Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[friendlygoz]

Maiden voyage (on my freet) of these shell Nettleton saddles. The natural patina and marbling on these is spectacular.

 

[friendlygoz]

Another maiden voyage, this time mid-1990s suede AE Chester. The fit is fantastic.

 

[Vincent George]

Dexters for a Chinese food run…

 

[Nealjpage]

Thrifted 97626s that started life as 13B but now fit wider.
View attachment 1646788
And a shirt thrift from just a few minutes ago, because man does not live by shoes alone. Wish they were XL. View attachment 1646789
These are size M and available if anybody cares.

I'm never sure what to look for when thrifting shirts. Unless they say Pendleton or Woolrich.

 

[suitforcourt]

I'm never sure what to look for when thrifting shirts. Unless they say Pendleton or Woolrich.

@CWOyaji and also Russell Fields are your guides to thrifting higher end men's shirts.

I only focus on footwear. I'm too lazy to sell on ebay and consign footwear through @mariusscott

 

[Oshare]

Had to go in to the office today. So I put on my Hartt camel skin PTDs to help get me through the day.

 

[CWOyaji]

I'm never sure what to look for when thrifting shirts. Unless they say Pendleton or Woolrich.

There are several top italian brands that I always look at closely when I find them at thrift: Cucinelli, Kiton, Loro Piana and some Zegna. Those Cucinelli shirts retail for around $500 each. Saturday I found this reversible Loro Piana jacket in a different store, it retailed for around $2,700 so yeah I'll buy it.

In my size, too.

Next post will be back on topic, I promise.

 

[CWOyaji]

I don’t look at Poshmark very often but maybe I should. These just arrived, and they were only $50.

Perfect though not vintage summer loafers to pair with jeans.

 

[Nealjpage]

These shell Alden for BB fought me tooth and nail for months. They're good enough.

Before:

I've never seen so much caked-on polish. If Tammy Faye Bakker were a shoe, these would be her.

 

[right_hook]

These shell Alden for BB fought me tooth and nail for months. They're good enough.

View attachment 1647851

View attachment 1647852

View attachment 1647853

Before:
View attachment 1647854

I've never seen so much caked-on polish. If Tammy Faye Bakker were a shoe, these would be her.

They are still too greasy in my opinion

 

[Nealjpage]

They are still too greasy in my opinion

My opinion, too. But I'll have to live with it.

 

[ZePrez]

They are still too greasy in my opinion

+1

I didn't follow your cleaning process but it seems that a bit of Saphire Renomat could be warranted, followed of course by the usual Bick or VSC ( I prefer Bick FWIW) left for a few days to thoroughly seep into the shell cordovan fibers... And the long, brushing, another round of Bick, then Cordovan cream, then cream again, then Collonil 1909 neutral... with of course, vigorous brushings between the steps.

Or it could be the photos.

 

[suitforcourt]

These shell Alden for BB fought me tooth and nail for months. They're good enough.

View attachment 1647851

View attachment 1647852

View attachment 1647853

Before:
View attachment 1647854

I've never seen so much caked-on polish. If Tammy Faye Bakker were a shoe, these would be her.

I had to look up Tammy. And thanks to you, I may have nightmares tonight.

 

[Nealjpage]

+1

I didn't follow your cleaning process but it seems that a bit of Saphire Renomat could be warranted, followed of course by the usual Bick or VSC ( I prefer Bick FWIW) left for a few days to thoroughly seep into the shell cordovan fibers... And the long, brushing, another round of Bick, then Cordovan cream, then cream again, then Collonil 1909 neutral... with of course, vigorous brushings between the steps.

Or it could be the photos.

So far these were:

a) Washed with saddle soap;
b) Stripped with rubbing alcohol;
c) Stripped with nail polish remover;
d) Cleaned with Renomat; and
e) Polished with VSC.

Steps a-e inclusive were repeated several times in no particular order. Bick 4 had a place in there as well. More recently they were stripped two or three times with pure acetone. Wax continued to be drawn to the surface and I continued to be irritated.

This is the time where I throw in the towel and polish the best I can with Collonil 1909 and call it a day.

 

[kilowatts]

I had to look up Tammy. And thanks to you, I may have nightmares tonight.

Hey Suit:
I think Tammy used to be a big user of Renomat as a makeup remover!
Kilowatts