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Is this typical and how best to treat it?
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How to treat the wear on my shoes?
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Best way? Have someone else polish them! But seriously, sole edge polish will fix the sole issue. On the uppers, probably some shoe cream of the same color first. I use mostly clear wax these days on most of my shoes but when they are scuffed you will need something to give a little color back.
Oh yes, very typical but it does look like you may be dragging your toes a bit. Sometimes this is both feet - if only one you may have a bit of a foot drop (my dad had this terribly from nerve damage on one foot). You might want to consider some metal taps on your soles to slow down that issue. I often do it on shoes that are MTO as an add - on.
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Start with routine maintenance. Give them a thorough brushing with a good horsehair shoe brush after each wearing.
After that, this is what I would do if they were mine. Over many years I've found that routine cleaning with cleaners isn't needed or desirable. However, these would benefit from a light cleaning. I've still got some quality saddle soap squirreled away (Can't find it anymore.) And I'd give them a light cleaning with that. Let dry and brush. I'd use this because I've used it for a very long time and know exactly what it will do. I'd suggest you find a quality light leather cleaner and use a very small amount sparingly.
After that, I'd just fix the problem using a quality shoe creme such as Tarrago. You certainly can use edge dressing for the sole, but frankly, I've gotten just as good results just using a shoe cream properly applied. Dark brown should work for these. And I'd use a different shade that matches the upper.
What you do for the scuffed sole is to apply it with a Q-tip, let dry, buff and repeat until no further improvement occurs. Same for the scuffs on the upper. As always, less is more.
Give the whole shoe a light application using the upper color on a Kleenex with lotion. This will help blend the color you've just applied to the scuffs with the rest of the upper. Let dry, buff with horse hair brush, finish with a shine cloth. And you should again have a good looking pair of shoes.
Obviously, you have a propensity to scuff the front of you shoes. You might add a toe plate, but it's probably simpler to be aware of it, and try to avoid it.
After that, this is what I would do if they were mine. Over many years I've found that routine cleaning with cleaners isn't needed or desirable. However, these would benefit from a light cleaning. I've still got some quality saddle soap squirreled away (Can't find it anymore.) And I'd give them a light cleaning with that. Let dry and brush. I'd use this because I've used it for a very long time and know exactly what it will do. I'd suggest you find a quality light leather cleaner and use a very small amount sparingly.
After that, I'd just fix the problem using a quality shoe creme such as Tarrago. You certainly can use edge dressing for the sole, but frankly, I've gotten just as good results just using a shoe cream properly applied. Dark brown should work for these. And I'd use a different shade that matches the upper.
What you do for the scuffed sole is to apply it with a Q-tip, let dry, buff and repeat until no further improvement occurs. Same for the scuffs on the upper. As always, less is more.
Give the whole shoe a light application using the upper color on a Kleenex with lotion. This will help blend the color you've just applied to the scuffs with the rest of the upper. Let dry, buff with horse hair brush, finish with a shine cloth. And you should again have a good looking pair of shoes.
Obviously, you have a propensity to scuff the front of you shoes. You might add a toe plate, but it's probably simpler to be aware of it, and try to avoid it.
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You need routine maintenance. Get some leather conditioner, shoe cream polish, horsehair brush, sole edge dressing, and some wax polish. The latter is optional but many consider it mandatory. I would learn to do it yourself. The shine guys in train stations and airports will make your shoes look good for five minutes IME. You can do a better job for less money in the long run if you DIY.
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What shoe is that? Is that on the 337?
To answer your question, I dont know how many wears it took to get that. The wear on the toe will happen but it should take a VERY long time or be from a mistake.
Generally, if you polish your shoes with a good cream based polish once ever 2-3 weeks depending on how often you wear them, you'll never see this discoloration. If you never or rarely polish it'll happen.
As others said, edge dressing will help maintain the heel and sole edges.
To answer your question, I dont know how many wears it took to get that. The wear on the toe will happen but it should take a VERY long time or be from a mistake.
Generally, if you polish your shoes with a good cream based polish once ever 2-3 weeks depending on how often you wear them, you'll never see this discoloration. If you never or rarely polish it'll happen.
As others said, edge dressing will help maintain the heel and sole edges.
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these are Silvano Sassetti (maker of some RLPL models) shoes. i can't recall the model name off the top of my head, but they are probably 3-4 years old and i've worn them maybe a dozen times?
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12 wears shouldnt mark up the toe like that. Do you recall scuffing something? A distinct "OH DAMMIT" incident?
I assume your other shoes do not have similar toe wear after 12 uses?
Not typical. Only happens to me if I scrape the curb or stairs.Is this typical and how best to treat it?
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so as an update, i will be wearing these for my wedding in 2 weeks.
all i have at home is a brush, Lexol Conditioner and some brown polish.
any specific product/brand recommendations to get these up to snuff?
all i have at home is a brush, Lexol Conditioner and some brown polish.
any specific product/brand recommendations to get these up to snuff?
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"After that, this is what I would do if they were mine. Over many years I've found that routine cleaning with cleaners isn't needed or desirable. However, these would benefit from a light cleaning. I've still got some quality saddle soap squirreled away (Can't find it anymore.) And I'd give them a light cleaning with that. Let dry and brush. I'd use this because I've used it for a very long time and know exactly what it will do. I'd suggest you find a quality light leather cleaner and use a very small amount sparingly.
After that, I'd just fix the problem using a quality shoe creme such as Tarrago. You certainly can use edge dressing for the sole, but frankly, I've gotten just as good results just using a shoe cream properly applied. Dark brown should work for these. And I'd use a different shade that matches the upper.
What you do for the scuffed sole is to apply it with a Q-tip, let dry, buff and repeat until no further improvement occurs. Same for the scuffs on the upper. As always, less is more.
Give the whole shoe a light application using the upper color on a Kleenex with lotion. This will help blend the color you've just applied to the scuffs with the rest of the upper. Let dry, buff with horse hair brush, finish with a shine cloth. And you should again have a good looking pair of shoes."
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i have to admit saddle soap intimidates me. and i don't understand the part about dark brown and using a different shade.
sorry for being dense...
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I think you're right to be concerned about saddle soap as a can of Kiwi I purchased 5 or 6 years ago was trash that I certainly wouldn't use on shoes. I am fortunate to have some NOS Meltonian cans stashed I've been working through for the infrequent occasions when I've needed a cleaner. For that reason I can't offer a more specific recommendation beyond using one that is gentle and doesn't leave a heavy coating on the leather. You're not trying strip the hide, just get little of the grime off of it.
The reason for two different shades of shoe cream is for using shoe cream rather than edge dressing to treat the sides of the sole and heel. They're dark brown and need that shade of shoe cream, the upper is medium brown. As described, I've had good luck using shoe cream in place of edge dressing, though that can work well too.
But most importantly, congratulations! :beer:
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