Rainbow Shoelaces: Bright, Bold and Better Than You'd Think

There's something quietly joyful about a pair of rainbow shoelaces.

They don't shout. They don't demand attention. But they catch the light at just the right moment, and suddenly a plain white trainer becomes something worth looking at twice.

It's a small change - but small changes are often the most satisfying ones.

Why Rainbow Laces?

Colourful shoelaces have been around for decades, but there's been a real shift in recent years towards people using their laces as a way to express personality rather than just hold their shoes on.

Part of that is the rise of trainer culture. When people are investing in their footwear, they want it to reflect who they are. A bright pair of rainbow laces on a classic white trainer or a clean pair of golf shoes is an easy, affordable way to do exactly that.

Part of it is also just a reaction to how much of everyday clothing is grey, white and black. A flash of colour on your feet - even something as small as a lace - lifts an outfit in a way that's hard to explain until you try it.

What Shoes Work Best With Rainbow Laces?

The honest answer is more shoes than you'd expect.

White trainers are the obvious choice - the clean base lets the colours pop without competing. But rainbow laces also work beautifully on black trainers, where the contrast is even more striking, and on canvas shoes where the relaxed, casual feel suits a bit of colour naturally.

Golf shoes are another surprisingly good match. A clean pair of white or grey golf shoes with rainbow laces looks sharp on the course and tends to attract a lot of compliments.

The shoes that work less well are heavily patterned ones, where the laces get lost in the noise. The simpler the shoe, the more the laces get to do their thing.

How to Wear Rainbow Laces Without Overthinking It

The good news is that there isn't really a wrong way to do it.

Standard criss-cross lacing lets the full rainbow gradient show across the top of the shoe in a natural, relaxed way. Straight bar lacing gives a cleaner, more considered look where each stripe sits in a neat horizontal line - which can look really striking if the colours are vibrant enough.

Beyond that, it's just a case of wearing them. They go with casual outfits, smart-casual outfits, sportswear and as already mentioned - golf. The colour does the work.

Rainbow Laces and Pride

It would feel odd not to mention it - rainbow laces have become one of the most visible symbols of support for the LGBT+ community, worn by everyone from Premier League footballers to everyday people who simply want to show they stand with their friends, family and colleagues.

But rainbow laces have always been bigger than any single moment or movement. They're about colour, joy and a refusal to take your footwear too seriously. Whether you're wearing them in solidarity or simply because they make you smile every time you look down, both are equally good reasons.

A Note on Fading

One thing worth knowing - not all rainbow laces are made equal. Cheaper versions can fade quickly, especially on shoes that get a lot of wear or go through the wash regularly.

Our rainbow shoelaces are made to hold their colour, so the red stays red and the violet stays violet wash after wash. Because a faded rainbow rather defeats the point.

Final Thought

Life is too short for boring shoelaces.

A pair of rainbow laces is one of the smallest, cheapest and most cheerful upgrades you can make to your everyday footwear. And once you've worn them, plain white laces feel like a bit of a missed opportunity.

Ready to add some colour? Browse our collection of different types of rainbow shoelaces and find your perfect pair.