frankie exclusive diy: dip-dyed shoes

Winter isn't quite here, but already folks are starting to revert back to their dreary cold weather wardrobes. Ugh. How boring! We're not ready to retire our brightly coloured hues just yet, how about you? Why not dip your toes into some playful colour and keep a little bit of summer in your step with a pair of dip-dyed shoes.

All you need are some white sneakers, fabric dye (in your choice of colour), Vaseline, baking powder and an old toothbrush.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start by preparing your sneakers, removing any laces and removable inserts. To protect the rubber sole from discolouring, coat the sides with a thin layer of Vaseline or petroleum jelly. You don't need too much, just enough to create a barrier between the dye and the rubber.

2. Mix your dye as per the packet instructions, with hot water and salt as required. Thoroughly wet your sneakers before starting, this will help the dye to take evenly.

3. Take your sneakers and quickly dip the toes in and out of the dye bath about 1/3 of the way. Check out the depth of the colour and decide if it is too dark or light for your liking. If too dark, water down your dye mixture and dip again, this time slightly higher than your first dip.

4. Repeat the previous step staggering the level of your dip along the shoes so that the lightest shade starts at the tongue and the darkest shade is at the tip of the toes.

5. Take a damp cloth and gently rub the colour, blurring any harsh lines to create a smooth transition from light to dark. Dip the cloth into a watered down cup of dye if need be.

6. When you are happy with the colour, allow to sit for five minutes and then rinse the shoes under running water until the water runs clear. Hang to dry overnight.

7. Once your shoes have dried, you can remove the Vaseline from the soles. Take a few teaspoons of baking powder and pour onto the Vaseline. Allow to sit for a couple of minutes and then, using an old dry toothbrush or bristled brush, scrub away at the baking powder. It should start to clump and come away in balls. Continue around the shoe until you have removed all the Vaseline and wipe over with a paper towel. Repeat if necessary until the soles are no longer tacky to touch. (Any residual Vaseline will wear away over time.)

8. Return the laces to your shoes, pop them on and keep those winter blues at bay!