5 boot care tips from Loeffler Randall designer Jessie Randall

October 14, 2011|Rachel Raczka, Globe Staff

We caught up with Worcester-bred footwear designer Jessie Randall, who explained why she misses her hometown and offered tips on caring for your beloved boots in cooler temperatures. The Brooklyn-based force behind Loeffler Randall (you might be familiar with her dreamy classic low wedge Matilde boot) thought back fondly on sweet treats from Newport Creamery, pub food from Boynton, and her first pair of booties in elementary school. "I bought them at Filene's Basement -- or maybe T.J. Maxx -- I remember everyone in my family ridiculing me and calling them combat boots. But they were very cool, I'd wear them right now if I could!" she told us by phone.

With the temperature finally turning seasonably cold, we recently found ourselves digging our favorite boots out of our closets, only to be disappointed when we found them looking a little bit worse for wear. Luckily, Randall had five stellar tips for care before taking our tired soles to the streets:

Save your sole: "You can get rubber soles put onto your shoes but we actually recommend you wear your shoes a few times so they take the shape of your foot before you have them put on. Otherwise the rubber won't properly mold to your foot."

Source support: "When you buy a pair of boots that are really expensive and beautiful but you don't know who to go to for professional care, go to your favorite shoe store and ask them what cobbler they use. It's a good way to find someone that's really skilled."

Use your storage smarts: "Try to keep your boots out of direct sunlight and not touching other pieces of leather -- [touching] can discolor them. If the boots came with dust bags, use them!"

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!: "Definitely use a leather conditioner once a season because leather dries out all the time. But if you don't feel comfortable applying it yourself -- bring it to a cobbler and have them do it."

When "wear and tear" isn't worth it: "If you have really beautiful boots and it's raining or snowing -- don't wear them! Wear rainboots instead and put your boots on in the office."

Pictured above: Randall as a wee on at her grandparent's house in Framingham and Randall in 2011. Images provided by the designer.