Here's a mini-guide to DIY shoe alterations. Images belong to cited sources; please visit their sites (links provided) for more photos and full instructions. Left to right:
1. First, a pair of Anya Hindmarch shoes, photo from eBay via Style Bubble. The shoes apparently retailed for $500 (I know--they're suede, at least); you could easily mock up some for less than $35, using cheap canvas sneakers and paint. Check out Style Bubble's post for bigger images.
2. Personal scan from a 2004 BUST (click to enlarge). The owner covered black Converse sneakers with two ten-gross of rhinestones, using E6000 Adhesive. Watch out, though--all those rhinestones cost $165.
3. From Fashionista, graffiti-fied white Converse sneakers. No instructions, of course--it's more the idea of a shoe as a blank canvas.
4. Over at Meandering, Sunshyne pimped $6.00 garden clogs using an X-Acto knife. See her post for full instructions & Before photos (via Popgloss).
5. From Designers' Block UK & others, Sneaker Freaker's Guide to Lacing helps you think beyond standard straight-laces. In addition to different lacing patterns, you can mix it up by using colored laces (like Style Bytes).
6. Over at Craftster, Miss Bunny took a pair of plain nude heels & made them Wizard of Oz worthy.
7. Believe it or not, this used to be a plain white sneaker. Click here to see how Zoltron (?) did it.
8. Just featured on CRAFT, Craft Chi took yellow Chuck Taylors and transformed them with dye and iron-ons.
9. The DIY network has instructions for knitted boots.
Not Pictured
10. Whip Up commenters have advice on how to dye leather.
11. Absolutely Audrey sells old-fashioned shoe clips. You could also make your own or use clip earrings.
12. The famous Starburst Wrapper Flats.
Reader Comment (thanks, Laura!):
http://labricoleuse.livejournal.com/21475.html is an entry about shoe modifications in the professional blog of Rachel Pollock, a costume crafts artisan. It's pretty interesting!
More tutorials we should know about? Email us or leave a comment below, and we'll add it to the list. For more D.I.Y. ideas, see our D.I.Y. Betty category.
