Up Your Sneaker Game By Changing the Lacing

A quick rethread can transform your look.

There are many ways to change up an outfit with varying accessories, jewelry, etc. But one article of clothing can make all the difference: shoes. Yes, swapping out flats for heels can take an ensemble from casual to dressy in an instant. But did you know you could transform your look by simply changing the lacing on a pair of sneakers?

Italian-made sneaker brand P448--which has garnered the attention of A-list fans including Ben Affleck, Sophie Turner, Katie Ledecky, Connie Britton and more--is all about elevating the shoe game by using a variety of lacing styles. In fact, they have a P448 lace master station that offers eight unique lacing styles at the P448 store on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

With over 50 laces to choose from (think rainbow and fluorescent to fuzzy and patterned), customers who make a purchase can select a pair of complementary laces from the lace bar and have their sneakers styled with one of the lacing menu options. Those options include lattice, cross lace, ladder lace, sawtooth, double lace, diamond, loopback and pentagram. Each one creates a unique vibe, especially when using multiple colored laces.

“With the brands’ heavy focus on fashion, having the sneakers laced in nontraditional ways elevates the entire look and feel of each pair,” says P448 chief executive officer Wayne Kulkin. “The lacing process also adds a personal touch by allowing the customer to pick and choose a style that is entirely unique to them.”

While the lace bar is available at the brand’s first-ever U.S.-based store on Fifth Avenue, the laces are also available to purchase on P448.com and come with instructions for the classic lacing techniques. Plus, they’re giving the traditional sweat set a whole new meaning with the launch of P448 Threads, a collection of streetwear-inspired loungewear that just launched in the fall.

Casual has never been chicer.