Show us your new shoes
Discussion
FreeLitres said:
Hi Calza,
For shoe cleaning/polish, I would highly recommend the Saphir range, available on Amazon and eBay. This is some of the best stuff you can buy, but is relatively expensive.
MINIMUM:
Saphir Renovateur £12 ish - For initial feeding of the leather
Kiwi Parade Gloss polish £2 ish - For a great shine and cheaper alternative to Sahpir
MID:
Saphir Renovateur £12 ish - For initial feeding of the leather
Saphir Black Cream polish £10 ish - For additional feeding and medium shine
BEST
Saphir Renovateur £12 ish - For initial feeding of the leather
Saphir Black Cream polish £10 ish - For additional feeding and shine
Saphir Black wax polish £10 ish - For a very deep shine
I ended up with Renovateur and black plus 2 brown shades of both the Saphir cream and wax. It can cost a fortune if you have various shades of shoe!
ALSO - perhaps more importantly - get a pair of Cedar wood shoe trees. The Charles Tyrwhitt ones have offered the best fit in most of my shoes. I have about 5 pairs of those too! Don't pay more than £20 a pair though. Without the shoe trees, your shoes will look battered and creased way before their time.
Top advice thanks. I've already got the Saphir Renovateur, and I got a tub of Loake Wax Polish thrown in with the shoes. I've also got some CT cedarwood ready to slot in them.For shoe cleaning/polish, I would highly recommend the Saphir range, available on Amazon and eBay. This is some of the best stuff you can buy, but is relatively expensive.
MINIMUM:
Saphir Renovateur £12 ish - For initial feeding of the leather
Kiwi Parade Gloss polish £2 ish - For a great shine and cheaper alternative to Sahpir
MID:
Saphir Renovateur £12 ish - For initial feeding of the leather
Saphir Black Cream polish £10 ish - For additional feeding and medium shine
BEST
Saphir Renovateur £12 ish - For initial feeding of the leather
Saphir Black Cream polish £10 ish - For additional feeding and shine
Saphir Black wax polish £10 ish - For a very deep shine
I ended up with Renovateur and black plus 2 brown shades of both the Saphir cream and wax. It can cost a fortune if you have various shades of shoe!
ALSO - perhaps more importantly - get a pair of Cedar wood shoe trees. The Charles Tyrwhitt ones have offered the best fit in most of my shoes. I have about 5 pairs of those too! Don't pay more than £20 a pair though. Without the shoe trees, your shoes will look battered and creased way before their time.
Do you think this would be ok, or am I really better going from the black cream polish instead of the Loake stuff?
Calza said:
Top advice thanks. I've already got the Saphir Renovateur, and I got a tub of Loake Wax Polish thrown in with the shoes. I've also got some CT cedarwood ready to slot in them.
Do you think this would be ok, or am I really better going from the black cream polish instead of the Loake stuff?
I'd say that combo is good for now.Do you think this would be ok, or am I really better going from the black cream polish instead of the Loake stuff?
The Saphir cream has lots of black pigment in it, so if at some point in the future you find your shoes are really scuffed and scratched up, the creme would not only help moisturise the leather but it could be used to colour the scratches black to lessen the visual impact. Black wax would give a similar look, but it would be a more superficial temporary covering and it doesn't moisturise.
As I read on a different forum - "The cream is for the shoe, the wax if for the owner"
FreeLitres said:
I'd say that combo is good for now.
The Saphir cream has lots of black pigment in it, so if at some point in the future you find your shoes are really scuffed and scratched up, the creme would not only help moisturise the leather but it could be used to colour the scratches black to lessen the visual impact. Black wax would give a similar look, but it would be a more superficial temporary covering and it doesn't moisturise.
As I read on a different forum - "The cream is for the shoe, the wax if for the owner"
That's good to know about the Saphir cream thanks, sounds like a useful thing to have for a better colour top up every now and then for any shoe!The Saphir cream has lots of black pigment in it, so if at some point in the future you find your shoes are really scuffed and scratched up, the creme would not only help moisturise the leather but it could be used to colour the scratches black to lessen the visual impact. Black wax would give a similar look, but it would be a more superficial temporary covering and it doesn't moisturise.
As I read on a different forum - "The cream is for the shoe, the wax if for the owner"
Can I ask how often you would polish / creme / renovatuer the shoe? My plan was polish every ~10 days of wear, and I read the renovatuer is really once every 6 months or so. Then the creme somewhere between the two as and when.
And final question I promise, do you use any kind of spray sealant or anything on your shoes? I've got some suitable for leather that lets it breathe so seems a good idea after polishing?
Personally, I would never spray any waterproofing on a fine calf-leather dress shoe.
It probably contains stuff like silicones and will run the finish on the shoe. The same is true for a lot of those "liquid polish" applicator things.
The wax layer will be waterproof. If you will be regularly standing out in the rain for hours at a time, you have bought the wrong style of shoe.
I would only ever use a spray like that on a country-style boot that you think it likely to get wet often.
It probably contains stuff like silicones and will run the finish on the shoe. The same is true for a lot of those "liquid polish" applicator things.
The wax layer will be waterproof. If you will be regularly standing out in the rain for hours at a time, you have bought the wrong style of shoe.
I would only ever use a spray like that on a country-style boot that you think it likely to get wet often.
https://www.zalando.co.uk/barker-ewan-smart-lace-u...
Only size 9 left in rosewood brown now.
They have more sizes in black calf leather.
Website shows £140 but if you sign up to their newsletter, you get a £10 off code straight away.
Only size 9 left in rosewood brown now.
They have more sizes in black calf leather.
Website shows £140 but if you sign up to their newsletter, you get a £10 off code straight away.
Fas1975 said:
Sucks, I'm a 10 and have a couple of pairs of black brogues, my brown ones need replacing and these are ideal, will keep a look out.
You'll squeeze into a 9! 
To be honest, these are on the same last as some other Barkers I have and they have an elongated toe box - you won't run out of toe space! The width would be the limiting factor as they are quite narrow.
Fas1975 said:
LOL, will stick to the 10. I'm super risk averse when it comes to my feet! Comfort is paramount
Same as me really!This is the first pair I have bought without trying on. I'm working on the basis that they are the same size and last as another pair that fits. They have an easy returns procedure so I'm not particularly worried.
Good luck in your search
LordGrover said:
Alex L said:
Fittster said:
LordGrover said:
Tyrwhitt shoes any good? I like their shirts but not sure whether to trust that extends to shoes.
Majority of their shoe range is made by Barker, apparently to the standards of their professional line which come in between £175 to £225.
I have a 11% discount offer this week so will place an order.
Good fit, but not too happy with the quality:
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