About Saphir Renovateur: I have never seen any leather conditioner or leather balm perform as well as Renovateur. It is THE best on the market today. It makes stiff and worn leather as,supple as new silk! Thank you for introducing it to me.
these Q&A videos are some of my favorite to watch. What do you like to wear on weekends or when your not in a suit. I don't have that many occasions where I need to wear a suit but I still like to dress well.
I Mr. Allison, I was watching this video and I noticed you read one of the question wrong. The question was the shoe shine wax cracking, not the leather cracking. Love you videos, very helpful. I just ordered the XL daubers, and the Saphir leather insoles. Your daubers and brushes are the best. They are superb.
Hello, while I would never ever consider myself a “well-dressed” nor “sophisticated” part of your audience; I’ve never had a problem adjusting my vocabulary, wardrobe and personality in general for an event to seamlessly blend into that world. I have an appreciation for those that take a no-shortcut approach to dress shoe care and leather care in in general. I generally wear a Georgia Boot Romeo and have never been able to keep them looking the same as when they were new. They either turn ridiculously dark from mink oil, shiny and marbled from conditioner, or glossy from polish/creme. I tried contacting the company by phone and they would not offer any information on shoe care. Although these boots are a full-grain leather, and barely break a triple-digit price point (depending where you buy them), I still believe in providing the best care possible with the products I use on them. This is why I was so glad you pointed out the “Chromexcel Leather Shoe Care” video. Also, that you explained not to use the Renovateur, and why. I have been trying for several years, on many pairs of these Romeos, to keep that beautiful sheeny Chestnut Brown factory look. I think this information about Chromexcel and the Saphir - Greasy Leather Creme will be my “Holy Grail” and finally end my quest with success. Thanks so much. And with so many products by Saphir that seem similar, yet have their specific uses, it is greatly appreciated when someone explains what to use, when and why, or why not. 👍
I’m new to this Chanel. I appreciate the professionalism, attention to detail, and sophistication you’ve applied to your work. That said I have a possibly misplaced question I haven’t stumbled across yet. How do you care for your brushes and rags? With the rags in particular, do you rotate the rag until each useable space is used or can you wash them and continue to reuse them even with the remaining stain? Thank you in advance.
Hello Kirby, how do you take care of your belts? I assume it is not any different from your shoes but it might be a good subject for another video. PS: thanks for the "how to antique polish dress shoes" it was a request of mine of long time ago.
Hi Mr. Allison! I have one question tho... For greasy/oiled leather, people mostly recommend creams that are neatsfoot oil based, just like Saphir Greasy Leather Cream, but on the long run neatsfoot oil will crack the leather cuz it is prone to oxidation. Am I right? Would mink oil be better solution for oiled leather in that case? Any other alternatives? Lot of old boot companies use petroleum jelly based grease for their oiled leather boots, what is your opinion on it? Thank you for your answer in advance, it will help me a lot :D
Kirby. Thank you for the channel and all the advice. I have a question that I did not want to ask for seeming to be ridiculous until this video as it seems like you enjoy all questions. I have a few questions but the one I have always wanted to ask - because I like to don a bow tie now and then. In fact as I get older I seem to wear a bow tie more than ever. Should you wear a bow tie with a button down collar? My second question is I am looking for a Tweed jacket and wanted to get your recommendation to a website you may recommend. thank you. Joe Lorio
Mr. Allison, how often do you wear a suit? Your daily activities might impose that you dress formal, but what happens when you are not compelled by the situation? I am a huge fan of formal wear (smart casual as well), but I find it difficult to dress up, mainly due to the high maintenance that comes with the shirts and dress shoes.
Mr. Allison I am extremely interested to find out what club do you belong to? Can you make recommendations for the well-dressed man on what clubs would be advantageous for him especially when he has to travel? Thank you again for all of your support and I look forward to more of your work.
Great video as always. I was hoping you could do a future video on different toe shapes and their associated meanings (if any). For example, a chisel toe, soft square, round toe, split toe, etc. Is one or the other reserved for specific types of shoe designs and occasions?
