Once you’ve seen how easy it is to transform the color and look of a pair of shoes with leather paint or dye, a sort of madness takes over. You look around with itchy fingers for something else to transform. These were the outcome of last week’s efforts (beige=paint, maroon=dye):
My eyes landed on a pair of black sandals I’ve had for at least ten years and not worn in two. And this garish belt I never wear. Could I rejuvenate them in silver? Yes I could!
I wore the shoes last night and got compliments on them within the first fifteen minutes of leaving home. The belt now spices up everything from jeans to gray velveteen.
For the transformation I used Angelus Silver leather paint, which I mixed in a small pyrex bowl with a smidgen of brown acrylic artist’s paint because the “diamonds” in my belt had a warmer cast to them, and I liked the touch of warmth to the cool silver.
Technique: remove polish or finish from the leather with acetone or rubbing alcohol. Pour 1/3 of the 1 oz paint jar into a small pyrex bowl. With a fan brush, apply a light coat. It will not look great. Wait at least half an hour till paint is partially dry before applying next coat. You will need at least three coats. When totally dry, protect the new color with an application of a neutral color shoe cream. I use Meltonian. Here are the shoes after acetone, first and second coats.
And finally, on my feet:
