$6000 Shoes Get A Mirror Shine!| Kirby Allison

[@johnasche3064]

You can tell that 1) he's presenting a video for informational purpose, and 2) he really honestly loves doing it. When I first started watching his channel, I thought "what a weenie with a ridiculous slick back haircut and too much gel". Now I have grown to appreciate that he is genuine aficionado with ridiculous hair gel. Haha. Great content, Kirby!

[@MrCliteatswood]

Imagine paying a compliment without having to insult the man

[@jonijonboi4277]

Your tutorials really helped me make the leap into true shoe care and quality shoes! Thank you very much!

[@kirbyallison]

Happy to help!

[@nighttrain7404]

How you do this work in a full suit and tie, is truly remarkable

[@kiely4561]

truly satisfying to watch the process

[@mikesharkey6]

I can't believe you do this in a suit!

[@senorenapeepers2148]

Kirby, you are phenomenal - dyeing a pair of shoes in a suit and tie while warning your audience to be careful. But you're not worried. You probably have had, in your short life, lots of practice. Rock on!

[@petea603]

That's a good last name you have there, Mr Allison. I might have to pull the trigger on a few of your products and shine up my new cap toes. Your videos have been a huge source of inspiration for me.

[@nub915]

Hey Kirby, I just sent my bespoke John Lobb Paris Black Cap toe oxfords for resoling. I’ll let you know how it turns out! Excellent video!

[@thatxonexguy5438]

Have you got them back yet?

[@nub915]

ThatXoneXguy no I haven’t even gotten a price quote lol

[@zefdin101]

Have you received your shoes back? How do you like them??

[@silvermediastudio]

@@nub915 Anything, two years later?

[@janenedelfraino8144]

You sir, are quite the gentlemen! I really enjoyed watching this fine video. Thank you. ♡

[@kirbyallison]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@samueltuminello7882]

I think if Kirby could marry a John Lobb shoe he would.

[@lullemans72]

then what would that make if he had kids? tiny little allen edmonds?

[@MrCguy24]

@@lullemans72 But Dad I dont want a cap toe!

[@TheEasyRail]

It's already his lover

[@MindbodyMedic]

@@MrCguy24 quiet Oxford! your brothers Brogue and Derby are happy with what they got.

[@zefdin101]

Great job KA! Dyeing shoes in white shirt & tie.. bold man! Lol

[@siphotheguy1870]

My butler is going to love this video

[@wqsnsr8]

I used to never care about shoes it was least of my concern but this man turned me into a shoe nerd

[@whome7590]

When using dye I got an artist paintbrush set with small brushes from Home Depot which gives a lot of control. Or if you live near an art store you can get some small brushes there.

[@ONITru7h]

I'm amazed at how great they looked before the shine. The owner really took care of these.

[@Huffman_Tree]

Thanks

[@111ImNumber1]

Thank you Kirby. I am surprised as this pair of LOBB shoes do not look anything like bespoke!

[@Russell-1]

On what have you based that opinion?

[@joedessauer]

Sorry to drag up an old comment, but they do have the hallmarks of bespoke. Scooped arch, sculpted heel, and they've lasted 30+ years of use....

[@gerardzonjee]

Good job, but I missed a couple of things: a dash of Saphir Renovateur on the leather inner lining, working the welt with Renovateur and a welt brush and some light sanding of the shoe trees to clean off the spilled polish and rejuvenate the trees to give them a new lease of life. And, depending on the climate at the owners, Sole Guard to protect them from moist. Good job on the side of the soles!

[@johnparnell8571]

Kirby, I congratulate you on another highly instructive and watchable video. The finish on the shoes is nothing short of stunning. Less impressive is that you achieved this while recklessly risking unnecessary soiling to an expensive suit, shirt and tie. If you don’t wish to feature a video in anything other than immaculate attire, how about doing this job in a stylish Hanger Project work apron and sleeve covers, or eponymous work coat?

[@seanlewis6481]

Amazing content sir, much appreciated.

[@NickWalenda]

Love it, when I used the Dye it left a purple sheen

[@lullemans72]

22:00 on that note, i thought renovateur would be the only product you would need, mainly because it rehydrates the leather, whereas the cream polish mostly re-pigments it.

[@silvermediastudio]

It might be hard to see on camera. The cream polish really adds depth. Renovateur leaves a nice satin finish, but one dimensional. And of course the wax polish brings the shine.