Toe shapes really come down to a matter of personal preference. Some narrow chisels don't work for wide feet... so if one has a particularly wide foot, a more round toe is preferred. I, personally, feel that too much of a chisel is not elegant. The Cleverley toe is as square as I would ever go.
Hello Kirby, i understand the importance of keeping my shoes dry and clean along with using the best products (Saphir) on the market to keep them looking great. What about maintaining the interior of the shoe? besides using the shoe tree what would a person clean and deodorize with? for folks that sweat a lot more than others would their be salt deposits left on the leather and could this become detrimental to the shoes interior?. Thanks and have a great weekend.
Note sure if you have it but I'd love to see a video on different styles of dressing for different occasions. For example a comparison of what you would wear to a lunch meeting with business partners vs a lunch with your friends
i work at a suit and tie store and wear dress shoes everyday how often should i give my shoes a wash and polish? once a week? a month? also i just bought some of the neutral wax polish for all my shoes. i have black brown and burgundy what is the pros and cons for using neutral for all as opposed to the pigmented color waxes for each color? thanks a lot love the videos!
Hi Kirby. Do you have any recommendations for cleaning and protecting the leather handles on a briefcase? They take so much abuse from all the oil and dirt on your hands. Thank you!
Look forward to your briefcase video should be quite interesting to see. Can you also make some recommendations on quality briefcases for the well dressed man of the leather orient thank you again
Are the waxes in some conditioning products a no-no for Cavalier chromexcel leather? I've read that polishes in particular with waxes are certainly not recommended. I want to do everything right with my Horween leather boots. Without too much wear, they should only require conditioning two or three times a year. That being said, I'm very concerned about the best care routine for them. I'm hesitant about Venetian Shoe Cream because of that waxes I've read it contains. Cavalier leather will age very nicely if properly cared for which is why I was drawn to it. A little more money but less care and polishing. I hope with any luck they'll last me between ten to twenty years.
I recommend the Saphir Leather Cleaning Soap is similar to Saddle Soap but enhanced with leather conditioners to help offset any drying of the leather as the water evaporates. Certainly good to use occasionally, or as needed.
kirby, your answer to the EDC question prompted a new question: do you own a firearm? if i remember correctly, you're from texas, which to my understanding is a state that doesn't ban ownership of guns and where people are quite avid gun owners. i ask this as someone from europe by the way, where owning guns is everything but a constitutional right.
Mr. Allison, I have a pair of bespoke wholecuts made in crocodile leather coming in the next week or so, and of course, I want to make sure I care for them correctly. I saw your video with your grandfather's pair of crocodile oxfords and would love to see mine in such amazing condition in the future. I have reptan and plan on using that to condition the leather so it will not dry out as I know crocodile is especially vulnerable to that. I also plan on using mirror gloss on the toes/ hard-countered areas. Do you have any other recommendations? Also these shoes have dyed and polished soles similar to how some cleverley's do, obviously this wears off but will it negate the benefit of using the saphir sole guard or would you still recommend use of that product? Thanks -Aidan
Hi Adrian! Congratulations on the shoes. They sound very special. If you don’t mind sharing, who made them? The most important thing for crocodile is that you regularly condition the skin using the Saphir Reptan, which is formulated specifically for reptile. If you are going to store the shoes for a prolonged period, you can leave the product on the skin without buffing. But regular conditioning is the most outta my thing, and the Saphir Reptan is great. You are right on-spot with using the Mirror Gloss to Shine. Since it has a lower solvent ratio, it is easier on the skin. You can supplement with a little Pate de Luxe wax polish to buff the Saphir mirror gloss, if you are having any trouble getting it to shine up. But you shouldn’t. Take a pic and post on Instagram using #hangerproject and @kirbyallison. I’d love to see the shoes!!
Thanks for getting back to me. They are made by Rozsnyai shoes in Hungary. They are a pretty cool company in that the trial fitting shoes they make for you are fully finished and made in calf leather so you get two pairs made on your last. I am so excited to finally get them after the ~6 month process. I will definately post a picture when they arrive. Cheers...
Normally they only accept clients for measurement at their shops in Budapest or Debrecen Hungary, however, I was unable to travel to Europe last December and asked if I could send them the measurements of my feet along with a foam cast of them and some images. Even though they personally did not measure them the results of the trial fitting were surprisingly successful and needed almost no modification. Very unconventional for a bespoke process but they were very accommodating and I was amazed at the results achievable without even having an in-person fitting. They also make hand-welted RTW shoes and MTO shoes as well.
Mr. Allison, The crocodile wholecuts just arrived after being stuck in customs for a while. I tagged you in the Instagram post I made and used your hashtag. -Aidan
I have some boots that use a waxed leather, right now I'm just using Bick 4 or Wonder Balsam on them. I'm not sure if there is something better? Very little is available on the manufacturer site, it doesn't specify oiled just waxed.
SS S You can tell if the leather is oiled by pressing on the leather with your thumb. If it discolors, it’s oiled (color will return after pressure is released).
Kirby, your the man...I appreciate your videos... what are your thoughts on Saphir Amaral shoe wax? Although, it's not Medaille dOr Mirror..I seem to be getting great results alternating between MDO black pate de luxe and Amaral. Few words from the master?
Sako Janessian I don’t have a ton of experience with the Saphir Admiral Gloss since I primarily use the Saphir Mirror Gloss. The general concept is the same, though. Probably just a different combination of hard waxes.
Hi Kirby, I live in an environment, where it snows a lot. So how can I remove heavy salt stains and water stains from my leather dress shoes? And more importantly: Can I prevent further salt stains somehow? Kind regards
Hi Timo - the Saphir Hivre'Winter (www.hangerproject.com/saphir-hiver-winter-salt-snow-stain-remover.html) is great at removing water and salt stains... but it can only do so much. If you know that you are going to be spending a lot of time in snow, I'd recommend a pair of boots that have a rubber Danite or commando sole to help protect against the water. You can also further waterproof your shoes, over and above using just a wax polish, with the Saphir Super Invulner. I would spray this on the shoe after you've polished it for additional protection.
Hi Kirby,When not wearing your sunglasses,do you think it's better to leave them sitting on the top of your crown or have them hanging down in front of your chest on a set of sunglasses straps. Thanks,Emidio
Emidio R I prefer to just put them slot one of the temples through my shirt or jacket pocket. The sunglass straps are great for the beach of boating, but otherwise remind me too much for college.
Ah... yes. That's why we recommend the High Shine Chamois for mirror shines... the lent from plusher chamois can embed into the wax. Unfortunately, you have to pull the wax off with the Saphir Reno'Mat.
can you make short lists of your all products and describe each of your products in brief and their use ? . Too many products to read in details takes long time and you will forget what you read. so We can see the lists and know which one just right for certain finished products like wallets bags shoes etc.. I bought several products of safir. I mostly make high end wallets, belts and other products. Too many finishing and renovating products in the market. I watched your some videos and visited website too.
About Saphir Renovateur: I have never seen any leather conditioner or leather balm perform as well as Renovateur. It is THE best on the market today. It makes stiff and worn leather as,supple as new silk! Thank you for introducing it to me.
Steven Trosiek Thanks, Steven! Liquid Gold, for sure!!
these Q&A videos are some of my favorite to watch. What do you like to wear on weekends or when your not in a suit. I don't have that many occasions where I need to wear a suit but I still like to dress well.
I Mr. Allison, I was watching this video and I noticed you read one of the question wrong. The question was the shoe shine wax cracking, not the leather cracking. Love you videos, very helpful. I just ordered the XL daubers, and the Saphir leather insoles. Your daubers and brushes are the best. They are superb.
Great questions, enjoyed the video as always. the idea for having a couple wallets was great Kirby. Congrats to all of the winners of the shoe laces.
Hello, while I would never ever consider myself a “well-dressed” nor “sophisticated” part of your audience; I’ve never had a problem adjusting my vocabulary, wardrobe and personality in general for an event to seamlessly blend into that world.
I have an appreciation for those that take a no-shortcut approach to dress shoe care and leather care in in general.
I generally wear a Georgia Boot Romeo and have never been able to keep them looking the same as when they were new. They either turn ridiculously dark from mink oil, shiny and marbled from conditioner, or glossy from polish/creme. I tried contacting the company by phone and they would not offer any information on shoe care.
Although these boots are a full-grain leather, and barely break a triple-digit price point (depending where you buy them), I still believe in providing the best care possible with the products I use on them. This is why I was so glad you pointed out the “Chromexcel Leather Shoe Care” video. Also, that you explained not to use the Renovateur, and why.
I have been trying for several years, on many pairs of these Romeos, to keep that beautiful sheeny Chestnut Brown factory look. I think this information about Chromexcel and the Saphir - Greasy Leather Creme will be my “Holy Grail” and finally end my quest with success.
Thanks so much. And with so many products by Saphir that seem similar, yet have their specific uses, it is greatly appreciated when someone explains what to use, when and why, or why not. 👍
I’m new to this Chanel. I appreciate the professionalism, attention to detail, and sophistication you’ve applied to your work. That said I have a possibly misplaced question I haven’t stumbled across yet. How do you care for your brushes and rags? With the rags in particular, do you rotate the rag until each useable space is used or can you wash them and continue to reuse them even with the remaining stain? Thank you in advance.
Hi Kirby. Love the videos. The leather on the inner sole / sock of some of my shoes have started cracking. How can I prevent and repair this?
Ivan Tan Saphir Renovateur applied liberally often , takes care of this problem.
Hello Kirby, how do you take care of your belts? I assume it is not any different from your shoes but it might be a good subject for another video.
PS: thanks for the "how to antique polish dress shoes" it was a request of mine of long time ago.
I loved the Bunny Ears comment. As a father with a young child I liked seeing we use similar phrases :)
No need to apologize for being yourself!
Jake Roy Thanks, Jake!
Hi Mr. Allison! I have one question tho... For greasy/oiled leather, people mostly recommend creams that are neatsfoot oil based, just like Saphir Greasy Leather Cream, but on the long run neatsfoot oil will crack the leather cuz it is prone to oxidation. Am I right? Would mink oil be better solution for oiled leather in that case? Any other alternatives? Lot of old boot companies use petroleum jelly based grease for their oiled leather boots, what is your opinion on it?
Thank you for your answer in advance, it will help me a lot :D
Kirby. Thank you for the channel and all the advice. I have a question that I did not want to ask for seeming to be ridiculous until this video as it seems like you enjoy all questions. I have a few questions but the one I have always wanted to ask - because I like to don a bow tie now and then. In fact as I get older I seem to wear a bow tie more than ever. Should you wear a bow tie with a button down collar? My second question is I am looking for a Tweed jacket and wanted to get your recommendation to a website you may recommend. thank you. Joe Lorio
Mr. Allison, how often do you wear a suit? Your daily activities might impose that you dress formal, but what happens when you are not compelled by the situation? I am a huge fan of formal wear (smart casual as well), but I find it difficult to dress up, mainly due to the high maintenance that comes with the shirts and dress shoes.
Great video like always Kirby! How about a video on making your favorite classic cocktail?
Totally agree about the black phone getting lost. I can never find a dark phone.
Mr. Allison I am extremely interested to find out what club do you belong to? Can you make recommendations for the well-dressed man on what clubs would be advantageous for him especially when he has to travel? Thank you again for all of your support and I look forward to more of your work.
Great video as always. I was hoping you could do a future video on different toe shapes and their associated meanings (if any). For example, a chisel toe, soft square, round toe, split toe, etc. Is one or the other reserved for specific types of shoe designs and occasions?
Toe shapes really come down to a matter of personal preference. Some narrow chisels don't work for wide feet... so if one has a particularly wide foot, a more round toe is preferred. I, personally, feel that too much of a chisel is not elegant. The Cleverley toe is as square as I would ever go.
Hello Kirby, i understand the importance of keeping my shoes dry and clean along with using the best products (Saphir) on the market to keep them looking great. What about maintaining the interior of the shoe? besides using the shoe tree what would a person clean and deodorize with? for folks that sweat a lot more than others would their be salt deposits left on the leather and could this become detrimental to the shoes interior?. Thanks and have a great weekend.
