Introduction

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he'll be a mile away and barefoot.

- Murphy's Law

One of America's full-time fashion freaks and noted celebrity once said, "When a person looks at you, they look you in the eye, then they move down to your feet... if you think about it, it's just automatic. Head to toe." So it's hardly surprising why shoe care has become an important part of male grooming. After all, it's the first step towards making a lasting impression.

Some statements are best spoken without saying a word. Take for instance, the understated elegance of Audrey Hepburn. The working class style of Rosie the Riveter. The flapper look of Rudolph Valentino. The color comfort of Bill Cosby. Or for that matter, the flamboyance of Elvis Presley.

Styles that speak for itself. The very styles that spawned entire generations of die-hard followers. And inspired a whole culture that lives and breathes fashion.

Interestingly, the fashion revolution opened up a whole new market for footwear. For every rising hemline there was a high-waisted heel. And for every plunging neckline, an ankle strap style. Shoes became more exotic and colorful as every conceivable material was incorporated into them. Bright fabrics and brilliantly dyed leather including metallics were used to create some of the most exciting shoes ever. The heels themselves were works of art.

A variety of materials were used in shoes including leathers mixed with colored canvas or gabardine. Some leathers were even reversed to form what we call today "suede".

It's also when shoe care came into its own. With shoe polish making an entry towards the middle of the nineteenth century. Caring for your shoes became as important as caring for your clothes. Simply polishing was always followed by other elaborate procedures. Sometimes people would wait for over half an hour for the shine to come through.

Fashion had finally set the stage for well-maintained, spotlessly clean shoes.

Today shoe care is an integral part of male grooming. There are a wide variety of shoe care products for different types of shoes. Or leather types, to be specific. Which means, taking care of one's shoes has become less painstaking and a lot simpler than before. To find out how and why, just click through the pages of this booklet as we take you through the A to Z of shoe care.