quote:Originally posted by JLibourel
Roger, what would your opinion be of the suitability of Allen-Edmonds chili polish for the reddish-tan British version of "chestnut"? From your description of that color, it sounds as if it would be a pretty good match.
JLibourel, that's a really good suggestion. After reading Andre Yew's comparison of EG Chestnut and A-E Chili, I partly agree, but not fully. Unfortunately, none of my A-Es are in Chili (which, oddly enough, is a color I really like!), but I compared some pictures of Chili shoes in the A-E catalog with my Chestnut EGs (Ashbys) and C&Js (Westminsters), and would have to say that the A-E Chili color is a pretty good match to both. I think that Andre Yew is right in that the A-E Chili is a little darker, perhaps, than the Chestnut shade on British shoes, but not necessarily much redder--at least than my two pairs of Chestnut shoes. I'd have to say that the A-E Chili polish would very likely work well. To get a little closer, you could mix the Chili with a considerably smaller quantity of the A-E Chestnut, and you'd come very, very close to nailing it. I think I'd prefer to do it with the colors mixed in one application, rather than following Bengal-stripe's suggestion of alternating them, but suspect that the end result would be very similar.
I see in the A-E catalog that they don't seem to have Chili in their Carnauba Wax Shoe Polish any longer, but they do have the Premium Shoe Polish in Chili and a number of other colors (I use that product on my A-Es in the A-E Chestnut color). Since the Premium Shoe Polish is in more of a cream form (in tubes), it would be easy to do the custom mixing noted above. I'll have to get some Chili and try that on my British Chestnut shoes! I think it would work well. The A-E Premium Shoe Polish is rebranded Collonil (which I also use)--their "Waterstop Colours" product. This product is an oil-in-water emulsion that yields considerably better protection against water than regular shoe creams do. The A-E recrafting people characterize this Premium product of theirs as performing the function of both creams and wax polishes. It doesn't produce quite as high a shine as a (carnauba or beeswax) wax product, but it could always be given a top coat of neutral wax for greater protection and shine.
Up to this point, I have blended Woly creams of their Caramel and Red (a real red designed for women's shoes) to get the British Chestnut color. I've then finished this off with a top coat of neutral wax (I've used the Kelly's product, but Kiwi would do just as well). Instead of the Woly Caramel, Meltonian Light Brown or Brandy could be used. However, after this discussion, I think I will follow JLibourel's suggestion and try the A-E Chili, mixed with a little A-E Chestnut from their Premium Polish line.
Vancouver
