Shoe laces, shoe strings in American English or bootlaces in UK English are not just a system that helps you fasten and secure your footwear. They can also be a style statement.
Many of you have had issues with shoelaces. They break and then you discover that it’s not that easy to replace them. In this guide, you will be able to read all about shoelaces: from types to colors and fabrics.
Shoe laces come in different shapes and sizes and different laces go best different types of shoes.
Shoe laces styles
1. The most common are flat shoe laces. These are usually to be found in casual shoes, sports shoes and everyday models. This type usually stays tied for a longer period of time, which is why it is used for shoes that are worn when you are doing a lot of physical activity. They are also more comfortable against the top of the foot.
2. For more elegant surroundings, round shoe laces are the recommended type. This type is definitely not as common and goes best with formal outfits. HUP, for example is a brand that deals with “beautiful details” as they put it, offering really special shoe laces. Their products cater to a vast audience and are created with a lot of attention to detail and to the whole picture as well.
Wonderful round laces by HUP
3. No-tie shoe laces are a special kind of laces that basically turn laced shoes into slip-on shoes. They are usually popular among children who can’t tie their own laces. They are casual and usually decorative and enjoyed by funky adults or those who prefer slip-on shoes. They usually divide into elastic and non-elastic. The elastic ones hold their tightly-curled form on the unused portion of the shoelace. This means that that it does not back through the eyelets when the ends are pulled through the highest. Non-elastic, locking shoelaces however, have plastic or metal clasps. These can be pulled tightly and locked into place right near the highest eyelets. This will keep the shoelaces tightly in place.
Shoe lace length
Most people seem to have issues with establishing the right length of their shoe laces. This is because there is no exact rule.
Of course, children’s shoes will need shorter laces than adult’s shoes, but there are many other factors you need to take into consideration. The eyelets of your shoe are a strong indicator of how long your shoe laces must be. For example, 4 eyelets (on both sides) on a standard size shoe would require a 28 inch shoe lace, 6 eyelets match a 35 inch string, 10 eyelets are best for 39 inches and 20 eyelets need a 59 shoe string. Of course, 20 eyelets is something you would normally meet in a boot.
These numbers though are not exact if you wish to do any other shoe lace tying technique than the classic criss-cross lacing. For more complex and complicated shoe lacing techniques, you will need longer shoe laces. In a previous article, we discussed 16 creative ways to tie your shoe laces.
Shoe laces and color
The most common colors shoe laces have are black or brown since they are neutral and go with anything. Occasionally, you will see brown shoes with a matching brown pair of laces, and sometimes they can even be tan or beige.
It is customary for younger people who wear athletic shoes to wear more colorful laces, but we certainly don’t think that they are the sole market for that.
As fashion experts, we recommend that you wear colorful laces with any type of shoes. Contrast colors, for example look great. Wearing colorful laces will transform your laces into a fashion statement and won’t go unnoticed.
The brand we mentioned earlier (HUP) does a great job in using color to the best advantage of the shoe and of the wearer, so you can find a lot of inspiration there.
Find your inspiration in these HUP products
Shoe laces and aglets
Aglets are the things that actually hold the laces together. They are those hard tips at the end of the strings that allow the wearer to quickly put the string through the eyelets. They are very practical and usually made out of plastic or metal. Normally they are simple, but sometimes you will find more decorative ones made out of copper or brass.
Additional information
It is really necessary to treat your shoe laces as an accessory. Choosing the color and type you are going to wear is a mark of your personality. This is why we recommend that you also wash your shoe laces and take them out when you polish your shoes. Doing so, you will get a fresh look and the image of your shoes will always be complete.
These are the things you need to look for when buying shoe laces whether it’s on or off-line. Even though they are a small accessory, shoe laces are necessary, so we wish that you make the best of them.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. What type of shoelaces do you prefer? Are you the kind of person who doesn’t pay attention to shoe laces? Do you have some tips on choosing shoe laces? Share your thoughts!
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