Caring For Leather Shoes in Wet/Rainy Weather/Season

Rain some consider it a blessing and others really don’t. Why? Because you can’t dress as you please under rainy conditions.

Clothes designers have come up with fashionable apparel that is suitable for rainy seasons, shoe designers are yet to conclusively come up with a shoe that serves both utility and fashion during wet season (except the rubber shoes which aren’t all that fashionable). This leaves majority of shoe wearers in a dilemma as to whether to go for a chic looking shoe to match their attire or a weather appropriate shoe that does no justice to their overall look. In most cases, they choose the former.

Wearing your regular leather, suede or fabric shoes during rainy seasons has quite a number of challenges. It’s impossible to avoid mud and water during rainy season, of course with the exception of those who own vehicles (but it still possible you get in contact with water and mud). In as much as regular cleaning through polishing or using water resistant sprays will help the shoes to remain in good condition for a while, when trudging through the rain water and mud, one always runs the risk of ruining good footwear. Repeated contact with rain water spoils your shoes.

Remedy:

If you have to wear your shoes in the rain, below are a number of precautions that must be taken in order to ensure that your shoes serve you satisfactorily under such circumstances.

• Ensure you have multiple pairs of shoes: This will give the wet shoes ample time to dry properly before storage and subsequently, the next wear. Damp leather is sensitive to heat, which will harden the shoes and form cracks when flexed.
• How to dry the shoes: Leather should never be dried directly under sunlight as they will become as dry as sandpaper thus form cracks. As a means of artificially drying the shoes, you can either stuff them with newspaper crumpled into balls or even stuffed with tissue papers, as they absorb the water from the inside part of the shoes.
• The problem of moisture: The glue that firmly holds the upper sole is weakened by moisture. In addition, if the shoes are not used for a long time, moisture may even cause cracks in the soles. A small packet of baking soda or charcoal will prevent moisture, odour and bacteria from accumulating in the shoes.
• Socks are a must: Even if they get wet, socks act as a barrier between the skin and the leather. Direct skin contact with leather footwear especially when wet can cause bacterial growth.
  
• Regular polishing: Wax polish is always good on shoes, as they repel water and prevent shoe damage. This however, is limited depending on amount of water the shoes are externally exposed to.

• Be suede smart: The wet cleaning remedies that work for smooth leather aren’t good for suede, which needs to stay dry so it doesn’t lose its texture. Instead, quickly rub off overall dirt with a kneadable eraser (grab one from your kid’s art box), or just lightly remove obvious stains with an emery board. To raise the nap of suede that’s flattened, scrub briskly with a clean toothbrush or terry cloth towel. If it’s really matted, hold the shoe a few inches above the spout of a steaming teakettle for a few seconds, then brush up the nap. Please note, use appropriate suede spray for your suede shoes. Black suede spray for black suede shoe, brown suede spray for brown suede shoe. If you can’t get suede spray in colours like green, red and others, use a neutral spray. When using coloured spray, ensure you cover your hands with rubber gloves (or nylon if you can’t get rubber gloves). Also make sure you protect area so it doesn’t get stained because its very difficult to remove such stains)

Whereas these remedies will provide simple solutions to the challenges encountered when wearing your favourite leather or suede shoes during rainy seasons, it is still highly recommended that you avoid exposing your shoes to such wet conditions if you want to maximise their durability.

Rain is a gift from God, so enjoy it fashionably *wink*

A Little Shoe Education

I was with a client talking about the kind of material to use for her shoes and I was mentioning
different types/names of materials and she had this blank look on her face, like ‘what are you talking about?’, I just had to laugh; we both had a good laugh though. And she is not the only one. Since I started making shoes and bags, I noticed that most people do not have an idea of what material the shoe they wear or bag they carry is made from; the general name for everything is leather.

So I have decided to do a little education on names of materials and fabrics shoes are made from. Also note that, knowing this would also make you know how to take care of your shoes and bags.

LEATHER: Made of animal skin with smooth finishing. This material is known to everyone.Care of leather: Polish shoe regularly to preserve moisture and maintain shine.
        
SUEDE: Made from the underside of the skin, primarily lamb, although goat, calf and deer are commonly used. That is why most designers describe products made from them calf skin or goat skin. So it should be noted that they all suede.

