Decorative lacing
Ribbon Lacing: Step-by-Step Shoelace Tutorial
Ribbon Lacing turns your shoelaces into part of the decoration. Using a wide, ribbon-like lace creates a soft, statement look that can completely change the personality of a simple pair of shoes. Itβs easy to create, beautifully eye-catching and perfect when you want your laces to be noticed.
Difficulty
β
β
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Easy
Time
2β5 mins
Best for
Trainers, fashion shoes, casual shoes
Lace length
120β140cm per lace
A simple lacing style with maximum impact - especially when you let the ribbon do the talking.
Watch the video tutorial
Overview
Watch Lindsay demonstrate how to create Ribbon Lacing from start to finish. This decorative style uses wide, ribbon-like laces to transform an everyday pair of shoes into something much more eye-catching. Itβs simple to lace, easy to adjust and a brilliant way to add colour, texture and personality to your shoes.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Time required: 2β5 mins
- Best for: Trainers, fashion shoes, casual shoes
- Lace length: 120β140cm per lace
The Story Behind This Style
Ribbon Lacing is all about turning something practical into something beautiful.
Traditional shoelaces are designed primarily to secure a shoe, but swap them for a wide ribbon-style lace and suddenly the lacing becomes part of the design. The broader surface shows off colour, texture and pattern far more dramatically than a standard lace.
Ribbon laces have a softer, more decorative appearance and can give even the simplest pair of trainers an entirely different personality. Satin finishes can feel elegant, bold colours make a statement, while patterned ribbons can become the focal point of the whole shoe.
Itβs a lovely reminder of something we believe strongly at Love Your Laces: you donβt always need a new pair of shoes to create a new look. Sometimes changing one small detail is enough.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow each step to create this lace pattern.
1
Step One
Thread the lace straight across the bottom eyelets, feeding both ends from the 'outside' to the 'inside'.
2
Step Two
Take one lace end and form a small loop close to the bottom eyelet. Bring the other lace across and through the loop to begin your first ribbon knot.
3
Step Three
Move up to the next pair of eyelets, create the criss cross pattern, keeping the lace neat and flat as you work.
4
Step Four
Continue upwards, creating another ribbon-style loop on each side and gently tightening it into position.
5
Step Five
Create the ribbon style loop on each side of the shoe by taking each lace underneath the criss cross and gently pulling upwards.
6
Step Six
Put each lace up through the next eyelet vertically, from the inside to the outside. Take a moment to straighten any twists in the lace.
7
Step Seven
Create the criss cross shape and again, create the loop on each side of the shoe to create another set of ribbon loops
8
Step Eight
Finish with a beautiful bow at the top. Straighten the loops and tails, and your Ribbon Lacing is complete.
The History of This Style
Ribbon has been used to decorate footwear for centuries, long before the modern shoelace became an everyday essential. From elaborate shoes and boots trimmed with silk ribbons to decorative ties used as both fastening and fashion, ribbon has always had a place in footwear.
Today, ribbon-style shoelaces bring that decorative tradition to modern trainers and casual shoes. Their wider shape gives colour, texture and pattern much more room to shine, turning an ordinary pair of shoes into something far more individual.
Ribbon Lacing proves that shoelaces don't have to be purely practical - sometimes they're allowed to be the star of the show.
Did You Know?
Because ribbon-style laces have a much larger visible surface than standard round or narrow flat laces - colours, patterns and textures become far more noticeable. You can use exactly the same pair of shoes and create a dramatically different look simply by changing the width and style of the lace.
Shop Laces That Work Beautifully
Choose a lace colour and style that helps this pattern look its best.
Laceologist's Style Tip
Ribbon Lacing looks best when the lace itself gets to do the talking. Choose a colour that contrasts with your shoes for a bold statement, or match the ribbon to your outfit for a softer, more coordinated look.
And donβt worry if the ribbon looks a little twisted while youβre lacing - simply smooth and flatten each section with your fingers when youβve finished. Those few extra seconds make all the difference.
Lindsay, Chief Laceologist
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to some of the most common questions about this lacing style.
What is Ribbon Lacing?
Ribbon Lacing is a decorative way of lacing shoes using wider, ribbon-style shoelaces. The extra width makes the laces much more noticeable and turns them into a feature of the shoe rather than simply a fastening.
What shoes are best for Ribbon Lacing?
Ribbon Lacing works particularly well on trainers, fashion shoes and casual lace-up shoes with reasonably generous eyelets. It looks especially effective on simple shoes where the colour and texture of the ribbon can really stand out.
How do I stop ribbon shoelaces from twisting?
Keep checking the ribbon as you work up the shoe and flatten each section before moving to the next eyelet. If you spot a twist, correct it straight away rather than waiting until the shoe is completely laced.
Can I use ordinary shoelaces for Ribbon Lacing?
You can recreate the same basic lacing pattern with standard flat shoelaces, but you won't get quite the same decorative effect. Wider ribbon-style laces show off the pattern, colour and texture much more clearly.
Happy Lacing!
And there you have it - Ribbon Lacing! π
A simple way to turn an everyday pair of shoes into something a little more special. Play with different colours, textures and ribbon styles and make the look completely your own.
Remember, there are no rules when it comes to your laces - experiment, have fun and see what you can create.
I'm Lindsay, Chief Laceologist at Love Your Laces.
Small change. Big impact. Happy lacing!