Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[wasmisterfu]

Those look great! They were a little long for me and I don't think I wore them more than twice since thrifting them, so I'm happy they found a new home with someone who really likes saddle Sheltons.

Spoiler: Before pics

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Thank you sir; the funny thing is, the wax sitting on top was making them both look super shiny and the wrong color (it was actually a lot of wax). AE Polished Cobbler in its factory state is not quite that shiny.

My saddle soaping brush turned brown-burgundy, which makes me think a long-previous owner wasn’t quite sure what polish to use and was piling on stuff for years. That Chestnut color is something, that if you’re trying to apply polish, would be very hard to match. Good thing it’s PC, so you don’t really have to do anything.

Anyway, neat vintage shoes, in good shape, at a good price.

 

[AHS]

Hello, fellow Bay Area thrift dinner attendee! Seems like a long time ago. I would try 2-3000 grit sanding pads from the auto parts store with Bick4, after a stiff bristle brushing, also with Bick 4 in the mix.

Thank you! I’ll give it a shot.

And it has been a long time... back in a long-forgotten era when the thrift stores and restaurants were open. Hopefully there will be a time when we can do it again.

AHS

 

[Hotel Cali]

Any one here snatched the (1967?) Forest green Florsheim longwing.

Vintage Florsheim Imperial Genuine Leather Longwing Wingtip Dress Shoe 10.5 D | eBay

There is wear to the upper leather and soles, as noted in our photos.

www.ebay.com

Looks like it sold in 20 minutes.

 

[eTrojan]

Ooops. I seem to have bought the Freeman Bootmaker Guild LWBs that were on @davidVC ’s list. I’m not sure how that happens. I thought I was on a buying hiatus.

 

[Oshare]

In the office on a casual Friday and wore my Golden Harvests to add even more sunshine to a fine day.

 

[smfdoc]

Florsheim blue longwing today.

The red shoe laces were too much contrast so I went with brown.

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Brown works, and you might also give the tan “alabaster” laces from AE a try. Works really well with khaki.

 

[wasmisterfu]

Brown works, and you might also give the tan “alabaster” laces from AE a try. Works really well with khaki.

View attachment 1400779

I’m a fan of those laces as well. (Blue AE Neumok - blatant vintage violation.)

 

[nikolau]

On today’s edition of absurd marketplace sellers, I submit for your judgement this individual who is seeking close to $300 for their gently used (not particularly vintage) MacNeils. They just offered me 10% off of their ludicrous $310 asking price.

Some people, it seems, really aren’t motivated to sell.

 

[Nealjpage]

Vintage violation.

Here are those black shell AE Leeds I purchased recently. I never did get the insoles to soften up, even after trying Bedo's salt-removing technique. Oh well.

Black laces looked pretty dull, so I tried gold. I think it works, plus those were the colors of my high school, so win-win.

Listed as an 8.5, they are actually a 9 D, so they're a little loose. Oh well. They have a ****** half-sole replacement, so I don't see me investing much more time or money in them.

Spoiler: Before

As purchased. These guys were rode hard and put up wet.

 

[CWOyaji]

Hanover #2168 PTBs.

Original vcleats still in place for thrills and spills.

 

[stook1]

Any one here snatched the (1967?) Forest green Florsheim longwing.

Vintage Florsheim Imperial Genuine Leather Longwing Wingtip Dress Shoe 10.5 D | eBay

There is wear to the upper leather and soles, as noted in our photos.

www.ebay.com

Looks like it sold in 20 minutes.

Alright that does it... I am dying my old 93602s green.

 

[happypebble]

Vintage violation.

Here are those black shell AE Leeds I purchased recently. I never did get the insoles to soften up, even after trying Bedo's salt-removing technique. Oh well.

View attachment 1400978

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Black laces looked pretty dull, so I tried gold. I think it works, plus those were the colors of my high school, so win-win.

Listed as an 8.5, they are actually a 9 D, so they're a little loose. Oh well. They have a ****** half-sole replacement, so I don't see me investing much more time or money in them.

Spoiler: Before

As purchased. These guys were rode hard and put up wet.

View attachment 1400984

nice job cleaning them up. They look really sharp

 

[Hotel Cali]

Alright that does it... I am dying my old 93602s green.

My 93602 also used to be green with envy. Now they are just green.

 

[wasmisterfu]

On today’s edition of absurd marketplace sellers, I submit for your judgement this individual who is seeking close to $300 for their gently used (not particularly vintage) MacNeils. They just offered me 10% off of their ludicrous $310 asking price.

Some people, it seems, really aren’t motivated to sell.

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Thanks to poor photography, they look like someone took a dump on that hardwood floor. I’m sure they’re nice shoes; hell, I’m a big MacNeil fan, but as shown, the look like literal crap.

Then you’ve got the price: dooood, they’re used - as in Not New. A brand new pair is 395.00 list, and I can buy a pair in my size on close-out for 229 bucks (as they’ve discontinued the MacNeil). They’re not some cool MTO spectator MacNeil, or a cool vintage example, or shell. So yeah, seller is delusional.

 

[CWOyaji]

When the listing says AE and the code says Alden. Developing...

Combination heels, Brooks Bros stamps: check.

Full strap shell loafers. That's it guys, I'm done. Hanging up my penny loafer collecting spurs. Aww, who am I kidding? That resolution will only last until a pair of 986s or 987s come along.