Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[Numbernine]

Just surfing around. Here's a pair of Kieth Highlander shells I re-furbished a few years ago . They never fit quite right so I gave them away to someone here . Don't remember who.

 

[stook1]

Wow! That was really generous of you! If you have any other ill fitting size 10 or 9.5E shells laying around I am not too ashamed to accept this type of charitable contribution.

Just surfing around. Here's a pair of Kieth Highlander shells I re-furbished a few years ago . They never fit quite right so I gave them away to someone here . Don't remember who. View attachment 1192848

 

[suitforcourt]

New (to me) Keith Highlanders. I picked these up for the price of lunch on Poshmark. The leather quality is amazing. I went at them with saddle soap, conditioned with Bick 4 and Saphir renovatuer and that’s it for the uppers. I had them re-heeled and I put Topys on them. I fancied up the edges too. I’m really liking these. They are comfy and the bold and unusual brogue pattern make them stand out in the right way.
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You have singlehandedly added another pair to my search. I must get these handsome foot coverings.

 

[friendlygoz]

You have singlehandedly added another pair to my search. I must get these handsome foot coverings.

Total dumb luck... I searched for Keith Highlander on Poshmark and these were the only result... and they were my size. Though the name sounds like a sci-fi movie character, I believe Keith Highlander was a premium shoe maker. I can say enough about the quality of the leather. They are really well constructed too.

 

[Shoonoob]

Gentlemen,
Put in a little more time today stripping these down. Pretty sure they are ready to be dyed. Seems like the darker panels are just darker since they looked pretty much this way after drying overnight. They are however perhaps a bit wet still right now. The toothbrush was most helpful for getting into the crevices. Excellent tip.

Now to decide what color to make them. Any good recommendations? I cant seem to decide and I bought a range of angelus dye colors.

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That almost looks like they were made with two different leathers. Whatever colors you choose...they seem to be begging to be spectators.
Edit: I should have read through before posting. It seems you reached the same conclusion.

 

[stook1]

That almost looks like they were made with two different leathers. Whatever colors you choose...they seem to be begging to be spectators.
Edit: I should have read through before posting. It seems you reached the same conclusion.

Agree with your conclusion. Going to keep laying down the dyes and see where it goes. If they turn into spectators, so be it. There are worse things. This is definitely a lot of fun so far. One thing I know for sure is that the stitched/brogued area on the wing is going to end up dark. The stitching sloppiness there is bugging me but it will be fine once it's darker.

As you probably recall, these are sort of practice shoes for me but I do think they are going to end up being interesting. Just hope that some of the other pairs I am planning to dye have a little more consistent and lighter colored leather. These darker panels were a definite surprise on this pair that I don't think could have been predicted given how they originally looked.

 

[Shoonoob]

I came across another pair of my favorite Florsheims. 7 eye Royal Imperials.

Another color change coming up!

 

[meister]

Long day today, but these did fine. View attachment 1191269

I'd be hitting those with some Bick4 and Reptan. They look a little dry.

 

[madhat]

I'd be hitting those with some Bick4 and Reptan. They look a little dry.

It's surface dirt and the light... they don't look dry in person.
Regardless, they're in need of some attention and will receive some bick when I do

 

[stook1]

Happy fathers day, fellas!

2 coats of orange cut to maybe 40% strength. This is on top of the yellow from yesterday. Wonder if the layers will show at the end. Another challenge has emerged. One of the quarters is the lighter color while the other 3 are dark. I can probably darken it up and get close to the other 3. Or just leave it. Or go really dark on all 4. Dunno. Guess we shall see.

 

[Hotel Cali]

Total dumb luck... I searched for Keith Highlander on Poshmark and these were the only result... and they were my size. Though the name sounds like a sci-fi movie character, I believe Keith Highlander was a premium shoe maker. I can say enough about the quality of the leather. They are really well constructed too.

I caught and release (sizing) a NOS Keith Highlander LWB. The leather quality is very nice and seems on par with Florsheim Imperial.

They seem to run 1 size bigger though. So it might be worth searching for 1 size smaller.

 

[friendlygoz]

I caught and release (sizing) a NOS Keith Highlander LWB. The leather quality is very nice and seems on par with Florsheim Imperial.

They seem to run 1 size bigger though. So it might be worth searching for 1 size smaller.

Mine are roomy but pretty true to size.

 

[Numbernine]

I got pretty heavily into old shell shoes for awhile unfortunately I didn't take too many pics. This is one I still have of a pair of NOS Hanovers from the 60s. They were a solid color saddle shoe,

originally a color 8 that had faded to a whiskey probably in a shoe store window. The purpose of the pic was to show sanding and polishing of the black edging to a natural finish

 

[stook1]

2 coats of oxblood on the wings and vamp. I'm thinking maybe brown on the quarters and on the edge of the wings in the transition to the vamp. The orange might be a little bright. Debating whether to go over it with a super diluted brown.

Thoughts? I probably should have mentioned that I am color blind so if this is looking horrendous dont be shy about straightening me out.

 

[instigateur]

2 coats of oxblood on the wings and vamp. I'm thinking maybe brown on the quarters and on the edge of the wings in the transition to the vamp. The orange might be a little bright. Debating whether to go over it with a super diluted brown.

Thoughts? I probably should have mentioned that I am color blind so if this is looking horrendous dont be shy about straightening me out.

View attachment 1193073

If you are going for VT colors you are dead on. I'm looking for a pair of 14D to do for my brother just like this.