Here, there is also Nubuck. Nubuck is a brushed grain-suede leather with a soft-velvety surface and is one of the most expensive leather to purchase.
Care of suede:

• Use a soft bristle brush to lightly lift away dirt.  
• Use appropriate suede spray. Neutral suede spray is for all colours, black suede spray for black, brown for brown (care should be taken when using suede spray especially black suede spray so as not to stain other fabrics). 
• Waterproof suede and nubuck shoes.
• Masking tape can also be used to lift away.

PATENT LEATHER: Leather with a glossy impermeable finish. People usually call this ‘shinny leather’.
Care of patent leather:

• Rub in petroleum jelly and leave for a while to soak in. Then buff with a soft clean cloth. This will not only keep them shiny but also prevent them from cracking.
• To remove scuff marks from coloured patent leather shoes, use nail polish remover, but be sure that the remover isn’t highly colourful or too harsh like the regular cheap ones we have around. If the nail polish remover is too colourful, it may also put a tint on your patent leather (and be careful of any polish you may be wearing). Put a small bit on a cotton ball or paper towel/toilet roll and rub on the scuffs you want to get rid. Really deep scuffs probably would not come off but this should remove any minor scuffs or discolouration. Then add glossiness back by using a bit of petroleum jelly.

PERFORATED LEATHER: Commonly used for brogues. This is leather with holes to form a pattern. The holes can vary in size, density and pattern.

Shoes and bags are also made from fabrics like satin, silk, taffeta, lace, etc. They are delicate and should be handled with care. Fabric or canvas shoes can often be cleaned by hand or machine washing (but I would suggest hand wash). Fill them with crumpled newsletter after washing to maintain their shape while drying.

Hope this has been helpful.....



Tips from ShoeFetish by Ronke Adeshina

Do You Know Your Shoe Size?

Have been making foot - wears for a while now and I realised that most people don't know what shoe size they wear. So here's a little guide to help. Hope you find it helpful. Note: In the chart below, M = Male; F = Female.             Love RA  :)

Heel Height Conversion Table

Hello ladies. You know how some of us wear heels and don’t know how many inches they are and if we can actually walk well in them. Well, here’s a heel height conversion table which would help know if you can carry yourself in those heels or you need a level of experience to walk in a 10inches heel shoes ;)

Inches	Centimeters (cm)	Millimeters (mm)	Heel Height	Experience Required
1	2.5cm	25mm	Low	None
2	5.2cm	52mm	Low	Minimal
3	7.6cm	76mm	Medium	Some/Minimal
3&half	8.9cm	89mm	Medium	Some/Minimal
4 4&half 5	10.2cm 11.4cm 12.8cm	102mm 114mm 128mm	High High High	Experience in wearing heels required
6 7 8	15.3cm 17.8cm 20.4cm	153mm 178mm 204mm	Ultra high Ultra high Ultra high	Expert in wearing heels required
9 10	22.9cm 25.4cm	229mm 254mm	Ultra High Ultra High	Expert in wearing heels required

So ladies, before you buy those super high heel shoes, ask for the heel height and make sure its something you can strut around town in.

Cheers…

How To Treat Smelly Feet

E­verybody is familiar with this phenomenon. Most of us have a friend or friends or relative(s) who can clear out a room when they kick off their shoes. And even the sweetest smelling person can do a decent job stinking up a pair of shoes by running a few miles in them. So what's going on here? Why do your feet have a stronger odour than the rest of you does?

The main thing that feeds foot smell is sweat. With more than 250,000 sweat glands each, your feet are among the most perspiring parts of the body. Smelly feet seem to be the part of daily routine for many people. Some take it seriously and some just ignore it. To begin with what the doctors say about the treatment of chronic foot odor, you need to treat this problem more scientifically. They suggest the smelly feet victims to wash their feet on a daily basis using antibacterial soap. After washing, it is important to dry the feet completely.

