How To Care For Vintage Leather

My relationship with leather flourished at a young age when my mother would pass me her hand-me-downs, such as vintage leather handbags. However, caring for leather can be tricky when they are subjected to humid conditions in Singapore, often resulting in mould, cracking and damage – total heartbreak. With that said, over the years, I have gathered a few tricks up my sleeves. I'm partnering up with The ShoeTree Project to show you how I care for my favourite vintage leather.

One man's rust is another man's patina.

It's important to understand that leather is organic matter and reacts to its environment. Like our own skin, it 'lives and breathes' and will respond positively if we treat it with care. Believe it or not, leather is better used, so make it a point to wear it often because a little touch goes a long way. Good quality leather develops a patina over time which adds to its character. 

As moisture is the main culprit for mould, always remove excess moisture before storing any leather products away. The newspaper is super handy for damp shoes after the rain. I like to keep small leather items in a dry cabinet with controlled humidity level and house larger items alongside chemical dehumidifiers. If you're someone who isn't too fickle with a strong scent, I find moth balls very effective in keeping away small insects during the wet months.

Saphir Medaille d’Or renovateur cleaner & conditioner

Vintage leather age just like we do. Sometimes it needs a just a little help to regain its strength and lustre. One way is with a restoring moisturiser that cleans and conditions. The Saphir renovateur is an essential for my vintage burgundy loafers I purchased from Tokyo last year. What makes Saphir special is its base ingredient, mink oil, which has a similar chemical structure to the oil in our skin. Think of leather conditioner as an anti-aging product. Setting a regime for your vintage leather will definitely pay off in a long run.

To illustrate, here are my three basic steps to my leather conditioning routine;

Step 1

Using a shoe brush, brush away any surface dirt. Always remove laces. Use a minimum amount of water and a wash cloth where necessary to remove any grime buildup.

Step 2

With an old rag (I cut up an old tank top), dab a tiny amount of the Saphir renovateur. 

Step 3

Spread the product evenly on leather in small, circular motions, paying extra attention of cracks and wrinkles. Leave the leather to air dry and you're done!

It's totally up to you but I personally repeat this routine every three months or when I feel my leather needs a lift. Is the Saphir renovateur necessary? No. Does it make a difference? Absolutely. A light round of polishing already makes a visible difference to my loafers. Despite its age, the left of its pair looks just that little more 'alive'.

Red cedar wood shoe trees

Just as we use hangers for our clothing, shoe trees are the equivalent for shoes. When I was younger, I used to wonder why men's footwear always had those strange looking wooden fixtures in them. There's no need to stock a pair for every pair of shoes you own, but I can't help to feel that they belong together, reviving my vintage loafers its former glory. These fragrant cedar wood shoe trees smell incredible and help to wick any moisture trapped within. They help keep the leather taught, stretching out any wrinkles that have caved in during wear, reducing the possibilities of cracking. Invest in a pair of shoe trees for your most cherished footwear, you will not regret it.

My latest vintage accessory addition is this 1960s handbag I discovered at a countryside antique market in Daylesford, Victoria. It was in decent shape with some wear and tear when I brought her home, and with a little polishing, I was able to bring back a piano-like shine. A trick of mine is to then stuff its interior with paper to retain its shape.

I love vintage bags and shoes and I make it my responsibility to preserve them the best way I can. Living in Singapore doesn't make it any easier, but with discipline and a routine, I have seen the biggest difference in my own wardrobe. Instead of buying brand new clothing, give vintage a chance. Treasure and love them, and they will do the same for you. 

I feel so happy to work with the friendly folks of The ShoeTree Project in sharing these tips with you. Do check out their website for its line of Saphir shoe conditioners and polishes and other shoe care accessories. Hope you enjoyed this post!

Princess Diaries with Z Wedding at Chijmes

You're ringing the only wedding bell

And we're swimming the seas we've known so well

I've tried, to stay alive, in our bed, in our heads

Oh, but your wish is my command

The best part about writing a fashion blog is being able to be a part of fashion, to see fashion as a process and not just its glamourous output. Having worked with the wonderfully sweet ladies at Z Wedding for months now, the Z Wedding for Watabe Wedding Chijmes show was my most memorable one yet. I was granted a rare access backstage and stayed throughout to document the kind of chaos that is part and parcel of a successful runway show. 

Being backstage allows me to see everything up close. I tip-toed my way around the dressing room in curiosity and to not accidentally destroy any of the ever so delicate dresses. Models were transformed into modern day princesses with a flawless luminous complexion, a dash of champagne eyeshadow and bright red lips. Bejeweled hair accessories like tiaras and hair bands were added on top of a romantic up-do which showed-off the boutique's signature backless styles perfectly. Realistically speaking, up-dos are the best for Singapore's humid climate. Dresses were mostly of baby pastel hues that were fit for a mermaid! Meanwhile, a handful of classic white frocks screamed regal with structured bodices and sheer embroideries which resembled the gothic architecture style of Chijmes (this was confirmed when I spoke to one of the designers). Swear I died a little inside...

I can safely say that I'd choose to be backstage over the front row on any given day. Why? The passion and drive of the people who worked behind the scenes inspired me endlessly. I've always thought highly of Z Wedding and Le Grand Wedding but it wasn't until now that I understand why this bridal boutique is loved by many. From its in-house dress designers to tailors, makeup and hair artists, to PR people and the very sweet director, there was some kind of chemistry among them that made me feel right at home. The glam team took great care of the models, you could tell from the girls' wide smiles, which is not always the case in the not-so-merciful fashion industry. I'm not saying this out of courtesy but their kindness and professional working ethics tell me you could trust Le Grand Wedding a hundred percent in preparation for your big day.

Starry-Eyed

Mood:

Never let the darkness leave us

If you can't I'll be the dreamer

Be the night and I will be your shining light

I'm your silver line, only you will find

Two weeks back, I was invited to see the Z Wedding Couture Runway Show 2016. The invite reached me right smack before one of my major school submissions, but I'm glad it did anyway because fashion shows always put me in a good mood. It was an exhaustive journey but nevertheless fun experience — from finding our way to the very isolated W Hotel Sentosa (I mean, there's a good reason why it's Madonna's choice of temporary tour residence in Singapore), anticipating for the show to start to seeing the beautiful dresses. The dresses for Spring were definitely based off classic, hourglass and princess silhouettes, but that's not to say the designers spared any effort off their signature bare-back look. The models' makeup glowed against their white frocks. Dresses with lace or flower appliqué were my favourites. Unfortunately, the lighting situation at The Grand Room wasn't ideal, so I decided to desaturate everything and consolidate the pictures I snapped into my lazy-style collages. Hope you enjoyed the images anyway!

#zweddingcouture2016