Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I want a pair of suede bucks for the summer but how can I wear them casually? I've only seen them worn with seersucker suits in the summer or something along those lines. Can they be worn with jeans? With shorts? Any other season besides summer?

Signed,

Gettin Buck

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Dear G.B.,

Bucks (short for "Buckskin") are one of the few men's shoe anomalies that straddle the fine line of "dressy casual" which, simply put, means that they can either be dressed up or down. Going in either direction is much less complicated than you think. To start, you must first decide which color will best suit your wardrobe. No longer are men relegated to the white, sand or tan color with brick colored soles (although one can never go wrong with a classic that's so right).

Once you've chosen a color (or two), its time to sit back and let the shoes do the rest of the work. As seen here, your Bucks don't have to match your outfit to be worn appropriately. In fact, with all the color options now available, you can have a veritable footwear field day mixing and/or matching this style shoe with your summer wardrobe.

A key element to pulling off the casual side of Bucks is to wear them sans socks and with a casual outfit, like shorts and a t-shirt. It's that simple. The shoes will elevate most any casual outfit's overall curb appeal and score you cool points with friends and fans of the shoe alike.

As far as wearing them in a season besides summer, don't be afraid to get your monies worth by stretching your Bucks wearability through to the Fall. With jeans, a woven shirt and a casual blazer, you'll look perfectly polished - albeit a tad preppy - for the weekend or a casual Friday at work without appearing overdressed or as if you're trying too hard to look relaxed. But even with these sartorial tips on how to treat and protect suede, opt for alternative footwear when your neck of the woods gets fall damp or winter wet with snow.

Many more guys should think to add a pair (or two) of these classic shoes into their footwear rotation. Bucks have proven that their popularity may ebb and flow, but with the new colors and styles, there's a pair out there for just about every guy, they just have to be open-minded enough to try them. As with anything, applying your personal style to something brings about a new interpretation, quite possibly inspiring someone else to try (on) something new. Long story short, there's more than one way to wear a Buck.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I just bought a pair of red suede pumps that I absolutely love - or should I say loved - until I went out a few nights ago and, a few drinks later, tripped on the side walk and got a few smudges on them! So, Shopping Savage, how do I clean my new suede shoes?

Signed,

Smudge On Suede Shoes

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Dear S.O.S.S.,

Suede can be a persnickety material to clean, which is why most would recommend handing your problem over to a professional. However, that could get costly, and there's not much more of a guarantee that they'll do a better job than what I'm about to advise you to try.

First, you need to access the damage. Use a suede brush - or old toothbrush in a pinch - to clear away any loose dirt or debris and to restore the nape of the suede as much as possible. (Note: do not rub vigorously or with too much force. You want to avoid pushing the stain further into the affected area and/or cause discoloration. The purpose of this is to "loosen up" the stain.)

If this doesn't completely clear the area then you need to treat it with a suede cleaner. Wet the stained area and use the suede brush to apply the cleaner. If the bottle doesn't have a spray nozzle then either transfer its contents to an empty spray bottle with a trigger for more control, or use the cap as a measuring tool and either pour it directly onto the brush or dip the brush into the cap. Now, with light effort, apply the solution to remove the stain. Repeat until the stain - or all stains - are lifted.

Now that you've effectively removed the stain you need to wet both shoes entirely to ensure color consistency. Use the brush to apply water evenly to the suede. You may notice some color run off but this shouldn't cause a noticeable color change once the shoes dry.

Some suggest using a towel to soak up the excess water from the shoe. I typically place my freshly washed suede shoes on a drying rack - face down to pull the excess water away naturally and to avoid any more dye loss.

Let them dry over night and the next day, with the brush, go over both shoes to restore the suede's nape. Your shoes should be back to pre-smudge perfection.

For more suggestions on cleaning suede I found this site helpful.

To protect your shoes - or any suede garment - familiarize yourself with these tips.

Need sartorial advice? Email me: ShoppingSavage@gmail.com