I am not going to be the spoiler of the 2013 Summer, but like all good things come to end at some point. Now it is  time to bring those darker coloured shoes out to welcome the Autumn, when I say out, I do mean, in a well polished, cared manner worthy a  gent. If you did not do that, please be inspired by Dandy Shoe Care. How to accomplished that?
Get inspired by Dandy Shoe Care, see depicted pair below.

Well come back Master Alexander, hope you enjoyed your vacation and thanks for once again reminding us, that well polished shoes do look great and say a more than a million words about the wearer.

A brown brogue Oxford with a punched cap toe, well polished and cared for by Dandy Shoe Care

Photo sourced from Dandy Shoe Care

Alden Norwegian Split toe limited edition

Now it is obvious The Patina designer, artist The Grand Duke of patina is back from his well earned and deserved vacation. I am not a fan of Aldens (USA) shoes, however I have two pairs of Norwegian split toe on Black cordovan and Shell 8 (more dark burgundy). When I saw this transformation from the almost nothing saying colour to the Limited Edition, I was taken back and with a good reason too. A well renditioned patina design and colouring. Well done Grand Duke Of patina.

Alden Limited Edition of a Norwegian split toe processing

Photo(s) sourced from Dandy Shoe Care

Bespoke shoes from Osamu Egewa - Japan

For the day I have sampled shoes and boots from Master Esamu Egewa  from Japan. Some of the shoes have a bit of a twist, splash and dash which I have never seen before. I would like to highlight the wing Balmoral Oxford in brown calf and brown suede, where the lacing is extra covered. Interesting indeed. The black calf and black suede Chukka with the tassel lacings. Another interesting and unique creation. Lastly the button Balmoral boot, nothing strange about it, rather the hide selection, which is a combination of calf and what looks like elephant hide (top part) then it is green(ish).

Well take a peak and judge for yourselves.

Wing Balmoral Oxford with extra closing

 Two toned Balmoral Boot in calf and Calf (upper grained hide in brown)

 Bootie, not sure to name it Chukka, but a bootie in calf and suede with strange lacing.

 Button Balmoral boot in calf and exotic (elephant??) two toned

Co-respondant Full brogue Oxford boot

 Co-respondant full brogue Oxford shoe

 Stitched cap toe Oxford in a nice antique patina

Photos sourced from Master Esamu Egewa 

Happy Birthday Dandy Shoe Care - Alexander Nurulaeff

This blog today is dedicated to The Grand Wizard of patina, designer, artist, creator. I just read on my blog that he (Alexander Nurulaeff) had a birthday and I felt it will be an honour and my duty to say Happy birthday to you Grand Wizard Dandy Shoe Care (Mr. Alexander Nurulaeff), The Grand Wizard of Patina. 
With the below depicted pictures, I wish you a Happy Birthday and let the works say and shout many Hipp - Hipp - Hurrays to you on your special day.

The Grand Wizard of patina conversing with a client.

The Grand Wizard (Dandy Shoe Care) of patina handling and caring for a client's shoes

Works of art from The Grand Wizard of patina

 Below are shoes which The Grand Wizard of patina offered a new second life! An offer that could not be refused or rejected.

Photos courtesy of Dandy Shoe Care and Permanent Style

Dandy Shoe Care - Trickers shoes but not any Tricker's

I have sampled the patina art work by patina artist, designer The Grand Wizard of Patina from Italy aka Dandy Shoe Care, Mr. Alexander Nurulaeff made on three ordinary shoes by  Tricker's of England. 
The Tricker's company has been around since 1829 and produces rather heavier shoes more suitable for the country side and paired with cords and tweed suits they do look great. The Tricker's shoes are affordable for all pockets, so I think. 

The trick of the blog's theme is not whether Tricker's shoes, which are at lower range than Crockett & Jones (hand grade) for example, are as sleek as the hand grade line or any of the English shoemakers in that higher range, but a helping hand from patina Grand Wizard Mr. Alexander Nurulaeff's care and heavenly touch, they will look like bespoke samples from any of the World's best bespoke shoemakers - eh...hmmm.... maybe a bit of pepper and salt there to exaggerate a bit.  Well, after the dash and splash of patina handling and caring, they look like any high end product from any good shoemaker (Crockett and Jones, Edward Green etc) and even have a bespoke touch. Sounds much better.... yes. 
So?  A thought, get a low end good shoe and have it given a second look and life by a The Patina Grand Wizard. Now you are with me. Thanks.

Three pairs of Tricker's to be taken care off and given a new life by The Grand Wizard of Patina, a Penny loafer, a brogue punched cap toe Oxford with a medallion and braided tassel loafer. 

 The caring and caressing of the patina colouring in progress as seen on the tassel loafer in the middle. Transformation to a new life on it's way for these shoes.

The life before Dandy Shoe Care and after The Grand Wizard of Patina breathed new life into these Tricker's. Now these pairs of shoes maybe Trickers, but not any man's Tricker's.

Photos sourced from Dandy Shoe Care

Bestetti three eyelet Derby the "Foster" from Novecento line

The day's sampled three eyelet Derby is from Master Riccardo Freccia Bestetti, who does not need any introduction on this blog. The below depicted Derby called the "Foster" is from the Novecento Line, very well renditioned with the unusual brogue on the vamp, dashed and splashed with a toe medallion. The topping is the well done antique polishing or patina. Just simple and elegant. 

Three eyelet Derby "Foster", round toe last and medallion from Master Bestetti

Photos sourced from Master Bestetti

An Adelaide Oxford by GJ Cleverley RTW Adelaide well polished

For the day, I have sampled from my own GJ Cleverley "RTW" ready to wear collection, an Adelaide as renditioned by the GJ Cleverley house. The depicted shoe is on the Crockett & Jones 337 last, which is a last from Crockett and Jones hand graded selection. The 337 last is designed by Master Dimitri Gomez in Paris, who also runs a bespoke operation. So what? You would say, okay. Cutting a long story short, I got these about three years ago and they came in antique chestnut colour. But over the years, I have been polishing correctly, but inappropriately (regards to colour selection), the shoes ended in a much dark colour almost black burgundy & with no movement in colour, and I was not pleased. 
So had to do something. Finally got some kind of bleaching product manufactured in Sweden, recommended by Rolf Hansson's son (Malmö) and tried the stuff out. End result, got the shoe back to a colour I liked and here is the result. Apologies for the many pictures of the shoe.

 A GJ Cleverley Adelaide Oxford from the ready to wear offer, nicely polished.

Photos sourced from me