Accessories

A fine shoe does not end with the purchase. Our shoe accessories accompany it every day: cedar shoe trees, creams and polishes, horsehair brushes, waxed laces, shoehorn and lisle cotton socks. We chose them with the same care as our leathers, so that your shoes stay beautiful season after season.

Keeping the shape

It is the first gesture, and the simplest. Our red cedar shoe trees slip into your shoes as soon as you take them off: the wood absorbs the day's moisture, preserves the shape of the leather and softens the creases. Leave them in for twenty-four hours, long enough for the pair to dry completely.

Nourish, shine, revive

Our nourishing creams, in five shades, moisturise the leather and revive its colour. The beeswax-enriched polish protects and shines. The horsehair shine brush completes the gesture. For suede, a brass brush and a colourless renovator bring the nap back to life.

The finishing touches that count

Our flat waxed cotton laces are the ones fitted to our shoes as standard. The metal shoehorn, with its gold brass finish, protects the heel counters every time you put your shoes on. Our lisle cotton or merino wool socks, finally, complete the outfit with discretion, from the office to the weekend. All are made to last, like our shoes made in the Porto region.

A gift idea, from €5 to €39

Offered at a fair price, our accessories make a useful gift for a lover of fine shoes: a pair of shoe trees, a cream matched to their shoes and a brush form a first care kit. Our shops in the Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Lyon will help you choose the right shades.

A well-maintained leather shoe lasts for years, and over time acquires a patina that nothing can replace. The question is where to begin. Here are the accessories we recommend, what they are used for and how to combine them.

Which accessories should you use to care for leather shoes?

Four accessories cover the essentials: a pair of shoe trees, a nourishing cream in the shade of the leather, a polishing brush and, for suede, a brass brush. Cleaning milk and shoe polish complete this kit for more thorough care.

Cedar shoe trees

Leather takes shape on the foot as you walk, then sets as it dries. Slipped into the shoe while it is still warm, a well-chosen shoe tree keeps it taut: walking creases are less marked and the toe does not curl up. Red cedar, a soft and fragrant wood, also absorbs the moisture left by the foot.

Cream, polish and cleaning milk

The cream nourishes and moisturises leather; it comes in black, light brown, dark brown, burgundy and a colourless version. A colourless nourishing cream suits all shades and respects patinas. The glossing polish, enriched with beeswax, protects the leather and gives it shine.

Brushes

Our polishing brushes, in solid wood and horsehair, are used to dust before care and then to shine afterwards. The suede brush combines nylon bristles, for light dusting, and brass bristles, for stubborn stains.

How to care for leather and suede shoes?

Regular care takes just a few minutes: clean, nourish, shine for smooth leather; brush and revive for suede. Here are the steps we suggest:

1. Remove the laces and dust the shoe with a brush.
2. For full care, apply the cleaning milk in a thin layer with a cotton cloth.
3. Apply the cream in circular movements, paying particular attention to the walking creases, then leave to dry for ten minutes.
4. Add a few touches of polish if you would like more shine, and buff with a brush.
5. On suede, brush dry, then spray the renovator from fifteen centimetres away and leave to dry.

Enthusiasts sometimes go further with spit-shining: thin layers of polish, applied with a drop of water on the toe cap, eventually give a mirror effect. Our guide on caring for your leather and suede shoes details each of these steps.

Laces, shoehorn, socks: which finishing touches should you choose?

Finishing touches are chosen to last and to remain discreet: flat waxed cotton laces, a rigid shoehorn and fine socks, matched to your trousers.

Original laces

Our flat waxed cotton laces, black or brown, keep their hold and a discreet shine. To choose the length, count the eyelets: 70 cm for three or four eyelets, 80 cm for five, 110 cm for six or more.

A shoehorn to protect the heel counter

Putting on a shoe without a shoehorn gradually crushes the heel counter, the rigid piece that holds the heel. Our metal shoehorn, slim and light, with a gilded brass finish, prevents this wear on the most fitted models.

Lisle and merino socks

Lisle, a long-fibre cotton, gives our men's lisle socks their fineness and slight sheen; a little polyamide strengthens them. They come in a classic or tall version, rising to the knee. In winter, our Italian merino wool socks keep the foot warm.

Why choose In Corio accessories?

Because they are chosen to go with our full-grain leather shoes, made in family-run workshops in the Porto region. The laces are those of our models, the creams cover the main leather shades, and prices stay fair.

Not sure which shade of cream to pick? Come and feel our leathers and compare the shades in our stores in the Marais, Saint-Germain-des-Prés or Lyon. Our teams will advise you on the care of each pair.

Frequently asked questions about shoe accessories

Which accessories should you give to a lover of fine shoes?

A pair of cedar shoe trees, a nourishing cream matched to their shoes and a polishing brush make a useful and lasting gift. For a tighter budget, a shoehorn or a pair of lisle socks are also welcome.

Which cream should you choose for leather shoes?

Choose a cream in the shade of your leather to revive its colour, or a colourless cream, which suits all colours and respects patinas. Suede is not nourished with cream: it is brushed and revived with a renovator.

How often should you care for leather shoes?

Shoe trees are used after each wear. A cream every few weeks is enough for a shoe worn regularly, and full care with cleaning milk a few times a year.

In summary

Cedar shoe trees for the shape, a cream and a brush for the leather, a brass brush and a renovator for suede: these are the basics of successful care. Discover our accessories above and extend the life of your shoes.