The Patination of Brown

... is a beautiful thing.

Which brings me to the point of this post: leather shoes should be polished regularly. If you ask Will Boehlke of A Suitable Wardrobe it's because the gleam of the leather complements the silk of the necktie. If you ask me, it's because it just looks sharp and one appears more put together.

There aren't many men I know who polish their dress shoes (or maybe they just do a shoddy job). For those reading this who don't, let this be a wake up call. Give this age-old exercise a shot. After awhile it will become second nature like ironing your dress shirts. Don't do that either? Well then, you're just a mess.

Rest assured, you will be rewarded for your efforts. Polishing your brown shoes will result in a beautiful patina (think finish or glaze) over time. Shine 'em (or pay someone else to) on a regular basis and in time you'll be looking down at a richly patinated pair of brown dress shoes.

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