[@lullemans72]

i'm replying to my 2 year old comment here. with what i know now, it makes sense to use both renovateur, cream polish and wax together.

[@frankrizzo7185]

Great edgework, be well Kirby.

[@n-tboookechuku2882]

Hello my good man, first I would like to say thank you for the highly educational tutorials. I'm new to shoe shining, and I have been able to get a mirror shine, my question is what do you think about the sponge shiners, do you recommend or not... Thanks again...

[@juanmora8965]

Hi Kirby, lovely shine! Just a quick question about the video lighting. Did you change your lighting setup? This video is a little more difficult to see and there are more shadows vs. your older recordings. Maybe it's just me... Anywho, great content. Cheers!

[@bartderuyck]

The video is noticeably darker for me, too.

[@LuTubuMeu]

I agree

[@silvermediastudio]

I wouldn't be putting the leather dust from edge sanding into my brush, they'll just transfer into the next polishing/buffing stage and create scratches. Use a damp rag to clean up the area and the shoes before proceeding.

[@christopheranton13]

Beautiful shoes! But I wonder what happened to the original bespoke trees? 🤔

[@TopStrikerMaverick]

Termites.

[@kenk1320]

Great Job!

[@HighGrade_FireBlade]

I feel like the renomat use to be more gentle. I’m not sure if they changed their formula, but nowadays when I use renomat it pulls the factory finish off regardless of how gentle I am. This even happens with my top tier shoes.

[@mayhemboutdatlife4607]

yep be careful fam test it first it works diff on each leather too

[@jeffbrogan6147]

I’m drinking coffee from that same Staffordshire mug lol

[@Joe___R]

Did you condition the inside of the shoes?

[@shinkhoo3082]

It is obvious that your cuff changed from double cuffs to single button cuffs right after the Renomat treatment at 6:22 Was it because you felt the double cuffs too easily getting in the way of the shoe shining?

[@lordtakahashi6006]

Beginner question: after mirror shine and putting cream and wax while say wearing light color trousers, does any color transfers to trousers where it is rubbing on top of the shoe?

[@kimjongun1348]

No, as long as it has time to dry.

[@Senorfrito713]

@@kimjongun1348thanks Kim

[@dthomson409]

What’s the benefit of tidying up the edges with glass over sandpaper?

[@silvermediastudio]

It's an old technique of scraping, also used in cabinet making and other leatherwork. Benefit of glass is it is cheap (if not free) and can be scored and snapped to create a fresh edge. No different than a metal scraper often used for finishing wood.

[@ltsmith8221]

WIRED needs to do a video with you

[@neckroteddy]

I love your shine videos 🤤😍

[@Ty_N_KC]

Kirby, have you ever tried Brickmores conditioner on any of your leather shoes? I use it on my Ostrich boots and leather holsters etc. It's fantastic OH and how are those Cowboy boots coming along??? That's my standard question to ya if you haven't of noticed :). Love the channel.....Thank you!

[@chanasahmad9540]

It gives me kinda unpleasant feel when I see you cleaning your shoes having a nice suit because I always imagine that small particles of wax, creams and other chemicals during this process could really add some harsh stains on it. By the way very informative video as always

[@maxine2798]

I agree on both points. What Kirby needs is one of those nice leather or canvas bib aprons.

[@lullemans72]

@@maxine2798 he has some with his company name on it as seen in many other videos.

[@benfranklin3638]

I don't know...except for formal wear I think a mirror shine (not including glass caps) kind of cheapens a good dress shoe....I like a rich natural finish with slight sheen....not shine...if you know what I mean.

[@zefdin101]

I have been getting away from mirror shine on my brown shoes especially lately. Black cap toe, I can see.. Also, I’m getting turned off by the severely burnished toes everyone seems to want. I like a very subtle burnishing on some shoes, but people are dyeing the toes dark black on brown or oxblood shoes.. and it’s permanent. If you get tired or goes out of style, might as well throw them away…

[@ramanshah7627]

Agreed - I strongly prefer a nice rich satin to semi-gloss finish on dress shoes outside of black tie stuff.

[@TheSunnyTrails]

Hell nah a shined cap beats any smooth sheen finished, agreed not all shoes should be fully mirrored but a mirrored cap speaks volumes about the man wearing the shoe, his skill, patients and taste. As well as so much more

[@alexwaters2030]

Given the cracking of the leather and your claim on other videos that it’s included in the presidential shoeshine, why didn’t you use dubbin?

