Wow, was this week’s topic hard!! If only you could see all the outfits that DIDN’T work for today’s letter. But I just love the look of socks with sandals. So many brands do it in their runway styling, using them as a quirky and low cost way to add whimsy or color to an outfit. But let me tell you, executing this idea and then wearing it out of the house is a different story all together. While testing this out throughout last week I found myself walking down the street with the same stressful voice in my head that announces when I’m wearing a hat (anything other than a functional baseball or winter variety.) I just felt silly and over styled. So I was determined to figure out how to wear the trend, and not let the trend wear me.
I’m feeling great about all the solutions below and came away with two overarching guardrails for outfits that felt comfortable and confident. First, dress it up! Socks and sandals feel better when you take them out of their preconceived notions of hiking garb, at least when wearing them nowhere near a trailhead. And second, the socks matter! This is not surprising of course, but when I just threw this idea on with whatever old socks I was wearing, it felt wrong. It also felt too loud for me with colorful socks. I tried white with yellow trim and red. Both were a no (for me!) They didn’t let the outfit work together but drew too much attention to my feet.
I felt my best socked and sandaled self in a dark grey wooly trouser sock, a jet black sock, a cashmere sock in tan and for evening…a black stocking. We will get to them all below.
So now I give you five different sandal styles, their best sock pairings and the outfits that make it all work IRL.
The heavy (looking) flat sandal
Starting with the most important sandal/sock combo: the dressy, chunky flat “Prada style” sandal. A supremely dressy version of the granola-leaning socks/sandals trend of our teen years (for many of us at least). My biggest takeaway from this was that I had to get it out of it’s uber-casual, uber-comfortable roots to not feel like I was wearing 10,000 Lakes Festival cosplay. So I paired them with black pants and big skirts and sparkle and most importantly, slim, clean trouser socks.
With a Mediterranean Style Sandal
A strappy sandal makes this styling idea more of a challenge as it’s important to have a little visual weight on the bottom of your foot to make this not look awkward. So choose a sandal with a base that’s not TOOO thin, but lean into the thinness of the leather straps. And THEN, go for a chunkier, luxe sock to balance it all out. I paired these Gabriela Hearst sandals with Maria La Rosa cashmere socks, but anything with a little fuzzy texture would work too. Lots of great options.
With Fisherman Sandals, A Great Place To Start
Since fisherman sandals are half way to shoe already, this is a great place to dip your toes (literally) in the trend.
With HEELS!
I love a little stocking with heels. This actually feels pretty easy to do since I already do it often with fishnets and/or full tights. I did not go full Miu Miu runway here and try to pair a sport sock with strappy stilletos. Stuck to hoisery style socks/stockings and paired with strappy, shiny shoes for big impact. It also looks incredibly sophisticated with a black patent or shiny leather heeled sandal.
**One note about this…stockings make your sandals SLIPPERY! So make sure to choose a sandal with a good ankle strap when attempting. I was walking preciously in my bedroom in these outfits, so this is definitely an Uber to table trend for me!
This letter would not be complete without a Birkenstock
The sandal from which we all started. The granola roots of the socks and sandals trend lives!!! Albeit I intentionally paired here with the most obviously beautiful fabrics in my closet to make it feel interesting and styled and fun and not at all…too too. To me, a tweedy, extremely “lady” jacket and shiny satin pants are the perfect pairing for this utilitarian footwear choice. I love how the marled texture of the socks sort of matches the jacket but feels like it’s from a totally different geotag. The brown/green juxtaposed by the formal black and white of the clothing is all just the right amount of wrong. I CAN’T WAIT to wear this outfit this week.
And with that, dig out your sandals ladies (and gents). It’s TIME!!
Yours TRULY,
Becky
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Enjoy wearing your sandals with socks, but I won’t be participating in the trend. In my mind, however old fashioned it may be, sandals belong on bare feet. If the feet aren’t ready for exposure, or it is too cold, I would wear closed shoes! 😉
I’m the hugger!! I should have looked down and noticed your feet. Loved meeting you even if perhaps I invaded your personal
Space- couldn’t help myself. I’m a real fan. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading.