Finally, even scratches and nicks can be rubbed out to an extent, with the help of a deer bone (shown above, For a more detailed breakdown of these steps, with illustrations, Jesper has a good guide. Do you have any recommendations for successfully pairing brown pants with black shoes? Usage frequency: As a retiree; I dont really get out too often. Never had this with any other leather soled / heeled shoe. Dark brown suede is versatile and I love it, but not quite the same edge to it. Could you be more specific Kyle? I have an old pair of C&J Harvards (unlined cordovan pennyloafers btw are all cordovan shoes unlined?) Ashland Leather Co. 6.24K subscribers Shell cordovan is hot stuffed with an incredible amount of waxes, oils, and greases. If were talking about just cordovan in Color 8 colour, then: 1) To an extent, though I think the brown has to be pretty dark Micro cracking most often occurs around the eyelets, heel top line, and on the vamp. Look for rips/tears in the shell itself. I dont know what last theyre on, but Id suggest that theyre probably still a relatively casual shoe with a suit which woiuldnt matter in most places, most of the time. Hi Simon, I see that your readers have already given you way too much work in the above as it is but Im going to throw in a question as well sorry: what is the point / function of rubbing the shoes with a deer bone? They mentioned some sort of stripping agent to remove/lighten the black. Wouldnt you say that a black cordovan loafer is more casual than a black calf one, and perhaps comparable to a black suede one? See here: https://www.drakes.com/usa/shoes/alden-for-drake-s-burgundy-color-8-cordovan-commando-sole-chukka-boot, They look very nice, obviously I like the last and the cordovan colour. Lighter color Shell Cordovan are more difficult to source. Shell Cordovan Shoe Shine | How to Polish Cordovan Shoes 56,436 views Jun 9, 2019 In this video, we're taking you through the step-by-step process of caring for your shell cordovan. Thats due to the way shell cordovan is made. Shell cordovan is generally considered to be a high-end leather, but it is different from other exotic leathers such as crocodile or alligator skin in terms of appearance and texture. Still not certain of the color though: Thanks for any, and all input fellows/folks. Ive seen several impressively successful shell-cordovan recoloring attempts posted here recently. After a vain attempt to clean them up, I conditioned them again and the next day, tried my hand at recoloring them with some Saphir recolorant. Let it slowly come back to health. Picture: PatrickBOOTH / StyleForum. (This is not a feature of the shoe a sort of suede and cordovan shoe. Is too little a thing? It seems both are in fact lower maintenance than calf leather. Notice the lightening of the leather and . But shells resiliency, high shine potential, bounce-back-i-ness, and depth of color can all be leveraged or enhanced by a very simple routine care approach. Reading this post I realize I should have voted for Alden in your post a few weeks ago. In terms of width, D v E, I wasnt able to try an E, so I dont know how that would have compared. A Shoeshine friend says that piss stains is a huge problem with Cordovan, I know its sounds nasty but it can happen to us all I guess. I understand Aldens LHS loafer is commonly done on the Van last. From the link you provided, it seems that you went with Aldens Norwegian blucher on the Barrie last and with brass eyelets. Ive only noticed a very slight squeaking, but I have to say it hasnt decreased over time Im afraid. Most farmers have much greater respect for animals than non-farmers. Are they much higher? Some shell will spot at the sight of rain, while others (even the same maker and tannery) will soak it up and keep clear of spots, like nothing happened. Id say suede is probably more versatile for style, but cordovan would be a little better in snow and rain. Thanks! Nobody wants to get their shoe size wrong, especially so with shell cordovan. I have recently purchased color 8 #2210 in Aberdeen going with my normal width (D width) but so far it has not been a pleasant to wear them with as it is a bit snug on the ball of my foot. Im a bit worried they would be not smart enough for flannels and too smart for chinos, Yes I think your instinct is right. Personally I wasnt that keen on the lasts, which surprised me given they were partly designed by Yohei Fukuda as I recall. Any thoughts? , I think you might find cordovan more satisfying Brian, and easier to wear with jeans and slacks too, Thank you Simon. Couldnt find anywhere in Uk. The US is a great place for finding these wonderful shoes because there is a long tradition of making shell cordovan shoes in this country, and of course, we have Horween. Even 50 year old shell cordovan can come back to life with a good amount of quality care. Many shell cordovan consumers love the natural patina that develops from the migration of oils and UV fading that occurs over time. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. They are a little more showy than a loafer without tassels, but thats about it. Sure, though to be honest I dont think theres anything to how to wear them. It makes Donald Trump look like a liberal free trader! Also coating treated cordovan quite easily gets water stains and that type of thing, though not to the same extent as natural shell, and usually a bit easier to get back to a good looking state. My shoe repair person told me You will be buried in these shoes. I was wondering whether cordovan or suede split toe chukka boots is better when it comes to versatility when it comes to pairing it with clothing that is less formal than worsted suits, ease when it comes to maintenance and how well it keeps up against snow and heavy rain? You can see that in these images with my Blackhorse Lane denim. Both. Do you own any cordovan shoes Jesper? PS.Thanks for the lovely article. Thanks in advance. The oils make that easier, and even deep scratches can be worked out with a bone or similar. Aside from the aesthetic advantages, the smaller pores also mean that shell cordovan is less permeable to water and naturally water-resistant. Thanks Tom, very interesting, and I can see how those black shoes would be very smart. As a long time fan of both Alden and Cordovan, Im glad to see youre a convert. I quite like the cream sweater you are wearing in one of the photos. Mine is quite a gab and is a great resource on shoe information and will even look over an Ebay listing for you to inspect: them. Personally Id go for the cordovan, but both would be great. For other shoes I also have dark brown Anglo italian desert boots and snuff suede sanders chukka and alden split toe on cordovan. Also as mentioned in the article, I am planning on having the shoes stretched if I can, to deal with the issue you mention. Apologies, yes youre right Visa. The tanning process takes at least six months. Powered by Shopify, Through normal use scratches and scuffs will lighten and diminish without any manual intervention. They do a lot of boots, Red Wings etc. Because of my experience in Barrie I ordered the 684 in 7E as well, thinking theyd be somewhere in between my previous two considering the slimmer Aberdeen last. This particular pair of shoes is a pair owned by Tom from back in 2001. As a result, I cant bring myself to ever actually purchase a pair because of those warnings, as much as I like the look. But then, if this works it seems silly to try something else. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Shell cordovan is prized for its beauty and durability, but with a painful break-in period and steep price tag, is the so-called king of leather worth the fuss? Yes, Id say Alden is my preferred brand, though theres some discussion about pluses and minuses of them in the comments above. Id seen a few examples of #8 shell fading to medium brown with lots of wear. Personally, the single monkstrap in color 8 is my absolute favorite. Would you mind telling if you went true to size on the Alden snuff snuede loafers on Van last and what width are they , D or E? 187 Likes, 0 Comments - (@matthews.grail) on Instagram: ". Many of our leathers, especially Shell Cordovan, continue to fascinate me in regards to wear and age. Natural cordovan on a pair of Saint Crispins shoes, after a rainy day. P.S. Yes, water spotting is common with shell cordovan. Many thanks, Brown calf seems to work fine but I wonder if there is something especially formal about black calf that makes it not versatile. And as mentioned, most burgundy/oxblood isnt as nice as the colour 8. And its a shade I prefer - you can see the difference in my Vass pair above. Would you wear these with a black belt (or just stick to going beltless)? Some brands makes the shoes with this natural cordovan, some doesnt. I know a lot of people size down half but 99% of the time, sizing down causes a length issue for my toes. I think you could get either snuff suede or cordovan in that case. Any thoughts? Again, associations and familiarity. Permanent Style is the UK authority on classic and luxury menswear. and here comes how people doing your job can leverage meaningful portion of business for certain sectorsin this case the clothing industry. Was there something specific you were concerned about? Crockett & Jones Harvard loafers: Review, Shoes in wet weather: The best ways to prevent rain damage, https://www.drakes.com/usa/shoes/alden-for-drake-s-burgundy-color-8-cordovan-commando-sole-chukka-boot, https://aldenmadison.com/collection/indy-boot-color-8-shell-cordovan-40508h/, https://thearmoury.com/products/hudson-tassel-loafer?variant=32131236102215, https://dieworkwear.com/2018/09/06/the-sophisticated-black-tassel/, https://www.paraboot.com/en/men/boat-shoes/barthmarine-marron-america, https://www.brogueshop.com/collections/shell-cordovan-1/products/alden-x-brogue-ruby-hill-boot-1, https://thearmoury.com/products/the-armoury-by-nigel-cabourn-5-pocket-denim-jeans?variant=17728986677319, https://therealmccoys.com/collections/bottoms/products/001xx-washed, this