Dyeing Wedding Shoes

Weddings are all about making the perfect match, and not just of the bride and groom. Having your bridesmaids' shoes dyed to match the color of the dresses you choose for them requires the services of a professional. Today, Martha visits master shoe dyer Fabrice Gallean at Top Service in New York City.

Top Service is a family-owned shoe-repair business that specializes in dying shoes. Whether the task at hand is a half-dozen pairs of bridesmaids' flats, turning the bride's own pumps to the precise pearly cream of her dress, or redyeing those same pumps black after the wedding, Fabrice has an almost infinite range of colors at his fingertips. And if he doesn't have the exact color you're looking for, he'll mix it up for you.

When having your shoes dyed, Fabrice suggests you bring a swatch from the dress you wish to match and a swatch of the material out of which the shoe is made (many wedding shoes come with such a swatch). Using a clean, white wool dauber, he brushes the mixed dye onto this swatch. He lets this dry for fifteen minutes, then compares swatches. When he is happy with the hue, Fabrice applies the dye to the shoes with a brand new dauber, covering the shoe completely to avoid uneven drying, which might create blotches or lines.

Since the dyeing process is irreversible, Fabrice always starts with lighter colors first. It's possible to make the shoes a shade lighter after they've been dyed, by applying baby powder to the surface of the shoes with a dry paper towel and then removing the excess powder with compressed air. This should be a last resort, however, since it tends to leave the shoes' finish dull.

The best shoe materials for dyeing are either satin or matte silk, although matte silk can spot. Fabrice recommends shoes made by Manolo Blahnik, Vanessa Noel, Vera Wang, and Stuart Weitzman, which almost always take dye well. Plain shoes-those without bows or buckles-are optimal for dyeing, since dye will collect more in embellishments, turning them darker. Fabrice prefers to remove the embellishment altogether and then reglue it.

Start with shoes that are completely white. If there's any dust on the shoe, it will turn black when dyed, so make sure they're clean as well. Any stains from the wedding must be completely removed before the shoes can be dyed again afterward. Fabrice can remove all sorts of stains, including those made by red wine and grass.

MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA Dyeing Wedding Shoes

Sources:

Shoe dyeing Top Service 845 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019 212-765-3190 Fax: 212-246-3796

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MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDIA