Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Avoid wrinkles
• Method 2 of 2: Remove folds with leather oil
• Necessities

A nice pair of dress shoes can last a lifetime, but the movement of your foot within the shoe can make the leather pucker. While a little puckering is inevitable, there are steps you can take to keep your dress shoes from creasing.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Avoid wrinkles

1. Choose shoes that fit you well. If there is space between your foot and the shoe, the shoe will bend more. This is why most shoes fold. This is especially common in the toe area, so look for a pair of shoes that fit snugly against your foot without being too tight.
2. Apply a water repellent to your shoes before wearing them for the first time. Water repellant will help protect your shoes from environmental moisture or unexpected water on the ground, which can make your shoes more prone to puckering.
   • You can also buy water repellent at any decent shoe store.
   • Water repellent will not make your shoes waterproof, so if you can, always avoid situations where your shoes will get wet.
   • You will need to reapply the water repellent about once a year.
3. Wear your shoes for the first few outings in dry conditions. Most leather shoes require approximately 24 hours of wear time before they are completely worn in. You should always try to avoid getting your dress shoes wet, but getting your shoes wet while you are still breaking them in can increase the chances of wrinkling where your toes bend.
   • Also avoid getting wet after your shoes have been walked in, as moisture can discolor the leather.
4. Use a shoehorn to put on your dress shoes. A shoehorn is a long, flat object that helps you slide the heel of your shoe over your foot. By using a shoehorn you help the heel of your shoe not to break and crease.
   • You can buy a shoehorn at almost any shoe store.
5. Put on your dress shoes as soon as you take them off on a shoe tree. Shoe trees are stuffed into your shoes to absorb moisture and help them keep their shape. Keeping your shoes on a shoe tree while you're not wearing them is the most important thing you can do to keep your shoes from puckering.
   • You can buy shoe trees at most shoe stores.
   • If you don't have a shoe tree, stuff your shoes with tissue paper or newsprint to help them keep their shape.
6. Don't wear the same pair of dress shoes two days in a row. Give your shoes a full day to dry out after wearing them. When you wear them on consecutive days, the moisture from your feet can settle in the leather, causing wrinkles to form.
7. Add "toe taps" if your shoes have pointed toes. Toe taps are small discs that attach to the tips of the soles of pointed-toe shoes. They help to prevent wear on the tips of the sole; the place where smart shoes generally wear out first. Damage to the sole can crease and deform the top of the shoe.
   • Toe taps are usually nailed into the sole of the shoe. Have the toe tapers put on your shoes by a professional cobbler to make sure they are properly fastened.
8. Stuff the insides of your shoes with rolled-up socks before packing. When traveling, it helps to stuff your shoes with socks to help them keep their shape while in your suitcase.
9. Condition the leather every 3-6 months. Leather conditioner is used to keep the tops of the shoes soft and supple so that they can be bent without leaving a permanent crease. The conditioner needs to be gently rubbed into the leather and is similar to some type of lotion.
   • While every 3-6 months is enough for most people, you may want to condition your shoes more often if you live in an area with a very dry climate.

Method 2 of 2: Remove folds with leather oil

1. Hydrate the fold with a special leather oil. Make sure to saturate the crease completely with the oil so that the leather around it becomes smooth. The oil will help protect your shoe from damage when you apply heat to the leather.
   • You can buy leather oil, such as mink oil, at a leather specialty store or a store that sells leather shoes.
2. Use a heat gun or hair dryer to soften the leather on top of your shoe. Move the heat gun nozzle so that you never stay in one place for more than 2-3 seconds. The whole process will take about a minute.
   • Lighter leathers are prone to discoloration when exposed to heat, so test out a small area on the heel of the shoe before applying heat to more visible areas.
3. Massage the leather until the crease disappears. The combination of heat and oil should make the leather supple and bendable. Use your hands to stretch and smooth the fold until it starts to fade.
4. Leave the shoe on a shoe tree while it cools. Put the shoe tree in the shoe as tightly as you can. As the shoe cools down, the smooth texture will be made permanent.
   • Make sure not to over-tighten the shoe tree. Since the leather is hot it will be prone to stretch.

Necessities

• Leather oil
• Heat gun or hair dryer
• Shoe tree