Well, that depends on the suede…

Good quality suede is simply full grain leather turned over.  Instead of using the smooth side, the under side is exposed.  Full grain leather is strong, supple and long wearing due to its tensile strength.  It is also very easy to maintain.  Simply brush vigorously with a nylon (not metal!) bristle brush once they are dry.  That’s it for regular maintenance!  If you’ve got a stubborn stain, you can use a very fine grit (about 220) sandpaper to gently work the stain out.

Poor quality suede is created by splitting a piece of leather in half like two ply toilet paper.  This gives the manufacturer double the leather to work with for the same cost.  Unfortunately this makes for thin, weak leather that will lose its shape and be difficult to keep looking good for any length of time.  Not a wise investment.

If you’re looking for suede shoes, ask your retailer if split or full grain leather has been used.  If the retailer doesn’t know, you can bet the farm the leather is split.  Price is not always an indication of good or poor quality.  All the usual national brand names cut every corner possible, and certainly don’t use quality leather in their production of footwear.  So how do you know for sure what you’re buying is worth buying?  Get to know the feel of full grain leather/suede.  Actually feel it.  It’s obvious when you’ve got an example of both types of leather side by side.  Ask to see swatches of the raw leather used to make the shoes you’re looking at.  At Sheppard’s we always have a full set of swatches for the shoes we sell, making it easy for the customer to see what they are really buying.  Two examples of shoe factories that use only full grain leather are Crockett & Jones and The Alden Shoe Co.

A great pair of suede shoes is absolute luxury, and not to be missed.  Many people shy away from suede because they think it’s difficult to maintain.  Suede adds character to an otherwise boring suit, and brings refinement to a casual outfit.  It’s a wonderful way to add versatility to a wardrobe.  We have many customers who buy nothing but suede shoes!       

Considering we spend at least 8-12 hours a day wearing shoes, it’s astounding how many people put up with poorly constructed, poorly fitted footwear.  Shoes that don’t fit are uncomfortable at best, and can lead to chronic knee, leg, or back pain at worst.  Sheppard’s shoes has spent seventy seven years retailing high quality footwear like, Crockett & Jones from the U.K., and Alden from the U.S.  This has given us some insights that may help you find the fit that is right for you. 

Question:

Could you tell if a pair of shoes fit, if they didn’t have the size marked inside?  Most people fit by numbers, not by feel or foot position.

It’s important to know what a proper fit feels like, especially given that every manufacturer’s shoes fit differently – even different styles from the same manufacture can be very different when it comes to fit!  Numbers (sizes) are a guideline to help you find the right fit; they should never be the deciding factor. 

When you first try on a pair of shoes, do you feel for the end of your toe?  Do you feel the position of your arch?  The support structure for ones body weight is the arch of the foot.  It is paramount to fit the arch properly.  Find the ball of the foot and position it at the turn of the sole, or at the widest point on the shoe.  This helps in three ways:

1. The widest part of your foot is in the widest part of the shoe. 

2. The shoe should be designed to bend/flex at that very same point.  The ball of the foot

     is where your foot bends. 

3. The arch of the shoe will be lined up properly to cup and support the arch of the foot. 

By positioning the arch correctly you won’t be forcing the wide part of your foot into a narrow part of the shoe, or forcing the shoe to bend where it’s not designed to bend.   Ultimately,  you will achieve support which, in turn, leads to all day comfort.  Your toes should have freedom to move, not feel bound or scrunched. 

Try this:

Find your most comfortable pair of leather soled shoes (rubber is hard to tell).  Turn them over and look at the wear pattern on the sole.  It’s very likely that the wear shows evenly, out to the edges of the sole, from tip to the wide point and side to side.  This indicates that your foot is relaxed and supported.  Now find your least comfortable pair and do the same.  It’s likely to show an uneven wear pattern, mostly in the middle and off the tip without showing much wear on the edges.  This obviously indicates an improper fit, a scrunched foot, and an uncomfortable pair of shoes.

Poor quality materials and inexpensive construction techniques have made comfort and fit difficult to obtain in today’s market.  There is so much more to discuss when it comes to proper fitting shoes!  Look for future posts on shoe construction, width options, and variations related to style to help you find that perfect fit!

Welcome to our Blog!  We hope to provide interesting and helpful posts in the weeks and months to come.  A breif history of who we are…

Sheppard’s Shoes was founded in 1931 with the promise of providing exceptional footwear and expert service.  Although retailing has evolved some 77 years later, the same commitment to quality holds true today with Sheppard’s Direct.  We are fortunate to work with two outstanding shoe factories, Crockett & Jones and the Alden Shoe Co., both of whom share our passion for quality footwear.  We strive to exceed your expectations, both in product offered, and most importantly, in service.  Some things never change…