Show us your new shoes (Vol 2)
Discussion
Did you use the renovateur with them straight out the box?Thanks! I wore them the first time without any products as I had ordered some Venetian cream as recomended by Horween (makers of Chromexcel). The delivery got delayed so I got bored and dug out the Reno.
Venetian cream is a lot like Renovateur but a bit thicker and stinks of turps. Reno is much nicer to use. In the UK they cost about the same to buy but Reno is 20+ times more expensive than Venetian cream in the USA!
Venetian cream is a lot like Renovateur but a bit thicker and stinks of turps. Reno is much nicer to use. In the UK they cost about the same to buy but Reno is 20+ times more expensive than Venetian cream in the USA!
Came with dainite sole, goodyear welted. Can't complain for £100.
(I'd better get out the renovateur!)
I've picked up quite a few of these 'Made to Order' Loakes from TK Maxx. They seem to get snapped up quickly as they do stand out over the 'Loake L1s' they often stock for the same price.
PS, no hating on the wallpaper. We moved house in Sept and have yet to do any redecorating so can't be held responsible.
g3org3y said:
Came with dainite sole, goodyear welted. Can't complain for £100.
(I'd better get out the renovateur!)
I've picked up quite a few of these 'Made to Order' Loakes from TK Maxx. They seem to get snapped up quickly as they do stand out over the 'Loake L1s' they often stock for the same price.
PS, no hating on the wallpaper. We moved house in Sept and have yet to do any redecorating so can't be held responsible.
FreeLitres said:
Nice! I didn't spot those come in.
MTOs tend to cost more than the standard ranges, which makes the value for money even better. I guess the Loake MTOs are of the 1880 level?
They were sold out in all sizes within a day.MTOs tend to cost more than the standard ranges, which makes the value for money even better. I guess the Loake MTOs are of the 1880 level?
Also found a pair of MTO chukkas (leather sole, goodyear welted) in a very nice leather (also sold out in a day). Unfortunately 8 was too small and 9 was too big so had to return them. I consoled myself with the thought that owning 4 pairs of Loake chukkas was probably excessive.
I'm not too sure re the MTO quality.These have the cheaper 'Design Loake' insole in them but proper dainite sole (and labelled goodyear welted). Interestingly they've not bothered to put the Loake sticker underneath.
I suspect they were an unwanted order so rather than finish them 'properly' they put the cheaper insole in them and didn't bother 'completing' the bottom. Regardless, a decent boot with proper sole for £100 is a good buy in my eyes.
55palfers said:
Can't believe you bought a house with that wallpaper!
Desperate times. If only I hadn't spent all my money on shoes. 
This isn't technically a question for the shoe thread, but there isn't a leather upkeep thread so this is the next best thing. I have a vegetable tanned leather wallet that I've been using daily for a year or more now without any maintenance. Given the initial colour looked like I'd harvested someone's skin it has darkened down a fair bit, but what product would you recommend I use on it to keep the leather feeling healthy and looking good? I deliberately didn't obsess in upkeep with the intention of gaining a nice patina, which seems to be working. Now I'd like to protect it a little.
For basic leather care on a wallet, I would go for a conditioner. I like the conditioners from both Bick4 and Lexol. Both are mild but I prefer Bick4 as Lexol leave the item feeling a little more greasy. Don't expect the wallet to back to it's initial colour though. Embrace the "patina"!
If you are feeling flush, Saphir Renovateur is really nice stuff and it conditions, cleans and polishes a little too.
If you are feeling flush, Saphir Renovateur is really nice stuff and it conditions, cleans and polishes a little too.
FreeLitres said:
For basic leather care on a wallet, I would go for a conditioner. I like the conditioners from both Bick4 and Lexol. Both are mild but I prefer Bick4 as Lexol leave the item feeling a little more greasy. Don't expect the wallet to back to it's initial colour though. Embrace the "patina"!
If you are feeling flush, Saphir Renovateur is really nice stuff and it conditions, cleans and polishes a little too.
Is there any particular variety of Saphir I ought to be looking at? I see one on Amazon for £11 which, while expensive, seems a reasonable cost to keep the wallet looking right for years to come. The patina is fine by me; seeing other weathered items was why I had to have vegetable tanned leather myself.If you are feeling flush, Saphir Renovateur is really nice stuff and it conditions, cleans and polishes a little too.
Yes. thats the one.
I tend to buy my Saphir stuff from here as it works out slightly cheaper:
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
I tend to buy my Saphir stuff from here as it works out slightly cheaper:
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
A question similar to the above, I've just purchased some black Loake full brogues.
Should I treat/polish them with something before wearing them out to protect them?
If not, and it's better to let them wear, what's good to use to restore them to a good finish once they've had some use? And how often?
Cheers!
Should I treat/polish them with something before wearing them out to protect them?
If not, and it's better to let them wear, what's good to use to restore them to a good finish once they've had some use? And how often?
Cheers!
It depends on the leather. Do you have a photo?
Many Loakes are made from the mega shiny corrected grain leather which can't really be polished any further.
General shoe care has been covered many times before in this thread. To save you scrolling past all the tan brogue photos...
Calf leather (it will say so on the box) can benefit from conditioner every few months (Bick 4, Lexol, Renovateur). A cream polish contains lots of pigment which can cover/re-colour most scratches. Go over the whole of the uppers with this. If you like really shiney toes on calf leather, you can apply some wax polish on the areas that do not flex. (Toe cap, heel) For cream and wax, the Saphir Medaille d'Or range seem to be the best. If you just want some basic wax, Kiwi is good and much cheaper. Don't use any "instant shine" liquid products as they are silicone based.
Perhaps most importantly, use cedar wood shoe trees to keep your shoes dry and in shape. I like the Charles Tyrwhitt ones as they tend to fit whatever shoes you have. A 100% horse hair brush can be used before and after each wear to keep the dust off.
Many Loakes are made from the mega shiny corrected grain leather which can't really be polished any further.
General shoe care has been covered many times before in this thread. To save you scrolling past all the tan brogue photos...
Calf leather (it will say so on the box) can benefit from conditioner every few months (Bick 4, Lexol, Renovateur). A cream polish contains lots of pigment which can cover/re-colour most scratches. Go over the whole of the uppers with this. If you like really shiney toes on calf leather, you can apply some wax polish on the areas that do not flex. (Toe cap, heel) For cream and wax, the Saphir Medaille d'Or range seem to be the best. If you just want some basic wax, Kiwi is good and much cheaper. Don't use any "instant shine" liquid products as they are silicone based.
Perhaps most importantly, use cedar wood shoe trees to keep your shoes dry and in shape. I like the Charles Tyrwhitt ones as they tend to fit whatever shoes you have. A 100% horse hair brush can be used before and after each wear to keep the dust off.
nigelpugh7 said:
Just picked these Oliver Sweeney Chelsea Boots as they were half price at my favorite local gents outfitters shop!
Seem very nicely made, not had any Blake Stiched sole shoes before, I know there’s pros and cons, some say they are not as comfortable, but gave them a good try before buying and seem very comfortable indeed!
Regarding my new Oliver Sweeney Chelsea boots posted above. Seem very nicely made, not had any Blake Stiched sole shoes before, I know there’s pros and cons, some say they are not as comfortable, but gave them a good try before buying and seem very comfortable indeed!
Would this be suitable to treat the soles to make them more useable in damp conditions?.
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
nigelpugh7 said:
Regarding my new Oliver Sweeney Chelsea boots posted above.
Would this be suitable to treat the soles to make them more useable in damp conditions?.
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
I have them on my leather soles, I think it helps a bit but I doubt it would do much on a downpour. Best bet is to break out those rubber soles instead. Would this be suitable to treat the soles to make them more useable in damp conditions?.
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/products/saphir...
kelv_w said:
I have them on my leather soles, I think it helps a bit but I doubt it would do much on a downpour. Best bet is to break out those rubber soles instead.
Thanks, I assume you mean don’t go out in the rain on them at all, and chose another pair to wear with rubber soles on such inclement days! Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff