Man I'm so glad I ran across your videos I've watched almost all of them and I have really enjoyed the knowledge you give about investing in good quality shoes I really have stepped my game up and have alot to learn
I love the last and espacially the lacing! So well proportioned! At the same time you can see that it's a simplistic design but hard to create. I can't imagine, that the last originally came from a block of wood! Great craftsmanship, Dominic!
Beautifully sculptured. The proportions and contours are so pleasing. Like a coachbuilt car of the Classical era. A mid-30s Rolls Royce drophead comes to mind. Or maybe a Jaguar E-type.
watching a kirby allison video has become a favorite weekend past time of mine. Really appreciate how these videos have given me more appreciation for leather shoes, and I even bought a bunch of saphir creams & waxes off his website! Only suggestion is hoping for more breadth into the chelsea boot world if you have the bandwidth. really enjoyed the carmina review
I used to wrap my polishing cloth nearly the same way for 8 years of Army boot shining. Now that I’m getting back in to quality shoes after 20 years, I will wrap it the same way again.
Kirby thank you very much for yet another great video. About 15 to 20 years ago it became popular to re-release musical films like The Sound of Music with big subtitles with the songs lyrics for the public to sing along during the film. You might be wondering what the sing along films have to do with this video, well the reason why I thought of those film (which I never went to see) it's because I was polishing my shoes, following step by step the way Kirby was polishing his. Polishing along video...
Kirby, you should apply for the next James Bond. You certainly have got the goods. That was a beautiful pair of shoes. Gorgeous. Would love to see you wear the shoes you review at the end of your videos.
Dear Kirby, I had a question. Now you have to keep in mind I'm 17 and I just began my journey into men's fashion for 2 years. I live in Asia and the tailoring here is pretty cheap. I have been making shirts made with custom cuts for my body for over an year and adding up details like Mother of Pearl buttons bought from amazon myself. A few months earlier I visited the only bespoke tailor in the whole country and he made jokes of me for saying thant these were custom. Now, what should I call these garments? Bespoke, Semi bespoke or MTO? Thanks in forward.
In the US, we would refer to modified off-the-rack clothing as "tailored." All the changes you've made are simply alterations. "Custom" rarely, if ever, refers to off-the-rack clothing, because 'custom' denotes that it was manufactured specifically for you, to your specifications. "Bespoke" is similar to "custom" except that the customization is limited to the materials the clothier keeps inventoried. There's no such thing as "semi-bespoke," it's either bespoke or custom. Made to Order just means the item is not kept inventoried prior to purchase. It was manufactured for your purchase, and it could be custom, standard, bespoke, etc. Your clothier was rude to laugh at you for calling your altered clothing 'custom,' he should've educated you instead. But he was not wrong for pointing out that they aren't true customs.
Hey Kirby, allow me to first congratulate you for your fabulous content and presentation. Could you please make an in-depth review on Berluti and Magnani whole cuts and their mirror shine?
Yes we definitely plan to do lots more livestreams, with more guests as well. I am just taking a break from it for a few weeks, as we did 6 per week for over 2 months, so need to rest and plan more!
Personally I haven't felt that I needed it, whilst sat at the desk. As you can see in the video, I am not bringing the shoe onto my lap or anything, so don't really risk it touching my suit.
Hi Kirby, We've seen lot of your shoe polishing videos, and we would appreciate if you could elaborate on how to maintain a high quality leather belt such as carmina. Do we have to polish it, and how can we maintain the belts to last longer? There is no good guide on belts. Pls advise. This question could be ludicrous, but most men out here lack knowledge on belts. Hoping to see a video on it.
Hi Kirby love your vids. They have really taught me how to properly shine my shoes. Can I ask a question about maintaining my shines? Do I go through the whole process of renovateur, creme and pate de luxe every time I polish?
I also love the mirror shine on Oxfords. It looks better than what other dudes in their 20s wear. Do you also Spit-shine less formal pairs like wingtips?
