The problem with being an athlete is that most of the time, you have to choose between the sporty look and the fashionable look, which could really be annoying if you want to be both! I mean, there are a lot of athletic clothes and shoes that look good, but shoelaces tell a very different story. Thick round laces are best for sports activities especially the triathlon, but most of the thick round shoestrings I see at the mall are either in black or in white… How boring could you get, right?
I guess for us to come to the root of the problem, we have to factor in the issue of shoelace stereotyping. Since thick round laces are usually associated with the sporty look, they don’t usually make it in fashionable looks or whatnot. So to solve this problem, we have to stop thinking that just because thick round laces look good with sports outfits; it means that you can only use them for that purpose. Believe me; a lot of your fashion shoes would look way better if you ditch the classic thin shoelaces for a new pair of thick round shoestrings.
Once you realize that thick round laces are actually not exclusively ideal for the sporty look, you begin to wonder why you don’t see a lot of fashionable designs. Well, if you look at department stores and sporty stores, chances are you are not going to have a field day looking at pretty laces; no, sir. This is because the fashion industry has been neglecting shoelaces for decades.
Fortunately for us modern fashionistas, though, more and more companies and even individuals have begun to discover how much an outfit can be improved just by complementing it with a new pair of shoelaces, may it be thick round shoestrings, flat ones, or even oval laces. In this age of online shopping and free shipping options, even we sporty chicks cannot be excused for committing fashion crime.
But hey, I know that you probably haven’t given much thought to your shoelaces because well, they come free with the shoes you buy, right? So okay, let us take some time discussing the rules on shoelace fashion:
1. It’s a color game – As with anything else in the world of fashion, you can make or break your look by choosing a specific color. As we have previously discussed, thick round laces could help you with any look – may it be formal, sporty, casual, or all-out fab. However, you have to be very careful with your colors.
Earth and neutral tones such as black, white, brown, and dark blue will always be your go-to palette for formal events such as job interviews and business meetings. For the sporty look, you can always play with neon shades since these could help you fare better as they are easy to be seen even at low light! For casual events, you can choose whatever color you want, as long as it goes with the rest of your outfit!
2. Contrary to popular opinion, size does matter – The length and width of your thick round shoestrings could add or subtract fashionista points to your overall look, remember that! Let’s talk about length first – this is pretty easy to comprehend. Shoelaces that are either too short or too long are no good – find the perfect length. The perfect length would be based on the number of eyelets (holes) your shoes have. Websites that sell shoelaces usually have this option – to choose your shoelace length based on the number of eyelets your shoes have.
Width is trickier. But here is a simple guide: the narrower your shoelaces are the more elegant and formal they look. So only wear extra wide shoelaces when casually hanging out – they do not look good with patent or leather shoes!
3. Go for polyester – Especially for athletes like me, you are going to want to invest in high quality thick round laces. Go for those that are made from the finest and most durable raw materials such as polyester! Check with your supplier to see if they actually use the raw materials you are in fact paying for, alongside the actual labor put in creating your pair of shoelaces.
So there you have it! Now you really have no excuse to wear less than the prettiest pair of thick round shoestrings just because you are donning the athletic look for the day! Just remember the tips mentioned above and you never have to choose between being fashionable and being sporty. Just make sure to make the right investments that would surely go a long way. I do hope you soon try out how a thick round lace could actually give you a whole new look even though you are actually wearing a pair of old shoes that you’ve probably forgotten about by now. 🙂
