CARE OF FOOTWEAR

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 100, 23 May 1941, Page 43

CARE OF FOOTWEAR

(From a recent

A.C.E.

Talk

; GENERATION or so ago well-darned gloves and wellshod feet were considered the hallmark of a gentlewoman of the "she was poor but she was honest" school. Even to-day the well-dressed woman is characterised by the perfection of her accessories, and of these perhaps shoes and stockings are the most important. Women perhaps notice the striking hat first of all, but generally speaking a man looks first of all at a woman’s legs (probably an unconscious harking back to the days of ankle-interest), and can always tell from an eight-yard range whether she’s wearing liquid stockings or not. Good footwear is both hard to find and expensive to buy. We must therefore take trouble to select the type most suitable for us, bearing in mind the type of outfit with which the shoe is to be worn. The following basic types are recommended: 1. Brogues, for wearing with tweeds and the sporty type of winter coat. Essential for walking or golf. 2. An Oxford or high-gussetted court with moderate or cuban heel for everyday hard wear on city pavements or in the house. 3. A high-heeled court for afternoon and informal evening wear. Plain styles have much to recommend them. They do not focus undue attention on the feet, and few people have feet so attractive that they wish to make them really conspicuous. Style and cut must be considered, for these will help to lengthen or shorten the foot and to make the ankles look slimmer or thicker.

Those with long feet should avoid pointed toes and seams or openings running lengthwise, and those with short, wide feet should avoid square toes, crosswise seams, and a square-fronted opening. A low-cut shoe will slim the ankles as it lengthens the line from ankle to instep. When Shoes Are Wet Caring for shoes involves keeping them clean, waterproof, and in good repair. When shoes are wet and muddy it is better to wash the mud out at once rather than let it dry and then brush it off. A wet nail-brush or toothbrush will quickly dislodge damp mud, and after this the shoes should be well rubbed with a dry soft cloth and dried on their trees. Above everything, remember that wet leather must not be heated, as this makes it hard, stiff and brittle. Moisture does not improve leather, as it tends to rot the stitching. Rainettes and goloshes are therefore a good investment. Golf brogues and walking shoes which must get wet should be treated with some commercial waterproofing solution. This will not impair their looks, and will give them a much longer life. Tramping and ski-ing boots which do not require polishing should be well rubbed with softened mutton fat, free from salt, to keep the leather waterproof and pliable. Cleaning and Repairing No shoes will wear really well unless they are frequently cleaned. You should dust them before putting them away and clean them when you have enough time to do it thoroughly. A smear of

polish on top of fngrained mud does not help the leather. A little vaseline well rubbed into patent leather or crocodile shoes will keep them from cracking. Leave it to soak in for a day or two, and then polish off the surplus. When shoes need repairing it pays to go to a first-class workman. When a shoe is re-soled, the new sole should not be heavier than is suitable for the weight of the upper. As soon as you buy a new

pair of shoes see that toe and heel plates are put on. It pays to have two pairs of everyday shoes and to wear these on alternate days. Not only does this save the feet, but the shoes wear more than twice as long. It gives them time to air and to dry out thoroughly and this prolongs the life of the leather. And remember that every pair of shoes you own should have its shoe-trees,