How to Care For Your Shoes

By Elizabeth Larkin, About.com Guide

Shoe care can save you money. I know a very wealthy man -- we’re talking private jet owner here -- who hasn’t purchased a new pair of shoes in a decade. He gets them shined regularly, and once a year he takes them to the cobbler where they are re-soled, re-lined, cleaned and back in fighting form within two days.  

A good cobbler can transform your shoes into something that very closely resembles “new.” Before you buy a new pair of shoes, consider the services a cobbler can offer:

Basic Shoe Repair:

• Replace heels and soles
• Install a protective outer sole
• Replace or repair inner sole (tip: Don't repair, just replace the insole!)
• Cleaning and reconditioning
• Stretching – this is key for people, like me, who have one foot slightly larger than the other.

High Heels:

• Repair the heels
• Recover a heel in new fabric (suede, leather, etc.)

Boots:

• Waterproof the outside
• Stretch or tighten the shaft

Beyond the Basics:
In addition to the basics, a “luxury” or “upscale” shoe repair outfit may offer the following services:

• Change a wide heel into a stiletto
• Additionally, can widen a stiletto into a traditional heel
• Lengthen or shorten straps on your strappy sandals or sling backs
• Have shoes dyed to a new color (tip: Many women do this to their wedding shoes.)

If you're not sure where to find an upscale cobbler ask around at the most high-end stores in your area. My friend Meghan, a confirmed fashionsita on a budget, once needed a pair of J Crew pants hemmed. She asked the store and they sent her to their own tailor who works independently at a store front in her neighborhood. Score!

TIP: Once you get your shoes back, don’t expect them to fit exactly the way they previously did; think of them like new shoes you need to break in.