Polishing brogues??

[Bugbear]

Shucks, and here I've always thought it was so named because it was made o' kiwi poop (the bird, not the NZers you sickos!)

kidding...

Oh, so now my "cheap" shoes are really polished with bird poop! Well, what else would they be polished with!

Yes, yes, yes, I know; the kiwi birds were just sitting in the shoe trees, and that is how it happened.

And, yes I know, most of my shoe trees are "cheap" plastic shoe trees. I put a cotton sock with a sprig of rosemary from my garden over the shoe tree when I put them in my shoes.

Pesky little birds...

[Carolina Kiltman]

Until he died in the early 70's I used to get shoes from a Mexican bootmaker, a truly gifted man when it came to leather work. When I bought my first pair of shoes from him in the early 50's his instructions were once each week, to use saddle soap to clean them, then use any of the commercial paste polishes, Kiwi, Griffin, etc. Also to alternate wearings, one pair one day, another pair the next.

I followed his instructions religiously (The two pairs of shoes cost me almost half of my month's pay as an Ensign). That pair lasted nearly 15 years. Lots of resoles and new heels, though.

I have never owned patent leather shoes however.

[Thunderbolt]

Good shoes have always been important to me. I hate bad shoes.

Especially when I was in the military, good boots were our trasportation and most likely meant our comfort and survival.

I have a hard time finding good shoes now. Most are cheap and fall apart in just a few months, not to mention horribly uncomfortable.

Anyone have any good recommendations for good shoes/boots? I'm on my feet most of the day and need another couple of good pair. I need work/utility shoes.


T.

[Southern Breeze]

Good shoes have always been important to me. I hate bad shoes.

Especially when I was in the military, good boots were our trasportation and most likely meant our comfort and survival.

I have a hard time finding good shoes now. Most are cheap and fall apart in just a few months, not to mention horribly uncomfortable.

Anyone have any good recommendations for good shoes/boots? I'm on my feet most of the day and need another couple of good pair. I need work/utility shoes.


T.

Wolverine DuraShocks are what I wear. I'm a landscape designer / foreman and therefore on my feet almost all day. They hold up better than anything else I've tried. Here's what my current pair looks like after almost 10 months on the job -

[BoldHighlander]

Anyone have any good recommendations for good shoes/boots? I'm on my feet most of the day and need another couple of good pair. I need work/utility shoes.

I don't have a picture of my personal pair of boots, but on my job (security) I wear Carolina Lineman Boots. I first got these about 4 years ago when working as a janitor -- I got them on sale, for the same price as a pair of boots with half as much leather. I figured they would be good for m/c riding too

Anyhow, I've worn them most of the week for over a year now on the job. I do a lot of walking & I have to say they give me great support & comfort (after the initial break-in). And except for some slight nicks & scuffing, and a little heel wear, they look almost like new!

I highly recommend Carolinas.

[Bugbear]

Good shoes have always been important to me. I hate bad shoes.

Especially when I was in the military, good boots were our trasportation and most likely meant our comfort and survival.

I have a hard time finding good shoes now. Most are cheap and fall apart in just a few months, not to mention horribly uncomfortable.

Anyone have any good recommendations for good shoes/boots? I'm on my feet most of the day and need another couple of good pair. I need work/utility shoes.


T.

If you just mean regular business shoes and what have you, here is a thread that has you covered:
berserkbishop's thread "Professional Dress Help"
They talk about business clothing in general, but there is good shoe advice and lots of links to shoes in that thread. If that is not the kind of shoe you mean, I think those same links might have other types of shoes and maybe even boots. I think they would be quality shoes.

All of which are better than my shoes at this time. Hope that helps.

* I fixed the link, sorry about that. *

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I have patent leather pumps (the genuine article, not vinyl) and I remove light scuff marks with cigar ash! No fooling. I am told that eventually the shoes will have to be re-lacquered, although no one has suggested how this might be done. I have an old butler's book kicking around somewhere which, if I can find it, I'll consult vis-a-vis the care of patent leather shoes and report back.

[EagleJCS]

I use a soft-bristled toothbrush to apply polish in & around (and to get excess polish out of) the broguing. Apply small amounts of polish to the smooth areas with a soft cloth, then come back & use the toothbrush, let it set for a little bit while you work on the other shoe, then buff with a soft-bristled buffing brush. Been doing my shoes that way for years and get a pretty good shine - good enough to see myself in. That's the way my dad (ex-US Army) taught me.

[Bugbear]

It should be interesting to hear how real patent leather is handled... The cigar ash buffing is a funny one, but not too strange.

I'm only finding information on the plastic coated patent leather, so far.

From what I understand, the shoes I bought for my daywear outfit have a pretty good shine to them; they are dark brown, though. They feel like they have a good shine.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Don't forget that a kiwi is a fruit

ah that would be what is known as up there, down here, its called a kiwi fruit...kiwi nugget was started in NZ, hence Kiwi...

A "kiwi" is a new zealander, as BeeDee will atest to...