Abstract: There is disclosed a shoelace protector for footwear formed by a plurality of plates arranged along a longitudinal axis. In use, the protector is connected with the laces of a shoe and extends along the laced portion of the shoe from a proximal end to a distal end of the laced portion. One or more linkages connect adjoining pairs of the plurality of plates. One or more proximal connectors are provided on the proximal edge of the proximal-most plate of the plurality of plates to connect the proximal end of the protector with an upper end of a laced portion of the shoe. One or more distal connectors are provided at or near the distal edge of the distal most plate to connect the protector with a lower end of the laced portion of the shoe.