Working Shoe for Young Exec - Part 2

[All in a Day]

Hi all

Happy Xmas! Recently I decided to get a pair of expensive shoes rather than buying the 100-200 range and replacing it every other year.

I was doing quick research on the bare essentials to take good care of this new investment and one of the things i saw was

1. Saphir Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
2. Saphir Gloss wax polish
3. Shoe Brush (horse hair)
4. Cedar shoe tree

Is this just nice or an overkill? Am also thinking wheres the best to get them from... i saw a couple of online sites that are selling the above two for under 30 bucks each

Thanks!!

Congrats on your new shoes, > 800 is quite an upgrade from 100-200, would you care to share which shoes u gotten?

On shoe care, I think what u've listed is adequate. Having the tools is one thing, setting aside time to put those tools to use and regularly maintain the shoes is ultimately what matters.

You might also want to take note of shoe rotation. Regardless how expensive your shoes are, if worn for long hours over consecutive days over a prolonged period, the shoes will wear down (fast) too. And that's how you start building a shoe collection LOL.

 

[thundermarch]

Do they have the round type? I presume flat ones not suitable for dress shoes?

In fact flat ones are extremely suitable for dress shoes.
You'll notice that high end work and most of the bespoke work you see out there, utilise flat laces in the finished shoes.

 

[skpuppy]

In fact flat ones are extremely suitable for dress shoes.
You'll notice that high end work and most of the bespoke work you see out there, utilise flat laces in the finished shoes.

Thanks. I read in website and many mention must use round for more formal. I presume we should use straight lacing?

 

[Pseudomonas]

Baudoin & Lange

Anyone tried on Baudoin & Lange loafers? Worth its price tag?

 

[wiz]

An example of flat laces which looks nice

Thanks. I read in website and many mention must use round for more formal. I presume we should use straight lacing?

 

[thundermarch]

Thanks. I read in website and many mention must use round for more formal. I presume we should use straight lacing?

Round laces are somewhat more conservative.

But in terms of overall "formalness" of the shoes, one should pay more attention to other details like style (oxfords more formal than open laced shoes), color (dark brown and black more formal than tan), and details (non brogued more formal than brogued).

That being said, the actual laces themselves are also important, they should not be too thick (roundabout 3mm is good), and they should be waxed. Too thick, and unwaxed, could look horrible. The same can be said of round laces.

And yes, straight lacing.

 

[wrinklednails]

Hi all

Happy Xmas! Recently I decided to get a pair of expensive shoes rather than buying the 100-200 range and replacing it every other year.

I was doing quick research on the bare essentials to take good care of this new investment and one of the things i saw was

1. Saphir Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
2. Saphir Gloss wax polish
3. Shoe Brush (horse hair)
4. Cedar shoe tree

Is this just nice or an overkill? Am also thinking wheres the best to get them from... i saw a couple of online sites that are selling the above two for under 30 bucks each

Thanks!!

If you're shopping for brushes, im looking to offload a couple of saphir 18cm ones. Drop me a PM or look up my carousell profile @pulloutnow. And yes, can't go wrong with Saphir shoe care and polish products!

 

[skpuppy]

I realize using saphir renovateur and horse brush to polish tends to make the shoe dull. Interestingly those liquid polish seems to perform much better in terms of gloss. Wonder why

 

[supernova]

Congrats on your new shoes, > 800 is quite an upgrade from 100-200, would you care to share which shoes u gotten?

On shoe care, I think what u've listed is adequate. Having the tools is one thing, setting aside time to put those tools to use and regularly maintain the shoes is ultimately what matters.

You might also want to take note of shoe rotation. Regardless how expensive your shoes are, if worn for long hours over consecutive days over a prolonged period, the shoes will wear down (fast) too. And that's how you start building a shoe collection LOL.

Completely agree on the need to rotate shoes

 

[supernova]

I realize using saphir renovateur and horse brush to polish tends to make the shoe dull. Interestingly those liquid polish seems to perform much better in terms of gloss. Wonder why

Renovateur is to strip off the current wax and nourish the leather.

You should polish with cream and brush for brush shine, and cloth/solid wax/water for mirror shine. Pls avoid liquid polish. I don’t even use them on my army boots.

 

[skpuppy]

Renovateur is to strip off the current wax and nourish the leather.

You should polish with cream and brush for brush shine, and cloth/solid wax/water for mirror shine. Pls avoid liquid polish. I don’t even use them on my army boots.

