Proper leather shoes

It seems to be relatively easy compared with calf, not needing 'feeding' anything like as much. Wipe down regularly with a cloth and brush, plus a very sparingly-applied wax paste every couple of months. As well as the trees I managed to track down a couple of jars of Alden Colour 8 paste for cordovan.

Cordovan is, I feel, not that easy to care for. It has the advantage, like wax leather, of being suitable to boning, resp. spooning, but cordovan shoes tend to stretch and are prone to changing its shape. Its almost Karma how they'll develop. Tight shoe trees can prevent wrinkles but they can also stretch things. Tricky to clean and quite sensitive to oils and excess wax one needs a specific care method. I find I need often more time to polish them. It has a unique shine but its texture is boring. The main advantage of cordovan is the regularity of its quality as there is only one tannery producing it (Horween in Chicago). I have several pairs but--- as one can tell-- I'm no longer a great fan.. All said, I would still think a pair (or two) does belong in every man's waredrobe..