Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category
Caring For Your Leather Handbag
- Leather Briefcases
- Leather Document Case
- Leather Wallets
- Leather Purses
- Leather Handbags
- Leather Luggage U.K.
- Ladies Leather Briefcase
- Leather Backpacks
- Leather Attache Cases
- Leather Briefcases
Buying a high-quality leather handbag is an investment. Although the upfront cost is more than a cheap vinyl purse that you can pick up at any discount store, a leather handbag can last literally a lifetime when properly cared for. Cheap purses are not manufactured to last long. They are meant to get you through the season until the new colors and styles hit the stores. Then you are expected to throw out your current one and buy a new one. Not good for your budget or for landfills.
A leather handbag also has an attribute that no cheap purse will ever have. It looks better as it gets older. The leather mellows over time, softening and showing its natural grain. Rich deep tones develop over the course of several years and the handbag retains its elegance and style.
In order to keep your leather handbag in its best shape, there are a few things that you have to keep in mind. While leather is far stronger and more beautiful than any other handbag material, it needs a few considerations to stay that way.
The most important things to remember in caring for your leather handbag are what NOT to do. Never let your leather handbag sit wet for any length of time. Leather can absorb water and can swell and then crack when dried. It’s impossible to avoid getting your handbag wet at some point in time, but be sure to wipe it off with paper towels to wick all of the moisture away from the leather. If your handbag gets substantially wet, remove all of its contents and stuff it full of paper towels to provide support in keeping its shape. After drying off all visible water, set the handbag to dry in a cool spot with lots of air circulation. Do not put it in direct sunlight or over a hot air register to dry as drying too quickly can cause the leather to stiffen and crack.
Leather can dry out on its own over time and needs to be conditioned occasionally to retain its moisture level. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on caring for their particular kind of leather. Good quality leather handbags often require a conditioning cream applied at least once a year to soften and protect the leather. Do not use cheap silicone-based leather sprays or oils as they can clog the pores of the leather and stiffen it over time.
Caring for your leather handbag also means having small repairs made before they become larger problems. If there is stitching that is beginning to fray or lining that has a small tear, having it professionally repaired can prevent more problems down the road. High quality leather handbag manufacturers often have repair programs in place. This is always the best avenue as the manufacturer can repair the handbag using the same skills and equipment that went into manufacturing it in the first place.
A leather handbag can be one of your most favorite accessories and can last you for many years if cared for properly.
Taking Care of Your Shoes
Buying a good pair of shoes is an investment that makes sense, especially in today’s shaky economic climate. For many, it is simply not fiscally responsible to throw out worn out shoes every year and buy new ones. A good quality pair of shoes can last many years, saving money in the long run. It also makes environmental sense as it keeps many old pairs out of the landfill every year.
Keeping shoes for years requires regular care. Even the best and most expensive shoes will be a tattered mess in short order if neglected, left wet or dirty, or tossed around carelessly. For the best care you can give your shoes, keep the following in mind:
Use a shoe horn to put shoes on. Jamming your foot into your shoe will only wear down the collar of the heel over time and leave you without ankle support. A shoe horn pulls the collar back so that it is not trampled when putting the shoes on. If need be, use the shoe horn when taking shoes off as well. Never use the toe of your other shoe to push down the heel of the shoe you are removing. That will scuff your shoe heels and leave your shoes looking dingy and worn.
Never leave your shoes wet. While intentionally jumping into puddles is not likely on your agenda, it is inevitable that you will accidentally soak your shoes at some point. It could be a pop-up rain shower, spongy grass that you weren’t expecting or being sprayed by a hose or fountain. Take your shoes off immediately upon getting home. With a paper towel, gently dab any remaining water from the shoe. If the interior sole is wet, stuff the shoe with crumpled paper towels to absorb more of the dampness. Leave the shoes somewhere with good air circulation to dry slowly. Do not leave your shoes in the sun or on heat registers to dry as this can cause warping and cracking of the material.
Keep your shoes protected from the elements. Leather uppers need annual polish or cream to keep the shoe from cracking or drying out. Other materials can be washed or weatherproofed. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for shoe care but make sure that you do it regularly.
Have your shoes repaired professionally in a timely manner. Walking around with scuffed shoes or a worn outer sole can expose your shoes to the elements and precipitate even more damage. Having them restored or repaired by a professional cobbler will ensure that they stay in the best shape possible. NuShoe.com makes it easy to have your shoes looked after. They will send you a shipping bag and you simply ship your shoes in and send them off. When NuShoe’s professional cobblers have restored your shoes to near new condition, they ship them right back to your door. No fighting traffic to get to the shoe repair store in your local mall.
A good pair of shoes is something worth hanging on to and definitely worth taking proper care of.