After seeing @John C post yesterday I realized I hadn't been sharing any of my shoe projects in a while. I find these projects to be SO relaxing and challenging all at the same time. I also think it is a great way for everyone in this group to care for their items expensive or not and it doesn't have to cost a lot to do. The products that you need vary in price, but you also don't run through the product too quickly so buying better quality care products will last a long time. These are my Allen Edmonds Sarasota (Independence collection) Woven Loafers. I noticed when I took them off the other day that I had a couple of spots where the dyed portion of the edge of the weave had come off and I was looking at raw skin. That prompted me to take them down to the bench and get started. After brushing and cleaning them I dyed the leather back in the "raw" spots. While that was sitting I decided I didn't like the contrast of the sole and heals as they were a bit flat tonally to the rest of the shoe, so I sanded down the sole edges and heals. Then I dyed the edges and heals 1st with a coat of Havana Brown dye, then 1 coat of Dark Brown, then a light coat of Bordeaux. After that sat and dried I put another coat of dark brown onto and it has given it the contrast but with depth and warmth I thought would be nice. Then I went back and polished the woven parts of the shoe with cream polish. After this was done I used Havana Brown cream polish on the heels and edging and buffed them to a nice shine, and then buffed the uppers as well. The last detail which generally gets overlooked was the sole bottoms. While you expect them to wear if you do not protect them they will soak up water and drench your feet if you are walking in the rain too much. I sanded the sole bottoms and heal bottoms with 400 grit sand paper and then cleaned them off and gave 2 coats of sole guard. This gives the soles waterproofing without making them slippery.

For me, shoe restoration has never been about simply making an old pair look presentable again. It is about preserving craftsmanship from an era when shoes were built with integrity, recraftability, and character. In a world increasingly driven by disposable fashion, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for restoring legacy footwear — shoes that still possess exceptional leather quality, strong structural foundations, and the unmistakable soul that only time and wear can create. Much of my work has centered around heritage American and European footwear, including vintage Allen Edmonds wingtips, bicycle toes, and custom patina projects, along with refined European styles from Mezlan, including woven oxfords and other classic dress silhouettes. Many of these pairs arrived heavily neglected: dried and oxidized uppers, uneven factory finishes, deep creasing, dulled welts, faded color transitions, and years of embedded contamination that muted the natural beauty of the leather. Beneath all of that wear, though, there was still life in the shoes — and that is what I’m always trying to uncover. My restoration process begins with deep leather cleaning and decontamination using saddle soap, leather cleansers, and controlled stripping agents such as acetone or professional deglazers to remove failing finishes, wax buildup, silicones, and surface contaminants. I approach this carefully because the goal is never to aggressively strip the leather, but to reveal its natural character while preserving its integrity. Once stripped, the leather is slowly rehydrated and nourished using products such as Saphir Renovateur, Venetian Shoe Cream, and penetrating conditioners designed to restore flexibility, richness, and depth back into tired calfskin. I allow the leather time to absorb and stabilize before moving into color work. Leather responds best when it’s treated patiently. The artistic process begins with custom patina development. Rather than applying flat, uniform color, I build depth through layered dye applications using alcohol-based dyes, creams, and tonal blending techniques that create movement and transparency across the upper. My work consistently gravitates toward rich cognacs, museum browns, tobacco undertones, espresso burnishing, and antiqued transitions that give the shoes an old-world European character without looking artificial or overdone.

Day 2 of the Carhartt’s today and I’m going with this Pierre Cardin Tie I found last weekend. I like it’s geometric patterns and the light color matches the trousers pretty well. White shirt and socks underneath, and on top is a classic Navy Blazer. Black Belt and Loafers. Tommy showed up for the Outtake. Say Hi 👋 to Tommy.

Two separate incidents, both involving liquids and one involving far too much mud, meant that it was time for two pairs of my shoes to experience a deep cleaning. My oxblood wingtips looked the worse of the two after I decided to test the swamp-shoe moniker quite thoroughly, but I was actually more concerned about lasting damage to my double monks. Fortunately, both now look to be free of any long-term damage! Unfortunately, I didn't think to take any 'before' pictures... The first step was removing the caked-on mud from the wingtips. Next came using a magic eraser and a stiff brush on the soles. Then came the Saphir Reno-Mat for a thorough cleaning on both pairs. After a day of drying, I decided the double monks needed a second round - so they're a day behind in the process. Then, a thorough coating of Saphir Dubbin conditioner and another day to dry out. This was followed by a good brushing and wipe-down with a cotton chamois to remove any excess conditioner, a generous application of Saphir Renovateur, and yet another day to dry - followed, again, by a good brushing and wipe-down with a cotton chamois. This is where the double-monks currently sit. They will get the same follow-up treatment as the wingtips, hopefully tomorrow - just using slightly different colors. 😁 With the wingtips ready for a full shine, that process began. It started with two light coats of Saphir Pommadier Cream polish in Hermes Red over the entire shoe, each followed by 5-10 minutes of drying time and a good brushing with a horse-hair brush. Next, a very light coat of Angelus Shoe Wax polish in Oxblood over the entire shoe, again followed by 5-10 minutes of drying time and a good brushing with a horse-hair brush. Now, it was time to focus on the toes - so I prepared for a mirror polish... Step one is assembling the necessities: - A 20%/80% mixture of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water, respectively. - A large, single piece of ice (I use a large, clear, cube of ice from one of my whiskey molds). - A small bowl to hold the ice and a couple of tablespoons of the alcohol-water mixture. - A fresh, clean, cotton buffing cloth. - A heat gun. - The polishes: Angelus Oxblood, Saphir Mirror Gloss, & Angelus Black. - A good show, movie, or set of videos queued up on the Fire TV Stick.

I will never be someone who is pro AI, but I do love to see the memorials my students create. I will always push for them to draw the things themselves, but I do think that AI can serve as a neat way for students to visualize their ideas, and truly demonstrate all that they have learned.