• Drink a lot of water. 
• Spray your feet regularly with a usual antiperspirant and shower foot powder in your shoes. Before wearing your socks,do keep it in your mind that your feet should be dry.Sometimes people are lazy and they don’t bother to dry their feet especially between the toes.
• Don’t wear smelly shoes. Avoid wearing the same shoe daily, as they tend to become damp and wet with sweat. Try to dry your shoes regularly under the sun after you have used. Do have a habit of wearing sandals as they don’t cover the feet much and help to keep your feet fresh and dry. The sneaker wearers should interchange between two pairs to make it dry out for a while. While indoors, wash your feet and prefer going barefoot.
• Another treatment is to do without any intake of sugar and alcohol.  
• Wear well-ventilated shoes instead of very constrictive shoes, such as boots.
• Always wear socks, preferably made of cotton or other absorbent materials that absorb a lot of the sweat so the bacteria can't feed on it.

Best Home Remedy Tip to cure smelly feet:

• Soak your feet every day for a week in strong black tea for 30 minutes. Add two tea bags in a pint of water. Boil it for 10 minutes. Now add two quarts of cool water and soak your feet in the cool solution. An acid called as tannic acid present in the black tea kills bacteria and closes your pores. This easily keeps your feet dry for a long time preventing sweating.

Natural Remedies For Smelly Feet:
Here are some of the natural remedies which can be followed to get rid of smelly feet. They are:

• White Vinegar: It is very helpful in treating your smelly feet as it disinfects the feet by deodorizing it. Take some amount of white vinegar and dilute in a warm water solution. Now place your feet in this solution for few minutes. Make sure that you properly check your feet before soaking it in the solution of white vinegar as it stings the abrasions etc. present on the skin, as white vinegar could
  sting if there will be any abrasions, cuts etc. on the skin.
  
  Lemons: These carry acidic property which makes them antibacterial as well. In order to soak your feet in a lemon solution, dilute some drops of lemon in a water solution and soak your feet in the solution for few minutes. Take proper care of any cuts and abrasions present at it might cause burning sensation on your feet.
  
  Tea Tree Oil: Just rub some amount of tea tree oil on your foot and it will kill all the bacteria and funguses present on the foot. As it smells good so it will provide a soothing effect to your feet as well.
  
  If your foot odor is really bad and these solutions don't help much, then you should see a doctor. There are a number of prescription drugs that can treat serious foot odor, some by killing bacteria and some by reducing foot sweat.
  
  Tips from ShoeFetish by Ronke Adeshina

2011 Fashion Trends

2011 has been a splendid year for the fashion industry in Nigeria and abroad. So many fashion trends were introduced. For some that follow fashion trends and usually 'must' buy everything that's in, well am sure they spent lots of money buying some stuffs they might end up not wearing again. But for those that know how to mix and match, well it won't be a waste. We had trends like colour-blocking, vintage (or retro chic) , prints, street chic and so many more to mention a few.

                        Street Chic
I particularly like the street chic style, though it wasn't a big hit here in Nigeria. Street chic has this care-free attitude which I love. Dressing street chic isn't as hard as it seems. Though some people look effortlessly chic every single day, once you know the basic guidelines for dressing, being street chic can be a reality.

How to do street chic.
Cultivate your own sense of aesthetic. Everyone is unique, and therefore, everyone has diverse tastes. Know what you like in music, literature, movies and art. Incorporate these things into your style. To cultivate this, immerse yourself in different genres and be open minded to different people.

Know what colors look good on you. To figure out which color type you are and which colors look good on you go to http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/Tutorials/CindyBuschColorAnalysis.htm. Once you got that figured out, wear these colors all the time.

Learn about proportion. The key to being street chic is balance. If you're wearing a loose top, pair it with a tight bottom. If you're wearing something baggy on the bottom, go with a lean shirt. The same goes for shoes. Chunky heels look out of proportion on petite girls, while stiletto heels look weird on girls with chunky calves. This also applies to showing skin. Only flaunt one part of you body. you want to look chic, not trashy (unless that's the look your going for). 

Don't forget what's underneath. Always buy quality underwear in your size and basic colors like black and nude. You should have seamless knickers too in these colors. Wear the black one under dark colored clothing, the nude one under the light colored ones.



Accessorize! Necklaces, bracelets, rings, belts, bags, scarves and headgear. Pick whatever you like. There are lots of stores with different styles to suit your taste. Layer them if you like. I love bracelets and bangles. I love stacking them in different colours, shapes and sizes. Sometimes, more is actually better. At least when it comes to certain types of jewelry. Who can resist a wrist stacked with different bracelets, each an individual statement in its own right, as a way to pile on a little personality. These things make a basic outfit look stunning. When done right, accessorizing can be your best technique into looking street chic.

