Etiquette Boss: Putting your best foot forward

DEBONING SHOES

Gentlemen, imagine you are on a business trip and are staying at a five star hotel. Your shoes need polishing and you request this service. You are asked, “Would you like them deboned, sir?” You say “yes,” and hope it does not cost a fortune.

If your shoes are not cordovan or made of fine calf leather, decline the extra service. A real cordovan shoe is made from horse, instead of cow’s skin. It is much more expensive, as the skin is taken from the rump, but it has many benefits. Not among them is the tendency to acquire fine creases across the front from repeated walking.

Deboning a cordovan shoe or fine leather belt that has been scratched, entails much more than giving them a good shine. When calf leather shoes and belts acquire scratches and creases, a true craftsman knows that a deer bone is ideal for restoration, because its natural oils and density are perfect for removing scratches and smoothing out creases.

It is used to re-compress the pores and fibers, thereby re-smoothing and restoring the leather. The bone is rubbed in a circular motion to smooth scratches and gouges before polishing. It is then brushed and buffed to flatten the oils left by the bone on the shoe. Your expensive, old shoes now look restored with depth and glow. Please note that most shoes advertised as ‘cordovan’ are only cordovan-colored.

YOUR BEST APPEARANCE:

Anti-Aging Miracle treatment: First, cleanse your skin with a gentle soap. Next, apply a brown sugar scrub made of 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 Tbl. apple cider vinegar, and 1 Tbl. honey.

Next, apply hydrogen peroxide to your face with a cotton ball. Take the white of an egg and apply to your whole face. This is called the instant face lift. It tightens and lifts your skin!

Leave the egg white on for 30 minutes and watch the magic! Take a wet face towel and gently wipe off the egg white. Follow this with a good moisturizer that contains sunblock.

At night before bed, cleanse your skin and apply the hydrogen peroxide again. Sleep on a clean pillowcase. After about three days, you will see a difference!

Phillipa Morrish is the president of Etiquette Training International.