Leather Brogue shoes: How do I care for them?

The goal of London Brogues has always been to provide high-quality, comfortable men's shoes that are fashionable without breaking the bank. Brogues were traditionally considered outdoor or country footwear because the perforations were designed to allow the upper to dry faster in wet climates. They were previously regarded as inappropriate for casual or business occasions, but brogues are now considered appropriate in most situations.

Brogues come in four toe cap styles (complete or "wingtip", semi-, quarter, and longwing) and four closure styles (Oxford, Derby, ghillie, and monk). Brogues may now take the form of business dress shoes, sneakers, high-heeled women's shoes, or any other shoe form that employs or evokes the multi-piece construction and perforated, serrated piece edges characteristic of brogues, in addition to their traditional form of sturdy leather shoes or boots.

Investing in a good pair of genuine leather brogues is the first step toward ensuring your shoes last. Nonetheless, wear and tear will occur unless they are properly cared for.

To keep your leather brogues in pristine condition, use a good, old-fashioned cake shoe wax with a natural stiff bristle brush to thoroughly coat the shoe. Allow the wax to sit overnight before polishing quickly in the morning for a high shine. While the shade of cake wax depends on the colour of your brogues (black wax for black leather, tan for light-brown leather, etc.), when cleaning white or coloured leather brogues, always use clear shoe wax and a brand-new brush. More importantly, use a quick brushing motion to clear the perforations of any clogged shoe wax.

Clean:

Remove the laces to gain access to all parts of the shoe. Clean the shoes with a damp cloth or brush, paying particular attention to removing dirt and salt from the lace holes and indentations (use a toothpick if necessary).

Condition:

Before treating your shoes, make sure they are scorched. Apply leather conditioner to the boots, working it in with circular motions. Allow the conditioner to work its way into the leather for about 30 minutes.

Polishing

After conditioning, it's time to polish your brogues. Apply a wax-based polish to the uppers of your shoes in circular motions, making sure to get even coverage. It is better to apply it thinly but frequently than in thick coats when it comes to polish. Allow the product to work its magic on the leather for a few hours before buffing it up with a soft shoe brush to the desired level of shine. The more buffing you do, the shinier your shoes will be.

Finishing Touches

After the Wax or Polish has been worked into the leather (approximately 2 hours minimum, or overnight if more convenient), buff to a shine with a soft shoe brush or cotton cloth Polish briskly to achieve a glossy shine!

The most important things to remember are:

• Please wait until your brogue shoes are completely dry before cleaning and protecting them.

• Try not to wear the same pair of shoes every day. Before applying wax, check a small area to see if the colour has changed.

• Use a toothpick to clean the holes and grooves in the brogue's leather.

• Polish with a clean cloth to make it shine.