Seeking shoe care advice: leather or color protector for nude shoes - YouLookFab Forum

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Seeking shoe care advice: leather or color protector for nude shoes

Kari

Veteran

Eeek! My off white Clarks that I bought just a month ago (direct from the Clarks store) are already having discoloring issues. At first I thought that it was a stain on the back of the heel, but I rubbed lightly on it with my finger and found out that it's the actual stain/color that's rubbing off. It's very slight, but worrisome since I just bought these shoes & have been very careful with them.

So for those of you who are experts at shoe protection:
1. Can I do anything to fix it? Or can Clarks do anything to repair the color? (I've worn them multiple times and cannot find the receipt, so returning them won't be an option.)
2. What would you advise putting on the shoes so that this doesn't worsen or happen again?

I hope they can be fixed. I love these shoes & was happy to get them for a discount. (For some reason they are MUCH cheaper in the brick & mortar Clarks store than on the website or anywhere else.)

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9 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Maya

Veteran

Patience mentioned having some discoloration on a pair of shoes. I don't think the results are in, but she took them to a cobbler to see what he could do. Maybe you could try the same?

taylor

Veteran

Oh:( I haven't had that issue for some reason. My nude shoes are all patten and maybe that is why. Call a shoe repair for advice.

Kari

Veteran

Maya and Taylor, you are quick! Thank you!

I have several shoes that need to be re-tipped so I could always ask a cobbler, but I've never taken shoes out to do anything more complex than re-tipping. (Any of you Seattle girls know of an excellent and not too expensive cobbler, preferably on the east side of the lake?)

Alecia

Veteran

My advice isn't specific to the shoe but I vote that you make good friends with our cobbler. I <3 mine. They have save a million shoes from putting on new heels to reworking heels that the dog chewed up. (I feel the same way about my tailor and stylist, too!)

tarzy

Veteran

I would first try taking them back to the store and asking them. They might do something for you. It's a very well established brand and if they probably stand behind their product. If not, maybe they can recommend something?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kari, I'd take them back to the Clarks store for sure.

Kari

Veteran

Tara and Angie, I'll see if Clarks can/will do anything. I sure wish I could find the receipt, but I do have a record of the date that I purchased the shoes on my little Clarks punch card. Either way, I'm really surprised and concerned that the color would rub off so quickly. The shoes are so great otherwise...

Alecia, thanks for the cobbler advice. I've just started to take more complicated items to the tailor, so I suppose it's time to find a good cobbler that I can trust, too. I also have a cheap but cute faux-leather handbag with a rip in the handle that I'd like to repair... maybe a cobbler can tackle that?

Kari

Veteran

By the way, a happy update to this story - I finally made it to Clarks and the clerk affirmed that it was a flaw in the shoe (since it was one foot only) and very kindly ordered me a new pair right away and said it should arrive at my house within two weeks. He also recommended some waxy polish sold by Clarks that cleans and protects the leather. I am going to try it out. Super customer service!

Random trivia: I also learned that when you purchase Clarks through their website, it actually goes through Zappos and not through Clarks. I was curious about why the sale prices in the store are so much lower than on their website, and this explains it. (On the other hand, though, ordering through Zappos allows Clarks to ship free.)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good news, Kari! I’m glad you’re sorted. And interesting point about zappos. You learn something new each day.