At Alan David Custom Suits, our passion is to produce high quality and very comfortable custom shirts, suits and more. Ultimately though, we know that looking good isn’t just about the suit you’re wearing. In addition to your clothing, your other crucial clothing accessories and apparel—your socks, your watch, and most importantly, your shoes—need to be carefully chosen and, in most cases, carefully maintained.

A well tailored custom suit can be spoiled by a dirty or faded pair of shoes. Below, Alan David gives you an easy guide to shining your own shoes. Following these instructions will not only save you money, it will enable you to round out the presentation of your high-end custom suit.

First, you will need:

• Two sheets of newspaper
• Kiwi shoe polish
• An old T-shirt or rag
• A soft, light piece of cloth
• A wood-handle brush with horsehair bristles
• A water sprayer

Once you have gathered these materials, you can follow these four easy steps to get the perfect polish:

1. Using the T-shirt or rag, wipe the shoe clean, removing any dirt and stray marks. Use the brush for the lining of the sole to remove sticky patches. Repeat for the other shoe.

2. Wrap the rag around two fingers and, using small amounts of shoe polish, apply to the shoe in controlled, tight swirls, until you’ve covered the entire shoe. Repeat for the other shoe.

3. Spray the shoe with some water to give it the famous “spit shine” look. Rub the water into the shoe with a clean section of the rag. Repeat for the other shoe.

4. Using the soft piece of cloth, thoroughly buff the shoe. Repeat for the other shoe.

Serious shoe shiners can also opt for leather conditioners and spot removers to prolong the polish and the condition of the shoe. Both of these substances should be applied to the shoe before step #1, as described above.

Happy shining!

For more information on Alan David custom clothing and apparel, please contact Alan or Arnold at 212-227-4040.