Guest Dandy: Ray Frensham Ponders Colorful Laces

Our friend Ray Frensham sends us the following tale of his new obsession, brightly colored shoe laces.

Living in London as I do, I am rather spoilt when satisfying my whims for a quick visit “up town” into Piccadilly, Jermyn Street and St. James’s (as well as popping in for a quick afternoon tea with Her Majesty).

Last week, I came across something in my travels into Savile Row that, if these had been available before Christmas, I would’ve included them in my recent Predictions for 2012 blog. The fact that they are made by a friend of mine is merely an added bonus.

I’m talking about dress-shoe laces in a myriad of rainbow colors (the color-match in this photo below is probably the nearest to their true shades):-

These flat, waxed cotton laces are 29.5” / 75 cms. long and  are made by a new shoemaker-on-the-last Justin FitzPatrick (aka The Shoe Snob – see photo below) – a man from Washington but currently living and working in London. (You can read his own blog here.)

I dropped into Gieves and Hawkes (No.1 Savile Row), where Justin has his own space within the shop and saw them hanging there they were, next to his own-brand Natural Bees Wax Shoe Polish and Mink Oil Renovator that he also sells (apologies for my own fuzzy picture).

They come in eight colors (so far): black, brown, grey, navy, light blue, sky blue, purple and red/cherry.  At first I was a bit so-so about them, and spent some while running through my head wondering what coloured shoes I had would go with these laces. Then I saw these on the desk...

...and the scales fell from my eyes. I realised I should actually be trying to match the laces to my socks! Suddenly I found myself uncontrollably buying four pairs (red, light blue, sky blue and purple). And at £5 each colour, they are decent value for money.

Now they are home, you don’t realise how vibrant and great these look until you have them on your feet - and with the right socks.

You can buy them direct from Justin via his e-bay store. Justin FitzPatrick – the Shoe Snob: a micro-label to watch out for.


Editor's note: we here are Fine And Dandy are also big fans of bright colored laces. It's amazing how it can change an average pair of shoes. Several styles are available on our shop site.

 

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