There is something about a good pair of country boots that makes you want to put them through the ringer. After all, that is what they are made for. But even
Exposed Sole Stitching: Does It Mean Your Leather Sole Is Worn Out?
In my over 20 years of dealing with fine footwear, and particularly throughout my quest to create some of the best-value welted shoes on the market, I have
Can You Wear Suede in the Rain? Here’s What I Wear
The best shoe to wear in the rain is any model in dark brown suede with a rubber sole. Hands down. That can be an oxford, a loafer, a monk strap, or, my
5 Shoe Polishing Mistakes to Avoid
I see and hear about shoe polishing mistakes all the time. Sometimes they ruin the shine. Sometimes they do something to the leather that is a lot harder to
How to Properly Store Your Shoes
We spend a lot of time talking about how to care for our shoes while wearing them. How to polish them. How often to condition the leather. Whether or not to use
Leather Shoe Scuffs: Why They Happen & How to Fix Them
Leather shoe scuffs are inevitable. If you wear your shoes, eventually you are going to scuff them. This compounds exponentially if you are the type of person
Why Are Wholecut Oxfords More Expensive?
Have you ever wondered why wholecut oxfords can be more expensive than many other styles within the Oxford family? At first glance, it almost seems backward. A
Shoe Colors Online vs Real Life: Why Lighting Changes Everything
One of the biggest challenges in buying shoes online is understanding shoe colors online vs real life. And this is not just a customer issue. It is also one of
How to Restore a Cracked Mirror Shine
One of the most common misconceptions about a cracked mirror shine is that the leather itself has been damaged. In most cases, that is not true. What you are
Do Not Wear Brand New Shoes In The Rain
One would think that it is common sense not to wear brand-new shoes in the rain. And of course, I won’t lie and say that I have never done it. But after doing
Should You Condition New Shoes? (Do Not Do This)
Do Not Condition Brand New Shoes To condition new shoes or not? That is the question many apparently face. And the answer is simple: DON'T. That simple rule
Leather Quality in Dress Shoes
Introduction: “Leather Quality” Is Not a Simple Term People love to say “high-quality leather," or "Brand X uses 'better' leather." But what does that really
A Guide to Leather Creasing
Leather creases. Full stop. And leather creasing is about as natural as your skin eventually wrinkling. There is no such thing as crease-free leather, and
Heel Stiffeners in Shoes: What Matters and What Doesn’t
The longer I work in footwear, the more I’ve realized that many of the things people obsess over simply don’t matter as much as the internet would have you
How Long Should Shoes Last? A Guide by Price, Quality & Care
When people ask “how long should shoes last?” the reality is: it depends on more factors than you can imagine. A shoe’s lifespan is determined by construction,
Hand Sewing the Upper: A True Craftsmanship Challenge
Hand sewing the upper is a demanding and meticulous process. At first glance, especially through pictures, it may appear straightforward—but don’t be fooled.
A Guide To Leather
Many different types of leather are used in footwear these days. In this leather guide, we will also explain the many different styles of the same type of
5 Minute Shoe Care
The 5 minute shoe care video presented is not to show you any magic that you can possibly create in 5 minutes. It is a video to show you that good share-care
The Best Rain Weather Shoe
The best rain weather shoe is a dark brown suede with a rubber sole. Hands down. It is a myth that suede is not good for rain. This statement is only true when
The Differences in Suede
Like most leathers, suede can be complex, inconsistent, and vary greatly from hide to hide. Let us take a look at a very simple example of this with two pairs
The Delusion of the Uncreased Leather
Believing in the delusion of the uncreased leather is akin to believing in unicorns. It's incredible how many people apparently believe in unicorns these days.
Video: Suede In The Rain
While I have written about this subject a bunch of times on the blog I finally was able to show you in a video just how good a suede can handle rain when
Video: How To Quickly Tidy Up Your Leather Footwear
Shoe care doesn't have to be intense or take a long time. More often than not, like any kind of routine, if we simply start a regular schedule of
Brown Suede Boots For Winter
Suede often gets a bad rap as a delicate material. The reality couldn't be further from the truth though and suede is often my go-to choice during our