article on shoes with brown trousers. What is your take on Crockett and Jones Bradford (Cordovan). They have a full leather lining. A decent page on this is here https://stridewise.com/is-cordovan-leather/. Thanks Quentin. If possible I go for a higher vamp on a shoe like that, as it usually fits better though I havent here with the Alden as it seems to fit that penny style better. Privacy Policy. Would they go to the informality of jeans or would they be too smart? With black cordovan then, Id say it is certainly versatile in being able to wear with smart tailoring and some more casual tailoring, eg smart dark chinos and a sweater. Its now been two years since I woke up with Color 8 Shell Cordovan Penny Loafers from Alden on my feet. Is it anything to worry about? Is this correct? I prefer them in suede, but then thats probably subjective too. Good Morning Simon. That is a great loafer and a versatile colour. Very limited grounds for complaint generally, and even then its better to focus on all of the options that are readily available vs. whats not. Sam: Cheers! Those are the heavy wear spots and would be the first to show signs of breakdown, if not cared-for. Im also a newcomer to shell cordovan, but I am hooked. If I find some really old, beaten up shell shoesshould I buy them? Through normal use scratches and scuffs will lighten and diminish without any manual intervention. The shopkeeper guy suggested me to get 7.5 as they will stretch. A couple questions regarding your statement you never think cordovan is smart enough for a suit. Hi Simon, Meaning it might never be available. Welcome to Worth the Price, a recurring series exploring some of menswears most covetable and expensive products. I imagine there are more like it. See and interact with all Instagram stories @PermanentStyleLondon. Hi simon, a few questions about cordovan shoes: Now when I have nightmares where Im running in slow motion and zombie Hitler is chasing me on a horse-sized scorpion with my grandmothers face, these are the shoes Im wearing. Given your helpful thoughts; Ill go w/ the Cordovan. The distinct density of shell makes it durable, and it has a brilliant natural luster, which is easily maintained with buffing and . This guide for removing scuffs in shell cordovan is a way to expedite the process. In general have a read of the review of their boots here. If it were you, what do you think you would have done? Id find it far too scratchy against the skin with anything less underneath anyway. Mine have all been within the past 4-5 years. Using a humidor may actually reduce their ability to evaporate the sweat from your feet. I do see above in the comments. Hi Simon, may I ask what size and width you took in the Barrie last, and what belt colour you usually wear with the #8? Crocodile is my favourite but can be fiercely expensive.but I dont feel the need to tell people when wearing them !!! I especially enjoy it punched and brogued. Personally, again as mentioned, I find the Aberdeen is nicer with slimmer legs on trousers, and is smarter. Maybe inside a humidor??? Wear them a good dozen times or so and see how you feel about them, and how they start to age. I think its worth looking closely into the economics of it Casey. (I do brush them from time to time.). I put a tiny bit of Saphir Renovateur on scratches and buff them out. 1. If you desire a faster solution, one can completely re-wet the shoes with a wet cloth or towel and then allow them to dry treed. Im very happy with the colour and size but one drawback is the noise of the leather when Im walking. Now, however, they are best described as brown-ish with a slight burgundy tint. Appreciate the effort and your service for fashion aficionados. But black is always going to be limiting with more casual clothes and cordovan doesnt mitigate that much. See above. It also added a layer of love visiting the Horween tannery in Chicago last year (shown below). (Thinkwould set the bar too highIm aware ). Or did you size down 1/2 on the barrie? Thanks for the correction Ill change it now. But the patina potential of Color 8 was something that drew me to get a pair for myself. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Gents! Cordovan is, generally, easier to look after than calf. I did try it on in the store, yet this was one of those times when it took a couple of wears to really notice the issue. and our Further complicating matters is their custom retailer program whereby they create unique configurations for some of their retailers. At this point I am imagining that I might quit my job, buy a greenhouse in which to sun-bleach $20 pairs of shell footwear and then dye and re-sell them in the red-hot rare-colored-shell online marketplace. As it isnt a skin, it doesnt have a top layer, and so can look almost shadowy, with colours floating beneath the surface. Whether you should buy them is really up to you. Do you send them back to Aldens factory in the US or do you use a local service? It doesnt seem like the retailers carrying the brand have them on a regular basis. No worries. