A few years ago, a much older and wiser gentleman than I told me, that in the "olden days" people would buy high quality shoes and regularly polish and maintain them; they would last them 20 sometimes 30 years. I took his advice to heart and started to get myself a proper kit together, as I didn't feel like throwing out perfectly good shoes after 2-3 years of wear. Mind you, up to that time I only really polished shoes and boots in the army, and as 20-something year old, I didn't really enjoy that particular chore. Plus we didn't really get any good stuff, but good enough to let them shine and the skills to do so.
As I got older, I started to enjoy the occasional Saturday afternoon of shoe polishing, and my shoes hold and hold and hopefully hold another couple of years. My wife is mildly smiling when I lug my polishing box on the balcony into the sunshine, but my shoes do shine, sometimes so much so that they reflect the world around them. When you go out to work you don't see many people who have polished shoes, but I do enjoy walking with my mirror shine and I can tell you that people do notice and it makes a tremendous impression upon them. And if I do happen to see a fellow shoe shiner, we nod to each other and exchange knowing smiles...ah, another gentleman paying attention to the details.
I do find my polishing session to be incredibly calming, almost meditative; just as I find the same calmness in writing with a Fountain pen, drinking really good tea, or the morning shave with a DE razor.
Finally, I do not believe that polishing your shoes should be just reserved for tailor made shoes; very good leather shoes should be polished and maintained, whether you have spent $150 or $2000 on them. The most important is that you have a good quality shoe and by all means keep them polished. The impression you'll make on those around you will benefit you greatly.
As I got older, I started to enjoy the occasional Saturday afternoon of shoe polishing, and my shoes hold and hold and hopefully hold another couple of years. My wife is mildly smiling when I lug my polishing box on the balcony into the sunshine, but my shoes do shine, sometimes so much so that they reflect the world around them. When you go out to work you don't see many people who have polished shoes, but I do enjoy walking with my mirror shine and I can tell you that people do notice and it makes a tremendous impression upon them. And if I do happen to see a fellow shoe shiner, we nod to each other and exchange knowing smiles...ah, another gentleman paying attention to the details.
I do find my polishing session to be incredibly calming, almost meditative; just as I find the same calmness in writing with a Fountain pen, drinking really good tea, or the morning shave with a DE razor.
Finally, I do not believe that polishing your shoes should be just reserved for tailor made shoes; very good leather shoes should be polished and maintained, whether you have spent $150 or $2000 on them. The most important is that you have a good quality shoe and by all means keep them polished. The impression you'll make on those around you will benefit you greatly.
