Q:I see lot of shoe-game going on here recently so let me ask: I've acquired a Crockett&Jones oxfords through thrifting recently, but they are slightly beat up. They hold up a shape (more or less), but leather has minor cracking on a side, lots of scuffs, wrinkles and excess cheap shoe polish on it - they've been obviously mistreated by previous owner. Is there any potential for second life with such pair? How to 'renovate' them a bit?
Anonymous
Short Answer: Yes, but it’s work.
Longer answer: Probably, if you’re okay with shoes that have some age and character.
First if you have a shoe person, just bring them to him/her and ask for a professional opinion. If it’s just you I’d say brush up on your shoe restoration, then be prepared for some elbow grease.
Basically, you’ll want to carefully saddle soap off the old polish (with cedar shoe trees in them if you have them!) and then hit them with a cream polish (first couple layers, to recondition. Alternately, if you have leather conditioner, that should probably be your first step) then sit, buff off excess and polish again with a wax polish (for a protective coat). This is kind of a “lather rinse repeat” step that you’ll have to do until your satisfied.
I can’t promise anything, but I would imagine that C&J shoes would be very resilient and that with some hard work (or a top shoe guy) would come back for many years of use.
Best,
AFoS
Q:I've been looking through your thrifting posts and I saw the post about the Bostonian shoes. Same thing happened to me, I was in a Goodwill and saw some nice Oxford Wingtips, leather soles, full grain leather uppers, no scuffs or cracks or anything but they were Dexter brand. I'd never heard of that but I looked it up and wasn't impressed. But the quality of the shoes was so good that I had to get them($5!), and have only had to spend 50 dollars since to get them resoled and they're perfect.
Fun fact, Vintage Dexters are my favorite shoe. They’re currently a crap payless brand, but have longstanding New England ties. I’m working on a post about them and their history. Should be coming within the next 2-3 days months.
In any event, congrats on your fantastic shoes.
In honor of the spring that never was/still hasn’t really been, here are some vintage Liberty of London floral ties 2 silk, 4 cotton.
It was kind of cold and windy, but IT HAS TO BE SPRING GODDAMMIT!
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Thrifted:
Sport Coat: Paul Stuart $5
Shirt: LLBean $5
Tie: Polo $3
Pants: Marc Jacobs $4
Shoes: Bass $7
Pocket Square: Vtg. Liberty of London $10
Spring into Summer at A Fistful of Vintage.
From top:
Hermes
Lands End
Brooks Brothers
Turnbull & Asser
J. Press
Penney’s
Levine’s
AFoS Birthday
Top - 2006 - Rockfest
Bottom - 2013 - Eccentric Billionaire’s Party
How I’ve (not really) grown.
Birthday Look!
Spring palette, winter weather.
And thanks for all the well wishes, I had work today, but there are plans for an Eccentric Billionaire party on Saturday. I’m not going to lie, my birthday takes a week and I go pretty, pritty, prrrrriiiiiitttttyyyyyy hard.
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Thrifted:
Jacket: No tags $2.50
Shirt: JCrew $9.60
Tie: Vtg. Burberry’s $2
Chinos: B Republic $10
Shoes: Vtg. Sebago $7-8
Pocket Square: No tags scarf $2
Q:Do you sanitize thrifted shoes at all? I only buy shoes from thrift stores if they are in really good condition and then just bung them on. It's not like I'm going to wear them barefoot! The other week I picked up a pair of custom made Barker brogues [hand made in Northampton] They are ace! Keep up the good work and lucky thrifting!!
Shoes, no (I just wipe them out). Other clothes I’ll wash if they are dirty/smelly/I just don’t trust them, but often I’ll wear pants and outerwear straight from the store (is this a grimyliving hashtag?)
Q:Have you ever tried a handle bar mustache? I think it would fit you well! Especially with how well you dress!
actually I haven’t. The reason (which will likely surprise nobody) is that I have a friend with a handlebar, a friend with an “ambrose burnside” and several with beards. I usually go with a standard cop stache for simplicity’s sake.
Maybe I’ll give the handlebar a try at some point since, as you pointed out, it would go strikingly with my look.
Q:Happy birthday! Hope there's cake. I mean, I'll send you some if there isn't any, but it'd be gross and stale by the time it gets there. :\
so wait… then who sent me that cake this morning?
(Just kidding, cake in the mail would be gross. It was pie.)
It’s my birthday today!
NEEDLESSLY CONGRATULATE ME ON THE CONFLUENCE OF 2 DAYS 29 YEARS APART!!
![Casual Easter. (Also Preppy Easter)
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Thrifted:
Jacket: Calvin Klein (Gift)
Sweater: J Crew $7
Shirt: Van Heusen (Gift*)
Chinos: B Republic $5
Loafers: Vtg. Dexter $8
[Apparently also mass market Easter.]
*Someone must not like me very much (#menswearzing)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/13e0b1ecea094020d4de1ae67e2d5f57/tumblr_mkj8lh0MHF1qhf6kko1_1280.jpg)
Casual Easter. (Also Preppy Easter)
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Thrifted:
Jacket: Calvin Klein (Gift)
Sweater: J Crew $7
Shirt: Van Heusen (Gift*)
Chinos: B Republic $5
Loafers: Vtg. Dexter $8
[Apparently also mass market Easter.]
*Someone must not like me very much (#menswearzing)
blueberryfiles replied to your photoset: I was kind of going for jaunty. This look jaunty…
will i embarrass you if i add #mooseknuckle?
Who do you think I am? Jon Hamm or something?
I was kind of going for jaunty. This look jaunty to you guys? I mean, it’s finally nice enough to go outside so I figured jaunty would be the appropriate jam (ed note: jaunt?)
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Thrifted:
Jacket: Vtg. Sterns $5
Shirt: Polo $5
Tie: Vtg. Jordan Marsh $2
Shoes: Mezlan $8
Casual Suit.
Attempt n.
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Thrifted:
Suit
Shirt
Shoes
Pocket Square.
