it, but it's definitely not something that lasts. Sooner or later, you probably just end up with shoes with smudgy fingerprints.

yfyf - I'm pretty sure they were not suede, as the surface texture looked smooth.

Yesterday I took a pair of light tan Cole Hahns and rubbed them out with mineral spirit. After 20 minutes I then buffed them with a brush, and the result was not bad. A bit of the shine came back but they have a softer look which I find interesting. Still not quite the same dry looking surface of the ones I saw...

 

[samurai]

Originally Posted by edmorel

I never have my shoes polished, don't like shiny shoes and I think brown shoes look better with no gloss so the leather quality and patina shines through. Clean 'em and cream 'em. Works well for shoes and girls.

I agree - light brown shoes are more casual and too much high gloss counteracts that. And about the other part of your post - damm straight.

 

[Toiletduck]

Originally Posted by yfyf

Maybe they were suede?
Whoever Matt is, and regardless of whether or not they were suede, I'm sure if he finished on a pair of shoes, the effect would certainly be smudgy

 

[gdl203]

I'm with guapo and ed on this one. Not a fan of super shiny shoes

 

[grimslade]

That's a great avatar, Guapo

 

[itsstillmatt]

Originally Posted by Toiletduck

Whoever Matt is, and regardless of whether or not they were suede, I'm sure if he finished on a pair of shoes, the effect would certainly be smudgy

Trust me, it is pretty special stuff.

They even wrote a song about it:

Originally Posted by gdl203

I'm with guapo and ed on this one. Not a fan of super shiny shoes

Me too.