Duke It Out: Socks and Sandals?

January 15, 2010     Posted in Fashion, Style

Hot daaaamn or hot mess?

[It's pretty obvious that the average CollegeCandy reader has some very strong opinions. Opinions that she likes to share with everyone on the site. We love a strong woman (unless she happens to be charging at us with her fists raised), so we thought we'd give her a real forum to discuss her thoughts, feelings, and perspectives. Every Friday I'll be featuring a hot topic (like grad school!) and leaving it up to you, the readers, to duke it out. So, read it and get your debate on in the comments section below!]


By Lauren H

Ok, I noticed this one floating around out there early this fall and the time has come for somebody to say something – what’s the deal with wearing socks with our summer heels? At first I thought it was just J Crew trying to make socks sexy or cute or something that will make us want to buy them, but I just finished reading the new issue of Glamour and they had a photo spread where nearly half the pics showed the model with thick strappy sandals or peep-toes + socks.

Admittedly, these were nice, colorful socks – not your gym variety – but still, I’m torn about whether this is OK.

On the one hand, anything that gives me a chance to wear my pretty summer shoe collection more than just a measly 3 months out of the year is a good thing in my book (hey, those things cost money!). And I have to admit, I’ve been a sock fan for a while now but rarely have a chance to wear anything more exciting than the white tennis-shoe variety. So it seems like two rights should make a right, right? (OK, that was confusing.) Plus, on the models, I can’t help but find the look kind of cute in a funky sort of way, so why not give it a try? Warm toes plus cute shoes is a total win!

But when I tried the look on in my bedroom I looked a lot more “5-year-old-who-dressed-herself” than “I-don’t-care-what-you-think-chic” and the BF thought I’d gone insane. So after consulting my mags once again, I realize that while it may look cute on the models, so does the other crazy stuff they have on – stuff that would make me look like I’d just broken out of a mental institution. There’s also the little fact that I live in NYC and socks are probably not going to be nearly enough toe coverage when it comes time for my morning sprint to the subway. And perhaps the greatest deterrent of all to me is that age old fashion rule that socks and sandals are mortal enemies – I know we’re supposed to be breaking the mold, but somehow it just seems blasphemous!

So what do you think?

Should I just go with the flow and rock those socks? Will you? Or will this catalog combo get me make me the laughing stock of NYC?

13 Comments on "Duke It Out: Socks and Sandals?"

  1. nikki says:
    Fri, 15th Jan 20104:43 am 

    umm …. i donno. I kinda won't do that. Like, stockings are fine and the stocking-socks …. but not the thick songs with my heels. No, that's just not me.

    Tho this trend is kinda nice as pointed out above.

  2. Lauren - University says:
    Fri, 15th Jan 20104:53 am 

    Ok, I agree that Glamour and JCrew made it look cute, but I just can't see this working in the real world. Maybe in Florida….on my grandma….

  3. Erin says:
    Fri, 15th Jan 20105:36 am 

    I remember in the late summer when my Visual Manger was talking to me about what she had seen from some photos of runway shows. Socks+Sandles/Heels=Cute?. No not at all. I don't care what she said it may look cute on the modle like Lauren said but really I feel it's going to be abused by the elderly and too-geeky-for-any-real-fashion-girls. I think it will pass, hopefully quickly.

  4. justalittlepiece says:
    Fri, 15th Jan 20106:52 am 

    That's pretty funny. I saw the blurb on this and was going to put my two cents in saying that you'd look like a f***ing tourist. But this…this looks good.

  5. Casey says:
    Fri, 15th Jan 20106:53 am 

    In last months Glamour they were on the DON'T list, this month they had a whole spread with them. So I guess even the fashion world is confused by this one. I think it would look right on the right person with the right sock/ shoe pairing. But you have to have a lot of confidence to pull it off.

  6. Bailey says:
    Fri, 15th Jan 20109:11 am 

    I've actually had a lot of self-debate over this for the last six months. I've worn scrunched-down argyle socks with black pumps, and a high-waisted belted black skirt with a tucked-in top. I feel like it was a risky move, but I got a lot of compliments on it (and not the I-don't-know-how-to-respond-to-this compliment). I wouldn't wear them with sandals or peep-toes because I personally don't feel I could pull that off, but with the right shoe, it can be good.

    I think you definitely have to be careful with how you wear it, but if you pull it off, it's a really classy look.

  7. Al says:
    Tue, 19th Jan 20104:07 pm 

    Hate it (thanks Alexa Chung), but especially if you have stubby legs or wider calves this look is a definite no-no.

  8. meg says:
    Wed, 20th Jan 20101:23 pm 

    no. unless you look like the girl in the above picture, which maybe .5% of the population does. no. never.

  9. dd says:
    Thu, 21st Jan 20105:20 pm 

    The "fashion world" just loves coming up with ridiculous shit and making all the mindless buy into it. No one should follow trends; 90% of them are god-awful and the only reason you don't have the sense to say so is because you want to be cool.

  10. Rebecca says:
    Fri, 22nd Jan 20109:23 am 

    I do like the thought of it, but then it has to be a very colorful outfit and not like the model on the photo. H&M did it the right way and I loved it!

  11. gruvee says:
    Wed, 8th Jun 201111:35 am 

    It's something I'd love to do actually. I have thin ankles & slim legs so wearing wicked socks with pretty peep-toes and a flirty dress is what I'll be doing. When I wear regular shoes my ankles look waaaay too thin.

Tell us what you're thinking...