Hello Gentlemen, I posted before asking about style advice for an old Tweed sport coat I had acquired. I wanted to post my first attempt from a couple of months prior and get feedback. Let me hear your thoughts!

Many of us joined RMRS to better ourselves from a daily clothing ascetic and improve the way we ultimately dress and look on a daily basis. But I think there’s so much more to growth as a Real Man through mental, manners, and how to be a gentleman. That being said, one thing I’ve taken is also the accountability that we subconsciously place on ourselves by choosing to post our OOTD and allow ourselves to be critiqued by our brothers and sisters. This brings me to my point, I’ve fallen into a complacency with my daily outfit as many days this is my standard “uniform” of jeans, company logged polo and various levels of footwear depending on my destination that day. The one thing I overlooked is the aforementioned accountability. I’ve made some great connections and friends within the community and my daily post helped me greatly on the weightloss journey and battle through PT and shoulder surgery. I have become lackadaisical as of late in my posts and have seen that it has trickled down to other aspects of my life, specifically my “food” life and began slowly putting some of the weight I’ve lost back on. This being said, personally I look at this community as so much more than an opportunity to look better, it’s an opportunity to become a better dresser, person, friend, and brother. I’ve returned to the commitment level I had before during my journey and have lost the weight I gained and have the focus to reach my goal. I’m not asking for thanks or pomp and circumstance here, merely a tip of the hat.

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.