Choose a point of fashion. As in, 'Today, I'm an 80's raver' or 'Alice in Wonderland' or whatever.
Be creative, be whimsical and have fun!

The good thing about the street chic style is one is free to wear whatever and one will always be different.

                         Colour-blocking
Now this trend was a hit in Nigeria with everyone mixing colours. Some got it right while some didn't. It's all about mixing colours, not just any colours but bright, bold, solid colours. It isn't a trend for everyone; it's for those who are daring. The idea behind color blocking is simple in theory: pair solid - yet somewhat unexpected - blocks of color with each other to make a cohesive outfit. You can either go monochromatic, pair bright colors with muted colors or contrasting and complimentary colors. Accessories like handbags, shoes and jewelry can also feature color block designs to help complete and pull together any color block outfit.

 

Jennifer Lopez in Gucci

 

Leighton Meester in Missoni and Kristen Stewart in Balenciaga Resort

 

                                                            Camilla Belle in Gucci  

                                                          Dries Van Noten

           Tips for pulling off color blocking:

• Team colors from the same family together for a cohesive look – think bright pinks with vivid fuchsias, turquoise with royal blue;
• Keep warmer tones like orange and red together;
• Go for a neutral-toned shoe to keep it simple
• Opposites Attract: think purples with oranges; lime green with melon or rosebud pink for a jarring, but pleasant, combination;
• Work accessories into the mix. Select a contrasting shoe or handbag.

  Mix it up

• Work regal purples in with contrasting, fiery oranges;
• Try lime green with melon or rosebud pink for a pleasantly jarring combination;
• Go to town on the look with a loud, contrasting shoe or handbag.

Now its time to try your hand at color blocking. And just remember: this trend is more about attitude than the clothes. If you choose to go with it be ready for a few stares from onlookers that are either amazed at your fashion sense or your courage. Either way, happy blocking!

                                        
                 Vintage

There was and there is still so much noise about this trend. People everywhere are caught up with one of the hottest fads to sweep the planet since sliced bread, and it is not even something new. Vintage clothing is making a big comeback everywhere and people are raving about how old can be so in and new. What is it about vintage clothing that people cannot get enough of and why is it so popular?

For us to better understand what vintage is and how to spot vintage clothing we have to first know the story behind its slow rise to the fashion scene. Typically, vintage clothing is something that was created back from the 1920's to the 1980's. Items of clothing like shirts, pants, tops, vests and other clothes worn in those eras are considered vintage. Other items like boots, shoes, accessories and other materials that were created for the purpose of being worn are also vintage items.

Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era. The phrase is also used in connection with a retail outlet, e.g. "vintage clothing store." Generally speaking, clothing which was produced before the 1920s is referred to as antique clothing and clothing from the 1920s to 1960s is considered vintage. Retro, short for retrospective, or "vintage style" usually refers to clothing that imitates the style of a previous era.

Most vintage clothing has been previously worn, but a small percentage of pieces have not. These are often old warehouse stock, and more valuable than those that have been worn, especially if they have their original tags. Although there has always been some demand for old and/or second hand clothing, the awareness, demand and acceptance of this has increased dramatically since the early 1990s. This increase in interest is due in part to increased visibility, as vintage clothing was increasingly worn by top models and celebrities, e.g. Julia Roberts, Renée Zellweger, Chloe Sevigny, Tatiana Sorokko, Kate Moss, and Dita von Teese.

Vintage garments designed by the following designers are particularly sought after - especially when they are representative of the designer or the era: Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret, Mariano Fortuny, Elsa Schiaparelli, Jeanne Paquin, Madeleine Vionnet, Jeanne Lanvin, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Claire McCardell, Cristobal Balenciaga, Emilio Pucci, Yves Saint-Laurent, Ossie Clark, Biba, Mary Quant, Pierre Cardin, Halston, Giorgio Armani, Zandra Rhodes, Vivienne Westwood, Thierry Mugler, Gianni Versace, and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Generally speaking, clothing older than 25 years is considered to be vintage, though opinions vary on this definition. Many sellers of vintage clothing consider even more modern pieces to be ‘vintage’, provided that they are particularly representative of the era in which they were made.