Can you help explain how the cold water is desirable to harden the waxes, but you want to melt the waves through buffing. Are you trying to make the waxes cold or hot? Hard or soft? I realize it’s both, but I’d love some discussion about that, since they seem at odds.
Hi Kirby, I have a question. You have many black cap toe oxfords and they all look very similar. What is your drive to expand a collection when you have the square and the round toe in black past say, 2 pairs?
I only have two plain black captoe oxfords at the moment... one from Cleverley and one from Dominic. That’s probably enough... but I think given the importance of the topic to this RUclips channel and my passions, I’d like black captoe from several makers to be able to compare them.
Kirby Allison Thank you! So it’s not a recommendation for the standard gentleman to invest in multiple pairs? I met with Luis from the Carmina store here in Paris for my first made-to-measure shoes from their brand and mentioned I heard about Carmina from you and this channel. Outside of shoes, I would love to see you review Cad & the Dandy and have actually messaged them requesting this collaboration.
Hey Kirby! I got a problem. I was shining my walnut colored shoes and will mix a little bit of alcohol with water to shine the toe. The finish of the toe appears to have been stripped. I used a hair dryer, got the old wax off, used renovateur, let it sit, buffed and used creme polish, but the toe sheen is still really dull/flat and I don't know what to do. Any help is much appreciated!
I still haven't been able to create very smooth mirror shines. I usually try to build up the mirror gloss first and then I apply the pate de luxe. I suspect I may need a better piece of cloth.
Hey Kirby, question here: When you shine new shoes for the first time, I've seen you use Renovateur only in some ocassions, and in others you go straight to the pommadier. How do you know the difference of when to skip the Renovateur?
mirror shine are beatiful, but i also find beauty in a pair of shoes with a classic soft shine... so mirror shine is not a "Must do" is just about tastes.
I find with a formal, black pair of shoes, the mirror shine adds a lot. It certainly not necessary for all shoes. Indeed, I too enjoy softer shines on my less formal pairs.
Some good comments here. The reality is that taking laces out is a lot of work and unnecessarily increases the threshold for shining your shoes. It also places a lot of unnecessary wear on the eyelets. I only take the laces out when I’m replacing them or doing a thorough shine, in which case I replace the laces anyway.
Hello Kirby, I really enjoy watching your videos. But there is a question, that came to my mind: I am 21 years old and I am really afraid of over dressing - not stating my role as student. I do not want anyone to think about me as a „Wanna-Be“. So is there any moment, that is the right moment to start dressing as a gentleman, eventhough the Company has a more casual look in their offices?
I think that one definitely has to be sensitive to their environment.... so, maybe you just focus on some nice shoes, trousers / chinos, and a dress shirt. If you can get away with an odd jacket, do that also!
For formal events when my wife wears heels, I like a high heel stack for my dress shoes. Which shoes (brands) do you recommend for high heel stack? I find something like Carmina is taller than an AE.
Carmina is definitely taller than AE. Anthony Cleverley is quite tall. John Lobb Paris a bit taller... the more premium the brand, the more attention they give their heels generally.
I really love Casey's work. Someone I knew told me a funny story of how he met Casey when he was still working for Cleverely. He went to the hotel and reached the wrong room for Casey. It turns out it was the Huntsman Bespoke Tailor's room instead. Huntsman invited him in anyways and told Casey that he was enjoying a conversation with him and Casey joined them shortly. I don't think he got anything from Huntsman. But it's so cool he got Cleverely and Huntsman all in the same room!
Kirby, please put your Carpano Antica vermouth in the fridge, at least if it's open. It will last much longer. Remember, it's wine. (And if it's not open, go ahead and open it and make yourself a Manhattan or a Vieux Carre.)
Kirby. Shining is nice but not over shine. I think your obsession is getting bigger and bigger. It is not shoe care any more. Think about it , where is the red line
Man, I'm really missing the livestreams. That was great times during the quarantine. Shout out to everyone that was there
Haha. We’ll start doing some live streams again in August!