[@Clickerbarmicker]

Would you ever do a more openion based Q&A? I'm very curious on your openion on tattoos for example. Great video kirbs

[@antonioraffa123]

Great vid but wouldn't using a heat gun dry-out the leather of these beautiful shoes. I can't say I would do that myself.

[@221b-Maker-Street]

No. You're melting the wax, not the shoe! You need to know what you're doing, though...

[@richardallenroe2336]

Kirby, how do you apply a mirror shine to long wings?

[@221b-Maker-Street]

Shame they weren't re-soled and re-heeled first. Love Lobb's of St James... 🖤

[@sebjo9273]

did my first mirror shine at 33 today.

[@kirbyallison]

Sweet! Congratulations! How did it turn out?

[@amerpetro4527]

Whats better, the bespoke of john lobb paris or the one in london ?

[@jlozano2014]

London

[@221b-Maker-Street]

London. 100%. 🇬🇧🖤🇬🇧

[@EricPetersen2922]

London

[@andrewwilliams2353]

A little note regarding lacing. It is traditional in the British Army to straight lace boots - it looks neater. This was not true of the Japanese in WWII. During jungle warfare campaigns, I read that British commandos would creep silently behind unknown soldiers in the dark and feel the laces to see if they were straight or criss cross. To have criss cross boots meant you were a goner !! Throat cut or stabbed through the heart, So, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED !!! Heh heh heh

[@silvermediastudio]

No

[@jeffbrogan6147]

Nice coffee mug. What is the scene on it?

[@hhattingh]

Saw a beautiful pair JL's (London) whole cut with 'fake' brogue that was exactly my size and little to no wear. It was an estate sale or something. 😂I did not buy them because i thought $200 for what was what i considered 'second hand' shoes was madness.... then i discovered via KA what they actually were.... Now i feel like an idiot.

[@araghazarossian289]

I wish the lighting was much ambient 😊

[@angedejeudi]

This customer sent in *several* pairs of John Lobb shoes?! I don't think I'll ever reach a point where I can justify getting one pair of bespoke shoes, much less multiple...

[@uliwehner]

once you get through all the rigamarole of getting your first last made and fitted, getting another pair is just a phonecall away.

[@silvermediastudio]

Don't be poor.

[@WH6FQE]

$6,000 shoes? I dont normally spend that much on most of my vehicles.

[@silvermediastudio]

You probably spend more than that.. on maintenance XD

[@WH6FQE]

@@silvermediastudio oh no, I do my own maintenance on them to keep the costs down.

[@silvermediastudio]

@@WH6FQE In 2023, that's a waste of time and money my friend. If you can earn a few dollars more per hour than paying someone else to do it, it is worth having someone else to do it. Not to mention that the work is then under warranty. I completely understand the personal value of doing the work yourself, having the tools, the skills, and the experience. But long term, the numbers for opportunity cost just don't work.

[@WH6FQE]

@@silvermediastudio How is it a waste of money for me to do it myself and not paying someone else to do it for me? I am saving money by doing it myself. I am not paying someone $60 to change the oil in my truck when I can do it for free myself in just a few minutes.

[@iceboundmartel]

Not a fan of that word "shortcut", I much prefer "bulling" 💪

[@samueltuminello7882]

I wonder why this guy didn't have heel savers on these shoes?

[@kirbyallison]

Heel savers are flat dangerous. And in addition to creating a shoe that is unstable, they throw off the balance of the shoe when you walk. Better to just pay to have the heels replaced. Or invest in quality that won't wear as quickly as less-expensive shoes.

[@TheSkids1234]

You seem to have a button off your suit cuff!

[@charliebowen5071]

Do not sand your shoes like this.. terrible advice…. You want a razor blade and then a burnisher… like antler or agate

[@adeadcrab]

holy ****

[@Javi_C]

:)

[@willy4571]

your work is total opposite from my way of living, t-shirts, bib overalls, steel toe and shank work boots or running shoes, except I don't run i use a cane to help me get around, but what I'm getting to is your well dressed, everything prim and proper, your missing a loose and missing buttons. just a little jab 😆😆 keep up the good work

[@lindabratsch9091]

Is anyone else bothered by the fact that he doesn’t have any kind of a drop cloth to protect that desk?! Lol!

[@no_handle_required]

6k for shoes. Bwhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahaha

[@Radhatter1]

Wear a proper cobbler smock apron