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Traditionally constructed shoes, not least stitched ones, are almost always marketed with emphasis on the possibilities of resoling and repairing them. It often appears that they can be re-soled forever. It’s not that simple, though. Here I go through the possibilities and shortcomings of the most common construction methods, as well as the conditions for re-heeling and resoling.
One always talk about how much easier things are with good tools, and this also applies to shoe care and the brushes we use. Here is a comprehensive guide on the various shoe brushes available, how to use them and examples of good alternatives.
In addition to shoe care, the most common questions I get is about purchases for those who have just started to take an interest in classic quality shoes. Here is a concrete guide on how to think when to build a shoe wardrobe.
Time for a new review of my shoe collection as it looks right now. Quite a lot has happened over the last two years since I last had time to do this type of post, although the amount is the same: 23 pairs in total.
Finally time for an English version of the detailed step by step shoe care guide with lots of information on how and why you should take care of your nice leather shoes, including a film showing every step. Also reviews two different techniques for shoe shining, one of them being the express spit shine method, with which you can achieve a proper high gloss in 15 minutes.
For those who want a really good shine on their shoes it’s standard to use wax polish, which main features are just to produce shine and protection. However it’s possible to get really nice shine by just using cream, here’s a small crash course on how to do with the help of Hiroto Kawaguchi at Waltz Shoeshine Saloon in Tokyo.
Due to the fact that a vast majority of the shoes sold are Ready to Wear, and many of them are ordered online, it’s very common that they doesn’t fit perfectly. Ideally, it would have been to change that shoe to another model in another last that fits one’s feet better, but it’s often not done. Fortunately, it’s possible to make a lot of corrections both to make shoes smaller and bigger, which even it might not create a perfect fit it can be a great improvement.
The famous leather type cordovan, made of horse’s rump, is more popular than in many years. It’s a material that differs a lot from regular calf leather, both in terms of appearance, character, and not least in the way it is cared for. Here’s a guide to how to care for cordovan shoes.
How the toe is designed is perhaps the most important aesthetic part on a shoe. With its position at the front, it is the most visible, and much of how the rest of the shoes shape is perceived by the viewer is determined by the toe. Of course there are lots of different types of toe shapes, but this is an attempt to categorise and explain some traditionally used toe shapes, and some overviewing categories. I also explained often misinterpreted expressions like chiseled.
When it comes to maximizing the life of your shoes, there are three cornerstones: shoe care, shoe trees and rest. In this post I go through lots of info regarding one of these: the shoe trees.
