Polish, wax or cream, serves to hydrate the leather while also providing a layer of protection against dust and water. It also restores colour and conceals flaws and scuffs.
After each wear, give your shoes a quick clean with a shoe brush or microfiber towel. This will prevent dirt and filth from being crushed into the leather over time, sparing you the trouble of staining later.
Leather, like your skin, needs to breathe. It is preferable to have many pairs of shoes in order to prevent wearing the same pair every day.
Leather is permeable, it collects moisture and odours, gradually breaking down. A shoe tree can absorbs moisture and odour while maintaining the right shape of the shoe to avoid creases.
In the rain, avoid wearing leather shoes, and in the winter, avoid tripping on salt-covered sidewalks. Leather soles are especially sensitive to abrasive surfaces like concrete.
Keep your shoes in a fabric dust bag if you won't be wearing them on a daily basis. Staining and deterioration can be caused by dust.