DIY: Saddle Shoes
Do It With: 1 pair River Club sneakers from National Wholesale Liquidators, a couple of black sharpies, black acrylic paint, a clear acrylic gloss (optional!) and a smallish paintbrush.
Do It Why? Saddle shoes are a great, feminine 50s throwback that will go with everything from Marilyn-style cuffed blue jeans to pencil skirts and dresses (a la "cigarettes and speed" at wardrobe remix). They're also the Fall version of the little white slip-ons you've been wearing all summer long, and with high-fashion versions on the Betsey Johnson F/W07 runway and ultra-femme, rockabilly styles starting to show up to counteract all the billowing silhouettes of the last few seasons, you really can't go wrong in a sweet flat pair of your own to kick around town in. Unfortunately even the cheapo ones are upwards of $25, so why not take a break from that summer reading list and spend 30 minutes making these instead? Sure, they're not AUTHENTIC, but they are CUTE and CHEAP and YOU need a project.
Difficulty Level: On a scale of 1-5, these barely register at a .5. The only bummer is that you'll need to get to National Wholesale Liquidators, but I promise you that the trip is worth it. Strangest. Place. Ever. But it is also FULL OF BARGAINS, so grab some friends and make an afternoon of it.
Cost: The River Club sneakers are $2 and you can pick up a little bottle of black acrylic paint for a buck or two at any craft store (or maybe even NWL, I didn't think to check...), and same goes with the optional gloss (and if you like the way they look matte then don't get it, but keep in mind that the gloss will act as a protective coating). Assuming you've got some sharpies and a paintbrush laying around, this project costs about $5.
DO IT, YOUNG THINGS:
1. Remove the laces from your kicks.
2. Using the sharpies, color in the "saddle" part of the shoe (the body of the shoe that falls between the stitches and the seam) (I promise that there's no way to mess this up. Just wait til you see the shoe.) and also what you can of the tongues. Leave a white ring around the grommets; it's easy to mess them up if you get too close with the fat tip of the marker.
3. Nooooooow paint that part black (but not the tongues!). Be extra careful around the grommets and any places that were too small for the marker to reach.
4. When they dry, do the same with the gloss.
5. Put the laces back in! I told you this was easy.
Shoes customized with acrylic paint have a tendency to flake after you've worn them a while, but you're out of the danger zone because even if that happens, you've got that nice permanent sharpie layer under there and it won't look like your shoes are disintegrating. Now go get pinned - you're so dreamy!
the lovely thing pictured behind the finished product is flickr user cigarettes and speed, and more of her photography and styling can be found here, so have a look!
God loves a cheerful giver.
Fab project, as always!
You could probably use cloth paint as well to minimize ze flaking.
This is a fantastic idea! Thank you!
That's pretty neat!
you tite
I like that they're sneaker-esque. adory.
OMG, all of dc shall have the cutest shoes!
which NWL did you visit to find the sneakers? I went to the one in Langley Park and they did not have them and I wept.
awww, i'm so sorry! if iy makes you feel any better you're still a step ahead of me, as i only JUST found out that there's one in the district.
i've been driving to the one down 50 (it may actually be technically on 7; it's right at that big junction) in eden crossroads or eden shopping center, something like that. they had seriously like 100+ pairs when i was there 2 1/2 weeks ago so if you've still got the urge they should still be there.
and i realized i forgot to say this explicitly, but they're like a faux leather - think canvas keds gone classy. or kanvas keds gone klassy, whichever way you like to think of it.
You could also try H&M for the canvas shoes, if you're having trouble finding them at NWL. I know they're selling black and red canvas shoes-- it's worth checking whether they have white ones, too.
so rad. so easy. you're a genius.
shout out.
here.
Super cute!!!
oh dear, what state exactly ? o.0
TRYING TO FIND A LEATHER PAIR,ESSIANTIALLY DO YOU THINK I COULD USE WHITE GIRLS?AS IN TENNIS SHOES...
it's not DIY if you have to buy something to get your end result
Target has these same canvas shoes for $9 right now, if anyone is looking for them.