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.

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 feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!