This is a long tutorial, so please bear with me!:-)

I’ve had to divide it into 4 stages to make it a bit easier to deal with.  The end result is fairly dependent on the boots you started with, and what the hardware you add looks like.

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STAGE 1: CUTTING & FINISHING

Of course you can just cut the outer part of the shoe and leave it at that.  But I always find that cutting something leather or vinyl leaves and obvious, unfinished edge that screams home-made!.  I like to create a faux finished edge as best I can.

Materials:*pair of boots with chunky heel (ankle-length and with straps, if possible)

*photo for reference

*Tulip dimensional fabric paint (black)

And…
*heavy-duty box cutter/sharp blade/sharp scissors

*tiny sharp scissors

*chalk
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How -To:

1.Mark the shoes for the cut-out part similar to the originals with the chalk, using your photo as reference.
2. Cut away the outer layer of the shoe, and cut them down to ankle-length if they have longer shafts.
3. Cut away the inner layers of the shoe so they aren’t visible from the outside.  You may have to go through several layers, some of them sticky, to trim them properly.
4. Once none of the inner layers are visible, paint a small line of fabric paint along the cut edge to visually “finish” the cut leather.  If you were doing this properly, you would use Edge-Kote (or something similar for vinyl), but since this is DIY this is a pretty good substitute.  Try to make your line as smooth as possible, sealing the raw edge.  If your shoes are leather, you can seal the cut edge by burnishing it with a piece of scrap leather rubbed along the raw edge until it heat-seals with the friction. (sorry I can’t find the photo for this step.  It seems to have disappeared from my photo library!)

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STAGE 2: CREATING THE BELTS

The materials you need for this stage depend on what is attached to the boots you have.  I was lucky enough to find boots that had belts attached to them, which I cannibalized and used, but if you don’t have the straps already, you’ll have to make them from belts.  Depending on how long your belts are, you may need two, and you’ll want to get belts that are exactly the same.  If you can find belts that have small-size buckles, so much the better!

Materials:

*1 – 2 belts, matching boot color

*2-4 belt buckles

*2 belt tips (I used a belt buckle set that included the tip piece, sold by Tandy Leather Factory [Item #1885-00])

*silver-colored washers

*extra pieces of vinyl/leather matching boots

*upholstery thread (or waxed linen thread for leathers)

And…

*scissors

*a toothpick

*sewing machine or hand-sewing awl

*sewing machine needle for leather

*flathead screwdriver

*awl or leather punch tool

*Loctite Vinyl, Fabric, and Plastic Adhesive

*clothespins

*matte black spray paint for metal surfaces (optional)

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How -To:

1. Create the belts: first cut 4 lengths (2 to go around the outside of the shoe at the ankle (starting at the finished end of each belt); 2 for the toe box area (this time not using a finished end of the belt).

2.  Make the belts for the ankles first.  [Spray paint your buckles at this stage if you want them black.]  Add buckles if you don’t have them; fold over the excess belting and stitch down to secure. (not pictured)

3. Cut 2 small pieces of vinyl or leather (I used the parts I cut out of the boots), slightly larger than your buckles.

4. Using a leather needle and upholstery thread, stitch the pieces under the buckles.

5. Next, make the belts for the toe box area.  Choose one end of each belt and cut away the excess to taper it.  Place the belt tips over the ends to make sure they will fit.

6. Attach the silver belt tip to each tapered end with the screwdriver and included screw.

7. Mark where you want the holes for the matching belt length (these are for the toe boxes).  I just made a dent with my screwdriver.

8. Punch holes for the buckles with an awl or leather punch tool.

9. Attach a silver washer around each hole using the Loctite Adhesive, and a toothpick for precision.  Allow to dry 24+ hours.

10. Once dry, thread the buckles onto these two belts, through the washer-ringed hole.

I chose not to spray my belt buckles black, but that’s certainly an option for you if you really, really want to dupe the originals.

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STAGE 3: ATTACHING THE BELTS

This is by far the hardest part (I found) because of the stitching.  For the belts/straps that go around the ankles, they must be securely attached since they need to withstand the strain of repeated stretching and movement.  Though you can glue them, I really recommend that you run a line of stitches through the end to completely secure them to the boots.

Materials:

*belts you just made

*upholstery thread (or waxed linen thread for leathers)

*extra pieces of vinyl/leather matching boots (optional)

And…

*Loctite Adhesive

*sewing machine or hand-sewing awl

*sewing machine needle for leather

*tape

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How -To:

1. For the ankle belts, spread glue on one end and secure to the inner side of the boot at the ankle area. 

2. After the glue has dried, sew a line of stitches perpendicular across the end of the belt to secure it completely.  (Half of my belts were already attached to one side of the zipper so I just had to make and attach the buckle side of the belt.  If you were having to add both sides of the belt to the shoes, you’d have to stitch both ends down.)

3. If you want to create the leather pieces at the toe box that are held together by the belt, you can cut small pieces of the matching leather/vinyl, topstitch if you want, and glue onto either side of the boots.  (I chose not to, but it’s certainly doable!)

4. For the belts on the toe boxes, spread adhesive down the underside of each toe box belt, and secure to the top of each boot toe box.  Tape down the ends to secure and let dry 24+ hours.

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STAGE 4: FINISHING THE BOOTS

Last but not least, you need to make these boots wearable.  Because you cut them up, the insides will probably be rough to bare feet and ankles – so moleskin is necessary.

Materials:

*adhesive moleskin

*black shoe polish

And…

*scissors

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How -To:

1. Cut small pieces of moleskin to cover up any rough spots on the insides of your boots.  You may have to try them on repeatedly to identify any irritating areas.

2. Polish them up with some black shoe polish, which will also hide any scuffs or mistakes with cutting.

You’re finally done!!  Celebrate with taking them out for a spin on the town!

Notes: After wearing these a bit, I feel that the toe box belts also need to be sewn to the toe boxes to stay on; the ends begin to flap about.  It can be done using a hand-sewing awl and piercing the leather from the outside, and tying the thread on the inside.  I also feel that the belts at the ankles need another security point – I think they either need to be threaded through two parallel slits cut into the back of the boots, or securing with a piece of elastic or some upholstery thread.  I think that’s probably the only way these will withstand heavy use and lots of walking.  I may in fact re-vamp the toe area to more closely match the original inspiration (i.e., place the belts there differently and add some extra vinyl flaps).  As for the studded soles of the Balenciagas, though I wracked my brain for a DIY solution, I couldn’t come up with one that wouldn’t be a safety hazard when walking.  If anyone thinks of something, please let us all know!

Hoped that helps and Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox

Carly

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Tags:

Balenciaga, DIY Shoes, leather sewing, My DIY Tutorials, sewing