Vauban Loafer

Snapshots forever

He’s wearing white Gurkha shorts, a cotton button-down-collar shirt, a handsome Serica watch, thick hair, and sits with his legs crossed, his pair of Vaubans on his feet. Aluminum table and chair, seaside, Florida. It’s a Polaroid.

He gets out of a New York taxi, wearing light chinos, a cream polo shirt, a Haliburton suitcase, a tobacco linen paperboy cap and his pair of Vaubans. He looks up and seems to be gazing at something high in the sky as his Bull Terrier, on a leash, jumps from the car door onto the sidewalk. Taken with a Minolta and Agfa film (noted on the back of the photo).

They’re walking up Avenue de Breteuil in late September, him in a flannel suit, leaning on his striped umbrella, his feet among the autumn leaves. She, in a pleated skirt and her large ball necklace, stands beside him, tilting her head with a broad smile. It’s a black-and-white photo. In the background, you can make out Place Vauban.

He poses in front of what looks like a wall of enormous stones. Is he in Baalbek or Saint-Malo? He cuts quite a figure in his straw hat, salt-and-pepper beard, and old pair of Nylor sunglasses. In this slightly overexposed photo, he’s barefoot and holding his Vaubans in his hand.

Who is it? It’s him. It’s her. It’s me. It’s you.

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– Insert raw wooden shoe trees into your shoes as soon as you take them off: they absorb moisture and preserve the integrity and shape of the shoe.

– Use a shoehorn for your comfort and to protect the shoe's heel counter.

– Rotate your pairs of shoes as much as possible, as leather needs to dry properly to remain supple and maintain its shape. Never leave your pair near a source of heat or moisture.

– Regularly wipe your pair with a dry cloth or give them a quick brush.

– Use Saphir Médaille d’Or lotion every five to ten wears. It cleans and nourishes the leather: this is essential and regular maintenance. Saphir Médaille d’Or Pommadier cream (neutral or in the color of the shoe) is a complementary, more nourishing treatment.

– Once your shoes are clean and hydrated, apply a little Saphir Médaille d’Or shoe polish to provide extra protection and a glossy finish. Finally, buff using a chamois cloth or a soft-bristled brush.

– For a mirror shine (high shine), emulsify by alternating layers of polish and fine droplets of water, on the rigid parts of the shoe only. This operation requires time and precision. Run a nylon, wool, or cashmere stocking over a finished mirror shine.