With all these explanation, I would say that vintage is second hand or what we call 'okrika' here in Nigeria, well that is if you are buying the one that has been worn by someone else from a previous era.  

           Here Drew Barrymore is wearing a dress she bought at a vintage store for $20. So great!
                                                         

            Kim Kardashian wearing a reworked version of her mom’s vintage Valentino (1984)

                         Julia Roberts in vintage Valentino (1982) at the 2001 Oscars.

 Note that vintage isn't all about the dresses, bags or shoes. There are also vintage accessories or jewellery.
Here we have celebrities wearing vintage diamonds and jewellery at the Oscars.

1.} British actress Carey Mulligan, the Best Actress nominee wore a stunning pair of 19th century cascading diamond earrings from Fred Leighton.
2.} Presenter Elizabeth Banks also wore a vintage Fred Leighton - an understated diamond headband.
3.} Julianne Moore wore 2 diamond and platinum Bulgari (circa 1930) - from their historical archives collection.

 4.} Vera Farmiga wore a pair of 1920s diamond clip earrings vintage Fred Leighton and a 1960's diamond cluster cocktail ring.
5.} Sarah Jessica Parker wore 19th century diamond cluster earrings.
6.} Maggie Gyllenhaal's bracelet is a Fred Leighton 1940's diamond cluster statement bracelet.

7.} Charlize Theron wearing a vintage marquise diamond wave bracelet by Harry Winston.
8.} Jennifer Lopez wore vintage Cartier diamond clip earrings circa 1934.
9.} Meryl Streep wore a magnificent Fred Leighton Art Deco diamond and oynx bracelet teamed with a silver purse.

Have been able to talk about some of the fashion trends that rocked 2011. So which represents you better?

 

Too Many Shoes?

It was a beautiful afternoon. Preparing to go hang-out with friends later in the evening, I picked up one of my beauties, cleaning it while dancing to the song coming out of my music player. Then my mum burst into my room.
"Did you take one of my bags?", She asked.
"No, I didn't.", I replied.
Then she saw my sandals. "I wonder how you get to wear shoes this high. Don't they hurt?", she asked.
"No, they don't. They are actually comfortable.", I replied.
Still thinking I took her bag (am the only girl with three younger brothers. So my mum & I are the only females in the house), she started searching. Then she saw them; my must have fashion accessory - SHOES.
"My God!!! What are you doing with all these?", she asked.
"Wear them", I replied non-chalantly.
"To where?", she asked. "Out", I replied smiling. "Mummy, you see there are shoes for different occasions", I added.
"I hope you don't spend all your money on shoes", she said.
"At least I make them. So......", I said. "If only you knew...", I thought and smiled mischievously.

This is usually the conversation I have with my mum each time she sees my collection. She doesn't really understand why a young lady, like myself, should have so many foot-wears.

Really, can a lady have too many shoes?
 
 
NO, NO, NO.... A lady needs foot-wears for different occasions and outfit. She needs shoes to go to the market, to hang-out with friends, to church, work, to the beach, to the cinema, to go clubbing, to see a friend in the neighborhood,....She needs foot-wears that must go with her pair of jeans, dress, shorts, cute short skirts, etc.The truth is one gets to wear two or three foot-wears more than the others. But hey, there is no harm in owing lots of shoes and one can still get to wear them some day. There are  
                                         times  I just look at my shoe collections and I smile.

It's good to know that men, OK let me correct myself here, gentlemen...So it's good to know that gentlemen also know that there is need to invest in foot-wears and am really happy about this new development. Gone are those days that you see some men with just two or three shoes; some usually have one. But am glad, really glad that they are beginning to have more shoes & they are really taking care of them.

Some have several in different colours and shapes. They are also aware that there are formal and informal shoes. Oxford, lace-ups, etc are categorised as formal shoes. Sneakers, converse, loafers, sandals are informal foot-wears. Loafers can also be formal it all depends on the outfit and since most organisation here in Nigera 'dress down' on fridays, guys can wear them. 
 
I must say that when it comes to foot-wears, some gentlemen are competing with ladies (one of my brothers has so many shoes that he just packs them in a corner in his room because he doesn't have space for them again). 

But can they ever win or beat we ladies in this "Shoe Race"? No they can't. NEVER    : p



(all shoes are from ShoeFetish by Ronke Adeshina)