Shoe Laces

Shoe laces may be a sore spot for your small child. It's tricky to master the art of tying shoes. If you're worried about your kid's shoe laces staying tied through a day at pre-school, check out shoe lace biters. You can choose from animals or cartoon characters. Veto Velcro! Shoe lace biters are a solution for keeping shoes tied, and they keep your shoe choices from being painfully limited.

Shoe laces are a way to make a statement. They can be a way for self-expression. Or, just punch up an old pair of shoes drug from the depths of your closet.

How to Use Untraditional Materials as Laces

So traditional white shoe laces bore you and you don't want to go buy those spindly little colored laces at Wal-Mart. You think they look cheap and unoriginal. What else can you use? Ribbons, strips of handkerchiefs, and short scarves all make viable options. Some brides ditch style for comfort and go with Keds laced with sheer white scarves.

With whatever material you choose, lace your shoes as desired, tie your bow, and try to leave about three to four inches of material on each side. That's a good balance between having laces so short they come untied easily and others so long you step on them and trip yourself.

Shoes That Come With Fun Shoe Laces

KangaROOS sneakers are available with vibrant, complementary shoe laces to match the bright colors of their shoes. Some of the laces that accompany these aren't just a solid bright color. Patterned laces have made their appearance, as well.

The Columbia Bugabootoo boot strays from white or black laces. It's got multi-colored laces in shades to match the actual shoe. Choices range from Blush/Light Gray to Stone/Starlight.

Suggested Shoes to Update with Fun Laces

• Timberland Boots
• Keds--those traditional white ones are a great blank canvas for trendy foot looks.
• Converse Shoes--they're so simple they're crying out for you to make them unique.

Where to Buy Extra Laces

You can find shoe laces anywhere you buy your shoes. That means Wal-Mart has them. Target has them. In fact, they're almost as easy to find as a Coca-Cola! At actual shoe stores, you will find a wider variety--reversible, patterned, and more colors.

Replacing Your Laces

Whether your dog mistakes them for a chew toy, they get dirty, or you just want an updated shoe, your shoe laces are probably going to need replacing at some point. Unless you're going for a traditional every-hole lacing, only take your laces out of one shoe. Then follow the pattern on the other one with your new laces. Once that one's done you can start with the other shoe. For variations on the common lacing techniques, check out this page for demonstrations done on Chucks. For even more lacing strategies, go here. Any way you lace them, have fun with your new shoe laces. They're an instant facelift to any shoe and a whole lot cheaper than buying new boots or sneakers.