The Fun of Forging the Dodgy Shoe

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First off, I do have to make it clear that because I am totally unskilled and not trained (or indeed self-taught because that would require some form of learning etc…), any fashion DIY projects that I undertake are not really made to last for years to come.  I’m resigned to the fact that if I wanted something superbly well-made, buying or asking someone with super skills to make it for me would be my options and as a ‘fawner’ over designers, as opposed to being an actual designer, I’m doubly glad for the fact that I’m unskilled.  My point is that I have bundles of ideas that were they to fester in the brain, it would drive me insane so some manual labour has to take place to burn off the brain overworking. 

Laceshoe3 Footwear isn’t something that I’ve delved into for the *duh* obvious reasons (though I’m intrigued to see what KOS comes up with in her forthcoming DIY forray into footwear) but then my thoughts are that if I’m forking out ¬£20 for a pair of cheapie shoes that aren’t exactly the most exciting of designs nor are they gonna last that long and ultimately look a little generic, then why not spend a tenner on some materials and make a bish bash bosh jobbie that I love purely for the fact that I made them and yes they’lll probably fall apart after two days of wear but I’ve wasted a tenner on far more unmemorable things so I guess that’s ok. 

So my fascination with lace (thanks Miuccia…) and my general interest in all things odd and juxtaposed meant that on this sunny day, with some leftover blue lace that I bought in Paris, and a small trip to the local haberdashery for some off cuts of pleather (they give it to you for free if your’e nice!), some mesh elastic and some riveted banding, the botched-up gladiator-sandal hybrid came about.  Footie shin pads were the initial inspiration and guidelines as I cut out a pair of shin pad shaped pieces from the pleather and covered them with the lace.   

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Then sewing up about five mesh elastic loops to secure the shin pad onto the calf and using some old Sam & Libby black satin slingbacks as the shoe-base, everything was pieced together, with the riveted banding used to criss-cross up the leg.  So untechnical are my methods that if I attempted diagrams/step-by-step instructions, it would look quite laughable.

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The effect is a peep toe boot/sandal hybrid with a lace fronted spat that I’ll have fun wearing for a day or two with one of my many navy outfits or perhaps over some brightly coloured tights and a short shrot dress.  The fact that it won’t last doesn’t matter one bit to me but from here the mind starts spinning again as to what else I can do with the combo of shoes and lace and glorious haberdashery and then it all starts again…

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38 comments

  1. That so cool!! I love your ideas….it just inspires me to experiment even more…..

  3. At first sight I wasnt sure if I enjoyed your idea with the shoes but after seeing them with the outfits I’ve changed my mind! It looks very creative 🙂

  4. I think you’ve outdone yourself here, SB, and have underrated your skill! Reading the first part of the post, I thought, Oh, boy. Sounds familiar. There will be frustration. Tears. There may be no recovery.
    And come to find out that you wound up with something that looks reasonable! And that shoe totally needed it; you have changed it from a frumpy little no-account into a glamour gal.

  5. holy moly! that’s amazing! i just think that’s such a brilliant idea, being as i sooo want a pair of fierce gladiators,, but i’m having such a difficult time finding some in real life.

  6. holy moly! that’s amazing! i just think that’s such a brilliant idea, being as i sooo want a pair of fierce gladiators,, but i’m having such a difficult time finding some in real life.

  9. When I first looked over this, I was thinking, “Wow, how clever, slipping a piece of fabric into a gladiator sandal, that’s a good idea…” But then I realized: you made the gladiator straps, too! Serves me right for not reading closely enough, but that also means that they definitely work!

  11. This is exactly why we love you ms bubble! Not only are you the only one who would think to do something like this, but you’re also the only one who could pull it off with style!

  14. susie! love it to the core! you are a true fashion force with a giant dash of funk.

  18. ummm… these are actually really awesome. i like them better than the actual balenciagas! i would have never thought of it, but it’s brilliant 🙂

  19. are you actually going to wear that in public? it’s not a nod to wanting some fabulous balenciaga footwear, it’s just 100% laughable darling.

  21. Those shoes are freaking awesome, and the best thing is that you know no one else will be wearing the same ones as you 😉

  22. those are brilliant, i thought you purchased it at first then i realized you made it from the shoe up. i love it.

  24. Great idea! It looks great from the back, and I love that you’ve used blue lace straight off Prada’s F/W08… I’ve been wanting to incorporate some of that blue lace in my own outfits as well (:

  25. I am a lover of short term DIY’s too. I am rash and rarely think about whether I’ll be able to wear it a week down the road, still scared of shoe territory myself. Love what you’ve done. That colour of lace is great!

  26. Brilliant idea!!! The outfits are gorgeous, especially the last one. Love love love

  27. wow it looks really good.
    if the lace falls apart you could keep the straps on and wear them over kneehighs. that would also look great.

  30. i just want to compliment you susie on your writing style. it’s amazing and one-of-a-kind. your fashion sense and writing style are a great blend of your personality. you appear shy and fragile, but when you dress up and write you are iconic. you truly are one-of-a-kind.=)

  32. oolala how intriguing it would be to see these in real life! tights, socks, boots, straps, who knows! it’s marvy!

  37. That’s great! A+ for creativity.
    Hmmm, maybe you have a future in dressing up shoes?
    Think about it – a line of options to go with shoes. No one has really done it so far.
    Clip ons flowers, butterflies, buckles…
    Turn a mule into a slingback? Tons of options!
    And the whole belt thing made a slingback into a strappy lace up look.
    It could extend the look of every woman’s shoe option and they would almost have twice as many shoes through the addition or modification of their shoes, with a little accessory.
    You’d be like… a national hero !!
    🙂
    MT
    mizztissa.com

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