So...you are a vendor? Aren't you supposed to know the answers to most of these questions? Seems you're asking questions a first time shoe purchaser would ask of a vendor. You sell leather items but have no clue as to how leather wears and ages?

 

I understand your point, and I can see how it may have come across that way. To clarify yes, I do work with leather items, but my intention here wasn’t to “play vendor.” I genuinely wanted to hear different personal experiences from people in this community. Everyone wears and cares for leather differently, and I believe those real-life insights are just as valuable as technical knowledge. It also helps me learn how customers actually feel about their leather over time, beyond what I already know from a brand perspective. I hope that clears up the confusion, and I really do appreciate the feedback.

 

When I buy a pair of shoes, it is a big decision, and I much prefer it that my shoes be comfortable, conformed to my feet, and looking well maintained but not new. My two favorite leathers, shell cordvan and Chromexcel, just get better and better until they reach that saddest of points when my cobbler says he simply cannot resole them another time. So far that has happened to only one pair, and it took over thirty years to get to that point.

 

I do have a few pair of black loafers I try to keep them in good condition by using Vaseline, just dab some on a dry cloth and use it on your shoes and that might keep them in shiny condition.

 

If your older shoes fit! Condition the leather once a year? Careful of rain damage. Most of us have more shoes than we need. I prefer bluchers right now and I have two by Florsheim. My Church's are all Oxfords. As a retired Boomer, there is much too much said about speeding big money on quality shoes. With lesser expensive shoes, you can wear them and toss them when they get nasty.

 

Its a good plan on paper. But in practice lesser quality, even a few notches below the best, is often short lived and unpredictable to the latest “new and improved”. This is often times code for lesser quality and a higher price. More often the product is discontinued. And its the number 1 reason I stay out of Walmart as much as possible.

 

Yes, good quality shoes can be liken to a good wine or a good quality fountain pen, they improve with age, they conform to one's feet. with quality shoe care products like Saphir Shoe polish!
Just a note, Saphir have other products for shoes like: cleaner, moistener, colour corrector and mirror gloss

 

I mostly wear custom cowboy boots from late fall through early spring, but I still love and wear my favorite Alden Cape Cod beefroll penny loafers (20 years), Barrie Ltd. pebble-grain penny loafers (30years), and Cole Haan saddle cordovans (60 years). I take good care of all my footwear, and all have been re-heeled/resoled multiple times. Venetian Shoe Cream is my friend.

 

Kudos, especially for the Barries. A photo would bring bittersweet joy, especially if posted on the Trad board.