Kirby, the only guy that wears a suit and tie to polish his shoes.
I tend to do that too. Not advisable.
Kirby the type to mow the lawn in a suit and tie.
Exceptional craftsmanship exposed on those Oxfords. Enjoy them for years to come. Your videos are fantastic and therapeutic to watch. Thank you Kirby.
Man I'm so glad I ran across your videos I've watched almost all of them and I have really enjoyed the knowledge you give about investing in good quality shoes I really have stepped my game up and have alot to learn
Thank you!
I love the last and espacially the lacing! So well proportioned! At the same time you can see that it's a simplistic design but hard to create. I can't imagine, that the last originally came from a block of wood! Great craftsmanship, Dominic!
Beautifully sculptured. The proportions and contours are so pleasing. Like a coachbuilt car of the Classical era. A mid-30s Rolls Royce drophead comes to mind. Or maybe a Jaguar E-type.
Great analogy!
I would pick a 1936 Hispano-Suiza Pourtout in black, but I could agree on the Jag E-type.
Wow Kirby those are beautiful sleek looking Bespoke dress shoes I've ever seen , im having my Allen Edmonds Fith Avenue shoes recrafted im so happy .!
These are the best types of Kirby videos. Love the FAQ series too
watching a kirby allison video has become a favorite weekend past time of mine. Really appreciate how these videos have given me more appreciation for leather shoes, and I even bought a bunch of saphir creams & waxes off his website! Only suggestion is hoping for more breadth into the chelsea boot world if you have the bandwidth. really enjoyed the carmina review
I love those. My favorite cap toes oxfords are my Gaziano & Gurling MTOs with the Deco toe. Incredible.
These are certainly similar!
I used to wrap my polishing cloth nearly the same way for 8 years of Army boot shining. Now that I’m getting back in to quality shoes after 20 years, I will wrap it the same way again.
Kirby thank you very much for yet another great video.
About 15 to 20 years ago it became popular to re-release musical films like The Sound of Music with big subtitles with the songs lyrics for the public to sing along during the film.
You might be wondering what the sing along films have to do with this video, well the reason why I thought of those film (which I never went to see) it's because I was polishing my shoes, following step by step the way Kirby was polishing his.
Polishing along video...
Kirby those are striking shoes...so crisp and sharp. Some gorgeous footwear shining for a Friday morning. Have a great weekend. Mike T.
Thanks, you too!
Have to say, love the music during the mirror shine, it’s different...in a good way 👍🏻
Wonderful shoes and shine!!
I see how they came up with “squeaky clean!” Phrase 😀
Kirby, you should apply for the next James Bond. You certainly have got the goods.
That was a beautiful pair of shoes. Gorgeous. Would love to see you wear the shoes you review at the end of your videos.
As long as the shoes are only used for the casino scenes... 😅 can’t think of doing any stunts in such beautiful shoes... 😂
Thanks to Kirby, the first shine became more enjoyable than the unboxing process or even the purchase itself :D
The first shine is my favorite... it’s like christening the shoe!
Dear Kirby, I had a question. Now you have to keep in mind I'm 17 and I just began my journey into men's fashion for 2 years.
I live in Asia and the tailoring here is pretty cheap. I have been making shirts made with custom cuts for my body for over an year and adding up details like Mother of Pearl buttons bought from amazon myself. A few months earlier I visited the only bespoke tailor in the whole country and he made jokes of me for saying thant these were custom. Now, what should I call these garments? Bespoke, Semi bespoke or MTO?
Thanks in forward.
In the US, we would refer to modified off-the-rack clothing as "tailored." All the changes you've made are simply alterations.
"Custom" rarely, if ever, refers to off-the-rack clothing, because 'custom' denotes that it was manufactured specifically for you, to your specifications.
"Bespoke" is similar to "custom" except that the customization is limited to the materials the clothier keeps inventoried. There's no such thing as "semi-bespoke," it's either bespoke or custom.
