Slip shoes on swiftly with a shoe horn
Back in the day, gents knew it took particular tools to assist in getting dressed to an immaculate state each morning. Clothes brushes and lint rollers dutifully hung from wardrobe hooks ready to remove foreign fibres, while hair wax and a swift comb slicked back rogue locks. When it came to footwear, shoe trees held a shoe’s shape while not in use, and shoe polish, polishing cloths and brushes were kept at the ready for a daily morning shine.
These dressing aids ensured gents were smartly spruced and well turned-out each day. But as dress standards became more casual, enthusiasm for details also waned. A key tool of the dressing trade that should be revived for the sake of your shoes’ lifespan is the trusty shoe horn. With dress shoes difficult to put on, a shoe horn offers a smooth surface for the foot and heel to slide more easily into a shoe without crushing its counter.
Without this nifty device’s help, shoes begin to crush and the sturdiness and support your feet should feel from the counter wears away. As more casual, softer fabric shoes came into fashion, the demand for shoe horns faded, meaning tracking down one that has a handle of beautifully carved wood and a suede strap is a difficult task. However, you can pick up a long, leather-handled number from Hallelujah Shoe Works at the Fortitude Valley train station.
Image via The Shoe Buff.