Adi Nizza’s

Accumulation from moto biking, raves, and street soccer.

Decontamination 

Scrub

Bleach Soak

Hot Water Rinse

Dryer Cycle 

Shoe Lace Decontamination 

White Erase treatment on midsole 

Cole Haan Lunargrand Chukka

My old, dirty, faded, Lunargrand Chukkas

    If you're like me, suede is not the ideal type of upper for a shoe. The nap, or the way the leather lies, is difficult to maintain especially if you live anywhere that rains. I live in the Pacific Northwest and rain comes 85% of the year. If I want to wear my suede, I either have to spray my leather protector on it twice a week, or just got with another pair of shoes.
    Below are my Cole Haan Lunargrand Chukka's in nubuck from last year. I was fortunate enough to score these last year from the Chicago store. Since then, I have worn them to the ground. Since Cole Haan did not decide to release another pair this Fall, I had to give them a facelift. I used some shoe cleaner as a base cleaning for any water stains and grime that was on the shoes. I then used a black shoe cream to bring back the color. I could have used a burgandy or even navy, but I decided to stick with the original. I then utilized some shoe wax to give it a more protective layer for the rain. A last coat of waterproof spray and protector was the final touch and they were ready to go. I am so happy with the finished look and have been thoroughly pleased with how they have worn these past few weeks. Here are some before and after shots below. Enjoy and feel free to shoot any questions my way.

Product care from: Cole Haan

Spring Cleaning

Cleaning your garage, your car, boat, yard, or your house are all things people look forward to doing in the spring time. After many months cooped up in the house, you're ready to get up and clean those things you covet the most. You covet these thins because your take pride in them, especially when there is potential for friends and family to see them when they come over.

After I clean my garage, car, and yard (I don't own a boat) I whip out all my shoes and look to spit shine my oxfords, scrub my mesh tennis shoes, and make sure my sandals are good to go.

All you really need for the majority of your shoes is a hand brush or toothbrush and a container of warm water and soap. Now usually, I would say dish soap. In the next few days I will post before and after photos of my newly cleaned shoes that I am looking to rock this coming spring.

The Shoe Dentist's Tumblr

The Shoe Dentist at Nike Santa Monica, California

Differentiating my shoe cleaning articles and my passion for street footwear have been confusing me for the past few months. It got to a point where I simply stopped cleaning shoes, and just stayed busy snapping pictures of random people's feet. I felt like I was getting away from the heart of my blog, shoe cleaning. I've come to the realization that it does not matter how busy I stay with either blog.

Instead of focusing on one or the other, I have decided that I will connect the two and have them feed off one another. The Shoe Dentist's Tumblr will be strictly photographs of awesome and unique footwear I come across digitally and personally. The Shoe Dentist's Blogspot will be full blown, on-the-go, journalism on my thoughts on footwear cleaning and how people wear their shoes. Non-stop, organized, and fun. High heels - worker boots. Formal Sunday's to Celebrity Footwear, each day will have its own theme. You, my followers, will enjoy a consistent feed of what has recently been tagged as "shoeporn".

Thank you

-The Shoe Dentist
The Shoe Dentist's Tumblr

Nike Frees

My barefoot running choice has been the...drumroll... 2012 Nike Free Run+ 3 Shield. I have had 4 pairs of the ever popular running shoe that took the market by storm in 2004. Nike's Sasha Kerigaysky developed the first version of the shoe and its popularity quickly grew among runner's and other athletes around the world. The shoe has become a top choice  walking shoe as well by being lightweight, supportive, & ultra comfortable. The shoe allows your feet to gain strength by providing less constriction. The Free does take time to get use to because your muscles are stressed more than your typical footwear. I've personally worn everything from the Free 3.0 (least amount of cushion) to my blown out 7.0 (most amount of cushion). The shoe has evolved year to year and a variety of things have changed. The BRS 1000 rubber on the outsole provide one of the strongest forms of support on a running shoe. My 7.0 toebox began tearing after 6 months of use and this is one area where I have seen improvement.

     With the focus of creating a innovative and dynamic shoe for athletes, Nike examine groups of people with pressure sensitive insoles taped to their feet. They then used cameras and other technical devices to measure the way each set of feet are in motion. (Nike.com) 8 years later, Nike better understood the human foot and how it acts when in motion. From the forefoot to the heel strike, designers were able to make a shoe that could contour and move with the athlete's natural motion. 

