The Rivista: Winterize Your Suede Loafers
Ciao from Torino,
Let's talk shoe care. More specifically, how to winterize your favorite suede Italian loafers. The cold-weather elements can instill real fear in your footwear choices. There's something about smudge-stained suede that can really evoke that "ugh, really?" kinda feeling. Don't worry, we're here to help prevent that from happening.
Here's what you can do to keep that Italian suede looking crisp and clean:
Step 1: Prep Your Loafers
Dry-wipe any excess dirt and dust. Before you begin, make sure your loafers are completely dry. Use a suede brush or a suede eraser to remove any of those surface-level stains first. We offer Jason Markk products on our site - they're the best we've come across.
Step 2: Protect Your Loafers
Given the nature and texture of suede (and nubuck), a non-silicone protector spray is recommended. This spray creates a sort of impenetrable layer atop the suede so the puddle splashes or cocktail spills roll right off. It will somewhat reduce the pattern from the suede direction, leaving the loafer looking a bit more smooth than it did prior to application.
Step 3: Make Sure to Coat Them Properly
Here's the rub - you don't want to 'overspray' your loafers. You're aiming for just enough. Hold the bottle about six inches from your loafer and evenly coat the suede. Then - and this part is important - let them sit for about a day so they dry thoroughly. You can repeat the process the next day to ensure you didn't miss a spot. The good news: you'll only have to do this once a season. Maybe twice if you are wearing the loafers daily. Either way, this process can be reapplied as often as needed.
We offer a lot of shoe care tools and bundles to make sure you've got all your bases covered.
Now it's safe to check out our Suede Loafer Collection - now you know how to winterize those bad boys.
Ciao for now,
-Del Toro
