How to Lace Men's Formal Shoes

Men's formal shoes are laced in a variety of ways to provide a clean, formal look for black tie events and other occasions. The Roman method is one popular lacing method and provides the laces with a straight look on top with a crisscross pattern underneath. This tutorial on how to lace men's formal shoes using the Roman technique can have you well on your way to looking great at your next formal event.

1. First: Prepare your shoes

   Without their laces in, start with your shoes facing you. Dress laces are generally smaller and rounder than regular laces and are quite skinny compared to laces used in running shoes or other casual footwear. Make sure that your laces are new and unfrayed and the tips are encased in plastic for easy threading through the shoe's holes.

2. Second: Lace the Roman way

   Begin by feeding one end of the lace into the bottom left-hand lace hole from the top of the shoe. From the inside, come back out into the lace hole directly above it - that is, the second eyelet on the left. Make sure the ends of the laces are even. Feed the end of the lace you have been working with through the eyelet on the bottom right-hand side of the shoe. Cross the end of the lace coming from the bottom left over the other end of the lace, and pull it through the second eyelet on the bottom right. Both ends should now be on the inside of the shoe. Repeat this process by feeding the eyelets on each side into the eyelets on the same side, and then cross the laces so that the shoe laces up to create a crossed pattern on the inside and a straight line on the outside of the shoe. When you are finished, the laces should pull from the inner eyelet. Pull both sides taut, and you are ready to wear your stylishly laced formal oxford shoes for a night on the town.