So I should buy there 2 item from Tangs?
Saphir Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
Saphir Gloss wax polish

 

[completenovice]

Question for Thundermarch

Actually, got loads of questions

Would like to understand shoe game better but don't want to drown you with unstructured queries.

Is there a book that you could recommend to help me understand some of the basics, a bit like the Guide to Cloth on Permanent Style?

Many thanks in advance!
[/LIST]

 

[supernova]

So I should buy there 2 item from Tangs?
Saphir Leather Cleaner & Conditioner
Saphir Gloss wax polish

Short answer is yes.

 

[wrinklednails]

I realize using saphir renovateur and horse brush to polish tends to make the shoe dull. Interestingly those liquid polish seems to perform much better in terms of gloss. Wonder why

You should allow some time for the saphir conditioner/creams to set into the leather after application and wipe off any excess with a cloth before buffing to shine with the brush. It takes much more time and elbow grease to work the natural waxes and ingredients in those products into a shine.

Instant products may be able to give you shine but they don't have the protective and restorative properties of the all natural line of products plus they would definitely not be able to achieve the gloss/hard shine you can get with manual effort and the saphir products.

 

[darthsid11111]

Actually, got loads of questions

Would like to understand shoe game better but don't want to drown you with unstructured queries.

Is there a book that you could recommend to help me understand some of the basics, a bit like the Guide to Cloth on Permanent Style?

Many thanks in advance!
[/LIST]

Kirby Allison's Hanger Project.

Sent from Samsung SM-G930F using GAGT

 

[All in a Day]

Kirby Allison's Hanger Project.

Sent from Samsung SM-G930F using GAGT

I think he might have meant dress shoes in general and not specifically on shoe care.

Edit: And I just noticed that the question was directed towards TM.

 

[thundermarch]

Actually, got loads of questions

Would like to understand shoe game better but don't want to drown you with unstructured queries.

Is there a book that you could recommend to help me understand some of the basics, a bit like the Guide to Cloth on Permanent Style?

Many thanks in advance!
[/LIST]

You can read some of the articles here. I think they are quite useful and also novice-friendly. Plenty of pictures too.
Good place to start.
http://www.theshoesnobblog.com/tag/things-to-know

 

[xiasuaykia]

Hi all,

Currently looking for a pair of nice working shoes for myself.

Budget around 300 - 400, best if i can try it out at retail stores, because my feet is wide, so gotta try on to know if comfortable a not.

Thanks for your response in advance <3.

 

[Lucky_Farmer]

Hi guys, I am looking for a pair of black leather shoes to wear with the tux for my wedding. I have been wearing Aldo shoes since I started work. Since this is a special occasion, I am looking for a better option to wear on the day. Much appreciated if someone could provide some recommendations. Budget is up to SGD 1000.

Hi guys, Thanks for all the recommendations (and the great help I have had from Supernova). Below are the pairs which I have shortlisted. I am having a headache now since all of them look good. If you were me, what would you go with?

P/S: I spoke to Supernova about this and agreed with him that I will only use this black pair for my wedding and certain very formal events (probably one per year) - I will not be using this as my everyday pair so it might not be a good idea to spend too much money on it. so that the remaining amount will go to a decent brown pair which I will use everyday.

1. Enzo Bonafe

https://www.instagram.com/p/BccEzw9BVVN/

This is subject to a promotion so it is going for around 400sgd if I recall correctly. It is a really comfortable pair. The only issue is that the last is wider than other options. I am not really tall (1m68) so this might make me look even shorter. I would prefer a slim looking last ( Rain last or Simpson last).

2. Carlos Santos

https://www.skoaktiebolaget.com/collections/oxfords/products/carlos-santos-classic-oxford-in-black

This is going for a very decent price. It is the cheaper than the remaining options. The only issue is that I have not tried them on so I am not sure about the quality. Does anyone own a CS pair here?

3. Carmina

https://www.skoaktiebolaget.com/collections/oxfords/products/carmina-modern-classic-in-black

Currently this is the best option for me. this pair is not as comfortable as the EB pair but I like the style and the quality.

I am curious to try the a.meccariello pair below but Yeossal's owner has not responded to me for a few days now. He might be overseas.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXHMe4VnmJs/

Guys, grateful for your thoughts here.

 

[wiz]

Hi, if the Bonafé is going for $400 then you better grab it very quickly! Black maybe a tad too formal but it works well in dark pants. I have a black EB pair and wear it regularly

Hi guys, Thanks for all the recommendations (and the great help I have had from Supernova). Below are the pairs which I have shortlisted. I am having a headache now since all of them look good. If you were me, what would you go with?

Guys, grateful for your thoughts here.