Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[CWOyaji]

While we're waiting for the Nunn-Bush reveal, may I commit a vintage violation with these Church's Darwin shell penny loafers.

 

[Nealjpage]

So. Much. Wax. Holy balls.

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You're naughty.

 

[friendlygoz]

While we're waiting for the Nunn-Bush reveal, may I commit a vintage violation with these Church's Darwin shell penny loafers.
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Those are amazing. Wow. Are those for your personal collection or for sale? I love penny loafers, but most vintage versions are pinch pennies, and I’m not a fan of those. I had some incredible Howard and Foster split toe shell pennies but they were way too tight so I sold them. I’m envious of yours.

 

[CWOyaji]

Those are amazing. Wow. Are those for your personal collection or for sale? I love penny loafers, but most vintage versions are pinch pennies, and I’m not a fan of those. I had some incredible Howard and Foster split toe shell pennies but they were way too tight so I sold them. I’m envious of yours.

I'm keeping these!

 

[friendlygoz]

I'm keeping these!

Ok. But if I have a growth spurt, I may come knock in’ for those.

 

[nikolau]

I'm keeping these!

I saw these on FB. What an absolutely fantastic pair of loafers. I don’t own any shell loafers- do you ever find that the stiffness of the material reduces comfort?

 

[CWOyaji]

I have shell loafers from Hanover X2, AE and C&J and now these Church's, and they're all comfortable. When I finally manage to get my hands on a pair of black shell Alden 987s in my size at a good price, I'm going to consider the mission accomplished and hang it up. Time for a family photo:

 

[eTrojan]

Sprayed the insides with cancer-in-can last night, so I could work on them this morning
Four rounds of saddle soap. Three passes with acetone. Two coats of Bick 4. Just a touch of black polish on the toe and vamp. Ironed the flat laces that came with them.

There is still some wax residue on the rear quarters, if I really want to go back after these, but I think I’ll focus on conditioning for now. Best of all, they fit well enough that full-figured shoe trees will make them work just fine: no stretching needed.

Overall, they are in beautiful shape that belies their age. There is a pretty good nick on one toe. I considered whether or not I should repair with Renovatrice, but I feel like it’s a battle scar from the Mormon Tabernacle organ. I think it needs to stay.

 

[Nealjpage]

Sprayed the insides with cancer-in-can last night, so I could work on them this morning
Four rounds of saddle soap. Three passes with acetone. Two coats of Bick 4. Just a touch of black polish on the toe and vamp. Ironed the flat laces that came with them.

There is still some wax residue on the rear quarters, if I really want to go back after these, but I think I’ll focus on conditioning for now. Best of all, they fit well enough that full-figured shoe trees will make them work just fine: no stretching needed.

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Overall, they are in beautiful shape that belies their age. There is a pretty good nick on one toe. I considered whether or not I should repair with Renovatrice, but I feel like it’s a battle scar from the Mormon Tabernacle organ. I think it needs to stay.

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Organ shoes! I forgot about these. (Its been a long week.)

 

[Reiver]

While we're waiting for the Nunn-Bush reveal, may I commit a vintage violation with these Church's Darwin shell penny loafers.
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I’m not a loafer guy but they look amazing

 

[CWOyaji]

Thanks! Fully lined, too so they look good inside and out.

 

[happypebble]

Yay, thrift stores are reopening! $6 and a Senior Discount got me this pair of beaters. I'm having a mental block right now, though, so I'm gonna ask a question I think I asked before: how best to deal with scuffs? Once I got this pair out in the sunshine you could see how scuffed they were, but i like them a lot otherwise. Thanks!

 

[wasmisterfu]

So. Much. Wax. Holy balls.

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My goodness, I guess the previous owner was only into additive shoe care.

 

[smfdoc]

Sprayed the insides with cancer-in-can last night, so I could work on them this morning
Four rounds of saddle soap. Three passes with acetone. Two coats of Bick 4. Just a touch of black polish on the toe and vamp. Ironed the flat laces that came with them.

There is still some wax residue on the rear quarters, if I really want to go back after these, but I think I’ll focus on conditioning for now. Best of all, they fit well enough that full-figured shoe trees will make them work just fine: no stretching needed.

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Overall, they are in beautiful shape that belies their age. There is a pretty good nick on one toe. I considered whether or not I should repair with Renovatrice, but I feel like it’s a battle scar from the Mormon Tabernacle organ. I think it needs to stay.

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I would leave the battle scar as well. It is possible that this was a toe that rubbed somewhere on the organ since they were performance shoes only worn when the organ was being played. At least that is what some of the information I read online indicated was typical for organ shoes.

 

[wasmisterfu]

While we're waiting for the Nunn-Bush reveal, may I commit a vintage violation with these Church's Darwin shell penny loafers.
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Are those pre-Prada custom grade?

Regardless, they’re beautiful.