Highly polished toes.

[Noble Savage]

Highly polished toes.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... arity.html

[Concordia]

And why not? He'll be spending at least part of the day talking to women.

[Melcombe]

Bulling.

It's a habit that seems popular among many ex-servicemen with time on their hands.

Secret disclosed at 2.00 mins in the following :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-3ed17J3F8

Once you have the knack, you'll be bulling everything that even looks like leather.

Squad (wait for it-)

Dis.Missed.

Edit - nice to see that the bulling extends beyond the toecap of his oxfords. Not that anyone would assume that he had 2-tone leather uppers of course...

[aston]

Nothing remarkable. Simply the standard polish to accompany formal military attire, and it has no connection to civilian norms.

[Noble Savage]

Why just the toes?

[davidhuh]

Why just the toes?

Dear Noble Savage,

aston replied to it. A military tradition. The toes get this extra effort because this is what the inspecting officer checks on his men. Instructions here: http://counties.britishlegion.org.uk/co ... and-polish

Cheers, David

[aston]

Thanks David

I think it stems from the fact that, boot or shoe, the toe cap does nor move/crease/wrinkle and is thus a "static" surface to which an ultimate finish can be applied. Typically, all the other parts of a shoe will not provide a platform, and so the toe cap becomes a focus point on the attention to detail expected of a member of the military.

[rlambert]

Another way to obtain a high gloss finish is to polish the shoes with normal wax, rub off the excess wax with a horsehair brush or cloth towel, form a ball using a pair of women's nylon stockings, and then rub the shoes in a circular motion with the ball to remove excess wax. I learned this trick from one of the shoe makers at Pierre Corthay, and the friction from the nylon quickly creates a nice sheen.

[hectorm]

it has no connection to civilian norms.

Although I have to recognize that in "civilian life" a good shoe shine has the power of picking up your mood a couple of notches, I think there is a point beyond which much polishing good shoes becomes too much.
Much polishing your black shoes and it looks like you're wearing cheap patent.
Much polishing your brown shoes and it detracts from that nice subdued patina they have achieved.

[Dr T]

Highly polished all over is the way to go.