shoes laces

[Guest]

Hi

What type of laces should high quality shoes have? Suede with suede shoes and leather with leather shoes?

Cheers

[Guest]

I believe there are some shoemakers among the members who can provide more expert advice, but in my experience leather laces are of very limited utility--they have to be quite thick not to stretch unacceptably, so are used mostly on leather boat shoes and some outdoor boots, etc.

For most dress shoes a very densely woven, thoroughly waxed cloth lace is best. These I believe are usually made of cotton, though a woven linen cord would be even stronger. (The replacement dress laces sold by Allen Edmonds are much better quality than any replacement laces I've found at shoe-repair shops, for what it's worth--they are quite durable). The waxing is important for three reasons:
- it aids in keeping the knot from loosening during the day
- it reduces friction-related wear on the lace, thus extending its life
- it keeps the surface of the lace from developing unsightly fuzz
You should be able to take the ends of a new dress lace in each hand and pull hard with a snapping motion without snapping the lace or feeling it stretch. You'd be surprised how many factory laces I've had that failed this test.

Many casual shoes, even good-quality ones, come with unwaxed cloth laces, or ones impregnated with an enamel-like coloring, for aesthetic reasons. If you can find a dense waxed lace of a color and diameter that suits the shoe and looks good to you, it will last longer (but as a harder cord, it may be more likely to impress a dent in soft leather or suede. If you prefer the softer laces, it might be a good idea to buy some matching spares from the manufacturer (if you can) since they will likely wear out long before well-kept shoes.

- Couch