STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Kelly · Hermes

leather protection

atlgirl · Gucci

I would definitely spray it with an all-weather protectant of some sort. I've used everything from pricey sprays to very inexpensive ones (like from Target or some such) and they seem to work about the same. I think the trick is to stay away from anything that has silicone in it, but otherwise you should be fine with almost any brand.

I obsessively spray any bag or pair of shoes that make it into the house, and I think it really does help. I recently wore a pair of suede boots in very wet weather, and they survived the first three outings (I was traveling). They are in the shoe repair shop right now, but only because I don't usually travel with shoe spray and the weather was unexpected. So the spray lasted through three straight days of serious puddles.

Kelly · Hermes

Last night I bought the all-weather protecting spray. How much am I supposed to use? The whole bottle at a time, or is a bottle meant to last a little while? (I'm spraying a messenger bag, so it's bigger than like, a pair of shoes). How often should I re-spray it?

Marg · Kenneth Cole

Apple Leather Care is the best ever.

I use it on my leather bags (Coach) and it is wonderful.

Great service. Here's the link..

http://leatherstuff.com/shop/index.php?id=290

atlgirl · Gucci

I just spray enough to where I feel like I've covered everything about 1.5 times. If spraying shoes that have a leather sole, I definitely spray a little more on that. For a bag though, I'd just give it a good general overall spray and you should be good until you clean it. Every time I clean my bags or shoes I re-spray.

Kelly · Hermes

thanks atlgirl and Marg!!

Kelly · Hermes

Okay I have one more idiot leather question - do I spray patent leather? I just got some patent leather flats but I couldn't find anything on the internet about putting any protection on them. All I could find was instructions on cleaning. So I didn't spray them yet because I was afraid that the spray would dull it, but I don't know if it's alright to just leave them "naked" like this?

atlgirl · Gucci

Patent leather isn't really leather...it's usually vinyl. I wouldn't worry about any kind of protection because it's rather impervious to rain and such. Usually the only thing to do is occasionally wipe it with a soft cloth.

Kelly · Hermes

Thank you!!! I'm obviously really clueless. I had no idea that patent wasn't actually leather. I was anti-leather for a long time so this is new territory for me :)

atlgirl · Gucci

ttara123 wrote:

Thank you!!! I'm obviously really clueless. I had no idea that patent wasn't actually leather. I was anti-leather for a long time so this is new territory for me :)

Nah, you're not clueless. Most people aren't aware of that, either. I sold shoes for several years, so learned most of what I know about leather / suede / patent and protectant then. Glad I could help.