Proper leather shoes

Instead of 'shoehorning' (har har) my fine leather shoe obsession into the Trainers Thread, I thought it'd start a new one for smarter formal and country shoes and boots.

I have a few pairs but nothing particularly special other than the lovely pair of boots I was given the day before yesterday.

Moreover, I'd be interested to share advice regarding cleaning, polishing and repairing. I have some tan brogues that could do with a lift in the colour department after having become a bit dull and some black oxfords that urgent need reheeling, preferably with steel tips... so any advice and recommendations of reputable cobblers would be very welcome.

Also, can anyone recommend a reasonably priced valet box or set of brushes?

Cheers!

If shoes have not been well cared for leave a generous coating of polish on overnight.

Brush off vigorously the nex morning and buff with a duster.

Ideally shoes should be polished once a week, this will keep the leather nourished. I prefer polish to cream.

bought some nice tan brogues over christmas.

having some loakes next, maybe some grensons for graduation :)

Cheap shoe brushes but decent polish work well

^this man knows his shit. (and yes i did just complement prancer)

Josh, this is an long-expected thread.

I believe Kiwi to be superior to other brands.

cheap brogues in TK-maxx, everyone seems to be rolling with them.
they are the proper welted ones you can send back to Nottingham for a man in a tan apron and round glasses to fix.

cheap brogues in tk-maxx, everyone seems to be rolling with them.
They are the proper welted ones you can send back to northhampton for a man in a tan apron and round glasses to fix.

ftfy

Brogues rock.

Grenson tan brogues are my weapon of choice.

My Ralph Lauren purple lable black shoes are also made by Green and Son (grenson).

I'd have a galavant along Jermyn Street, pop in the numerous gentlemen's shoe shops along there for the best tips and advice on maintaining shoes properly. What they won't know won't be worth knowing. Feed straight from the horses-mouth. Would be an intereresting trip.

So what's the deal with cleaning and polishing? I'd love to spend hours on it but don't always have the time. hard bristles? Soft bristles? What's that little brush for?!

Put it on with the little one. Take it off with the big one. Buff with a soft cloth.

Trickers.

thread ends

Ask someones grandad. They always know about that shit.

Dubbin, newspaper, soft cloth, polish

Never used a brush

i got a lovely pair of oliver sweeney's for my wedding

pretty much

trickers or churches for a slimmer dress shoe. £200+

grenson or loakes £100ish

few bargains in tkmaxx alright. those john whites were silly cheap for the material in them.

I just bought the ones of Asos for £25, my housemates at uni have Grensons and Trickers, this is all I can do to compete.

Does anyone have any tips for not keeping desert boots in good nick, I've gone through a pair a year for the last 4years! Should I use a protector on them or something?

Those john whites in tk max for about 40, are virtually identical to trickers, proper goodyear welting the lat.

There used to be a decent cobbler on Drury Lane called Krantz but it's recently gone tits up. He used to do a full resole on a pair of Trickers with full paintwash on the side of the sole/heel unit to look like the exact same original Trickers job. £30 and a two day turnaround as oppose to £80+ and a 5-6 week wait.
Used him for nearly 15yrs

Decent cobblers are few n far between nowadays

.

Scoble writes utter cobblers.

I'd have a galavant along Jermyn Street, pop in the numerous gentlemen's shoe shops along there for the best tips and advice on maintaining shoes properly. What they won't know won't be worth knowing. Feed straight from the horses-mouth. Would be an intereresting trip.

I bought my boots from the Tricker's shop there, and when I asked how best to clean them I expected them to give me a horribly pedantic list of rituals. Instead they said just to use whatever, as long as the leather is 'well fed' with moisture... wax polish, beeswax, whatever. I suppose this answers my question but, like everything, I feel like nerding out a bit.

Trickers.

thread ends

Opinion as fact as usual then Pistanator?!