Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews

Refurbishing and de-creasing cheap shoes: An Experiment

June 3, 2013 By Alan S. | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Rebuilding the $70 Bronx Dekimo Double Monk 

“We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was before. Better…stronger…faster.”

– The Six Million Dollar Man 

DISCLAIMER: Don’t do this on shoes you really like. In fact, if you have a friend with busted shoes, try it on theirs!

If you remember the Bronx Dekimos from last fall, you may recall that my biggest beef was that they creased easily and the leather seemed rather thin. I also said that time would tell whether they would hold up or not. Well, the creases did get a little worse with time, and for some reason, the shoes actually started to lighten with age. I still liked and wore the shoes, but I wanted to do something about the turn they were taking.

I found methods online to reshape shoes by steaming, heating, or ironing, but I decided to go with ironing because, “Hey look! I have an iron!” Following directions I found online, I put the shoes in trees, wetted them, placed the wet rag over the area with creases, and pressed down with the iron on its hottest setting. No guts, no glory, right?

Ironing

Not gonna need the spray-starch for this job.

The good news was that it actually reduced the creases. The not-so-good news was that it completely removed the finish! I was literally left with a bald shoe. Well crap…

My first thought was, “That answers that. There go my shoes.” But before I got to the trashcan, I had another thought. “What if I just keep going?”

I spent the next 30 minutes completely ironing both shoes, and wiping away the finish as I went. I was left with two completely bald, desiccated shoes. I applied two layers of Meltonian Shoe Cleaner & Conditioner to add some moisture back in. I allowed that all to soak in overnight, and it really helped to condition leather and even out the discoloration that had occurred from ironing. At that point I was left with a pair of blank slate shoes in a medium brown – something I thought I might be able to work with!

Baldy and Burgundy

Baldy on the left, with a layer of burgundy shoe creme applied on the right.

I decided I wanted them redder and darker so I applied two layers of Meltonian cream – one in burgundy and then again in dark brown. I really globbed it on and ended up removing most of it. I just rubbed it in with a washcloth until it started to cloud up and then rubbed off the excess with another clean washcloth. Usually, you would use a brush or polishing cloth for that, but I used a regular washcloth because I had a LOT of cream to remove and I needed more than a light touch. I then did the same thing with the second layer. Giving it multiple, different layers of color added some dimensionality to the shoes and got it surprisingly close to the color I had in my mind.

Materials

This was not your average shoe shine job.

Since the shoes only have Meltonian cream applied, they are still prone to scuffs. I intend to add a layer of wax polish to hopefully harden them up. Otherwise, the end result was surprisingly good. The creases are mostly gone, the color is much richer than before, and the finish looks much more natural. It’s an accidental upgrade!

The whole process probably took several hours of work spread throughout several days so I don’t recommend starting it if you’re not willing to finish it. For that matter, I don’t recommend doing it at all on a pair of shoes you’re not willing to lose. But if you’re feeling lucky, you might just turn the shoes you sort of like into the shoes you wish you had.

Finished Product

The Final Result: A richer color, a more natural finish, and less creases.

Editor’s Note: This article from Alan was started as a post on Threads, which is Dappered’s Forum. Head over here for the original. Many thanks to him for passing along all the extra pics.

Filed Under: Shoes Tagged With: cheap shoe leather wrinkles, experiment

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or hit us up on Instagram!

Don’t Miss Anything

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox or add Dappered on Flipboard. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or subscribe to push notifications to get alerts immediately.

New Here?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.

Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Extra 20% off BR Final Sale, Timex at Todd Snyder, & More

Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Extra 20% off BR Final Sale, Timex at Todd Snyder, & More

Is this a (small) shift for BR when it comes to promos/codes?

Steal Alert: Target 30% off Clothes + $10 off $50 stacking deal

Steal Alert: Target 30% off Clothes + $10 off $50 stacking deal

Shirts, tees, chinos, jeans, sunglasses, & more. You have to be logged in with them to use it, but the deals appear to stack.

Steal Alert: Spier and Mackay Core Suits have been restocked in Navy, Charcoal, & Medium Gray

Steal Alert: Spier and Mackay Core Suits have been restocked in Navy, Charcoal, & Medium Gray

$368 for half canvas, nice wool, two fits, and easy to tailor sleeve cuff buttons. Today’s a good day if you need a suit.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

Men’s Fashion or Affordable Style?

Men's Fashion or Affordable Style?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

CONNECT WITH DAPPERED

Thanks! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • 20% off Spier Linen Suit Separates, Old Navy’s $32 Blazer, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • The Best Sunglasses under $100 for Men
  • Most Wanted Affordable Style – August 2022
  • Steal Alert: Extra 30% off Allen Edmonds Sale Items and Factory 2nds
  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Extra 20% off BR Final Sale, Timex at Todd Snyder, & More
  • The Dappered Space: Most Wanted Affordable Home Style August 2022

Popular Topics

  • Best dress shirts to own
  • Best looking watches under $100
  • Best men’s dress shoes under $200
  • Nike Killshot sneaker alternatives
  • How to wear a suit without a tie
  • Suitsupply store review
  • Suitsupply Blue Line review
  • J. Crew Factory Thompson suit review
  • How much does it cost to tailor a suit?
  • Dopp kit essentials
  • Brown shoes with gray pants
  • Men’s style buying guide

Copyright © 2022 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Hat tip: Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.