Be Wary of the Allure of Dyed-To-Match-Shoes...

While looking for colorful footwear, the idea of dyed-to-match shoes did catch my eye! (and mentioned by a friend in my comments! :D)

So many styles to choose from, and any color I want! :D Sounds great right?

But then I started doing a little bit more research...

Apparently dyed shoes and water do not mix.

Suggestions for Choosing Dyeable Shoes:

"Dyed shoes are not weatherproof. They may run or stain if the weather does not cooperate. To reduce the chance that your shoes will run if it rains, apply a coat of water repellant, but don’t expect them to be completely waterproof. If your shoes get wet, reapply the water repellant."

Dyeable Bridal Shoes - Things to Consider:

"Moisture of any type will ruin the shoes for the day. (Can be re-dyed but will tie-dye when moisture comes in contact with the shoes.)"

"There is no protection that will keep water out. (Protection will also keep you from dyeing your shoes at a later time another or the same color.)"

Dyeable Wedding Shoes – Should You Do It?:

"The truth is that most of the horror stories that are based in dyed bridal shoes are the result of ignorance- people don’t bother learning about dyeing beforehand. As a result, they are often left to deal with a number of unfortunate incidents on their wedding day. Legions of brides and bridesmaids have ruined their shoes and sometimes even their dresses because the dye got wet. This is usually what happens during outdoor weddings."

"First of all, water is not your friend. When it comes to dyed wedding shoes, there is absolutely no way that you can protect them from moisture. Furthermore, any kind of moisture will ruin them- though you can re-dye these shoes again, you’ll usually end up with a tie-dye sort of pattern. So if the wedding is an outdoor one, this is something you should probably consider. Remember that even the sprinkler system or some morning dew can spell disaster for your shoes."

About Dyeing:

"Shoe dye is water soluble. That means that dyed shoes, when exposed to heavy moisture, will bleed or stain. We strongly suggest you do not wear your dyed shoes in the rain. However, if you must, we recommend you use a water repellent spray to, at the very least, minimize bleeding or staining."

So I guess

boats + dyed shoes
= potential disaster

As I dug deeper, I heard about a trick one can do to keep them from running -- use Scotchgard. (Weddingbee post here)

Was this true? I had to look further...but it looks like Scotchgard is just another fancy word for water repellant...

Link for yes:

"It is recommended that the dyed shoes are waterproofed using a scotch guard spray and Scotch guarding can be done very easily at home."

Link for no:

"Our dyes are not water-fast so customers mustn't get bags or shoes wet. A dyed shoe or bag can be made water resistant by spraying with Scotchguard or other silicon treatment, but cannot be re-dyed afterwards."

Link for maybe:

"We strongly recommend you opt for Scotchgard as this helps to prevent the dye from running especially if the shoes are worn in rain or on damp grass etc. (we don't recommend dyed shoes be worn in rain anyway!) You can do this yourself - make sure to wipe the 'sock' and sole immediately after spraying."

With the research given, unless I'm really desperate, I think it is wise for me to stick to the already-colored shoes...