How to Care for Men's Dress Shoes
Posted on 28th June 2019 at 19:33
You can tell a lot by a man’s shoes. Well… we certainly can. You can tell how they care for them, that’s for sure. A good pair of dress shoes are an essential item to own and you never know when you’re going to need them.
You can tell a lot by a man’s shoes. Well… we certainly can. You can tell how they care for them, that’s for sure. A good pair of dress shoes are an essential item to own and you never know when you’re going to need them.
Keeping them looking (and feeling) great is important to your long-lasting relationship together. Shoes are much like tyres on your car – they’re the only thing between you and the floor, so they need to perform!
Spending hours in uncomfortable shoes that hurt your feet isn’t something we’d recommend and certainly not something you’d want to happen to you. You’ll also want your shoes to look their best and last for many years to come.
So how do you make sure your shoes stay the course?
Caring for your shoes is key here. After you’ve selected the right shoes and got a pair for the right occasion, it’s now down to you to care for them and give them the best chance possible to wine, dine, and help you look and feel your best.
Here are our top shoe care tips to make sure you’re both walking in harmony for years to come.
Don’t banish and forget them!
It’s really common for dress shoes to be worn to the black-tie event or awards dinner and then cast aside, back in the wardrobe until they’re needed again. It’s the time between wears that you need to pay attention to.
Your shiny black dress shoes are like any other pair of shoes except they can be hidden away in your wardrobe for long periods of time. With dress shoes it’s a case of how to care for them between wears that really matters.
Put them away dry!
In the UK, we all know we’re at risk of getting a bit wet, even in the summer. Although leather shoes are mostly waterproof, if they do get wet, you’ll need to make sure you get them dried off properly.
If your dress shoes get wet at the black-tie event, make sure you let them dry out naturally for a good period of time before putting them in to storage. Putting them away wet will damage and shorten the life of the leather and it will give them a funky smell, too.
DO NOT put them near a radiator though. Never leave leather by a radiator or in direct sunlight as this can cause cracking, and that’s the last thing you need. Air them in natural temperatures and dry them with a soft cloth as much as you can.
Pack them out when you pack them away!
Your dress shoes will stay in storage for the majority of their life, even if you’re a real party goer. So how you store them is important. Stuff them with scrunched up newspaper. Or, if you have them, use a good pair of cedar wood shoe trees will help them to dry, smell fresh, and allow the leather to breathe.
This will keep the shape and allow the air around the shoe to circulate. Your wardrobe is a lonely, dark place, and your shoes will need some moral support in there. Investing in a good cedar wood shoe tree is a must in our eyes.
Polish before… long before the event!
It can often be the case that a pair of dress shoes doesn’t so much as smell a whiff of polish until the night of the event. Come on… admit it, you’ve polished your shoes whilst waiting for the taxi, right?
Well it’s not just about the shine of your shoe. Polish will help to keep your shoes supple and that means they’ll stay feeling fresh and flexible and you’ll feel way more comfortable in them.
Polish them regularly, ideally every 2-3 months, to help keep the leather supple and nourished. This way your shoes will always be ready for action for that big night out.
Box clever!
Shoe boxes might seem like a useful transport device for you shoes but they’re also the best place to store them long term, long after you bought them back from the shop. Even better, if your shoes came with shoe bags or a soft cloth then store them in those!
This will give your shoes extra protection and help them last the years.
Softly does it…
Shoe care is all about keeping your dress shoes soft, comfortable, and looking their best. You need a little routine that you do once every few months to check on your shoes, air them, polish them, and the return them to storage with a fresh buff of polish.
Sometimes these events can come at short notice. With a good shoe care routine you’ll always be ready, and your feet will thank you for the soft and supple shoes you have at the ready.
Care for you shoes and they’ll care for you. Oh… and get a cedar wood shoe tree. They’re a must!
Need more help? Walk into our menswear shop in Warwick and we’ll be glad to help!
Questions, comments, or feedback?
We'd love to hear from you. You can use the form below to tell us what's on your mind.
Share this post: