My hatred of the igent's favored straight lacing (parallel lines up front, mess in back) led me to see if the sane people here had discussed shoelacery.

I'm not a total lunatic, but there are three or four different lacing patterns I use depending on the shoe. 

I find that the 'direction' of inserting the lace (from underneath or above), particularly the starting center of the lace at the bottom eyelet pair and whether or not you have a parallel line hidden or exposed can make a substantial difference in appearance.

That trick where your laces never come undone?

It never worked for me.

Straight lacing is commonplace in the UK?  I just figured this was a fussy affectation.  Honestly, I've never tried it, so maybe it's not as messy and tedious as I imagine.

When I was a boy my Dad told me that the criss-cross lacing was a German affectation. I didn't realise it was also American. Straight lacing was the 'English' way. I thought that was one way to catch out German spies in WW2.  Just checked some of my shoes. Oxfords are properly straight laced and my American brogues are criss-cross. My Dr Marten boots are straight laced but all my running shoes are criss-cross with end locking loops.