Made to Order just means the item is not kept inventoried prior to purchase. It was manufactured for your purchase, and it could be custom, standard, bespoke, etc.
Your clothier was rude to laugh at you for calling your altered clothing 'custom,' he should've educated you instead. But he was not wrong for pointing out that they aren't true customs.
Great video buddy, as always
Hey Kirby, allow me to first congratulate you for your fabulous content and presentation.
Could you please make an in-depth review on Berluti and Magnani whole cuts and their mirror shine?
and at 19:54 the beat drops
Are there any plans to do anymore live streams like during lockdown? I very much enjoyed them. On this video those shoes are exquisite
Yes we definitely plan to do lots more livestreams, with more guests as well. I am just taking a break from it for a few weeks, as we did 6 per week for over 2 months, so need to rest and plan more!
3k is a bargain indeed. Congrats Kirby
Love the content, can you recommend shoes that come stock with JR Rendenbach Outsoles?
Why do not wear an apron while polishing your shoes ?
Personally I haven't felt that I needed it, whilst sat at the desk. As you can see in the video, I am not bringing the shoe onto my lap or anything, so don't really risk it touching my suit.
Awesome kicks! Why no toe plate? Do you think it detracts form the elegance of a shoe? thanks
Hi Kirby, We've seen lot of your shoe polishing videos, and we would appreciate if you could elaborate on how to maintain a high quality leather belt such as carmina. Do we have to polish it, and how can we maintain the belts to last longer? There is no good guide on belts. Pls advise. This question could be ludicrous, but most men out here lack knowledge on belts. Hoping to see a video on it.
Hi Kirby love your vids. They have really taught me how to properly shine my shoes. Can I ask a question about maintaining my shines? Do I go through the whole process of renovateur, creme and pate de luxe every time I polish?
I also love the mirror shine on Oxfords. It looks better than what other dudes in their 20s wear.
Do you also Spit-shine less formal pairs like wingtips?
Can you help explain how the cold water is desirable to harden the waxes, but you want to melt the waves through buffing. Are you trying to make the waxes cold or hot? Hard or soft? I realize it’s both, but I’d love some discussion about that, since they seem at odds.
Hi Kirby, I have a question. You have many black cap toe oxfords and they all look very similar. What is your drive to expand a collection when you have the square and the round toe in black past say, 2 pairs?
I only have two plain black captoe oxfords at the moment... one from Cleverley and one from Dominic. That’s probably enough... but I think given the importance of the topic to this RUclips channel and my passions, I’d like black captoe from several makers to be able to compare them.
Actually planning on filming an smite video about what shoe to do next from Dominic... I’m having a really difficult time deciding...
Kirby Allison Thank you! So it’s not a recommendation for the standard gentleman to invest in multiple pairs? I met with Luis from the Carmina store here in Paris for my first made-to-measure shoes from their brand and mentioned I heard about Carmina from you and this channel. Outside of shoes, I would love to see you review Cad & the Dandy and have actually messaged them requesting this collaboration.
Hey Kirby! I got a problem. I was shining my walnut colored shoes and will mix a little bit of alcohol with water to shine the toe. The finish of the toe appears to have been stripped. I used a hair dryer, got the old wax off, used renovateur, let it sit, buffed and used creme polish, but the toe sheen is still really dull/flat and I don't know what to do. Any help is much appreciated!
I still haven't been able to create very smooth mirror shines. I usually try to build up the mirror gloss first and then I apply the pate de luxe. I suspect I may need a better piece of cloth.
The chamois you use is essential. If you can’t find one of our High Shine Chamois, use an old cotton t shirt.
Hey Kirby, question here: When you shine new shoes for the first time, I've seen you use Renovateur only in some ocassions, and in others you go straight to the pommadier. How do you know the difference of when to skip the Renovateur?
only use renovateur when the leather looks dry otherwise you won't need it
my favourite black captoe from you Kirby
I bought the Saphir mirror shine for $35 delivered. Oriental writing on back.I opened the can and it is dried out.
mirror shine are beatiful, but i also find beauty in a pair of shoes with a classic soft shine... so mirror shine is not a "Must do" is just about tastes.
