When a long anticipated item is different from what you expected...

A year ago (!) I met these boots in Santa Fe and fell in love, but they were not available in my size. Well, a few months ago, I found a retailer who could order them for me, and they finally arrived today.

I tried them on right away, and they fit perfectly and are comfy straight out of the box. They are also really nice quality. However, the stud pattern on them is more broken up by the stitching than in the original pair I tried (resulting in bands of black and a higher contrast look than I wanted), plus the studs are shinier and brighter than the ones I saw last year. If it were possible to dull the studs somehow, without damaging the leather, I think these would make me happy. But right now, they're not quite right. I can see wearing these with flares and bootcuts, but I don't think I like the look of them with jeans tucked into them.

What do you think? Is there a way to dull shiny metal studs without damaging the leather?

Pics 1-2 are what I tried on a year ago. The others are what arrived today. Pics are not good but I think you can see what I'm talking about.

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12 years ago

NDMom

Active Member

Love the boots, especially last year's version. However, I would be hesitant to try anything cuz that's a lot of studs to change. What a letdown.... especially when you know how they original pair really looks.

donnat

Veteran

They are just not the same, i am not crazy about the higher contrast look either. The stud part, i am no help. Sorry.

carter

Ugh. So sorry they weren't as expected. I do have an idea you might research. White vinegar can be used to clean leather. I think it should also dull metal. You may have to rub it on, air dry and repeat a few times, but perhaps you could try it in an inconspicuous spot first. Be sure to research first or get some input from some of the scientists here. It's been a long time since highschool chemistry!

Janet

(website)

Carter, I wondered about vinegar. It might be worth trying.

Liz

I've been trying to figure out how to dull the bright buckles on some shoes down to a brushed metal look, which I'd like better. I've learned that there is a "matte paper" that you can buy on jewelry-making websites and in hobby stores. I gather it's like incredibly fine sandpaper, and you use it on shiny metal to get a brushed metal look.

I haven't tried it yet (just haven't gotten to my local hobby store) but it might be worth looking into.

Catnip

I completely agree that the studs are too bright. Trying to make them look dull could be very risky unless you're sure whatever you try won't ruin the boots. Is it possible that they will tarnish by themselves over time? Perhaps the boots you tried on a year ago were tarnished.

Carla

Could it be possible that the first pair had been around for a while and the metal had oxidized, and your new pair will as well?

I wondered about that, Carla and Catnip! These do seem very NEW and shiny.

Perhaps I should just take then to Texas and wear them around the ranch for a week. That dusty rough environment sure beats up everything else we wear there!

Von

If your attempts to dull the shine doesn't work, are you still going to wear them, or will you be stuck with a pair of roughed up, yet new boots you need to sell? If the shine is a dealbreaker, and you really don't love them, I think they could be in danger of being closet orphans if you can't get the effect how you want. It could be something you have to wear in instead of hand finishing, and in that case, are you willing to wear them til they're "ripe"?

I hear you, Von! You're definitely following my train of thought. I need to consider this carefully because they are not cheap.

ironkurtin

I bet my husband has tips, but he is busy and grumpy at the mo. He says they will definitely oxidize and he'll think about it and get back to me if he has a solution. Stay tuned...

deb

Can you call the manufacturer and tell them the problem?

Diana

Hm, I wonder if just going over the whole thing with black shoe polish might dull the studs a little bit? It shouldn't do anything to the leather since it's already black, and you could always wipe it off if it doesn't work...

Ok, per the boy, who is a materials expert, you do not want to use any sort of vinegar wash. Acids will hurt the leather. Using solid black shoe polish will just mound up gunk around the studs, and liquid polish will rub off. Depending on what the metal is, it will likely oxidize and scuff over time. He advises you call the manufacturer if the metal content isn't listed and find out what it is. They may also be able to help.

Also, and this is just me, have you asked your shoe guy?

Gigi

I would call a jeweler and see if they have any ideas. They are very in the know about all kinds of metals.

Greyscale

I definitely see what you mean. Such a disappointment when you have the perfect thing in mind... I hope you can find a way to dull them faster. If nothing else, the manufacturer might know if they dull quickly on their own (the ones you tried on might just have been out of the box longer).

Thank you, everyone! Especially you, Dana. That's really helpful.

I don't know if my shoe guy would be any help. He is usually pretty reluctant to take on anything he doesn't do regularly.

Perhaps contacting Old Gringo would be the best course of action, to find out if they can help me identify the metal and offer any suggestions.

MuseumGal

I think the boots are awesome and as soon as you take them out for a spin, they studs will dull - walk down a dusty dirt road, or sweep out your garage to hasten the process.

Well, I sent a message to the manufacturer -- we'll see what they say!

Ginkgo

Janet, I like your idea of wearing them around the Texas ranch for a week -- nothing like authenticity.

cciele

I do hope they darken naturally -- those are some awesome boots.

Yeah, the thing is, they fit and feel good, and I'm pretty sure they will eventually look like the other ones I tried on. It's just a question of what it will take to get them to that point.

Figures that the queen of photographing rust would not want her metal too shiny!

rachylou

I agree about the shine...

CocoLion

No metals expert here but if you have grey jeans they would look good with these, while you wait for the studs to change color and the leather to wear as well.

JAileen

Someone here took a sharpie to metal jacket buttons. I don't know if you would want to do that. That's a lot of studs!

Suz

I remember those boots! I completely agree that the new ones are not the same at all. I think if it were me, I'd send them back because it's not as if you are lacking for great boots, and it's questionable whether these will ever be the ones you dreamed of.

Here's a wrinkle to the situation -- the receipt says returns within 7 days! I imagine they might be a little flexible with me on that since I did wait months for these (I ordered via phone, and I have been in contact with the same person the whole time), but it looks like I'll have to decide soon.

You know, if I hadn't seen the first pics my blingy little heart would be breaking over the glittery ones. They are like fabulous armor or scales with all that studding. I think they are amazing, even if ultimately they aren't what you imagined.

annagybe

I like 'em. They remind me of my Laurence Dacades.

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