Clarks Desert Boots (after 5months)

After thrashing, oiling, resoling, polishing, and more thrashing, this is the update of their evolution (it does look more seasoned and worn now):

iPhone quality pictures. So I apologise for the lack of quality pics.

Swedish Army Belt

Just bought this online and can't wait to receive it. It's a Swedish Army Belt that used to be a standard issue item, but now its very hard to find.

The picture of it been worn for 10 years is just amazing.

Do view the updates in my other posts

Evolution of Red Wing Beckman Gentleman Traveler 9013

After watching the clean and maintaining of Red Wing Boots below, I decided to give my Beckman 9013 Chestnut some more TLC. It was a harsh period for them as you can see from the wounds on the boots.

Immediately after Obenauf LP was applied:

Left it overnight and brushed off horsehair brush:

Time to lace them back and wear them tomorrow!

Red Wing Sizing

I believe most of you who bought Red Wing Shoes had been bothered by the Sizing issues.

Here's the most often said tip that you get when you search on the internet:

"Size down 0.5 or 1 size for Red Wing shoes" - Reason? They are made to worn with thick wool socks so they are actually 0.5 or 1 size larger.

Now your question. So is it 0.5 or 1 size? Personally, I think size down 0.5 will be just nice. If in the event that after sizing down 0.5 and it still runs a little larger, you can always add insoles to make up for it. But if you size down too much, there's no possible way to make up for the crampy space.

I wear 9.5 for Clarks DB. For Red Wing, I got my feet measured in the Red Wing Store here in Suntec City, Singapore and according the to Brannock Device, I'm a 9.5

But the problem is, I have to choose between a size 9 OR a size 10 as Singapore do not carry half sizes.

I went for the larger size.

And all these months, I been wondering if I made the right choice.

Happen to surf around and saw this bit of information online. I hope this will be useful for those torn in between 2 sizes..

From the Red Wing Germany website:

"Sie sollten bei der Größenwahl nicht geizig sein. Wenn Sie zwischen 2 Größen stehen wählen Sie bitte die größere von beiden." 

Using Google Transate: 

"They should not be stingy with the size of choice. If you are between 2 sizes, please select the larger of the two."

So there you go. I made the right choice.

Proper way to clean a pair of Red Wing Shoes

In this vid, the Red Wing Shoes shown in the vid is the Beckman 9013, which is what yours truly has one. *proud*

Anyway, the way the vid recommend is,

1) Brush the boots with the horsehair brush.
2) Using the cloth, apply the Shoe Creme to the boots, the side of the soles also.
3) Apply mink oil to the BASE of the sole where the genuine leather logo is.
4) Finish the process of with the leather protector.

For step 1, I am with it as it is important to remove the dirt before putting any conditioner/oil. What bothers me if the step 3, what is the purpose of oiling the base of the sole???
Oh well, to each of his own. Personally, I brush off dirt with a horsehair brush. I apply Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative (LP) to my boots and let it absorb overnight. And that's it. In my opinion, the Heavy Duty LP is good enough to nourish the leather and protecting it at the same time.

Here's the vid:

GUCCI Large Leather Messenger Bag

Happen to see this messenger bag while surfing aimlessly on the web.

Normally I do not go for branded stuff when it comes to genuine leather, but this leather messenger bag from the almighty luxury brand caught my attention.

It is such a beau. Could be camera effects that's bringing out the subtle glow in the leather. But its so attractive! I probably never have the chance to see this in real life, much less owning it.

For the elites, here's the link to purchase this:

Mr Porter

Self-made Leather Messenger Bag

Been wanting to find a messenger bag thats all genuine leather. Not too big, Not too small. Searching around only found bags that are either too big, too small or too expensive.

Decided to do my own bag after searching around and realised that all that I want is a minimalist bag and I actually can do it myself!

started out with a concept.
Set a day to start working on it.
took me 2.5hrs
had no prior experience in sewing using sewing machine.

Heres the pictures:

 You may had noticed that the flap leather color is different from the one underneath it. Yes, they are from 2 different leather hides of different colors. Miscalculated on the measurements (wanted to have all of the same color initially). And had to resort to another piece of leather for the front side. Came out pretty well and I actually like the slight variation in color.

If you noticed, the red button.. it's actually corter's "For Japan" bracelet and I bought a few as a show of support during the Japan disaster. I am wearing the medium-size and the small size had been idling around so thought of using it as a "fastener" to close the flap of the bag.

I deliberately used the edges of the leather hide that came from the factory. Wanted to show its "imperfections" and thats how genuine leather ought to be. It's all natural and holes/tears like this does not affect its quality at all.

Evolution of Red Wing Beckman 9013 Chestnut

After 3 months of wearing..

Received my "For Japan" bracelets!

After weeks of waiting, finally saw them in my mailbox (together with the Grow and Share letter, double happiness!)

The leather is lovely. Nice creamy beige color, and looking pure as milk. The size Medium is for my ownself and the one I got is even more lovely. There's some signs of wrinkles on the surface which I totally adored. Personally, I like leather with "imperfections" so to speak. But they are not imperfect at all. It adds to the characteristics and that's what makes it different from other similar bracelets that makes it unique.

Here are some pictures of it. As usual, I applied Obenauf's Leather Preservative the minute I got home from dinner.

Looking good!

Top: before LP application
Bottom: After LP application




P.S: For the observant ones, you would had noticed the snap button color was different in the 2 pictures. Yes, they were 2 different bracelets. I forgot to take the pictures of the one I intend to apply the LP to, before the actual application.