How to Polish Wingtip Shoes
Wingtip shoes are named for the ornamental piece of leather that covers the toe of the shoe, forming a W shape that vaguely resembles a bird spreading its wings. The holes punched in the decorative leather form a pattern in the outer layer of the shoe creating a stylish, classic men's accessory. However, the very detail that makes this shoe stylish can require an extra bit of attention when the time comes to add polish to your wingtips. Shining your shoes helps protect them from the elements and adds years of life to your footwear. Additionally, nothing ruins the look of a well-dressed man like a pair of scruffy shoes. To keep your wingtips, and subsequently yourself, looking sharp, follow the steps in this guide. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Newspapers
- Large, stiff brush
- Toothbrush
- Wax shoe polish (the same color as your shoes)
- Water
- Old, soft cloth
Instructions
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1
Cover the area you will be working in with old newspapers to avoid inadvertently leaving any shoe polish marks on the floor. With a large, stiff brush, buff the shoes to remove any dirt or dust.
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2
Use a toothbrush to remove any dust or dirt from the holes in the wingtips and the edges of the shoe, where the upper is stitched to the sole. Once the dirt, dust and debris are scrubbed away, rub the toothbrush lightly in the shoe polish and apply polish to the clean shoe edge.
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3
Repeat Step 2 on the sole of the shoe. Brush away any dirt and then apply a thin layer of shoe polish to the sole of the shoe.
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4
Coat your bare index finger with a light layer of shoe polish.
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5
Apply the polish to the shoe, moving your finger in a small circular motion, pressing firmly on the shoe leather.
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6
Repeat Step 5, covering the whole shoe with a layer of shoe polish. Polish should be applied in small sections, beginning with the wing tip cap on the toe, moving around to the sides of the shoe, then finally the heel and the sides of the shoe sole.
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Brush the wing tip toe cap area lightly with a toothbrush to remove any excess polish from the holes.
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8
Set shoes aside, away from direct sunlight, for 10 minutes to allow the leather to soak up the shoe polish.
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9
Place a small amount of water in the lid of the shoe polish can. Technically, saliva can be used for this portion of the shining process, hence the term "spit-shine," but water works just as well and is more hygienic.
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10
Wrap your index finger in a bit of soft cloth, such as an old T-shirt or cloth baby diaper.
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Dip your wrapped finger into the water and apply the damp cloth to the shoe, moving your finger in small, circular motions. The damp cloth applies moisture to the shoe in the same manner in which polish was applied. Repeat until you cannot see the circles of shoe polish anymore.
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Cover one section of shoe at a time, beginning with the wing tip toe cover, moving around the sides of the shoe, then to the heel and finally to the sides of the sole of the shoe.
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13
Apply a second layer of shoe polish, only this time use the damp cloth rather than your bare index finger.
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14
Apply a second layer of water with a clean piece of damp cloth.
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Apply a final layer of shoe polish, rubbing your shoes until they reach a glossy shine. If your shoes aren't shiny enough to suit you, keep layering shoe polish and water until they are.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you apply the shoe polish in thin layers, or it will cake and smear. The cloth should be damp, not wet. To add a tiny bit of moisture and heat to the final layer of shoe polish, bring the shoe close to your mouth and exhale onto the surface. If you have multi-colored wing tips, you may want to purchase neutral or clear shoe polish. If polish has built up on your wingtips, clean it away by gently washing the shoes with saddle soap. Buy your shoe polish in a small tin, as the wax will dry out over time and be unusable. Cotton balls can be substituted for cloth, if you prefer. Be sure to squeeze all the water out before using them on your shoes.
Liquid "quick shine" polish can damage your shoe leather with frequent use. Do not attempt to change the color of your shoes with shoe polish. To change the color, the leather needs to be dyed.
Resources
- Photo Credit wikimedia commons
