men's corner: shine it on...

i've always been a little envious of seeing men getting their shoes shined at the airport (or hotel, or even on the streets of san francisco...) it just seems like such a nice treat...but one that i never consider doing myself...it seems like such a 'guy' thing...

well...looks like you don't have to wait for a trip to make sure your shoes look their absolute best...here are some tips (courtesy of gq) on how to get that lustrous look to your shoes:

* first...clean the shoes well...antonio (of jim's shoe repair in ny) recommends fiebing's spot remover...use an old toothbrush to clean the welts...

* next...condition with meltonian leather balm...or another high-quality brand of your choice...

* apply the wax (kiwi, what else?) in small, tight swirls, using your first two fingers wrapped in an old tee-shirt...by the time you've applied the wax to the second shoe...the first will be ready to buff with a horse-hair brush...


* the second coat of kiwi can either be applied with the cloth lightly watered...or applied to the shoe then lightly sprayed with water...and then buffed to a 'spit shine' with a clean cloth...

voila...nothing puts together an outfit better then a nicely shined pair of shoes...

how do i take care of it?

it's inevitable....you have to care for your clothes...how much time and money do you want to spend doing it? high-maintenance clothes are like high-maintenance friends...they need a lot of attention...that being said...i think i keep my neighberhood dry cleaners in business...

when i am shopping for clients...this is an area i have to consider...for their lifestyle...some like me...know their dry cleaners by name...others will only consider clothes that are wash and wear...the key to keep in mind...is that you can look fabulous in either category...

so...ask yourself some questions...and see what works for you...

how delicate is it?

how easily does it stain?

and...how careful are you willing to be while you're wearing it?

think about how often you'll be putting it on...and for what kind of event...

will it be subjected to baby drool...hot-weather perspiration...or salad dressing?

does it have to be dry-cleaned? hand-washed? ironed?

if it's an outfit you reserve for special occasions...then maybe you can handle the burden...if you're planning on wearing it daily...you might want to opt for something that's a little easier to love and care for...