I love all kinds of music especially rock and jazz and these genres are regularly played on our radio. Country music, however, rarely breaks into our local shores but I'm pretty sure you've heard of Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, Johnny Cash, Carrie Underwood, Blake Sheldon and before switching her Country music genre to Pop- Taylor Swift.
In the US, Country music is officially in season and that means Leather jackets and Leather boots are in season too! Two of my favourite things which can't be worn in our hot weather though I sometimes pretend it's cold and wear them anyway.
Some of my favourite looks can be found below:
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How to take care of your leather boots
Good boots don't come cheap and you want them to last as long as possible. Here are some tips about taking care of your boots:
A good leather conditioner is designed to be readily absorbed and will nourish/restore flexibility in the fibers.
This is important as leather is prized as a clothing material because it can be both flexible and durability. If leather loses its natural oils and moisture, it loses it’s flexibility and its fiberous interweave will start to crack and eventually break down. Once this happens it is lost and needs to be replaced.
If leather loses its natural oils and moisture, it loses it’s flexibility and its fiberous interweave will start to crack and eventually break down. Once this happens it is lost and needs to be replaced.
Leather conditioners prevent this breakdown – in some cases leather products well over 100 years old are as usable today as they were a century ago because the leather has been properly preserved.
Should you condition your shoes before wearing for the first time?
Yes – you need to condition your shoes & boots before wearing them. Most footwear does not come conditioned and polished out the box. This is your responsibility. As far as you know the leather may have sat in dry conditions for months and may be screaming for oil and moisture.
Clean, condition thoroughly, and then polish. Then you’re ready to go.
A thorough shoe conditioning and cleaning entails the following six steps
Shoe Cleaning – Get off that dirt and sand before you start anything. Cleaning with saddle soap is great when the shoe requires a deep cleaning – but don’t over do it.
Let the Shoe Completely Dry – Do not use heat – let them dry at room temperature for 30 minutes or more.
Condition the Shoe – If this is your first time doing this – expect it to take more than one coat. You may want to lather the shoe up and let it sit overnight.
Remove All Excess Conditioner – do this twice if you lathered the shoe up and let it soak up a lot. After the first cleaning a bit may be released over the next couple hours. Failure to do this will deaden the shine – not damage the shoe.
Polish the Shoe – A wide range of options here – basic, advanced, and spit shined.
Finish the Shoe – For those that like to go the extra mile, edge dressing and details like new laces and eyelet detailing are once a month tasks. But for the non-shoe detail fanatics – skip!
When your shoes need it – which depends on these factors.
The Product – Think of it like motor oil – synthetics are more expensive but can go longer between changes. A pricier product like Leather Honey need only be applied a fraction of the times a lighter water based Meltonian conditioner need be. But the Meltonian can be found for 1/3 the cost.
The Condition of the Leather – Older shoes, and those made from more delicate/thinner leathers, will need to be conditioned more often as they lose the leather conditioning properties faster.
Understand Your Needs – There are a lot of options out there, and you need to find a product that is right for you.
If you rarely wear your dress shoes – you’ll be fine buying a basic conditioner at your local shoe store.
However if you wear leather shoes daily – you’ll want something that lasts longer between applications and does a better job protecting your dress boots from salt and mud.
Test the Leather Shoe Conditioner – This is especially important if you are going to be conditioning light colored leathers. Find a small area – such as the back side of the shoe tongue or under the lacing – to apply a small amount to test if it darkens.
Tips credit: realmenrealstyle.com
In the US, Country music is officially in season and that means Leather jackets and Leather boots are in season too! Two of my favourite things which can't be worn in our hot weather though I sometimes pretend it's cold and wear them anyway.
Some of my favourite looks can be found below:
How to take care of your leather boots
Good boots don't come cheap and you want them to last as long as possible. Here are some tips about taking care of your boots:
A good leather conditioner is designed to be readily absorbed and will nourish/restore flexibility in the fibers.
This is important as leather is prized as a clothing material because it can be both flexible and durability. If leather loses its natural oils and moisture, it loses it’s flexibility and its fiberous interweave will start to crack and eventually break down. Once this happens it is lost and needs to be replaced.
If leather loses its natural oils and moisture, it loses it’s flexibility and its fiberous interweave will start to crack and eventually break down. Once this happens it is lost and needs to be replaced.
Leather conditioners prevent this breakdown – in some cases leather products well over 100 years old are as usable today as they were a century ago because the leather has been properly preserved.
Should you condition your shoes before wearing for the first time?
Yes – you need to condition your shoes & boots before wearing them. Most footwear does not come conditioned and polished out the box. This is your responsibility. As far as you know the leather may have sat in dry conditions for months and may be screaming for oil and moisture.
Clean, condition thoroughly, and then polish. Then you’re ready to go.
How to Condition Your Leather Dress Shoes and Boots – Where does it fit in with polishing and cleaning.
A thorough shoe conditioning and cleaning entails the following six steps
Shoe Cleaning – Get off that dirt and sand before you start anything. Cleaning with saddle soap is great when the shoe requires a deep cleaning – but don’t over do it.
Let the Shoe Completely Dry – Do not use heat – let them dry at room temperature for 30 minutes or more.
Condition the Shoe – If this is your first time doing this – expect it to take more than one coat. You may want to lather the shoe up and let it sit overnight.
Remove All Excess Conditioner – do this twice if you lathered the shoe up and let it soak up a lot. After the first cleaning a bit may be released over the next couple hours. Failure to do this will deaden the shine – not damage the shoe.
Polish the Shoe – A wide range of options here – basic, advanced, and spit shined.
Finish the Shoe – For those that like to go the extra mile, edge dressing and details like new laces and eyelet detailing are once a month tasks. But for the non-shoe detail fanatics – skip!
How Often to Condition Your Leather Footwear?
When your shoes need it – which depends on these factors.
The Product – Think of it like motor oil – synthetics are more expensive but can go longer between changes. A pricier product like Leather Honey need only be applied a fraction of the times a lighter water based Meltonian conditioner need be. But the Meltonian can be found for 1/3 the cost.
The Condition of the Leather – Older shoes, and those made from more delicate/thinner leathers, will need to be conditioned more often as they lose the leather conditioning properties faster.
How to Select A Leather Shoe Conditioner
Understand Your Needs – There are a lot of options out there, and you need to find a product that is right for you.
If you rarely wear your dress shoes – you’ll be fine buying a basic conditioner at your local shoe store.
However if you wear leather shoes daily – you’ll want something that lasts longer between applications and does a better job protecting your dress boots from salt and mud.
Test the Leather Shoe Conditioner – This is especially important if you are going to be conditioning light colored leathers. Find a small area – such as the back side of the shoe tongue or under the lacing – to apply a small amount to test if it darkens.
Tips credit: realmenrealstyle.com
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