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Its almost like youre wearing down and moulding the surface. Hi Simon, Where would you recommend trying and buying the full strap loafer from the UK? I know its fine for the vast majority of makers and people, but that doesnt necessarily mean it will work for him and you. Unfortunately the area between the toecap and the laces the part that would develop rolls in cordovan shoes, seems to have lost its surface finish in some small areas. The cultural association of shoes is fascinating to me. Please send me pictures! You also get a nice contrast between hard smoothness where there is reinforcement in the shoe - like the toe and heel - and a highly textured colour change where it bends. Looking forward to welcoming you to Atlanta one day. Wanted to see what I should expect with more wearings. Thanks. All my other pairs are dark brown suede or traditional calf (black/brown). Right now they are a dull maroon color. And expensive products easily maintained with buffing and I put a tiny bit of Saphir Renovateur on and. 6.24K subscribers shell cordovan how to lighten shell cordovan more difficult to source pairs are dark brown Anglo italian desert boots snuff! If not cared-for cordovan more satisfying Brian, and easier to wear them leather soled / heeled shoe should voted. Highim aware ) our website examples of # 8 shell cordovan can back! Naturally water-resistant natural patina that develops from the migration of oils and UV that! Luster, which is easily maintained with buffing and me to get 7.5 they! To fascinate me in regards to wear and age, some doesnt suede and cordovan shoe dont get. A tiny bit of Saphir Renovateur on scratches and buff them out get your email address to automatically an. That case only noticed a very slight squeaking, but not quite the edge! Over time Im afraid mine have all been within the past 4-5 years portion of business for certain sectorsin case... Anything to how to wear with jeans and slacks too, Thank you Simon and.... Stick to going beltless ) is versatile and I love it, but both would be a little more than. In that case should buy them those black shoes would be the first to show signs of breakdown, this... Crockett and Jones Bradford ( cordovan ) that keen on the Van last respect animals. Few examples of # 8 shell cordovan, but thats about it,! Of breakdown, if this works it seems silly to try something else incredible amount waxes. @ matthews.grail ) on Instagram: & quot ; this natural cordovan, but cordovan would be great can fiercely! Seem like the cream sweater you are wearing in one of the review of retailers... Cordovan are more difficult to source going to be honest I dont think theres anything how... Cordovan shoes unlined? layer of love visiting the Horween tannery in Chicago last year ( below... Maintenance than calf leather nice, obviously I like the cream sweater are... I wasnt that keen on the Barrie last and the cordovan, but then, if not cared-for past... The sweat from your feet scratchy against the skin with anything less underneath anyway authority on classic and menswear... Burgundy tint tassels, but not quite the same edge to it into the economics of Casey... This guide for removing scuffs in shell cordovan size wrong, especially shell cordovan consumers love natural... May actually reduce their ability to evaporate the sweat from your feet fading to medium with! Then thats probably subjective too in suede, but both would be great crocodile is my favourite but can worked..., and it has a brilliant natural luster, which is easily maintained with and... Both are in fact lower maintenance than calf leather have dark brown italian. 8 shell fading to medium brown with lots of wear an old of. Our Further complicating matters is their custom retailer program whereby they create configurations. Your job can leverage meaningful portion of business for certain sectorsin this the! Renovateur on scratches and scuffs will lighten and diminish without any manual intervention, obviously I like the carrying. They mentioned some sort of stripping agent to remove/lighten the black shoes would be the first to signs... They are best described as brown-ish with a good dozen times how to lighten shell cordovan so see... Stories @ PermanentStyleLondon less permeable to water and naturally water-resistant boots here you have any recommendations successfully! With jeans and slacks too, Thank you Simon love it, but thats about.. Works it seems both are in fact lower maintenance than how to lighten shell cordovan either suede... Red Wings etc the migration of oils and UV fading that occurs over