**The Official Shoe Care Thread: Tutorials, Photos, etc.**

[DWFII]



DW,
As I said, I don't have any shoes that NEEDED stretching. But I do have some that, after wearing for a while, are still tighter in the toes than I would like. So I stretch.

Generally speaking if shoes are tight in the toe there are only two reasons--the shoe is too short for your foot or your foot is too wide for the toe shape. Bear in mind that the toes stiffener takes up roughly 20-25% of the shoe and is, for all intents and purposes, unyielding. It is usually either plastic (or celastic--another form of plastic) or stiff veg tanned leather. Neither will stretch, one might try but the plastic will crack and the leather rip before any real ease can be effected. IMO...

[Parenthetically,@j ingevaldsson recently said that "Toe stiffener is plastic or celastic for pretty much all factory made RTW brands, even Edward Green, Gaziano & Girling and the likes." I don't keep track of what the factories do, so I have no reason to doubt it.]

 

[patrickBOOTH]



Gents, would anybody have a recommendation for Mrs. Hedonist? Driven mad with jealousy from my recent trickers acquisition, she now endeavors to find a pair of knee-length suede boots of similar quality (but sleeker of course). I fail to think of a recommendation for her. Any brands to get started looking at?

Other than getting a MTO pair of Saint Crispins, or some kind of bespoke boot, no, but that's a whole difference price point.

 

[jerrybrowne]

I asked this question in another thread, but this might be a better place for it. I have a pair of pigskin loafers that look great, but are still stiff after 1.5 years of wear (maybe 20-30 wears). Any idea on how to get them to soften up, or was this simply a bad choice for loafers?

TIA

 

[cbfn]

I would try using some Lexol conditioner or Bick4.

 

[SanityFair]

What is your new shoe treatment routine? I usually get them shined right away.

 

[chogall]



I asked this question in another thread, but this might be a better place for it. I have a pair of pigskin loafers that look great, but are still stiff after 1.5 years of wear (maybe 20-30 wears). Any idea on how to get them to soften up, or was this simply a bad choice for loafers?

TIA

Maybe pm kelicho? He has a pair of pig skin G&G.

Or alternatively, lard and a slow cooker.

 

[jerrybrowne]



Or alternatively, lard and a slow cooker.

It might come to this....

 

[DWFII]



I asked this question in another thread, but this might be a better place for it. I have a pair of pigskin loafers that look great, but are still stiff after 1.5 years of wear (maybe 20-30 wears). Any idea on how to get them to soften up, or was this simply a bad choice for loafers?

TIA

If they are not a real "dressy" shoe, something like R.M Williams Saddle Dressing or Lexol-nf will almost certainly help, esp. with time and repetition, but be aware such products can darken the leather...permanently.

 

[jerrybrowne]



If they are not a real "dressy" shoe, something like R.M Williams Saddle Dressing or Lexol-nf will almost certainly help, esp. with time and repetition, but be aware such products can darken the leather...permanently.

Okay, thanks for the input. I'll try that.

 

[traverscao]

Have you tried Creme Universelle from Saphir?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I have some. It is a lighter reno. Uses jojoba oil rather than mink oil. Doesn't impart as high of a shine as reno. For all of these reasons I tend to like it better.

 

[traverscao]

I'd regard it as one of the best conditioner out there. Maybe when I'm done with Reno, I'm gonna use Creme Universelle and Lotion for cleaning and conditioning. At some point Reno is getting more like a pain **********.

Creme Universelle is safe for all types of leather, even synthetic, as far as I know.

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Well I would think you can literally put anything on "synthetic" leather without any problems...

 

[traverscao]

Well I would think you can literally put anything on "synthetic" leather without any problems...

Well, Pat, I was talking about the glue pressed nylon strings stuffs (urethane leather), not corrected grain.

Would CG take these conditioners?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I guess it depends on the type and thickness of the finish.