Can the heels on my Classic Pumps be repaired or replaced?

Absolutely. B.Nelson offers a Classic Pumps heel repair/replacement service. Click here to see details on this service including examples of heels and how to measure YOUR heels.

What is the best way to break in my new Classic Pumps?

Leather is flexible, so it will "give". Be patient during the break in process. The more you flex the shoe the quicker it will break in. I suggest that you wear your new shoes at home for a few hours before wearing them out. This way, if they feel a little snug you can always take them off and repeat the process the next day. By doing this you are avoiding any discomfort to your feet while easing the leather rather than forcing it. After a few hours, the leather is soft enough that it will mold itself to your foot shape.

How should I store my Classic Pumps?

There are various types of devices made that can be inserted inside your shoes. I recommend cedar shoetrees. Cedar is a dry wood that will absorb any moisture inside the liners. Cedar trees will also help to maintain the shape of your shoes. They will also leave a pleasant odor inside the shoes. Flannel shoe bags are soft and will prevent shoes from being scratched in your closet or while traveling.

How do I prevent my shoe soles from wearing out?

Use Sole Guards. Sole Guards are a thin piece of rubber, the thickness of a dime and should be applied when the soles are new. In most cases they will last twice as long as the original soles.

The bottoms of my soles are slippery, what should I do?

Sole Guards (described above), are also non-skid and waterproof. Sole Guards can be applied at your local shoe repair shop.

What is the best way to keep fine leather supple?

Leather tends to dry out much like the skin on your hands. Your skin will constantly produce oils which will help keep it from cracking. Sometimes, however, you need to apply moisterizing hand cream when your skin becomes dry. Think of fine leather in the same way except, leather cannot produce oils. To prevent the leather from drying out or cracking use a cream polish. Cream polish restores the oils in the leather and will help keep it soft. Cream polish also comes in a variety of colors, if you use a color that matches the color of your shoes it will help cover the scuff marks that will occur during normal wear.

How do I remove scuff marks that do not rub out with cream polish?

Use Afta cleaning fluid. Afta can be found in shoe repair shops, large grocery stores or department stores (K-mart,Wal-Mart). Take a soft white cloth and saturate a small area with Afta, rub lightly over scuffs, let dry then apply cream polish.

There is exposed metal on the heel tip, what should I do?

Your heels tips (also called lifts) have simply worn out. Classic Pumps are made with the best type of lift for high heels. The lift is the plastic or rubber part on the bottom of the heel. Just like the tire on a car the lift will eventually wear out. Bring your shoes to your local shoe repair shop and have the lifts replaced.

The lift (black part of heel) seems to be crooked, should I take a pliers and fix it?

NO. The rubber part of the lift has a steel dowel embedded into it to strengthen the spike heel. The dowel fits firmly into a metal tube inside the heel. The metal part that is embedded is star shaped, so it will grab the rubber. If the lift is twisted, have your local shoe repair change them. If your shoes are new and the lifts were twisted out of the box, this is strictly a cosmetic issue and does not affect wear.

My soles seem to have gotten soft, can this be corrected?

Yes, just as the heels wear out, so do the soles. Press the center of the sole with your thumb, if it feels spongy it is time to bring your shoes to the repair shop and have them resoled.

Is it okay to wear my Classic Pumps in the rain?

Leather’s worst enemy is water. However, a good coat of waterproof will help to prevent damage from a typical rain storm. I recommend Meltonian water and stain protector. It is safe, effective and easy to use.

My heels seem to have loosened, what can be done?

This might happen with all spike heeled shoes. Bring them to a reputable shoe repair shop and have them replace the shanks or reset the heel. The shank is a metal support built into the shoe, its purpose is to give the heel support. Shanks may snap or loosen from normal wear.

What can I do about scrapes and scuffs on the back of my heels?

Have your heels recovered by a reputable shoe repair shop.

I got my shoes wet and they dried with a white stain on them, what is it and how do I remove it?

It is a salt stain that occurs in colder climates. When the streets are salted to melt snow and ice, the salt residue remains on the streets for months. Even when the water evaporates the salt often crystallizes and remains in the pores of the road surface. You can purchase a product called salt and stain remover, apply liberally over the leather upper and heel. Let dry and polish with cream polish. Repeat the process if necessary.

What can I do about suede that is matted, scuffed or balding?

Start by taking a soft nylon suede brush and brushing the suede from the back of the shoe forward. Next, reverse the brushing direction from the toe back towards the heel. If the condition persists try this: With an emery board or very fine sandpaper, lightly sand the affected areas. Be careful not to press too hard as this can damage the suede. When finished, brush as described above.

What if I don’t have a shoe repair shop in my neighborhood?

Unfortunately the number of shoe repair shops in the US is declining. Fortunately for those of you reading this, you have access to the services of one of the finest shoe repair shops in the US. B. Nelson Shoes. If have any additional shoe questions, click here to email Nick.