Note sure if you have it but I'd love to see a video on different styles of dressing for different occasions. For example a comparison of what you would wear to a lunch meeting with business partners vs a lunch with your friends
Rodney Cabezas Interesting question! I’ll add it to our video list.
i work at a suit and tie store and wear dress shoes everyday how often should i give my shoes a wash and polish? once a week? a month? also i just bought some of the neutral wax polish for all my shoes. i have black brown and burgundy what is the pros and cons for using neutral for all as opposed to the pigmented color waxes for each color? thanks a lot love the videos!
It really depends on use... definitely a thorough polish once a month with some touch-up every week or two weeks.
Is there any chance of that card case being sold on the store again
Hi Kirby. Do you have any recommendations for cleaning and protecting the leather handles on a briefcase? They take so much abuse from all the oil and dirt on your hands. Thank you!
Look forward to your briefcase video should be quite interesting to see. Can you also make some recommendations on quality briefcases for the well dressed man of the leather orient thank you again
The repair cream you use to fix deep scratches. What color would match the AE merlot color ?
Thanks you for tipping 🥳
Overshoes are another option to wear over your dress shoes when it’s raining I think one good brand is called Tingley
Hello Kirby, Thank you for the video. Do you happen to know if my redwing iron rangers are oiled leather or not?
Are the waxes in some conditioning products a no-no for Cavalier chromexcel leather? I've read that polishes in particular with waxes are certainly not recommended. I want to do everything right with my Horween leather boots. Without too much wear, they should only require conditioning two or three times a year. That being said, I'm very concerned about the best care routine for them. I'm hesitant about Venetian Shoe Cream because of that waxes I've read it contains. Cavalier leather will age very nicely if properly cared for which is why I was drawn to it. A little more money but less care and polishing. I hope with any luck they'll last me between ten to twenty years.
Great video Kirby. Do you recommend using saddle soap? If so how often?
I recommend the Saphir Leather Cleaning Soap is similar to Saddle Soap but enhanced with leather conditioners to help offset any drying of the leather as the water evaporates. Certainly good to use occasionally, or as needed.
kirby, your answer to the EDC question prompted a new question: do you own a firearm? if i remember correctly, you're from texas, which to my understanding is a state that doesn't ban ownership of guns and where people are quite avid gun owners. i ask this as someone from europe by the way, where owning guns is everything but a constitutional right.
Mr. Allison,
I have a pair of bespoke wholecuts made in crocodile leather coming in the next week or so, and of course, I want to make sure I care for them correctly. I saw your video with your grandfather's pair of crocodile oxfords and would love to see mine in such amazing condition in the future. I have reptan and plan on using that to condition the leather so it will not dry out as I know crocodile is especially vulnerable to that. I also plan on using mirror gloss on the toes/ hard-countered areas. Do you have any other recommendations? Also these shoes have dyed and polished soles similar to how some cleverley's do, obviously this wears off but will it negate the benefit of using the saphir sole guard or would you still recommend use of that product?
Thanks
-Aidan
Hi Adrian! Congratulations on the shoes. They sound very special. If you don’t mind sharing, who made them?
The most important thing for crocodile is that you regularly condition the skin using the Saphir Reptan, which is formulated specifically for reptile. If you are going to store the shoes for a prolonged period, you can leave the product on the skin without buffing. But regular conditioning is the most outta my thing, and the Saphir Reptan is great.
You are right on-spot with using the Mirror Gloss to Shine. Since it has a lower solvent ratio, it is easier on the skin. You can supplement with a little Pate de Luxe wax polish to buff the Saphir mirror gloss, if you are having any trouble getting it to shine up. But you shouldn’t.
Take a pic and post on Instagram using #hangerproject and @kirbyallison. I’d love to see the shoes!!
Thanks for getting back to me. They are made by Rozsnyai shoes in Hungary. They are a pretty cool company in that the trial fitting shoes they make for you are fully finished and made in calf leather so you get two pairs made on your last. I am so excited to finally get them after the ~6 month process. I will definately post a picture when they arrive.
Cheers...
Aidan Fox I’ll have to look them up. Where did you meet with them for your fittings?
Normally they only accept clients for measurement at their shops in Budapest or Debrecen Hungary, however, I was unable to travel to Europe last December and asked if I could send them the measurements of my feet along with a foam cast of them and some images. Even though they personally did not measure them the results of the trial fitting were surprisingly successful and needed almost no modification. Very unconventional for a bespoke process but they were very accommodating and I was amazed at the results achievable without even having an in-person fitting. They also make hand-welted RTW shoes and MTO shoes as well.
