How to care for your shoes

Just a quick advice on how to care for your leather shoes.
There are cheap, mid grade and top quality leather.

If you have bought mid grade to top quality, it's best to care for them to prolong their lifespan.
Because unlike clothes or bags, shoes are firmly on the ground. They touch the icky toilet floor and dirty gravelly road. And dust settles on them like flies to rotten fish.

So, if you love your shoe, here's quick advice (no rocket science) on how to care for them.
Otherwise, ignore it and just do like how I do, throw and chuck them out once they wear out.
Because shoes are not meant to last forever.
Those who say their Choos last forever, it means they don't wear them, they display it in their air conditioned walk in closet to admire.
That way, yes, the shoe will last forever.
It also means that the shoe could have been so painful that they prefer to just showcase it in their closet, rather than wear it out.

For smooth leather, it is best to buy leather moisturizer so that your leather gets a 'drink' and don't dry out. Leather moisturizer should be of a light, white creamy colour, avoid buying those that are jet black as the black may cause your shoe to discolor. I have been to many stores looking for leather moisturizer and most untrained staff will push a can of dark goo and say this is it. Get out of that shop fast.

Once you get the right moisturizer, do the lining first (assuming if your shoe's lining is leather as well). Test a small patch and if it's alright, do the insides before going to outside (shoe upper). Use a soft dry cloth and rub it in with circular motion, never use paper towel or paper on your shoe. A little goes a long way, so resist putting on huge gobs at a time! Anytime you are not sure, just try a small area first.

For suede, invest in suede leather protector. As suede is quite porous and absorbs dirt fast, the protector is supposed to help give the leather a thin 'film' of protection against water, dirt and protects the intensity of the color. Suede leather protectors usually come in spray form, in those aerosol cans. Preferably, spray your shoes outside, hold the spray can 5 - 10 inches away from the shoe and give it a good spray all over. Never do it too close, it may damage your shoe if the can spouts big goblets of liquid on your shoe instead of a thin mist.

For outsoles made of leather, you need to strip it out and resole every now and then when the leather has worn out. Or before you wear them, get them to a cobbler who can protect the soles by putting a layer of rubber sole on top of your leather sole(the part that touches the floor, not the entire strip).

Most designer shoes comes with leather on the outsole. I don't think it's worth the trouble as leather soles are not as long lasting. That's why I use rubber resin. The purpose of using leather outsole is for the feel when walking. It is supposedly softer on your feet and doesn't do click clack click clack then you walk. And it makes the overall shoe look more expensive. Supposedly. If you use poor grade leather, then it's not gonna help much. Most women who buy designer shoes with leather outsole would get their cobbler to place a rubber sole on top of their leather sole to protect it and avoid that unnecessary need to resole it later. What's the point of buying a shoe with leather outsole then, right?
Well, at least that's what I think.

Lastly, only store them in their box if you think it is necessary, like you have no space or your area is really dusty. If not, it is always preferable to store them standing upright, on a shelf. And in an air conditioned room.

If you need to pack your shoes to travel, use the dustbags that came with it. I prefer mine to be thin and see through to allow for the leather to 'breathe' and 1 for each side instead of 1 big, thick dustbag to fit 2 sides in. Nothing wrong but your shoe may rub onto each other and possibly scuff the leather(esp if it's really soft leather, like calfskin) when you are rolling your suitcase around. Worst, when the bags get thrown here and there by baggage handlers in the airport.

So, here's to prolonged lifespan of your leather shoe!