From left-right: Nike Free 7.0, Free 3.0, Free Run+3 Shield

The 2012 version that I have already fell in love with has the asymmetrical lacing system that I am used to with my soccer boots.  It has embraced the waffle outsole that I have always been intrigued with. I feel lighter than ever on my runs and the "abrasion-resistant carbon rubber" reassures me that my money was invested. The other night, the 3m Reflective material caused multiple cars to slow down as they passed me on the road. I felt safer than ever running at night and that is important to me. 

Source: Nike.com

Footwear in the Northwest

Portland, Or
      Home of the Nike World Headquarters and Adidas US Headquarters, I am uniquely close to two amazing Athletic apparel & footwear companies. Around Portland, fashion is what the majority make of it. Portland is full of business casual beings mixed amongst "hipsters". Aside from your flannel, Levis, & Chuck Taylor folk, people are usually wearing some sort of sports brand like Adidas or Nike. Some people are wearing outdoor brands such as Columbia, Merrell, North Face, or Vibram. From my friends to family, here are some shots I snagged with whatever device I had on hand at the time. From my Droid, Blackberry, Nikon 1, or Fujifilm 5 MP.

Adidas white ballet flats Jeremy Scott Wings

Cole Haan Lunargrand Chukka Pristine Nubuck

Nike Tiempos Nike CTRs 2x

New Nike Flyknits & Air Max 90 in baby blue

Cole Haan Lunargrand Wingtip color: original Charcoal Grey

Toddler Reef slip thong sandles

Nike Roshi Runs

2011 Koston SB & Nike Trainers

The Loafer

Source: Cole Haan & their winter Lunargrand Penny Loafer

     A few weeks ago, we had received directives to put PENNIES in our displayed loafers. I could not have agreed more with the visual merchandisers. Growing up in a strong filipino culture, loafers were a must among the men, women, & children. My parents and grandparents told me that in the Philippines, the loafer was fast, easy, and looked good with the traditional formal wear. Since the weather is so warm in that area of Asia, people would kick them on and off all day. An image I will always have is of my late grandfather Nilo coming in the from the airport wearing his black penny loafers, blue pilot pants, a beige Member's Only jacket, his pilot cap, & his black suitcase..
     While putting the pennies in, the team quickly whipped out Google on the iPad to delve into the history of the Penny Loafer. It was interesting to discover, from a variety of sources, that the loafer was among the most popular shoe styles for boys and girls in the 1960's. It was hip to put a penny in the slit of the vamp, or a dime if you wanted to be practical. The cost to use a pay phone in those times was a dime. As there are many brands pumping out unique and comfortable loafers today, the two most popular brands back then were Sebago (currently a main player in the boat shoe game) & Bass Weejuns. 

Source: The Sartorialist & a fellow photographer in women driver loafers

     From children to adult celebrities, loafers and specifically penny loafer became widely accepted as a fashion staple. Influential people like Steve McQueen and president John Kennedy were often seen in them. The popularity in fashion has evolved from a variety of brands taking the traditional slip on and adding their own flare, whether that be sparkles, studs, or suede. From a well tailored suit to casual day wear, the loafer has survived the ever changing world of fashion. 

Source: LA Times

Source: StyleLikeU

Source: GQ 2011 article "Stepping In: The Season's Best Loafers

     In a GQ Summer of 2011 article Will Welch said, "You can definitely pull of penny loafers. How do I know? Because Michael Jackson managed it with white socks, and JFK made it work while playing golf" (http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201106/mens-shoes-loafers-summer). I personally have only one pair that I wear for semi formal occasions such as a evening out downtown or dinner. My older brother has embraced the look and has adapted it into his own fashion. No on to my own "client" and the cleaning of my brother's loafers after he wore his new loafer in the Pacific Northwest rain without waterproofing them. I saw them one day in by the front door and I instantly felt the pain. No 2 month loafer should look the way they did. By following my same restoration and cleaning tips, I was able to set the life of these back a few weeks. 

Starting point

On the left: reconditioned and just in need of a quick buff and shoe trees
On the right: Buffed and edged dressed to cover the scuffed outsole

You're welcome bro