We’ve all been told to “not judge a book by its cover.” But this age-old advice isn’t always realistic. In fact, one psychological study found that first impressions are formed between seven and 17 seconds of meeting someone, and 55% of a person’s opinion is determined by physical appearance. Considering this instinct, it’s no wonder that we pour billions of dollars into the fashion and beauty industries each year. We reach beyond the necessities and strive for a signature, personalized style.
Accessories are no exception to this rule.From designer leather belts and exotic dress shoes for men, to luxury ostrich skin boots and italian loafers, consumers flock to add flair to their look via staple pieces like shoes. Leather shoes can be particularly appealing to the average consumer and luxury shopper alike. In fact, on average, a consumers will have at least four leather items on them at any one time. With this material so ubiquitous in our everyday lives, it’s important to understand how to best care for it in order to maximize its quality. Here are three tips to keeping your leather dress shoes, fore example, in tiptop shape.
- Always Pretreat and Protect
- Give Them a Break Every Once in a While
- Be Kind to Your Shoestext
Your first instinct after purchasing a new pair of leather dress shoes may be to put them on and try them out, but this is a mistake. It is key to first apply a product to waterproof your new shoes. This is especially important for styles like a winter boot, which are often exposed to snow and rain. Once you’ve done this, it’s safe to begin wearing your shoes, but don’t forget continuous care. Using leather polish can increase the lifespan on your shoes by ten times.
Just like you become tired after working too long, so do your leather dress shoes. These shoes can in fact accommodate tens of thousands of flexes, but these should be spread out as much as possible. It’s recommended, for example, that you rotate shoes at least once every other day. This is to avoid excess compression from walking, which gives them no time to spring back to normal.
Besides pretreating, polishing and avoiding wearing them too much, handling your leather dress shoes with care on a regular basis is key. Treat your shoes gently, being sure to store them in a safe, dry location when you’re not wearing them and avoiding direct contact with water and any liquid when you have them on and are able to do so.
Leather dress shoes can be a fantastic investment for those looking to create a polished, elevated look. Leather is a very popular material for accessories and can withstand regular use, but holds up much better when treated with care.