5 Easy Ways to Make Your Trainers Look More Expensive
You Don't Need Designer Trainers to Look Like You Do
Here's a little secret that most people don't realise - the best-looking trainers in the room aren't always the most expensive ones. What makes the difference isn't the price tag, it's the styling and the details. And the good news is that small, affordable upgrades can make even the simplest pair of trainers look cleaner, more premium and genuinely put together.
Start with the laces
By starting with your shoelaces, this is the single easiest upgrade you can make, and the impact is immediate. Worn, grey, fraying laces make the whole shoe look tired - it doesn't matter how nice the trainer itself is. Swap them out for a fresh pair and the difference is remarkable. The shoe looks brighter, the shape looks sharper and somehow the whole thing feels newer. White trainers especially benefit from this - a crisp white lace transforms them completely.
Try straight bar lacing
Most trainers come laced in the standard criss-cross style, but if you want a cleaner, more minimalist look, try straight bar lacing instead. It gives the shoe a much more intentional, styled appearance - the kind of detail that makes people think you've spent more than you have.
Colour matters more than you'd think
The colour of your laces completely changes the vibe of a shoe. Soft lilac or pastel pink feels feminine and fresh. Clean white feels crisp and classic. A bold contrast colour - say, bright yellow on a white trainer - feels fashion-forward and fun. It's such a small thing but it genuinely transforms the overall look.
Keep everything clean
This sounds obvious but it's worth saying - no lace upgrade in the world will help if your soles are dirty. Give the toe area and sole edges a quick clean, swap in fresh laces, and even older trainers can look almost brand new. It takes ten minutes and costs very little.
Match your laces to your outfit
This is where it gets really fun. When your laces pick up a colour from your outfit - your activewear, your jacket, your golf skort - the whole look feels intentional and styled rather than thrown together.
It's the difference between getting dressed and actually putting an outfit together.
The most expensive-looking trainers in the room are often just the best-styled ones. And styling starts with the details.
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It's the small details that make the difference.