I find with a formal, black pair of shoes, the mirror shine adds a lot. It certainly not necessary for all shoes. Indeed, I too enjoy softer shines on my less formal pairs.
Hi Kirby, the number one question for me when I polish my dress shoes is: should I, or should I not take the laces out?
Probably should not. In fact you could have a dedicated pair to tie the shoes when shining. The amount of hold they give is necessary.
I only take laces out for conditioning the entire shoe or maybe for the first layer of polish.
You don't need to remove em all the time
Some good comments here. The reality is that taking laces out is a lot of work and unnecessarily increases the threshold for shining your shoes. It also places a lot of unnecessary wear on the eyelets. I only take the laces out when I’m replacing them or doing a thorough shine, in which case I replace the laces anyway.
Thank you all for your advice!
When did Saphir introduce Mirror Gloss?
Not applying saphir renoveteur?? 🤷🏻😊
Are those shoe laces waxed or unwaxed? A quality pair of sovereign grade shoe laces is so worth it.
These are waxed!
Kirby, I’m having trouble with my mirror shine. No matter what I’ve been doing at the end on the cap toe, it won’t shine. What am I doing wrong?
Hello Kirby, I really enjoy watching your videos. But there is a question, that came to my mind: I am 21 years old and I am really afraid of over dressing - not stating my role as student. I do not want anyone to think about me as a „Wanna-Be“. So is there any moment, that is the right moment to start dressing as a gentleman, eventhough the Company has a more casual look in their offices?
I think that one definitely has to be sensitive to their environment.... so, maybe you just focus on some nice shoes, trousers / chinos, and a dress shirt. If you can get away with an odd jacket, do that also!
Thanks a lot for your quick answer - Feeling honored!
For formal events when my wife wears heels, I like a high heel stack for my dress shoes. Which shoes (brands) do you recommend for high heel stack? I find something like Carmina is taller than an AE.
Carmina is definitely taller than AE. Anthony Cleverley is quite tall. John Lobb Paris a bit taller... the more premium the brand, the more attention they give their heels generally.
I just want someone else who does everything Kirby does for me. I can’t master all these techniques.
We have a mail-in program
@@kirbyallison Does it deliver you?
I really love Casey's work. Someone I knew told me a funny story of how he met Casey when he was still working for Cleverely. He went to the hotel and reached the wrong room for Casey. It turns out it was the Huntsman Bespoke Tailor's room instead. Huntsman invited him in anyways and told Casey that he was enjoying a conversation with him and Casey joined them shortly. I don't think he got anything from Huntsman. But it's so cool he got Cleverely and Huntsman all in the same room!
Haha. That would be fun!
Hi Kirby, I wouldn’t wear that beautiful suit while shining shoes. 😊
Occupational hazard....
Kirby, please put your Carpano Antica vermouth in the fridge, at least if it's open. It will last much longer. Remember, it's wine. (And if it's not open, go ahead and open it and make yourself a Manhattan or a Vieux Carre.)
This is just a display bottle... it’ll actually go bad, which I’ve unfortunately experienced before.
Shibildey boots.
Kirby likes to blow his shoes while he rubs them down 😉
New music is weird, I liked the original Kirby Allison soundtrack (circa 2018).
haha well they always change, so don't worry, that music will make its way back round too.
Keep up the funky mix! Keeps it loose!
Kirby Allison Awesome!
Justin Fitzpatrick recommends *not* mirror shining brand new shoes.
🤷♂️
:)
My son asked why you use you arm, instead of a robot arm
Wtf why wear suit for shoe polishing the suit and shirts will get stains
Kirby. Shining is nice but not over shine. I think your obsession is getting bigger and bigger. It is not shoe care any more. Think about it , where is the red line
This is probably the least attractive bespoke shoes in your collection. The finishing of the bottom is just not bespoke level at all!
😳