Decorative lacing
Bow Tie Lacing: Step-by-Step Shoelace Tutorial
Smart, simple and surprisingly practical.
Bow Tie Lacing creates a series of neat little bow-tie shapes running up the shoe, with vertical sections of lace hidden underneath.
As well as giving your shoes a clean, distinctive finish, this clever method uses less lace than traditional Criss Cross Lacing. That makes it particularly useful if your shoelaces are a little on the short side.
The hidden vertical sections can also reduce the amount of lace running across the top of the foot, making Bow Tie Lacing a useful style to try if you prefer a little less pressure across your instep.
It works particularly well on shoes with an even number of eyelet pairs and, with its smart geometric appearance, we think it looks especially good on shoes worn with a suit.
Difficulty
β
β
β
Easy
Time
2β5 mins
Best for
Smart shoes, everyday shoes, shorter shoelaces and higher insteps
Lace length
120β140cm per lace
A brilliant choice when you want something a little different without making your lacing complicated.
Watch the video tutorial
Overview
Follow along as Lindsay, Chief Laceologist at Love Your Laces, shows you how to create Bow Tie Lacing from start to finish.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time required: 2β5 mins
- Best for: Smart shoes, everyday shoes, shorter shoelaces and higher insteps
- Lace length: 120β140cm per lace
The Story Behind This Style
Bow Tie Lacing is one of those wonderfully clever styles where a very small change makes a surprisingly big difference.
Instead of crossing the shoelaces at every pair of eyelets, the laces alternate between visible crossovers and hidden vertical sections. The result is a row of distinctive little bow tie shapes that resemble bow ties - hence the name.
But this isn't simply a decorative lacing style.
Because those hidden vertical sections take a shorter route between eyelets, Bow Tie Lacing can use less shoelace than a traditional Criss Cross pattern. It also leaves fewer diagonal sections pressing across the centre of the foot.
So underneath that rather smart appearance is a genuinely practical bit of shoelace engineering.
We do love a lacing style that looks good and earns its keep.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow each step to create this lace pattern.
1
Step One: Start at the bottom
Feed both ends of your shoelace through the bottom pair of eyelets from outside to inside, creating a straight horizontal bar across the shoe.
2
Step Two: Take the right lace vertically upwards
Take each lace diagonally across the shoe and feed it through from outside to inside.
3
Step Three: Repeat on the left
Take each lace vertically upwards on the inside of the shoe and bring it out through the next eyelet. The vertical sections remain hidden beneath the sides of the shoe.
4
Step Four: Repeat on the right
Cross the right lace end diagonally over to the left Feed through the next eyelet on the opposite side from outside to inside. .
5
Step Five
Cross the left lace end diagonally over to the right Feed through the next eyelet on the opposite side from outside to inside.
6
Step Six
You've now created your second little bow-tie X. Working underneath the eyelet row, take each lace straight up to the next eyelet. Bring both lace ends through from inside to outside.
7
Step Seven
Continue repeating the same sequence: Straight up underneath β emerge through the next eyelets β cross over β feed through the following eyelets. Your bow-tie pattern will gradually build up the shoe.
8
Step Eight
Continue until you reach the final eyelets. Adjust the laces so your bow-tie shapes are neat and even, then tie your shoes as normal.
The History of This Style
The bow tie may be small, but its family tree stretches back centuries.
Its story begins with the cravat, a form of neckwear associated with Croatian soldiers in the 17th century. Their distinctive scarves attracted attention in France, where the cravat became fashionable and developed into increasingly elaborate forms of men's neckwear. By the late 17th century, beautifully decorated cravats were being worn in fashionable French society.
Over the following two centuries, men's neckwear continued to evolve. During the 19th century, the cravat gradually gave rise to several more recognisable styles, including the long tie, Ascot and bow tie. By the later Victorian period, the smaller bow shape we recognise today had become firmly established.
And that's where our shoelaces come in.
Look closely at Bow Tie Lacing and the reason for its name becomes wonderfully obvious: the alternating crossovers create a row of neat little bow-tie shapes travelling up the shoe.
Like its namesake, Bow Tie Lacing manages to be smart, distinctive and just a little bit different.
From neckwear to footwear - not a bad journey for a little bow. π
Did You Know?
Bow Tie Lacing can help when your shoelaces are too short.
Because the lace travels vertically between some eyelets instead of crossing diagonally every time, the pattern uses the available lace more economically than a conventional Criss Cross.
So before replacing a pair of laces that almost fit your shoes, try changing the way you lace them.
Sometimes the problem isn't the lace - it's the route it's taking.
Shop Laces That Work Beautifully
Choose a lace colour and style that helps this pattern look its best.
Laceologist's Style Tip
Try Bow Tie Lacing when you want your shoes to look a little smarter.
The repeated geometric X shapes have a clean, ordered appearance that works beautifully with more formal footwear.
Try a lace that complements your shoes for a subtle finish, or introduce a contrasting colour if you want that bow-tie pattern to become part of the outfit.
A dark shoe, a beautifully chosen lace and a good suit? Very smart indeed.
Lindsay, Chief Laceologist
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of the most common questions about this lacing style.
Is Bow Tie Lacing difficult?
No. Once you've completed the first bow-tie section, you're simply repeating the same two movements all the way up the shoe.
Does Bow Tie Lacing use less shoelace?
Yes, generally. The hidden vertical sections take a shorter route between eyelets than repeated diagonal crossovers, which can make Bow Tie Lacing useful when your laces are slightly short.
Is Bow Tie Lacing good for a high instep?
It can be worth trying. Because there are fewer lace sections crossing over the centre of the foot, it may feel less restrictive than a conventional Criss Cross pattern.
How many eyelets do I need for Bow Tie Lacing?
The pattern works particularly neatly with an even number of eyelet pairs
What shoes suit Bow Tie Lacing?
It's versatile enough for everyday footwear, but its neat geometric appearance makes it particularly attractive on smarter shoes.
Can I use colourful shoelaces for Bow Tie Lacing?
Absolutely. A contrasting colour makes the individual bow-tie shapes much more noticeable, while a lace closer to the colour of your shoe creates a subtler, smarter effect.
Happy Lacing!
Bow Tie Lacing proves that changing the route of your shoelaces can change much more than the appearance of your shoes.
It's neat, economical and practical and those little bow ties give an everyday pair of shoes something just a little different.
Try it for yourself, experiment with different lace colours and see how it changes the look of your shoes.
I'm Lindsay, Chief Laceologist at Love Your Laces.
Until next time... Happy Lacing!