a housing defining an enclosure for receiving a wearer's foot, the housing having medial and lateral sides and a base connecting the medial and lateral sides thereof, the base having a first surface providing a bottom of the enclosure and a second surface remote from the first surface thereof, the base including a plurality of lace channels extending generally transversely between the medial and lateral sides of the housing, the medial and lateral sides of the housing each including lace channel recessed therein and having first ends coupled to the ends of at least some of the base lace channels, the medial and lateral side lace channels being substantially open along the lengths thereof; and

a lace wound through the medial and lateral side lace channels and through the plurality of base lace channels with the substantially open medial and lateral side lace channels exposing the lace for access by a user of the article of footwear.