How to Make Shoes Look Like Boots

Embellish boots with buckles for an authentic appearance.

Whether you need to create a pirate costume for a play or want to update an outfit to fit a "goth" sensibility, guarantee a complete look with the appropriate footwear: black boots. Instead of buying new boots, revamp a pair of rarely worn shoes to look like boots. Turning shoes into boots allows you to awaken your inner fashion designer, creating a one-of-a kind shoe style customized for your tastes.

Things You'll Need

• Detergent
• Dye
• Leather stripper (optional)
• Grommets
• Grommet pliers
• Bootlaces
• Awl (optional)
• Rubber stripping
• Rubber adhesive
• Belts

Instructions

1. Clean the shoes with hot water and detergent to remove any dirt and grime. Allow the shoes to dry.

2. Dye the shoes black, a common boot color. Dye canvas shoes with fabric dye. Create a solution with the dye and soak the shoes. For leather, start by treating the shoes with leather stripper. After stripping, dye leather with green or blue leather dye as a first coat, painting the dye on with the applicator brush. After the green or blue dries, apply black.

3. Add metal grommets inside the shoelace holes to add a durable, industrial feel to the boot. Set the grommets in grommet pliers, hold the grommet over the hole and squeeze the handles to set the grommets. Replace the old laces with bootlaces, which are usually thicker and sometimes made out of leather. Add more metal embellishments, if desired, to other places such as around the opening of the shoe.

4. Glue rubber stripping around the perimeters of the shoe soles with rubber adhesive. Cut the ends so they meet make nearly invisible seams at the backs of the shoes. The extra bulk that the rubber stripping adds gives the shoes the appearance of thicker soles, like boots.

5. Add buckles or straps to mimic boot buckles or boot straps, using cut-up old belt buckles. Weave the buckles through the shoelaces to secure them at the tops of the feet, glue straps going across the tops of the feet, like motorcycle boots, or wrap and buckle straps around the ankles.

Tips & Warnings

• Coat the shoes with fabric or leather protectant to preserve the material and dye color.

• Pre-punch holes for grommets with an awl in step three if you're not used to working with grommet pliers.

References

• HeelingTouch.com; How to Dye/Shine Shoes; How to Dye: 1. Leather
• Prym Consumer USA Inc.: Grommet Plier Kit by Dritz