Everyday

Leather that ages well: a three-step care routine

Good leather doesn't need much, but it needs something. Twice a year, ten minutes, and your bag or boots will look better in a decade than they did on day one.

1. Brush firstA soft horsehair brush lifts dust out of the grain. Skip this and you just rub grit into the surface when you condition.
2. Condition thinlyUse a pea-sized amount of conditioner on a cloth, in small circles. Too much darkens the leather and attracts dirt.
3. Let it restLeave it overnight away from heaters and sun. Leather dries unevenly when rushed, and that is what causes cracks.