Janette's Tips 'N' Sips: Old & New! How I Refreshed My Purses & Shoes Without Spending a Fortune
The ’70s are inspiring Fall fashion again—but before you spend a fortune buying the look, SHOP YOUR CLOSET! On this Janette’s Tips ’N’ Sips, I’m taking care of fashion at BOTH ends of the spectrum: 👜 Two vintage purses that needed some TLC and 👟 One NEW pair of Skechers shoes that I want to keep looking new. Because why wait until something looks old and worn before you start taking care of it? With vintage-inspired handbags, suede, rich burgundy and other retro influences feeling right at home for Fall 2026, this was the perfect excuse to pull out a couple of my vintage purses and give them another look. Instead of immediately spending money on professional cleaning or replacing what I already owned, I tried a simple DIY cleanup on these particular pieces. My supplies? • A small amount of warm water • Approximately 1 teaspoon of Dawn dish soap • A toothbrush for cleaning • A clean piece of an old towel to wipe away dirt and cleaning residue • Appropriate finishing/care products where needed Nothing terribly glamorous. But VERY SAVVY. You'll see what I did with each item—and, of course: THE BEFORE & AFTER! We're talking about: • Preserving old AND new fashion • Cleaning and refreshing two vintage purses • Keeping a new pair of Skechers looking fresh • Shopping your closet before shopping the stores • ’70s-inspired Fall fashion • Vintage purse revival • Protecting what you've already paid for • Using simple items you may already have at home • When DIY can make sense • When professional restoration may be the smarter choice • Styling vintage accessories so they look current—not costume-y • Looking fashionable without spending a fortune IMPORTANT CARE NOTE I'm sharing what I personally used on these particular items. This is not a universal cleaning formula for every handbag, shoe or material. Genuine leather, suede, synthetic/faux leather, patent leather, coated materials, textiles, dyes, finishes and adhesives can all react differently to soap, water, brushing and cleaning products. Always follow the manufacturer's care instructions where available and test any cleaning method on a small, inconspicuous area first. Rare, valuable, delicate, cracked, peeling, colour-damaged or structurally damaged vintage pieces may be better handled by an experienced shoe or leather-care professional. THE SAVVY TAKEAWAY OLD? REVIVE IT. NEW? PRESERVE IT. ALREADY OWN IT? STYLE IT. DON'T NEED IT? DON'T BUY IT. Because looking fabulous doesn't have to mean spending a fortune. And being SAVVY never goes out of style. WHAT I USED Warm Water A small amount. The goal wasn't to saturate the pieces. Approximately 1 Teaspoon Dawn Dish Soap This is the product and approximate amount I personally used on the particular items I'm demonstrating. Toothbrush I used a toothbrush to give me more control while cleaning smaller areas. Old Towel Instead of buying another specialty cloth, I used a clean piece of an old towel to wipe away dirt, moisture and cleaning residue. Additional Appropriate Care Product If you applied any additional product to one of the purses or shoes, show the actual product and explain what you used it for.
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