The little things that make all the difference

Fashion comes and goes season after season with all its temporary must-haves and to-die-for accessories and trends. It’s all a bit of a merry-go-round really. And quite an expensive one at that. Luckily, true style is about something more long term, more solid. Very often the little things make all the difference, like imagination, attitude or simply a dash of colour. You don’t have to remortgage the house to be able to afford to make a style statement; all you need to do is to rummage about in your wardrobe and then release a bit of your own creativity.

The key is to keep things simple. A good way to get started is to clear out your wardrobe. Have a good look at what is in there. What do you really wear, what has been sitting there gathering dust for months (or years!) what have you never even worn? Clear out the clutter, give anything you don’t wear, realistically know you won’t ever wear again or can’t wear (too big, too small, too tight, wrong colour etc.) to charity and make some space. Tidy things up, iron and fold the entire jumble, sort and organize your shelves. When you can see things more clearly you should begin to make an inventory of what you have got, what you like to wear and how it can all be best put together. Then do the same with your footwear.

Ah yes that big pile of shoes! How many pairs have been shoved under the bed? How many others are languishing in a heap at the bottom of the wardrobe? How many pairs of scuffed, shabby or neglected shoes are cluttering up the shoe rack? Sort them out! Decide what to keep and take care of any repairs that need to be done such as having new heels or soles fitted. Brush, clean and polish them and arrange them neatly. Now you can get to thinking about how best to customize, revitalize and recycle certain items, giving them a different look and a new lease on life.

It may sound surprising but a something as simple as changing your shoelaces can be really effective. Think about it for a moment. When we buy a pair of shoes they come laced with classic brown, black or white laces. Most of the time we don’t pay any attention to our shoelaces or give them a second thought unless they snap, fray, break or need to be replaced. And even when they do need to be changed we generally just buy a similar or identical pair. Hardly anyone imagines things in a more creative or colourful way. However, as there is invariably an exception to the rule when it comes to imagining things differently someone always has that light bulb moment and knows how to move it forward. The team behind TheHouseOfLaces.com is made up of a group of those “light bulb moment” people and together they have set up the niche e-commerce site to share their passion about shoelaces. The site stocks a great range of styles (such as waxed, round, cord, flat, thin and dress laces) in a fabulous selection of bright and cheery colours. Colour is the key. Colour is that little extra something that can help you express your personality and create your own individual look.

So instead of classic black laces on classic black dress shoes why not try a pair of bright orange laces to shake things up a bit? Turquoise laces on navy leather or suede look great. Berry red shoelaces work wonders on black, brown, navy and grey. Experiment with different colours and types of leather. Casual shoes and sports shoes can be brightened up by thinking outside the white shoelace’s box. Bright yellow shoelaces on white canvas casuals or trainers work really well, as do baby pink or even purple. Remember you don’t have to go for a flamboyant shock effect; a touch of colour (even a bright flashy colour) can be quite subtle. It is up to you to decide how far you want to take things. Your shoelaces may be the only point of colour on an otherwise sober or restrained business or formal look or you can mirror the shade elsewhere with your choice of shirt, belt, scarf, tie or accessories. Above all have fun with it!