To Dye For

The time-honored tradition of having one's shoes dyed before or after the wedding has evolved (and improved) over time. The pros at T.O. Dey, a cobbling shop famous for its dyeing prowess, gave us some pointers to keep in mind.

• By Sara Cardace
• Published Summer 2006

AS WITH ALL THINGS, PLAN AHEAD.
If you need your shoes for the wedding, give yourself at least four or five days to have them dyed and some extra time in case you run into any trouble. Remember: It's not an exact science, so it's always a good idea to do a test run, in case the color or dye job doesn't turn out exactly as expected.

SHOP WITH SENSE.
Aside from suede, just about any fabric is dyeable, but that doesn't mean all shoes are. Your best bets are the kinds that are made for dyeing, and satin is best; you'll know you've got the right kind if they come with a scrap of sample fabric for testing. Designer shoes are frequently harder to dye-although not impossible-because they often use higher-quality fabrics that don't take the dye.

DO DAMAGE CONTROL.
Don't be discouraged if the shoes you want to dye are stained. Grease and ink stains are difficult to get out, but wine spots actually come out fairly easily. It's crucial to bring soiled shoes in for treatment as soon as possible though, in order to have the best chance of removing the stain before it sets.