Walnut Strand - polishing help

[dylanmacarthur]

I could really use some advice here. I just got the Strand, and I love the shoe but I'm hoping to darken it just a little bit. I'm a complete amateur so don't want to mess this up.

I've read through quite a few of the threads on polishing, and I've spoken to a few AE reps about this, but I still feel no more convinced of how to approach this than before.

Can somebody help me out? Do I just use a darker shade (e.g. dark brown) to polish the shoe? A few reps said that this would cause "streaking." What do they mean + how do I avoid it?

Thanks.

 

[phxlawstudent]

You could just buy the AE shoe polish/cream in walnut.

 

[dylanmacarthur]

Originally Posted by phxlawstudent

You could just buy the AE shoe polish/cream in walnut.
That would darken the shoe?

 

[Northampton Novice]

I could really use some advice here. I just got the Strand, and I love the shoe but I'm hoping to darken it just a little bit. I'm a complete amateur so don't want to mess this up.

I've read through quite a few of the threads on polishing, and I've spoken to a few AE reps about this, but I still feel no more convinced of how to approach this than before.

Can somebody help me out? Do I just use a darker shade (e.g. dark brown) to polish the shoe? A few reps said that this would cause "streaking." What do they mean + how do I avoid it?

The "streaking" comments probably refer to the creasing effect that can be observed on some shoes where darker polish has been used. Once you have polished your shoes a darker shade, upon wearing them wherever the leather creases it appears a lighter colour to the rest of the now darker shoe - hence the "streaking effect". Basically the darker colour either becomes absorbed or 'falls out' of the creases giving them a lighter appearance.

Unless you are planning to go much darker in shade, the streaking shouldn't be much of a problem and can always be touched up a little. Shoes will naturally darken over time, this can be facilitated by the use of a pigment rich shoe cream in a darker shade.

But if I were in your shoes, so to speak, I would suggest you give your shoes a thorough condition, it's good for them & the oils/fats in many of the conditioners available have a tendency to darken shoes...

 

[phxlawstudent]

Originally Posted by dylanmacarthur

That would darken the shoe?

No. It is made by AE for their Walnut colored shoes. It should be the same exact color as the factory dye.

If it is really concerning to you, buy clear shoe cream.

 

[Northampton Novice]

Originally Posted by phxlawstudent

No. It is made by AE for their Walnut colored shoes. It should be the same exact color as the factory dye.

If it is really concerning to you, buy clear shoe cream.

phxlaw I think you need to read the OP before dispensing anymore advice!

 

[phxlawstudent]

:| Missed the first line. Disregard everything I've said.

 

[landshark]

Find brown kiwi polish for $2. Polish shoes. Slightly darker Strand.

 

[Stillmaticbeat]

^yes

 

[JamesX]

As far as I know, any similar color applied will darken a shoe over time. Even if it is the exactly same color you apply it long enough the color will get richer and darker.

So just keep doing that.

 

[dylanmacarthur]

Originally Posted by landshark

Find brown kiwi polish for $2. Polish shoes. Slightly darker Strand.

http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-113013-Br...1351734&sr=1-1

Is this the stuff?

Thanks for everyone's input BTW.

 

[JDMills]

^^ Hell no never use liquid polish you need a creme or wax polish

Wax: http://www.amazon.com/Kiwi-Brown-Sho...1352322&sr=8-8

Creme: http://www.allenedmonds.com/webapp/w...p_category=216

People will tell you the pros and cons of both most here preferring creme, a wax will give you a hard shine and cremes tend to give your shoes a luster or glow (for me at least).

 

[MyOtherLife]

OP,
It would be better to be patient and let the leather develop its own natural patina over time.
The Strand is a gorgeous model from AE, and quite frankly I don't understand your desire to darken the walnut finish.
Using polish to darken them may give you a quick fix, but you may regret this later.

 

[dylanmacarthur]

Originally Posted by Man Of Lint

OP,
It would be better to be patient and let the leather develop its own natural patina over time.
The Strand is a gorgeous model from AE, and quite frankly I don't understand your desire to darken the walnut finish.
Using polish to darken them may give you a quick fix, but you may regret this later.

I do love the shoe and the color, but I think I need something just a touch darker for my purposes (law firm, relatively conservative environment). I could be wrong though.

 

[Charley]

If you were to set four pairs of the walnut Strand model side by side I suspect that you would find that none of them are the exact same color. I believe that the shoes are sprayed with some dye before final finishing. That dye is absorbed into the very top layer of the leather. Notice on any pair of brown shoes that you have scuffed and you can easily see that the color does not penetrate very deep.

The best way to try to alter the color is to use a slightly darker Meltonian shoe cream. The Meltonian color availability will allow you to select from several shades that are different degrees of darker. First wipe the shoes with a wet cloth to get them very, very slightly damp and to open the pores of the leather. Then apply the Meltonian cream in a light coat but with some rubbing to increase penetration. Let that dry for a few minutes, then buff before it sets hard and dry.

Follow the application of the cream with some conditioner. I use Lexol but there are others that work as well. Be pretty liberal with the Lexol as the purpose of it is to have it carry some of that cream into the leather. After a few minutes wipe off any real excess, wait a bit longer for some drying, then buff with the brush. You should have a nice luster, slightly darker, with some antique effect. The conditioner and brushing should even out the color differences and give a good thin distribution of the new cream. It may take a few months for the method to achieve the color you want, and doing the procedure a couple of times a week. The result should not be as subject to the "streaking" in the creases as the cream and color are being slowly absorbed. At the early stages you should also be able to remove most of the added color by using the Lexol conditioner and some Lexol cleaner. That new polish color is initially just sitting on the surface and has not really gone into the leather.

For some interesting instructions on doing a real recolor of shoes, look for posts by a member Ryder. He would be the dean of any shoe finishing school.