The Wardrobe Stylist

Perhaps one of the most overlooked accessory out there is shoelaces…Even more than decorative shoe clips.

Shoelaces Serve a Purpose

I think we take shoelaces for granted. After all, unlike ties, necklaces or earrings, they’re there to serve an actual, useful purpose; tie your shoes together so they stay put on your feet!

Instead of just looking at shoelaces as a cord that bonds our footwear together, we can view it as a decorative piece of our outfit. Maybe it’s difficult for some to understand what I mean but to put it into perspective, imagine your Doc Martens with a brightly coloured shoelace? Or your Jeffery Campbells with contrasting laces against the stack heel and smooth leather…

It’s Not All That Foreign

Although the concept may seem strange to some, it really isn’t all that foreign. When you were a little girl or boy, did you not have those neon shoelaces on your sneakers?? How cool did you feel with your funky shoelaces on? Imagine how much cooler you’d feel now. Because the trend hasn’t really taken off with adults yet, you’re not only going to be cool, but a trendsetter as well.

Back in the Day

The trend didn’t start back when you were a kid. There is evidence that decorative laces go back centuries. In the 17th century, upper class men were wearing their kicks with colourful ribbons. Some went as far as attaching large colourful bows known as shoe “roses” over the ribbons.

Even then people knew bright-hued shoelaces made an impact. So why not sport the look now and stand out in a sea of monochromatic shoes?

Pairing sun yellow or Barbie pink shoelaces with a pair of caramel Oxfords constitutes lots of punch with virtually little effort (other than the action of changing the laces). The contrast can be jarring. This highlight can be exceptional especially for men. As their accessorizing options are limited in comparison to women, this adds a whole new dimension to playing up a boring outfit.

Some Tips

If you’re going to amp up your shoe bows to an engine red, keep all else relatively muted:

• Keep socks hidden or wear them in neutrals.
• Give your flashy pocket squares, suspenders, belts a well-deserved rest.
• accessorize with jewels but don’t go overly bold.
• Avoid being matchy match, it defeats the purpose of effortless style and minimal accessorizing.

Buying Shoelaces

If you happen to want to buy shoelaces in a specific length, colour, or pattern you could easily find some great ones at Feet Unique. They’ve got such a huge selection that it’s hard NOT to find what you want. They’re well priced and shipping is literally only $2.99!

Find anything you want from dual colours, to glitter, to metallic, to printed. Seriously, the options are endless, from the traditional to the more outlandish and tipped with a gold metal aglets.