Shoe Shine Please!

So here’s the thing, most people either don’t clean their shoes at all and let it die a slow miserable death or they don’t clean their shoes properly. So i’ve teamed up with a shoe shine expert to help you and I do things the right way.

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So I’ve asked to help of Harry Sima, a shoe shine expert at Nordstrom Vancouver to give us some pointers on how to do a proper shoe shine. By the way he has his own youtube channel called The Shoe Show so show him some love.

Anyways, without getting any sidetracked, here are the steps!

1) Wipe down the shoe with saddle soap, using a gritty cloth

2) Apply cream to condition the leather

  • Don’t be afraid to use a lot
  • Spread evenly by hand, cloth, or dauber
  • The leather will only take in what it needs
  • Brush off the cream with a horse hair brush

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3) Apply polish and let the layer sit

  • Ideally, the polish should sit for about five minutes
  • let it sink in

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4) Apply sole dressing

  • Don’t get it on the upper
  • Go slow

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5) Work in the wax with cloth or brush

  • The key is to use little dabs of polish and rub in small circular motions
  • Use small amounts of water when cloth is dry

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6) Buff out the shoe

  • Makes them POP!

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So here’s the end result!

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Basically good as new!

Here are some pro tips on why you should get your shoes shined!

  • It prevents leather from drying and cracking
  • Extends the life of shoes exponentially
  • It looks good and feels good

So if you guys liked this article and would like some more posts like this, please leave comments and share it with your friends and i’ll make some more!

 

 

Happy Air Max Day

Photo: Nike
Photo: Nike

Nike Air Max 1

“It’s a shoe that’s older than we are, but it remains handsome and relevant to this day. In 1987, Nike released the Air Max 1 – a piece of groundbreaking design, which, for the first time, gave consumers a view of the Air Sole unit that underpinned the comfort and performance of designer Tinker Hatfield’s celebrated Nike Airs. Yup, this was the birth of ‘visible air’, inspired by the architecture of Paris’ Pompidou Centre – a building that looks like it’s been sprung inside out, boasting inner workings that are visible through its exterior.” – from Asos.com

So here’s the inspiration

Paris Pompidou Centre
Paris Pompidou Centre

I just find it amazing how one architectural design influence another now iconic shoe design. The Air Max line of shoes by Nike has got to be one of the most reinvented sneaker line that I know of along with Chucks which is also owned by Nike.

With this being said, here’s a photo of my own Nike Air Max

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Ain’t it so cool? Haha!

Now here are some of the ones that I like from the world of Instagram

Bright red with geometric shapes!
Gotta have love for camo!
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Nice clean white with powder blue swoosh!
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Floral and Cork! Just an awesome and unexpected combination! I’d rock this anyday!
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Here’s a lady with quite a collection!
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MMMMM purple!!!
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Classic black and white!
Red and white paired with Marvel themed socks!
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Just an epic shot!
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Even the kids are on it!
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All white, super clean!
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Floral overload, but just WOW!
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Just the sheer contrast of colours. Nice!

As you can see, the influence alone of these shoes transcends gender and age! From the most muted designs to the brightest of colours even the use of different materials such as Cork! Nike Air Max has come a long way!

How about you, do you own a pair? Share your photo on the comments!