How to Tie Lace Up Flats

Lace-up flats are cute shoes that are a great addition to any outfit in warm weather. They come in a never-ending number of styles and colours. The one thing all lace-up flats have in common is awesome straps that can be tied around your ankles and legs in a variety of ways. While there are a number of methods you can use to tie your lace-up flats, use your imagination to come up with new and unique methods that work for you. [1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using the Simple Ankle Wrap

  1. The ankle wrap method for lacing up flats is simple and only requires that the straps wrap around your ankle multiple times. [2] To start, put your lace-up straps on both feet and tighten the straps or laces around your feet. [3]
    • Tighten the straps around your feet such that they’ll stay on your feet, but not cut off any circulation or cause marks to be left on your feet.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Start with your right shoe. Hold a strap in each hand and pull them towards the front of your ankle. Cross the right strap over the left and exchange the straps in your hands. Pull the straps around to the back of your ankle and cross them over one another again. [4]
    • Different lace-up flats will have different lace configurations. Most tend to have the straps at the back of the flat, behind your ankle.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Continue wrapping the straps around your right ankle until there’s only about 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) left. Tie the remaining portions of the straps into a bow. Tie the straps tight enough to keep them in place. [5]
    • Since the straps are around your ankle, there is nowhere for them to fall if they’re too loose. Therefore, don’t tie them so tight you cut off circulation or prevent your foot from being able to flex.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Repeat the wrapping and tying steps for the flat on your left foot. Make sure to tie the straps from both flats at the same location on both of your ankles (e.g., at the front or at the back). [6]
    • Once both of your lace-up flats are on and tied, test the tightness of the straps by walking around your room.
    • If you find the straps too tight, un-tie and re-do the wrapping process.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Trying the Low Gladiator Wrap

  1. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    The low gladiator wrap is another easy and simple method of wrapping and tying the straps of your lace-up flats. For this wrap, you want the straps to go halfway up your lower legs. The straps should be tied around the thickest part of your calf. [7]
    • Once you’ve got your lace-up flats on, tighten the straps or laces that are around your foot.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Grasp the straps from your right shoe in each hand and pull them towards the front of your leg. Angle the laces slightly upwards and cross them across the front of your lower leg, just above your ankle. [8]
    • For the low gladiator wrap, only the initial part of the straps should be located around your ankle. The rest of the straps will be further up your leg.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Each pair of lace-up flats will have straps of different lengths. The combination of the length of the straps and the width of your leg will determine how many times you’ll be able to wrap the straps around your lower leg. Continue wrapping until you have about 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) left of the strap. [9]
    • Once the straps have reached the middle of your lower leg, stop angling the straps upwards. Instead, if you have enough, continue to wrap the straps around the middle of your lower leg.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Once you’ve wrapped most of the straps around your right leg, secure them in place by tying a bow. Tighten the straps enough to prevent them from falling down your leg when you move. [10]
    • If you prefer, use a double knot to tie the straps together.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Once your right lace-up flat is on and tied, complete the same steps with your left lace-up flat. Use the completed straps on your right leg to match the same location on your lower leg where the straps are tied together. [11]
    • Make sure the bow or knots are either both at the front of your leg or both at the back of your leg.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Doing the Full Gladiator Wrap

  1. Start by putting both of your lace-up flats on your feet and tightening the straps around your feet. For the full gladiator wrap, you’re going to wrap the straps around your entire lower leg and tie them off just below your knee. [12]
    • To complete this method, the straps or laces on your flats will need to be long enough. If you determine your straps or laces aren’t long enough, try the low gladiator wrap instead.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Starting at the bottom of your right leg, grasp the straps in each hand and pull them towards the front of your leg. Cross them over each other at the front of your leg, well above your ankle. Pull the straps around the back of your right leg and cross them again. [13]
    • Tighten the straps well enough such that they will not fall down your leg as you walk around.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Continue the process of crossing the straps around your right leg, pulling them higher along your right lower leg until they’re just below your knee. If the straps are long enough, you may need to wrap them multiple times around your leg, just under your knee. [14]
    • Keep wrapping the straps around your right leg until there’s about 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) left for the bow.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Once the majority of the straps have been wrapped around your leg, tie a bow or use a double knot to tie the two straps together. The bow or knots will be right below your right knee. Tying the bow or knots at the front of your right leg may be easier, as you can clearly see what you’re doing. [15]
    • You may need to tie the straps together quite tight in order to prevent them from slipping down your leg.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Tie Lace Up Flats
    Complete all the same steps to wrap and tie the straps on your left lower leg. Make sure you tie the bow or knots in the same general area on your left leg as you did on your right leg. [16]
    • Once both flats are on, test out the tightness of the straps by walking around the room.
    • Re-wrap and re-tie the straps if they’re too tight or too loose.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you tie lace-up flats so they don't come undone?
    Neepa Sikdar
    Personal Stylist
    Neepa Sikdar is a Personal Stylist and the Founder of Accessible Style. With 18 years of fashion experience, she specializes in working with female leaders to develop their style through personal styling, brand styling, and online styling. She also coaches women on personal style through her membership program. Neepa has worked with brands such as Nordstrom and J. Crew and has been featured in publications such as Business Insider. She holds a BS in Economics and English from Rutgers University and trained in styling through Fashion Institute of Technology.
    Neepa Sikdar
    Personal Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Make sure you're at least double- or triple-wrapping the laces around your ankle. Basically, just wrap them around your ankle as many times as you can.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/lace-up-flats
      2. ↑ Neepa Sikdar. Personal Stylist. Expert Interview
      3. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/how-to-wear-gladiator-sandals
      4. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/how-to-wear-gladiator-sandals
      5. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/how-to-wear-gladiator-sandals
      6. ↑ https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/how-to-wear-gladiator-sandals
      7. ↑ https://www.simplicityandcoffee.com/post/2016/06/06/3-ways-to-tie-laceup-sandals
      8. ↑ https://www.simplicityandcoffee.com/post/2016/06/06/3-ways-to-tie-laceup-sandals
      9. ↑ https://www.simplicityandcoffee.com/post/2016/06/06/3-ways-to-tie-laceup-sandals
      1. ↑ https://www.simplicityandcoffee.com/post/2016/06/06/3-ways-to-tie-laceup-sandals
      2. ↑ https://www.simplicityandcoffee.com/post/2016/06/06/3-ways-to-tie-laceup-sandals
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/5VRyyYFGX2Q?t=21
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/5VRyyYFGX2Q?t=21
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/5VRyyYFGX2Q?t=21
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/5VRyyYFGX2Q?t=21
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/5VRyyYFGX2Q?t=21

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