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
Why You Should Avoid Neutral Shoe Polish
Neutral Shoe Polish is Not For Novices Neutral shoe polish—often seen as the “safe” option—is actually one of the most misunderstood products in shoe care.
Saphir Shoe Shine Masterclass NYC – Winter 2026
We’re bringing the shine back to New York City with the Saphir Shoe Shine Masterclass NYC Winter Edition On March 7th, 2026, at 4:30 PM, we return to Soho
World Shoe Shining & Patina Championships 2026 – Qualification
It’s time to officially kick off the qualification phase for the World Championships of Shoe Shining 2026 and the World Championships of Shoe Patina
How to Fix Your Shoe Shine (Fast, Safe Guide)
If your mirror shine looks cracked or patchy—don’t panic. Here’s how to fix your shoe shine on dark calfskin in minutes: even out the wax (melting it into the
U.S. Championships of Shoe Shining 2025 – Qualification
Time to qualify for the U.S. Championships of Shoe Shining 2025, with the finals taking place at the large shoe event, The New York Super Trunk Show, on October
Shoe Shining Tips & Tricks
Back when I was a 'professional shoe shiner,' I wrote a long, educational post about how to polish your shoes properly. I later realized that I had never shared
Free Shoe Shine by Saphir
At the NY Super Trunk Show, this October 5th, there will be a free shoe shine by Saphir service throughout the day. None other than Preston Soto, of The Elegant
Shoe Shine Don’ts: Top 5
There are many shoe shine don'ts in the world of shoe care, but here we will focus on these top 5. I see and hear about constant mistakes people make when
U.S. Shoe Shine Competition
Get ready for the first U.S. Shoe Shine Competition heading your way this October, at our inaugural New York Super Trunk Show! The New York Super Trunk Show
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
Elevate Your Allen Edmonds
I have not been a fan of Allen Edmonds for about 15 years now. Since the day their new stock came in at Nordstrom (while I was selling there), I could see that
No Pair is Beyond Saving
A good shoe shine artist is like a magician. They bring things back from the dead and make transformations that would make your eyes pop out. But make no
The Elegant Oxford – Your Shoe Care Guide
Shoe Care might actually be the biggest and most popular subject in the shoe industry. Back when I used to post a lot more about it, as I was a 'professional'
Using Saphir to Get the Shine Results You Want!
It is not a coincidence that Instagram, YouTube and the rest of the web for that matter is riddled with people taking photos of their shiny shoes next to Saphir
The Perfect Cap Shine
A lot of people get overzealous with their shoe shining and want to cover the entire toe cap using the cap line as their metric of measurement. The problem with
World Championships in Shoe Shining and Patina Finalists – London Super Trunk Show 2019
An American, a Japanese and a Russian in the shoe shining contest, and a Polish, a Frenchman, and a British Gent in the patina competition. These are
The Go-To London Shoe Shiner
For the last 3 years, I have been shining shoes in London to an artisanal type standard. That being, I provided a military-like shine that left the shoes
The Shine – Polish Patina Service
The world of patina is growing day by day and it would not surprise me if it soon becomes as popular as mirror shine shoe polishing (what I mean by that is that
Leather Is Not What You Think
The shoe industry is ever evolving. What was fact last year, is not this year and won't be next year. What I mean by that (and this is something that I have
Shine Your Heart Out! – L’art Du Glaçage
Some of the most impressive shines I have seen in recent times --again thankfully discovered due to Instagram-- are by a young gentleman who works in
The Shoe Snob Looks for Part-Time Worker
Dear Readers, A while back, I asked all of you for donations in order to help hire someone that could relieve some pressures off of myself so that I could
No Matter How Much You Spend, Leather Is Not Invincible!
I have been reading a bit lately on the forums and seeing how one brand (one of the best that is) in particular is taking a lot of flack for how one specific
The Cap Shine
There is one simple thing that can make nearly any shoe look better and that is a cap shine. Something about having a shiny toe does a lot of justice
