No, Twiki, not that kind either.

May 30, 2006 3:25 PM

How to wear and care for white bucks (shoes, not slaves).

I just bought some very nice Brooks Brothers white bucks, something I've wanted for a long time. When I asked about cleaning, the salesman handed me what looked like a bag of white powder. I said: "What if I spill something on them?" He answered: "You mean like an alcoholic drink, or a soda? Then that's the way they'll stay."

Is this true, and if so, why would anyone wear white bucks anywhere? I'm thinking I'll take them to the office in a bag and change there, so they don't get dirty on the street, but you still can't guarantee that they're not going to get something or other dropped on them. When do you wear your white bucks, how do you care for them, and what do you do if something gets spilled on them?

posted by bingo to clothing, beauty, & fashion (5 comments total)

Bucks are suede or nubuck, right? You can get waterproofing for those materials, though perhaps the saleman didn't recommend it because it would show on white shoes. I'd call a cobbler and ask them, chances are they'll carry anything that would work.
posted by oneirodynia at 4:51 PM on May 30, 2006

Take white shoes to a shoe repair shop for professional maintenence.
posted by SwingingJohnson1968 at 10:36 PM on May 30, 2006

I've owned white bucks. The look might be easier for a woman to pull off than for a man. The chalk bag is quite remarkable--the powder cleans the shoes and also camouflages blotches. Over time the shoes look a lot less new and pristine, but they'll still be white, or maybe a little gray. That's they way they were supposed to look, back in my dad's day. When they're 'broken in,' you wear them with khakis. I know you didn't ask about theat; my point is that they're casual shoes, unless you're wearing them with something like a seersucker suit. They don't have to look perfectly white.

The worst time for white bucks: when they have a few scuffs, but they're mostly still new-looking. People used to intentionally put dirt on them to speed things along. Or their friends would 'help' by stomping on their shoes.

You definitely don't want to use a white liquid product, because it'll raise the nap. You can buy various brushes and a solvent-based spray that does work. also, there's something that looks like a gum eraser that helps get spots off of nubuck. Make sure the eraser is clean before you use it.
posted by wryly at 11:49 PM on May 30, 2006

What wryly said.
posted by silusGROK at 5:32 AM on May 31, 2006

Thanks for the comments so far.

Fyi: These shoes were bought to be worn with seersucker or white pants. Possibly some other bright color pants, like red or green (in the JCrew/Brooks Brothers summer style sort of way). The idea of wearing them with khaki actually kind of squicks me out. I don't even wear black shoes with khaki. And then a white belt with khakis...ick.

The worst time for white bucks: when they have a few scuffs, but they're mostly still new-looking. People used to intentionally put dirt on them to speed things along. Or their friends would 'help' by stomping on their shoes.

This is somewhat reassuring, although if any of my 'friends' offer that kind of 'help,' I will not be happy (and before anyone gets their hopes up, these will not be worn to a meetup...I don't even know if I'm going to be able to get the wine out of that white shirt I wore last weekend).
posted by bingo at 8:25 AM on May 31, 2006