Men of Color Style: All About Shoes Part I

It's been said that one of the first things a lady observes about a man is the shoes that he's wearing including whether they're shined, run over, cheap looking, etc. If you don't believe me check out one lady's comments on the link below:

Therefore, it would behoove any man to take that into consideration when he’s shopping for shoes. Now, while I’m not suggesting that should be the main reason in choosing shoes that’s something that, as Arsenio Hall would have stated it, “things that make you go hmmm…” Of course, there are other reasons such as occupation, quality, comfort and style. However, one of the main things that needs to be considered is the maintenance of the shoes. For example, leather shoes need to be treated differently than suede shoes. Therefore, the first part of this series on shoes will cover their care and maintenance.

In terms of shoe maintenance I thought it would be wise to speak with someone that's very knowledgeable in this area. Therefore, I interviewed an expert in shoe maintenance and repair, Mr. Clarence Howell. In my opinion he's the best in the business and the owner of Clarence Howell Shoe Repair. He’s been in the business since 1976.

Question: What makes a good quality shoe? The shoe should be made of a good quality leather both the top and bottom. You should purchase name brand shoes such as Cole Haan, Johnston Murphy, Bostonian, Alan Edmonds and Florsheim Imperial.

Question: After you purchase a pair of shoes do you wear them right away? First thing that should happen is to apply shoe

cream and paste to the shoes, in that order, much the same as you would put wax on a car after purchasing it to protect it from the weather.

Question: Do leather conditioning products for shoes really work? Yes, but you should know how to apply the products to protect the shoes.

Question: What type of care should the owners of new shoes impart to take care of them? Keep them clean, as much as possible, and polished.

Question: Are there any products available that will minimize the leather sole from wearing out on the shoes?

Yes. It’s called a Sole Saver. You will never have to replace the soles. It will last for years.

Mr. Howell I thank you for sharing your knowledge to my readers as well as the advice and services that you’ve given me over the years.

Mr. Howell’s shop is located at 6089 Montgomery road in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Pleasant Ridge. The phone number is 513-531-7463. He also has a website:

Clarence Shoe Repair

I've been caring for my shoes since I was in elementary school. My father taught me how to shine shoes and care for them. Here are some things to consider in addition to what's been cited by Mr. Howell:

1. Never wear leather shoes two days in a row. Leather needs to air out and breathe.

2. Subsequent to wearing the shoes take the time to wipe the dust off with a rag or soft paper tissue.

3. Place cedar shoe trees in the shoes for storage. They will help them maintain their shape and remove moisture.

4. Shoes should be shined as needed. Make sure you have the appropriate shoe crèmes and paste to keep them shined as much as possible. You want to match the color of the above as close as possible to the color of the shoes. In addition to the shoe crème and polish make sure you have a good quality shoe brush, made of horsehair, and rags which could consist of old t-shirts.

5. Prior to shining the shoes make sure they’re cleaned as you don’t want to apply polish to a dirty shoe just like you wouldn’t apply wax to a dirty car.

6. In inclement weather wear shoe rubbers to protect them from the elements. In the event you get caught wearing them in bad weather remove them as soon as possible and place newspaper in them to help them dry out.

7. Suede, Nubuck and Patent Leather shoes require special products designed specifically for them.

Let’s take a look at the results from not taking care of your shoes.

Hole-in-One