Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[CWOyaji]

The GHs from a couple of days ago, inbound from St. Louis, MO

 

[ashynastyclassy]

Is there a preferred/recommended suede cleaner? I just bought a pair of suede NST. They have some stains on them. I knew they had the stains, but I love the NST and they were a good price.

Any advice appreciated.

View attachment 1560239

Unless you’re one of those people that’s afraid of some soap and water, I’d give that a try first

A soft soap like Castile and a toothbrush should work, if you don’t have I’d use dish soap next. That does not look like anything major to me if the white stuff on the apron is what you’re worried about. That looks like it might even brush off with just water in case you’re overly concerned

Can’t find the picture but I droped a take-out container of ketchup off the counter and the ketchup ricochet out of the container and onto the vamp. I thoroughly wiped off the ketchup with a wet rag, let dry and then brush

I wear my MiE swedes in fresh powder, along with having spilled ketchup and ice cream on them

 

[sam67]

I’ve got two hats coming from Optimo tomorrow. They better get here!!

Fed Ex appears no better. First they told me Saturday, then Monday, now ‘pending’. So I have no idea where my stuff is or when I’ll get it.

 

[ZePrez]

Tough crowd!
An ongoing worldwide pandemic ( showing no sign of abatement) plus bad worldwide weather, it is a miracle that we manage to get our non-essentials, so, yes!, quickly
Let's take a breath

 

[sam67]

Tough crowd!
An ongoing worldwide pandemic ( showing no sign of abatement) plus bad worldwide weather, it is a miracle that we manage to get our non-essentials, so, yes!, quickly
Let's take a breath

First world 'problems'

 

[stook1]

Going to have to disagree with you guys. Some of what we are discussing has nothing to do with the pandemic and, at least in my view, has more sinister origins that are both economic and political. Honestly, I couldn't really care less if my 50th pair of shoes takes an extra week or two to arrive but there are people who rely on USPS for time critical deliveries.

To a certain extent, it's correct to call this a "first world problem" but those of us in the US theoretically are supposed to live in the first world and it would be great if our postal service could deliver prescription meds to Grandma on time (just as an example). I realize that this may come across as entitlement. I'll just say that the USPS has a LONG history of high quality service. What has been happening for the last 6 months is not normal. If I thought it was primarily a function of the pandemic, I would not be biyatching about it.

Back to shoes! I will recompense the victims of this off topic diatribe with some vintage beauties post haste (no pun intended).

 

[stook1]

Big meeting today - bringing out the power shoes even though they will never be seen other than by you guys and the wife/kids. Business up top, denim down below... plus nice shoes.

 

[ZePrez]

Going to have to disagree with you guys. Some of what we are discussing has nothing to do with the pandemic and, at least in my view, has more sinister origins that are both economic and political. Honestly, I couldn't really care less if my 50th pair of shoes takes an extra week or two to arrive but there are people who rely on USPS for time critical deliveries.

To a certain extent, it's correct to call this a "first world problem" but those of us in the US theoretically are supposed to live in the first world and it would be great if our postal service could deliver prescription meds to Grandma on time (just as an example). I realize that this may come across as entitlement. I'll just say that the USPS has a LONG history of high quality service. What has been happening for the last 6 months is not normal. If I thought it was primarily a function of the pandemic, I would not be biyatching about it.

Back to shoes! I will recompense the victims of this off topic diatribe with some vintage beauties post haste (no pun intended).

While posting, I did think of the various political reasons in the US Postal system could have been in such dire state, they are real and issues that must be addressed. It remains however that things should be put in perspective.
Pictures of my now sanitized, cleaned treated shone shoes coming up. They didn't come with shoetrees, I have put vintage shoetrees in them to straighten them and give the conditioners time to seep in before wearing them.
Lighting conditions are the same.

 

[ZePrez]

Big meeting today - bringing out the power shoes even though they will never be seen other than by you guys and the wife/kids. Business up top, denim down below... plus nice shoes.

View attachment 1560886

AE MacNeil? Shell?

 

[sam67]

Going to have to disagree with you guys. Some of what we are discussing has nothing to do with the pandemic and, at least in my view, has more sinister origins that are both economic and political. Honestly, I couldn't really care less if my 50th pair of shoes takes an extra week or two to arrive but there are people who rely on USPS for time critical deliveries.

To a certain extent, it's correct to call this a "first world problem" but those of us in the US theoretically are supposed to live in the first world and it would be great if our postal service could deliver prescription meds to Grandma on time (just as an example). I realize that this may come across as entitlement. I'll just say that the USPS has a LONG history of high quality service. What has been happening for the last 6 months is not normal. If I thought it was primarily a function of the pandemic, I would not be biyatching about it.

Back to shoes! I will recompense the victims of this off topic diatribe with some vintage beauties post haste (no pun intended).

Could be. Sinister is out there. It's a spiritual battle, if you know what I mean.

So here are my shells that I took the pig bristle brush to for 20 min., renovateur, neutral cordovan cream, 10 min horse brush, Collonil burgundy and polish cloth. Trying to get rid of the vamp haze. I think it helped. (thanks to smfdoc) Before and after:

 

[smfdoc]

Could be. Sinister is out there. It's a spiritual battle, if you know what I mean.

So here are my shells that I took the pig bristle brush to for 20 min., renovateur, neutral cordovan cream, 10 min horse brush, Collonil burgundy and polish cloth. Trying to get rid of the vamp haze. I think it helped. (thanks to smfdoc) Before and after:

View attachment 1560906 View attachment 1560907

Looking much better. On the road to a brighter future.

 

[smfdoc]

AE MacNeil? Shell?

Yes on shell, but not MacNeil. I think Florsheim. A quick reference point on MacNeil is the way that the eyelet portion goes all of the way down to the long wing.

Alden and black Florsheim for comparison.

 

[MJMcRibb]

Yes on shell, but not MacNeil. I think Florsheim. A quick reference point on MacNeil is the way that the eyelet portion goes all of the way down to the long wing.

View attachment 1560931

Alden and black Florsheim for comparison.

View attachment 1560933

View attachment 1560932

Actually, AE has made the MacNeil both ways over time.

 

[Nealjpage]

Could be. Sinister is out there. It's a spiritual battle, if you know what I mean.

So here are my shells that I took the pig bristle brush to for 20 min., renovateur, neutral cordovan cream, 10 min horse brush, Collonil burgundy and polish cloth. Trying to get rid of the vamp haze. I think it helped. (thanks to smfdoc) Before and after:

View attachment 1560906 View attachment 1560907

Pig bristle seems to scratch my shell up.

 

[Hotel Cali]

I picked up these interesting Nunn Bush 'lazyman' slip-on. (Thanks David's watchlist.)

Vintage 'lazyman' seems rare.

Are these from the 60s?