Shoes Say A Lot: make sure you send the right message

Dress shoes are an investment, they complete a suit or outfit and they are one of the first things that style minded people look at. Good dress shoes should communicate that you are a professional and that you are successful. Buying new shoes is a great way to make those statements but over the long haul, taking care of the ones you already own makes much more sense. 

Before we talk about shoe care, let's cover storage and protection. Leather shoes should always be given at least a day to 'rest' in between wearings. This allows the moisture that accumulates during normal wear to be released by the leather. If you wear the same shoes day after day, the leather will become too moist and will wear out quickly. Also when you store your shoes use cedar shoe trees to keep the form of your foot and to help wick away that moisture. Cedar also helps reduce foot odor. 

Caring for shoes is actually quite simple and requires only a modest investment of time and money. You will need a horsehair brush, two soft cloths, and some shoe shine or polish that matches your shoes. First use the brush to remove any dirt or debris from all surfaces of the shoe. Then apply shine to the shoe using one of your soft cloths; this will become your 'on' cloth. Work in small sections and apply only a small amount of shoe shine or polish. When you have covered the entire leather surface, use the other cloth, your 'off' cloth to buff out the shoe, leaving a clean and often shiny quality. Finally go over the shoes once more with the brush to remove the last trace amounts of polish and you're done.

Many men and women admit to judging others by first looking at the shoes they are wearing. Make sure the message you send with your footwear is a positive one.