LOOKING GOOD FOR LOTS LESS

– Dress Like A Fortune 500 CEO On A Mailroom Budget

            No doubt about it, shoes are an extensive—and expensive—part of our wardrobe, so it pays to care for them and do what it takes to extend their useful life. Caring for footwear isn’t difficult, but it does take diligence. It starts with polishing a pair of shoes before first wearing them and thereafter on a regular basis. Shoe creams and polishes come in a range of colors, including neutral (which can be used with any color leather shoes). Creams are easier to work into the leather and help condition it, while polishes impart a high shine and help waterproof the leather. Don’t use “instant shine” wipes—they don’t protect leather and over time can even damage it.

Remove shoe laces and wipe them down with a damp cloth to clean them. Use another dampened cloth to apply polish, and re-moisten as necessary. Use a circular motion to apply polish, and don’t forget to polish the tongue, too. Let the polish dry completely before shining the shoe with a soft, clean cloth or sheepskin buffer. You’ll also need to occasionally apply a liquid edge dressing (usually black) to the edge of the soles to keep them looking good.

Suede shoes should be sprayed with a silicone protectant before wearing. A wire suede brush and an artgum-like eraser will clean suede and restore its nap. For work and hiking boots, saddle soap cleans the leather and mink oil conditions it, keeping the leather from drying out and cracking.

The single worst thing you can do to leather shoes is wearing them multiple days in a row. The shoe’s inside will never dry out and start to deteriorate. (Obviously, this doesn’t apply to athletic shoes that can be put in a washer, then air dried.) After a single day of wearing a pair of shoes, insert cedar shoe trees (not plastic or metal) and give them a minimum of one day’s rest before wearing again. Two days or more rest is even better.

Business-appropriate dress shoes have leather soles, not rubber or plastic. Leather soled shoes can be resoled and reheeled, while rubber soled shoes cannot. This can be done multiple times, since shoe bottoms wear out far faster than well-maintained uppers. Don’t delay reheeling and resoling shoes when they need it. Take them to your cobbler before holes wear through to the shoe’s inner sole. Shoes should be reheeled whenever heels are visibly worn. They’ll feel more comfortable with new heels, too.

If shoes get water soaked, don’t use heat to dry them. Let them air dry completely before polishing them. You may need to take the shoes to your cobbler and have him professionally recondition and restore them. Last, store shoes in a cool, dark, dry closet that has good air circulation.

Following these procedures will keep your shoes in tiptop shape, save you money, and help you look good from the ankles down.

James F. Brown is a business consultant, writer, and expert on professional attire. Copyright 2008 James F. Brown, all rights reserved.