Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[Nealjpage]

Hey hey, it's not a crime to be a grump.

If it was I would've been convicted long ago.

 

[Nealjpage]

Thrifted these Mansfields awhile back, I think they have some kind of shiny coating on them. I have no experience with coated leather shoes so was wondering how to care for them. Any advice is appreciated and thanks in advance.
View attachment 1364195

People seem to like Venetian Shoe Cream for corrected grain, but I've never tried it.

 

[davidVC]

Thrifted these Mansfields awhile back, I think they have some kind of shiny coating on them. I have no experience with coated leather shoes so was wondering how to care for them. Any advice is appreciated and thanks in advance.
View attachment 1364195

Those look like Corfam uppers to me. They should be shiny.

If they are Corfam, you should be able to just wipe them down with a damp towel. Then give them a bit of wax for shine.

 

[friendlygoz]

I saw this image on BBC in an article on how Covid could change the world. This could elevate us vintage shoe wearers. #silverlining!

View attachment 1364106

That was a dance we called the “kid n’ play” when I was in junior high.

 

[nikolau]

Thrifted these Mansfields awhile back, I think they have some kind of shiny coating on them. I have no experience with coated leather shoes so was wondering how to care for them. Any advice is appreciated and thanks in advance.
View attachment 1364195

So...this is a little risqué, but if you have the stomach for it you can take a wee bit of acetone with a cotton swab to the bottom back of the heel and see what happens. Lots of things could happen... if it’s coated & corrected grain you’ll known immediately from the excessive damage on that tiny spot (can be covered up with polish/wax). If what’s on there is some kind of funk from years or decades of liberal shoe polish application sans any leather cleaner, well you’ve got a whole world of opportunity.

There are just so many ways of processing and treating leather that look alike, and considering I’ve literally never physically seen or owned Corfam, that’s how I would do it.

 

[nikolau]

So...this is a little risqué, but if you have the stomach for it you can take a wee bit of acetone with a cotton swab to the bottom back of the heel and see what happens. Lots of things could happen... if it’s coated & corrected grain you’ll known immediately from the excessive damage on that tiny spot (can be covered up with polish/wax). If what’s on there is some kind of funk from years or decades of liberal shoe polish application sans any leather cleaner, well you’ve got a whole world of opportunity.

There are just so many ways of processing and treating leather that look alike, and considering I’ve literally never physically seen or owned Corfam, that’s how I would do it.

Then again, I butchered the first pair of Aldens I ever thrifted in precisely this manner, and had to send them in for a paint job.

 

[Nealjpage]

Then again, I butchered the first pair of Aldens I ever thrifted in precisely this manner, and had to send them in for a paint job.

Elaborate. My maiden pair of Aldens is currently en route. I'd like to learn from the mistakes of othere, if I can.

 

[Oshare]

Not my listing.
Since we've had some recent sharkskin shoes in the thread, thought I'd post this interesting pair that popped up on eBay.
Seller appears to be a Styleforum member. Despite the listing title, the seller says the shoes are marked as 11.5 A.

Florsheim, rare vintage sharkskin derby, size ~10US, light wear only | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Florsheim, rare vintage sharkskin derby, size ~10US, light wear only at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Only one photo on the listing, but they put more photos here:

Tanmi

Explore this photo album by Mikael Riiviö on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[smfdoc]

I made a face mask for outings.

 

[suitforcourt]

I made a face mask for outings.

View attachment 1364454

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kilowatts]

Not my listing.
Since we've had some recent sharkskin shoes in the thread, thought I'd post this interesting pair that popped up on eBay.
Seller appears to be a Styleforum member. Despite the listing title, the seller says the shoes are marked as 11.5 A.

Florsheim, rare vintage sharkskin derby, size ~10US, light wear only | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Florsheim, rare vintage sharkskin derby, size ~10US, light wear only at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Only one photo on the listing, but they put more photos here:

Tanmi

Explore this photo album by Mikael Riiviö on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

Absolutely beautiful shoes. Not my size, sadly.

kilowatts

 

[Pedlar]

Work from home except when I have to work somewhere else… Heading out to try to dodge the virus in vintage footwear. I hope everyone here is well.

 

[stook1]

Not my listing.
Since we've had some recent sharkskin shoes in the thread, thought I'd post this interesting pair that popped up on eBay.
Seller appears to be a Styleforum member. Despite the listing title, the seller says the shoes are marked as 11.5 A.

Florsheim, rare vintage sharkskin derby, size ~10US, light wear only | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Florsheim, rare vintage sharkskin derby, size ~10US, light wear only at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Only one photo on the listing, but they put more photos here:

Tanmi

Explore this photo album by Mikael Riiviö on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

Those are fantastic! I'm a 10D, actually, but I am really reluctant to gamble on an 11.5A given my experience with Florsheim.

 

[hamercha]

Those look like Corfam uppers to me. They should be shiny.

If they are Corfam, you should be able to just wipe them down with a damp towel. Then give them a bit of wax for shine.

this may be some kind of synthetic material. Notice the sharp crease on the bend! I have seen very thin leather have sharp bend. But the top box area and some other area looks to be made up of thick material. So I am I inclined to call it synthetic

 

[kilowatts]

Those are fantastic! I'm a 10D, actually, but I am really reluctant to gamble on an 11.5A given my experience with Florsheim.

Remember, the poster is European so he's used to English sizing which is usually one down from US sizing.

kilowatts