Okay, you've finally found the perfect shoes that are comfortable and look great. That's just the beginning. To extend the life of your investment consider these tips for shoe care and maintenance.

Use shoe trees. They save the shape of your shoes. Newspaper is not an acceptable substitute-it absorbs the moisture in the shoe and gets moldy.

Rotate your shoes. Do not wear the same shoes every day or your perspiration will ruin them. Let them dry for at least one day before you wear them again.

Never dry damp shoes on a heater. If your shoes are soaking wet, unlace them and put them in front of a fan. If the insole is removable, take it out. When the shoes are two-thirds dry, put a tree in them and let them finish drying.

Refasten linings. If the lining of the shoe comes out, you can glue it down with rubber cement. Remove the old glue with sandpaper and dab cement on the lining. Bend up the linings' sides lengthwise and roll them in from back to front.

Add a rubber half-sole and heel tips to new shoes. These help protect shoes from wear, give you better traction and makes your shoes more comfortable. Also, both items are much cheaper to replace than an entire sale or heel. If your shoes are made of fabric, adding this extra layer to the sole is a necessity-because if the sole itself ever needs to be replaced, the fabric may rip.

Clean, protect and polish-in that order. Have whatever special cleaning products you may need, a silicone spray protector, shoe polish in neutral and basic colors, and some soft cotton or terry cloth rags-even old sweat socks-on hand. Remove loose dirt with a damp cloth. Remove salt stains with a desalting liquid, or water stains with Lincoln E-Z Cleaner (both available at shoe repair shops), following directions on the containers. Then protect all shoes, especially suede and fabric, with silicone spray. Regularly brush and lightly spray Nubuck and suede shoes and boots. Regularly polish leathers. Softer leather should be polished with a cream polish such as Meltonian Shoe Cream. Heavy leathers can take a wax polish such as Kiwi. (wax polishes serve the same water-repelling function as silicone spray.) No matter how expensive your shoes were, they won't look it without a good polish on them. Scuffed shoes (and run-down heels) can kill your whole look.

Repairs and alterations:

• Since most people's shoes wear unevenly, heel lifts need to be replaced frequently.
• Heels can be raised, lowered or changed, within limits.
• Straps can be added or removed, shortened or lengthened with elastic.
• Closed-toe shoes can be made into open-toe shoes.
• A pointy-toe shoe can be made round, but it is a difficult and expensive change.
• Boot shafts can be made slimmer or shorter. They can also be made larger by adding an elastic panel.
• Shoes can be dyed. Smooth leathers and fabric shoes can be tinted any color, but you'll get better results by going darker. Suede, however, is difficult to dye. If you must dye a pair of suede shoes, go within the same tone or darker.
• If your shoes are stained beyond repair, have them dyed black with a penetrating dye.

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