How to Tie Shoelaces With a Ladder Effect

By: Virginia Pond

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Though traditionally seen on the boots of paratroopers, ladder lacing is growing in popularity among civilians looking for a cool and stylish way to tie their shoes. It may be more difficult to tighten the laces initially, but ladder lacing tends to stay put, making it a great option for active apparel. This lacing techinique may seem tricky at first, but dressing up your kicks with little faux ladders is easy with just a bit of practice.

Step 1

String the lace through the bottom eyelets, from the inside out. This will create the first horizontal "rung" of the ladder, which should rest right on top of the tongue of the shoe near your toes.

Step 2

Run the right end of the lace up along the side, and insert it into the eyelet above. This creates the vertical sides of the shoelace ladder. Repeat on the left side.

Step 3

Now, bring the right end of the lace to the left side over the top, and feed the end through the loop between the two eyelets. Repeat on the other side.

Step 4

Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you've laced through every eyelet. For a polished look, feed the ends under the top two vertical loops before tying in a bow.