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I prefer to buy things that last, and I’m willing to pay for them. Quality materials, construction, and timeless styles mean I can build my wardrobe over time and enjoy today the purchase I made over a decade ago. Hint: Stuart Weitzman boots are never a bad idea – I’ve had my favorite pair, styled here, since 2008! But that means waterproofing and caring for my shoes are a must.
One important factor in making this possible is the upkeep that goes into maintaining the condition of all the pieces in my wardrobe. I take things to the tailor to repair minor bits of wear and tear, hand-wash my silks and woolens, and line-dry anything delicate or dark. For shoes, there’s an annual ritual that I stick to in order to keep all my favorites in tip-top shape. Here are four tricks to caring for your shoes so they last a decade (or more):
Storage is key
Keep shoes away from dust and light when you aren’t wearing them. During the warmer months, I store my fall and winter shoes in the boxes they came in, or in dust bags. These days most nice shoes come with dust bags but you can also buy cheap cloth bags on Amazon. Don’t store shoes in plastic – it’s best to let the materials breathe, which prevents mold, and it will protect the finish.
Waterproof once a year
The first thing I do when I take shoes out of storage is waterproof them. This applies to leather (except patent leather) and suede as well as fabric shoes. For a long time I used a toxic waterproof spray from the grocery store, but in the past year I’ve discovered a really nice alternative – Jak Snow Magic Spray. It’s a non-toxic, odorless solution of silicon dioxide that is completely safe to use indoors. When applied to textiles or leather in nano form, the beads of silicon dioxide bind together to form a protective surface.
To use it, you just saturate your shoes (or any other item – I also use the spray on my favorite leather jacket) and work the liquid evenly into it with a clean shoe brush. Let that first coat dry, then repeat the process. At the end, if you’re working with suede, you simply use the brush to raise the soft nap back up. And voila! You can pour liquid on your suede boots and it will roll right off.
You can shop Jak Snow Magic Spray here.
Keep up with daily cleaning
Ok, I don’t clean my shoes every day – but I do keep an eye out for when they get muddy, or wet, or have salt stains. If I’m wearing a really nice pair of shoes I’ll do a little inspection before I put them away – it’s not hard to get a wet rag or paper towel and wipe off anything undesirable, which protects the finish in the long-term, and in the short-term ensures your shoes are good to go the next time you slip them on.
Make time for end-of-season treatments
Twice a year, at the end of each season (warm weather / cold weather) I take my shoes into a cobbler to have them re-heeled. Not every pair will need this done every year – usually it’s just the few pairs of boots or heels I really wore to death that season. The heel tips wear down, and if you don’t replace them, the stem can become irreversibly damaged as well. It’s much easier to save the whole shoe by getting the tips replaced – usually a $10-15 cost.
Look up cobblers online and try a few before you pick a go-to favorite. The best ones will give your shoes a polish and refinish the edges of the soles and heels with a special dressing that makes them look almost new. Even the most scuffed leather boots can get a second wind with some TLC. You can also buy shoe polish and edge dressing yourself to treat shoes that don’t quite need to be taken into a cobbler yet.
After my shoes have been cleaned, re-heeled, and polished, they’re ready to go back into storage until the next season rolls around!
Shop shoe care kits
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I have a Eileen Fisher wool cardigan that I received as a gift 20 years ago. To this day it is my favorite piece: unfortunately I can no longer wear it in public, but so wish Eileen Fisher still had it in stock.
I am a huge fan of Eileen Fisher’s work! The attention to drape and textile quality is wonderful.
These are great tips! I’ve kept my UGG boots since 2007! I got them freshman year of college and they are still going strong.
That’s amazing!! Kudos on taking care of them – leather has such longevity, if you care for it, it will last many years!
Wow! 10 years! I keep my Gucci shoes in dust bags but might need to store my others away from light. I’m starting to run out of room for shoes so I haven’t made it s priority hah!
I need to get better about storing things away from light – I usually leave them out because I like looking at them!
Wow! You are great about taking care of your shoes! I store mine well and don’t wear them all often so that helps keep them nice but I’m going to have to check out this spray! Thanks for sharing
It’s definitely been a lifesaver – I use it on my leather jackets as well. Super helpful protection to have in case of coffee spills and rain drizzles!