Shoelacing (Or Not) for Pros

Maybe this post is about myriad ways to tie your shoes.  Or maybe it’s simply an excuse to show you my NEW OXFORDS!  I friggin’ love these Cole Hahn wonders. No one is impervious to their power! (These bad boys are next — they are blue! — do not tell my wife!) I bought them from a wonderful salesman named Rafael at the Cole Haan store on Columbus Circle in NYC.

I decided I would be cool and lace them up in a Euro-style I saw in some men’s mag that I can’t find in the STACK of stuff I’ve accumulated to share with you.  But it included a diagram on how to do it and that made me MAD because who needs a diagram to lace their shoes?! And then I tried it when I was in a rush to get out the door and make a splash in my new shoes.  And I couldn’t.   And I started freaking out because I am not a patient person.   And finally I RIPPED them out and it was a “hey, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter” moment!  And I liked it.  And the target demographic on the street and in the sheets liked it.  And maybe I’m not going back.

But apparently there are temples of knowledge devoted not only to shoes in general (here are a few of many from Esquire.com.), but also to shoelaces! Ian’s Shoelace Site (which I caught wind of through the last issue of Details) is packed with ways to help you stand out from the crowd, even if at this very minute you don’t have the bones to buy new oxfords.

On the subject of lacing, Ian writes:

Are all of your shoes, sneakers and boots still laced up the way they were when you bought them? This section presents some of the many fascinating ways of lacing, either for different functions or just for appearances. Why not take the plunge? Whip out those laces and re-do them to suit your needs or personality.

I’m just going to say it.  Ian is a nerd.  However, he clearly knows things we need to know.   If you “take the plunge” (and why not!) will you please send me a photo?  If you see Rafael at Cole Haan will you tell him dapperQ sent you?  If you want to get the low-down on going sockless, will you please tune in manana?!

P.S. Jennifer Dziura just wrote a great review of dapperQ for TheGloss. She had me from “badass Texan.”