How To Series: How to Waterproof Your Shoes

One of the greatest lessons I've learned since being a personal shopper and stylist is to take care of the shoes you wear. I am constantly on my feet, moving from the city streets to the store floor so my shoes- and for that matter my feet- can take a real beating. It helps to make sure that my footwear is well taken care of. One trick is to prevent them from taking on unnecessary damage from the elements, such as water.

fashion.elle.com

I should probably mention first that water doesn't actually "damage" leather, per say. Mostly it just stains it. The damage comes when your leather item, like shoes, has been submerged in water and allowed to dry by an open heat source. The stresses from the shoe-making process are weakened and the leather tries to return to its natural shape. Thus, warping becomes another issue to keep in mind when stepping out for a rainy day. Saving your shoes from staining and warping takes a little extra TLC.

a creative way to dry your shoes

Calling on my trusty leather expert, I found out that the best you can hope for with any waterproofing product is to make your items water resistant. Unless your shoes are made from vinyl, they'll need some kind of treatment to keep the water out. The spray stuff sits on top of the leather and helps water bead up and run/fall off your shoes when there's enough water to do so.

$6.99

Mink oil is actually a better product to consider. You rub it into the top layers of the leather to provide a deeper protection. It causes the water to bead and roll off but more reliably than the sprays. Plus, the oil also acts a conditioner for your leather, keeping it soft and crack free.

$4.99

These types of products usually only work on leather that is flat, not napped like nubuck or suede. For those types of items, you can use specific spray products. This way most of the product is captured in the rough surface of the leather and creates a better seal.

$5.99

All in all, these products are more than affordable and will save you tons on repairing and purchasing shoes in the long-run. If you just take the time to treat your shoes, they'll carry you farther.

Here are a few last tips to improve your footwear: as a general rule you should look into rotating your shoes out every day to give them a break, again increasing their longevity. Also, invest in some shoe trees. They'll maintain the shape of your shoes (preventing warping) and if they're cedar, keep the moths away. Plus, some are adjustable, allowing you to stretch your own shoes in your own time instead of taking them to a cobbler.


Hopefully all these tricks have you singing in the rain with some happy feet!

Image(s) courtesy of shoecaresupplies.com, greenmeatballs.com, and fashion.elle.com
 

Sarah Jessica Parker is a Burberry Delight

I think Sarah Jessica Parker cemented her claim to fame as a style icon thanks in large part to her collaboration with Patricia Fields on Sex and the City. Every time I watch it, there’s some small, new detail there that I never noticed before. So many odd, amazing, and fabulous clothing combinations that it’s no wonder we all still turn to the show for inspiration. Even today on the red carpet, SJP takes a cue from Carrie and adds an over-sized accessory here, or an unexpected color and texture there. Like most icons, when she attends an event, you can bet people will be watching. She didn’t disappoint at the Burberry show this past September.

SJP's look was a decadent tone on tone ensemble; a rich gradient of caramel, chocolate, and cream. Who better to get you're mouth watering for fabulous Fall fashion? The entire look is the coupling of contrasting textures and themes. The ladylike lace of the dress (yes, that's a dress under there) with its cascading ruffles is juxtaposed against the smooth leather, military jacket with the high, strapping heels of her shoes leaving me fit to be tied. If you're hungry to satisfy your chocolate craving, check out the images below. They're the best options available on the market right now.

"Victoriana" jacket at asos.com

The jacket Sarah Jessica is wearing is absolutely labelled as a splurge. After all it is a Burberry jacket! If you want the real thing now but from a more greenback-friendly source, try this one. The color is lovely and the military style is marvelous.

A dress purchased in Madrid by London-based social fixture Jane Asher

This sweet shift embodies a woman's girly-girl but is controlled by the simple design. It's a perfect piece to contrast with the leather jacket. Try locating your own at your favorite department store or boutique.

"Colleen" Satchel at Shop Suey

This bag's shape is very similar to the one SJP is holding, plus the style lines are pretty good mimics of the original. It's a great steal when you can't afford the splurge.

Never underestimate the authority of sassy heels. Nordstrom

To help complete this SJP-inspired look and to carry you into colder days, add a few more accessories like gloves and a scarf. To keep your legs warm, pull on a pair of sheer black tights. You could also choose opaque tights but that's where you have to ask yourself one question: WWCD? (What Would Carrie Do?)

Image(s) courtesy of Google image search

Anna Sui for Target: Restyled Dress #1

The Anna Sui for Target line that was launched late last month had some great fashion finds at really affordable prices. Is that what we are all looking for these days? A shopping tip- don't let a dress on the hanger steer you away from trying something on. Remember that "trying on is free". Don't hesitate to find out for sure whether or not something will look good on you. If you like the fabric, give it a try.

I'll save you from the horror of what this dress looked like on me styled as suggested in the picture (left). One a full-figured woman, these high neck/shapeless dresses are often a big NO NO. But I could see it had potential with just a little bit of tweaking. Below are the pictures of one of the dresses I restyled from the "off the rack" version, into a fall-perfect outfit.

Dress #1: Metallic Jacquard Dress $59.99

First of all, I had to remove the fabric belt that came with the dress (see picture above). I replaced it with a stretch leather belt I already had (one that came with another shirt I had purchased years ago). The thick black belt showed nice contrast against my large chest. The black leggings kept me warm but also balanced out the heavier black leather belt from the thin fabric of the dress, as did the shoes. The proportions of heavy materials to light materials in this outfit keep any one part feeling too heavy.

Because I am not a huge fan of my arms (hey, we all have something we don't love about our bodies), I threw a black motorcycle jacket on top. It really set off the black booties and kept me warm on this foggy SF summer day.

Note the fall trends I incorporated:

• motorcycle jacket
• leggings
• booties
• belted dresses

Due to the shinny dress fabric, I kept the accessories minimal. The belt brings attention to the small part of my waist, and the cut out booties/leggings bring attention down to my feet. Because of the high neckline of the dress and jacket, I didn't use a necklace and just worse small silver studs in my ears. The only thing missing? A great chained handbag...

Top image and product details from Target.com