Recently I asked your advice if I need to retire my old tan boots or they can be saved:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-save-them
The verdict was to save and get them restored so I took them to cobbler this week. She was not overly enthusiastic and doubted she can do much for them because the leather is very distressed and pretty much unfinished. She said that cleaning is all she can do and cannot guarantee the result so I decided to try it myself. I bought a bottle of cleaner they use there and a couple of days ago gave it a try.
It took me 2 tries and 3/4 of the bottle but I think their state is much improved. Now I need to buy a leather conditioner which I can use on unfinished leather and then spray them. I think they can have a couple of more seasons in them - what do you think?
Pictures on the left are old boots, pictures on the right are "new" boots...in case you cannot figure it out :-)
My old "new" boots (reporting back)
17 Comments
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Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago
Wow - they look significantly better Sveta! The colour looks much richer. Well done.
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sarah replied 11 years ago
Yep, I think you're on your way to getting some more good use out of them! Good work.
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replied 11 years ago
They look good, Sveta! I think they should last until you find the perfect replacement!
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Suz replied 11 years ago
Great job, Sveta!
And now that you have saved yourself some money on a new pair of boots, you can look for another pair! Or something else that hits your fancy!
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rae replied 11 years ago
Good job! They do look much better!
And maybe as an aside for next year, you can also dye them using the original color. They are so cool, I just want them to last forever. :)
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KathyL replied 11 years ago
Great job! I really like how they turned out and I think they definitely have some life left in them.
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Sveta replied 11 years ago
Thanks! I thought that they were scuffed but they were just pretty dirty. I think I tried to use a tan cream on them at some point and it must have got into tiny little cracks of this distressed finish (and dirt too). I guess I did not know how to look after them properly...:-(
Suz, you are an enabler!
Rae, did you have an experience of dying distressed unfinished leather? This leather feels almost like suede on touch, so soft ans has tiny cracks and flaking in the finish. I asked the cobbler and she said it may not take the dye well and uniform. -
deb replied 11 years ago
Very nice.
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Julie replied 11 years ago
A well loved pair of boots for sure. They look great, and the distressing only adds to the coolness factor. Keep up with the conditioner and make sure you use some waterproofing spray, too.
Your jeans love those boots.
Julie
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Ariel replied 11 years ago
They look much brighter :)
But I'm weird because I ... like scuffs, on some shoes. I feel like if you're shoes are scuffed it means you walked some place and maybe did something important. There's a reason they used to say "use your shoe leather" to mean doing certain kinds of work :p The key is to wear shoes that look like they were meant to be walked in. Those are the best scuffed shoes. And a great flat boot in a color like that is a boot that was made for walking.
And with the cleaning they look so bright, they look like any distressing on them was intentional. :)
I think you can get a few more seasons out of them easily, as you said. Or more.
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Irene replied 11 years ago
I really like them :)
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replied 11 years ago
Sveta, I think the boots Jayne dyed had a rough natural texture and they turned out great!
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Sveta replied 11 years ago
Ariel, that was the point- they were not scuffed but dirty.:-)
Ceit, thanks, I remember now. I may just try to dye them the same color to refresh. -
Julie replied 11 years ago
As a further note, I would take them to a good cobbler, and have new lifts put on the heels, and any other repairs they may need to keep them in the running for a few more years.
Cheers
Julie
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Sveta replied 11 years ago
Julie, this was the next step: I wanted to see first if I can clean them enough to justify an additional cost.
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DeniseP replied 11 years ago
I'm impressed with the results, Sveta! Definitely worth keeping now, until you find that perfect replacement!
You may consider wearing them next time you visit the cobbler! -
Mellllls replied 11 years ago
i think you cleaned them up nicely. i would keep looking for a new pair though.