10 Sneakers That Look Better With A Lace Swap

Sometimes the sneaker companies get it wrong. No, really, they do. Even when they offer multiple lace options—sometimes packaging two or even three pairs at a time—they don't necessarily provide the option you want or need. Fortunately though, supplying so many laces at once means you can build up a stash in no time. Or you can even pick up aftermarket laces to complement pretty much any sneaker. So with all that in mind, we present you with 10 Sneakers That Look Better With A Lace Swap. Don't just imitate, though—get creative and take to Instagram to show us what you got. Don't forget the #ComplexSneakers tag.

Photos by Liz Barclay

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Relaced: White flat laces

Michael Jordan didn't need no special release to run white laces in his black Vs, and neither do you. And besides, these are closer to what Mike actually wore in the playoffs than Bin 23s.

Relaced: Fat white laces

The somewhat recent resurgence of the Puma Clyde (thank you, based Eddie) somehow has NOT ushered in a resurgence of sneakers with fat laces. I think we all know what UNDFTD has to make next.

Relaced: Neon flat laces

Roger Federer hasn't exactly been the next Andre Agassi—rock 'n' roll tennis he ain't—but he hasn't quite been the next Pete Sampras, either. (For one thing, he'd need way more chest hair.) We feel like he'd approve of this swap. The Tinker Hatfield designed Vapor 9 Tour is excellent straight out of the box, but perfectly matching neon laces give them a little bit more flair.

Relaced: Black laces

It's not like any Jeremy Scott designs need contrasting laces to stand out. Swap out the factory whites for some matching black laces and let the monster tongues stand out (literally and figuratively) on their own.

Relaced: Orange flat laces

Some might say that the orange lining and print are enough. We are not those people. The more orange, the better.

Relaced: Purple Starks Laces

Look, if you're going to wear "Galaxy" Foamposites to begin with, you may as well go all-in, right? Glow-in-the-dark laces would be another possibility here, but you need to know when to say when.

Relaced: Yellow rope laces

The yellow laces bring out the yellow highlights on the tongue tag and the airbag, turning a sedate retro into a little less of a wallflower. Some might call it sacrilege, as if the whole idea of a "Cool Grey" Air Jordan IV wasn't already.

Relaced: Flat white laces

Taking it back to 2001 with this one. Unstuff the tongue (the tutorial is probably still on NikeTalk somewhere), and relace with standard (non-SB) laces. Sure, the Supreme Dunks are plenty exclusive as it is, but there's still room for some originality.

Relaced: Starks Laces "Tribe"

In the words of Phife Dawg himself, "I sport New Balance sneakers to avoid a narrow path." Tribe Called Quest, represent represent.

Relaced: No laces

Sometimes simple is best. And whilst we still can't figure out how Run DMC walked around in laceless Superstars without them falling off all the time, the look is still unfadeable.