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Sneaker Styles to Customize
While we love turning to social media for fashion and beauty inspiration, it can be easy to fall into the cycle of micro-trends, forgetting how to nurture our senses of originality and personal style. Luckily, one of the latest viral trends is less about embodying the latest aesthetic and more about personalizing your favorite pieces. That’s right: Creative ways to accessorize your sneakers are trending, and we’re so excited about all the possibilities to make your Sambas, Hokas, and other trending styles into a unique statement. From ribbons as laces to the addition of sweet pearls and charms, there are countless methods of taking your kicks to the next level, and we’re exploring a few of them ahead. Read on to learn all about the accessorized sneakers trend, complete with five customization ideas and some of our favorite styles to deck out.
About the Trend
Customized shoes are by no means a new idea: In fact, they’ve been all the rage on Etsy for years. However, it wasn’t until the last few months that we started to see more people accessorize their sneakers from the comfort of their own homes, embracing a fresh era of personalization that we’ve also seen via the wearing vs. styling trend. Instead of buying a pair online, this trend is about turning kicks you already own into a fresh statement that’s true to you. From charms to ribbons, paint, pearls, lace, and more, there are plenty of ways to customize your sneakers. We’ve seen this mainly on the fashion side of TikTok and Instagram, and while it has yet to become widespread among celebrities and influencers, we can see this fun shoe trend really taking off as everyone looks to refresh their style for spring.
Ways to Customize Your Sneakers
Lace Accents
This one might require a trip to your local arts and crafts store (or an Amazon order), but we think it’s absolutely worth it for the sweetest accessorized sneakers. If you love an unapologetically feminine, coquette-inspired touch to your outfits, you can’t go wrong with the addition of some lacy details. Whether you glue some pieces to your shoes, as seen here, or even use it to replace your laces or add on some bows, this idea is a must-try.
Ribbons as Shoelaces
If you don’t consider yourself to be the DIY type, this sneaker accessorizing idea was practically made for you. All you need to do is get your hands on some ribbon in any color (we always love a good shade of pink) and lace them into your sneakers. The simple swap will instantly elevate your shoe game and give your kicks a balletcore vibe.
Pearl Adornments
When we saw this pair of shoes not only with a deep red ribbon but also with strands of pearls, we were instantly sold. They’re actually not too hard to accomplish: All you’ll need is some pearls (which you can nab from Amazon or Michaels), a strong piece of thread, and a small chain to attach the decadent strings to your shoes.
Charms Galore
This trending sneaker customization idea, while it takes some focus and time, may just be our favorite on this list. Charms are big this year, so instead of throwing on a charm necklace or even adding it to your bag (as we’ve seen all the it-girls doing), why not add some extra personality to your beloved sneakers? You can go for a matching set or embrace a cluster of unique statements—it’s all up to you and your personal style.
Artistic Touches
For the true artsy type, we suggest going to town on your sneakers with some Sharpies or paint. You can write words, doodle designs, and so much more—it's all up to you. It’s guaranteed that no one will have your exact shoes, setting you apart.
The Best Sneaker Styles to Customize
If you have a pair of sneakers at the ready, the accessorized sneakers trend is a great way to bring new life to an existing pair. Still, if you’re on the hunt for a crisp, brand-new pair to customize, below are six of our favorite styles for customizing–all have a minimal profile to let your creativity take center stage.
Product Picks
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Loci
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Nike
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Kurt Geiger
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Ryka
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New Balance
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Adidas