Mr. Allison,
The crocodile wholecuts just arrived after being stuck in customs for a while. I tagged you in the Instagram post I made and used your hashtag.
-Aidan
I have some boots that use a waxed leather, right now I'm just using Bick 4 or Wonder Balsam on them. I'm not sure if there is something better? Very little is available on the manufacturer site, it doesn't specify oiled just waxed.
SS S You can tell if the leather is oiled by pressing on the leather with your thumb. If it discolors, it’s oiled (color will return after pressure is released).
Kirby, your the man...I appreciate your videos... what are your thoughts on Saphir Amaral shoe wax? Although, it's not Medaille dOr Mirror..I seem to be getting great results alternating between MDO black pate de luxe and Amaral. Few words from the master?
Sako Janessian I don’t have a ton of experience with the Saphir Admiral Gloss since I primarily use the Saphir Mirror Gloss. The general concept is the same, though. Probably just a different combination of hard waxes.
Is there anything you can do to stop/quiet a squeaky shoe? My AEs have that leather-on-leather sound as I walk. Just curious what you recommend.
Probably a problem with the shoe. If it is too late to send them back, a good cobbler should be able to fix it when they resole the shoe.
Hi Kirby,
I live in an environment, where it snows a lot. So how can I remove heavy salt stains and water stains from my leather dress shoes? And more importantly: Can I prevent further salt stains somehow?
Kind regards
Hi Timo - the Saphir Hivre'Winter (www.hangerproject.com/saphir-hiver-winter-salt-snow-stain-remover.html) is great at removing water and salt stains... but it can only do so much.
If you know that you are going to be spending a lot of time in snow, I'd recommend a pair of boots that have a rubber Danite or commando sole to help protect against the water. You can also further waterproof your shoes, over and above using just a wax polish, with the Saphir Super Invulner. I would spray this on the shoe after you've polished it for additional protection.
Witch Fountain pen was you using???
Hi Kirby,When not wearing your sunglasses,do you think it's better to leave them sitting on the top of your crown or have them hanging down in front of your chest on a set of sunglasses straps.
Thanks,Emidio
Emidio R I prefer to just put them slot one of the temples through my shirt or jacket pocket. The sunglass straps are great for the beach of boating, but otherwise remind me too much for college.
Hi how I take care my synthetic leather shoe, I live in a rainy season country?
Hi Mr. Allison,
I thank you for the shoe laces, but I am not sure how to give you my address for them to be delivered. Thank you again.
I made a mistake of buffing my wax with a new cloth and it inserted fabric into the wax.
How do i get it out?
Ah... yes. That's why we recommend the High Shine Chamois for mirror shines... the lent from plusher chamois can embed into the wax. Unfortunately, you have to pull the wax off with the Saphir Reno'Mat.
Are pebble grain or country grain leather shoes more water proof and durable than calf skin?
No, not really. It's still calfskin.
can you make short lists of your all products and describe each of your products in brief and their use ? . Too many products to read in details takes long time and you will forget what you read. so We can see the lists and know which one just right for certain finished products like wallets bags shoes etc.. I bought several products of safir. I mostly make high end wallets, belts and other products. Too many finishing and renovating products in the market. I watched your some videos and visited website too.
I thought I was the only one using a cardholder for the same purpose
Can you do a video different types of loafers such as driving loafers
Look forward to the edc!
He reads a lot of questions!
I now cary a Leatherman PS4 they are like 50 g, it works ok in jeans.
In another video i said you look like Bill Parsons, with thoseclases on you become Steven Colbert.
very nice glasses. LZ
Kirby! Jeans, Jean shirt and Jean jacket? :D
And then next question.... Where doesn’t one get a spare drivers license🤫
💪💪💪🤴🤴🤴
Please stop saying rehydrate (add water).....resaturate with oils....other than that I love your work :)
wayne byrne Haha. I’ll work on that.
Can I have some laces :) ?
I don’t know, I think Bunny Ears is an excellent way of saying it and very aristocratic...