By ELISSA FRIDAY
WHILE we need to wear shoes most of the time, some of us love buying them even when they’re not really needed.
Shoes can look so tempting, gracefully placed within shop windows to attract our eyes, seemingly whispering, “Try me on and buy me”.
The huge variety of evening and day shoes are often must-have additions to any wardrobe.
But sometimes you just cannot find the right colour shoes to match a particular outfit.
That’s where Town & Country Cobbler Shop can help.
I was recently on the hunt for deep-purple stilettos but could I find the right pair at the time? No!
Then I met Town & Country’s James, a cobbler for 31 years who also dyes shoes.
He can colour match them to your outfit if you bring in the fabric or the colour you want, although there can be exceptions.
“Satin doesn’t dye up too well”, James advised.
The shoes are initially stripped and the first coat is rubbed or ragged in, followed by spraying the colour on and then a coat of clear lacquer or polish to finish.
Voila, my shoes had gone from bright white to purple and looked great – all for just $65. Bargain!
Prices for dying shoes can vary from $50 to $75 depending on the style.
Making use of a pair of shoes just sitting at home already or even buying an inexpensive pair and having them dyed is pretty cost-effective.
“I do enjoy my job,” James said.
“I was good at art and this is like being around the art bench when I was a young bloke at school.”
Aside from dying shoes, James’ shop is Geelong’s only authorised RM Williams repairer.
The shop can fix heels and soles, repair leather and suede and remove stains on shoes. It can fix handbag straps, buckles, and magnetic catches.
So you might want to think twice about getting rid of that handbag or pair of shoes that you thought was beyond repair – take them to James’ cobbler shop at Waurn Ponds to have them sorted out like new.
