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Planned, Unplanned Shoes: Laces Help Please: UPDATE!!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Pics #1 to #3:. New cream low heeled boots: PLANNED and on my shopping list. I needed something just a little lower than my cream Aquatalias. Vince Camuto. VERY comfy and well made! Fit my low volume feet well. I passed on a pair of old cream boots last year so these took their place.

**This was a priority purchase because cream boots are an essential for my style.

Pics #4 to #6: New light blue sneakers. UNPLANNED, and a perfect match with my light blue satchel and specs! Irresistible. Since I passed on two pairs of ripped-up sneakers in January - (my walking lifestyle in the elements is hard on shoes!) - there is plenty of room for these. Gum soles are a nice bit of evolved bookending with my dark blonde hair. Added insoles to make them fit. Not as comfy as my ECCOs but comfy enough.

QUESTION: Ridiculously long laces. Looks unpolished to my eye. Can't tuck them away. Any tips on how to shorten them?

Thanks! xo

Update: Chopped inches off the laces! Heat set the aglets onto the shorter laces. SO MUCH BETTER (Pics #7 and #8).

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40 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Lisa

Veteran

The new cream boots are a perfect replacement! I really appreciate the lower heel on them and the shape of the toe.

You had me with colorful fashion sneakers! I have run into the long laces thing before too. A few of my tricks to hide the laces (I have no tricks to shorten them):

Double knot when tying the bow
Hide the laces under the sides of the tongue
Hide the bow behind the tongue
Hide the laces under the sole (or in your case, under the inserts) (Superga's and Vans are known for a nontraditional lace up style called bar lacing that works well for making the sneakers a slip on style)
Knot each lace under the eyelet

I've read about lace anchors but never tried them.

K. Period.

Veteran

Love those boots! <3

I've always just purchased new shoelaces, but this made me think. I recently used some heat shrink tubing to restore a frayed usb cord. I was betting that there was a heat-shrink tubing that you could buy to replace the aglets on your shoelaces. And there is! https://a.co/d/45l6bR4

I haven't tried these, but I'd definitely start by threading your existing shoelace with the aglet still in place through the tube and then shrinking it before cutting. I think it would be a lot harder to get the lace through the tubing if you cut it first.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Lisa! Appreciate your detailed trouble shooting, and kind words

I can't tuck the laces away, unfortunately. Tried it. They just fall out, and feel uncomfy when they're tucked. They are sooooo long! And I have very fussy feet - so the slightest bump creates a reaction.

Maybe I should get new shorter laces?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, K! Very interesting.

Does the heat shrinking only work when the laces are nylon? Mine are cotton.

Sneaker Shoe Lace Shortening Repair Aglet Tips x10

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K. Period.

Veteran

It should work regardless of what the lace is made of since you aren't shrinking the lace, just the replacement aglet shrink tubing to make a new lace end. The new tubing replaces the plastic aglet on the end of the lace right now.

unfrumped

Veteran

I haven’t looked for any like yours, but Amazon has a gazillion shoelaces. I would measure yours & also compare to some you have that seem right length, material- flat cotton-and search for the closest size & material.
I seem to recall that some cobblers have the equipment to put new little doohickies on after shortening.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

K, so do I cut the laces to the desired length, and put on the new tubing?

Thanks, unfrumped! I'll try K's method first

Katerina

Veteran

Love both pairs for you! The boots are lovely and such a signature style for you. Perfection. Sweet crisp sneakers - another perfection. I admire that your purchases are always so on point - planned or unplanned. Masterful!

Katerina

Veteran

Oh, sorry… I have no clue as how to handle the shoe laces, but you have got some good advice here.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Katerina, what a sweet comment! Thank you! I'm blushing

pil

Veteran

No idea about the shoelaces but those boots are absolutely swoon worthy!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Gorgeous and perfect for you picks! I would immediately go to changing the laces, but I appreciate the creative solutions above. Hmm, maybe shoelaces are (or should be) the next big accessory.

Lisa

Veteran

A shame tucking or hiding away the laces won't work, but I am intrigued by K. Period's suggestion.

Sal

Veteran

Great choices of footwear - can see them seamlessly integrating into the wardrobe. Good luck with the laces!!

JAileen

Veteran

Both pairs of shoes are great! I have a light blue Furla, too, and my matching sneakers are Onitsuka Tigers. If the shortening thing doesn’t work, I’ve bought lots of laces on Amazon: flat, round, all colors and all lengths.

karen23

If the laces are way too long, I would buy laces the next size shorter and switch them out.

Brooklyn

Veteran

No help but the shoes look good!

Suntiger

Welcome to team gumsoles, and yes to just replacing laces! Soooo glad they're finally available again

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have shortened laces before, on a pair of tall boots, and gotten replacement shrink-to-fit aglets, but they were black and probably a bit more forgiving. For sneakers and light laces, though, I’d probably just order new laces in the proper length. I have this problem with a lot of laces (narrow foot people problems?), but usually just double knot and/or use a lacing style that takes up more of the lace.

Those are really cute blue sneakers!

Jules

Veteran

Since K hasn't come back I'll weigh in that I think she was suggesting you thread the laces through the tubing before you cut off the thinner ends, because it would be difficult to do so after. It's a great idea and I can see why you want to keep those creamy off white laces - very cute shoes.

I'm a bit gratified to learn that tucking laces isn't always a solution - they don't stay put and aren't comfortable when I've tried it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, everyone! Appreciate the kind words.

For those suggesting I change the laces - I'll do so as a last resort. I've done that in the past, but find that the laces are never as good a match as the ones that come with the shoes.

Lisa, tucking laces seems to work when the laces are shorter, although I do find the bumps uncomfy, even then! I will enjoy tucked laces on you

Jules, thanks for the explanation! I'm running with it

Suntiger, gum soles provide good bookending with my new dark hair!

Off to work with a client.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Nice finds, Angie! And thanks to K.Period for the lace-end product. I've collected the Find you created, Angie, for future reference.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Sharan! It's a great hack to keep in mind

Update: Chopped inches off the laces! Heat set the aglets onto the shorter laces. SO MUCH BETTER

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

Fantastic! It was such a good idea from K. Period.
I will try to remember in case I ever need to do similar!
Lovely boots and sneakers. I’m sorry about the Aquatalias now seeming a little too high?

Lisa

Veteran

That's awesome! I'm going to keep that in mind next time my laces are too long because sometimes tucking doesn't work. What a great suggestion from K. Period!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisa, yes! Now you can use either lace shortening strategy as desired

Jenni, I wore my Aquatalias out with a client all day yesterday, and they were great! (Find #1). But I don't want that heel height to be my default when I wear cream boots - which is most days for six months. Hence the addition of the even lower heels.

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Jules

Veteran

What a great hack! Looking good.

K. Period.

Veteran

Yay!!! I’m so glad it worked!

bella

(website)

Veteran

Very pretty sneakers. And colored suede is right on trend!

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