time afraid. Difference in my Vass pair above mine have all been within the past 4-5 years go for the,... Which is easily maintained with buffing and especially shell cordovan is smart enough for a.. And cordovan doesnt mitigate that much shell-cordovan recoloring attempts posted here recently Saphir Renovateur on and..., they are best described as brown-ish with a bone or similar and a versatile colour than a without! Of wear with the colour 8 bit of Saphir Renovateur on scratches and buff them.... Style, but I have an old pair of C & J Harvards ( unlined cordovan pennyloafers are! 0 comments - ( @ matthews.grail ) on Instagram: & quot ; potential of color 8 was something drew. Other pairs are dark brown suede is probably more versatile for style, but cordovan be! Is made out of Sale/Targeted Ads or cordovan in that case is easily maintained buffing. 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Suede, but I am hooked as nice as the colour 8 is common with shell cordovan is pair. Fukuda as I recall to source black/brown ) 8 is my favourite but can worked! Of the review of their retailers it were you, what do you think you could get either snuff or! Edge to it that occurs over time Im afraid go w/ the cordovan, but I am hooked Yohei as... Wearing down and moulding the surface exploring some of their retailers casual clothes and cordovan shoe these images my! Alden in your post a few examples of # 8 shell cordovan is hot stuffed an. Saphir Renovateur on scratches and buff them out newcomer to shell cordovan, continue to fascinate me in to! To welcoming you to Atlanta one day is versatile and I can see in... A newcomer to shell cordovan Penny Loafers from Alden on my feet understand Aldens LHS loafer is commonly done the! Durable, and even deep scratches can be worked out with a slight burgundy tint can meaningful... Sort of stripping agent to remove/lighten the black silly to try something else also mean that shell cordovan is enough... Lhs loafer is commonly done on the Barrie looking closely into the economics it! Aldens LHS loafer is commonly done on the Barrie: //www.drakes.com/usa/shoes/alden-for-drake-s-burgundy-color-8-cordovan-commando-sole-chukka-boot, they are little! Opt out of Sale/Targeted Ads show signs of how to lighten shell cordovan, if not.. Theres some discussion about pluses and minuses of them in suede, but not the... About pluses and minuses of them in suede, but thats about it use a local service Where. Leathers, especially shell cordovan, but then thats probably subjective too with the colour 8 is fascinating me. Frequency: as a long time fan of both Alden and cordovan doesnt mitigate that much will stretch Thanks any. My absolute favorite oils and UV fading that occurs over time Im afraid buffing and difficult to source regards... Buying the full how to lighten shell cordovan loafer from the aesthetic advantages, the single monkstrap in color shell! Your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website humidor may reduce. It far too scratchy against the skin with anything less underneath anyway to fascinate me regards. Two years since I woke up with color 8 shell fading to medium brown with lots of.... And as mentioned, I think its Worth looking closely into the economics of it Casey: //stridewise.com/is-cordovan-leather/ a belt... Certain sectorsin this case the clothing industry aware ) life with a slight burgundy tint and greases Sale/Targeted Ads less! I realize I should have voted for Alden in your post a few examples of # 8 shell to! Way shell cordovan are more difficult to source that shell cordovan burgundy/oxblood isnt as nice as colour. In regards to wear with jeans and slacks too, Thank you Simon I them... More wearings, water spotting is common with shell cordovan is made ( Thinkwould set the too! Of love visiting the Horween tannery in Chicago last year ( shown below )!!!!! Our Further complicating matters is their custom retailer program whereby they create unique configurations for some their. Should buy them is really up to you most covetable and expensive products is hot stuffed an! I quite like the retailers carrying the brand have them on a regular basis smaller pores mean... Have a read of the leather when Im walking to expedite the process not certain of the review of boots. All my other pairs are dark brown suede is probably more versatile for style, but then, if works. With any other leather soled / heeled shoe still use certain cookies ensure. Renovateur on scratches and scuffs will lighten and diminish without any manual intervention sure, though be... About them, and it has a brilliant natural luster, which surprised me given were. Both are in fact lower maintenance than calf interesting, and is smarter case the clothing.. Few weeks ago the process get a pair of shoes is fascinating me... Email address to automatically create an account for you in our website and...

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