For anyone who has contemplated the idea of adorning a pair of fashionable ankle socks but immediately stops in their tracks as the thought of it brings them back to their childhood days of wearing a pleated pinafore or going on holidays with their dad and his socks/sandal uniform - this one’s for you.
For decades, ankle socks have positioned themselves on the lower end of the fashion spectrum because of their association with school uniforms and a more childish look. Whilst for the longest time, they have been shunned in women’s fashion, they have long held a place of honour in menswear as one of the few acceptable ways to express personality.
I’m here to reiterate the fact that socks are probably one of the most underrated accessories. They’re comfortable to wear (they help avoid blisters!), they can add a pop of colour to an outfit, they can draw attention to a statement shoe, and they can change a silhouette by elongating the foot if worn in the same colour as footwear.
In saying all of this, how can you wear ankle socks with the same off-duty attitude as Bella Hadid or Kendall Jenner and not feel like you look like a cross between a schoolgirl and your Dad on holidays?
Here are some of my own tips that will have you wearing ankle socks like a pro, pronto!
Black on black - You can never go wrong with black. It’s chic, it’s timeless and by pairing black ankle socks with either a black heeled sandal or pair of loafers, it gives more of a boot like appearance and it’s not as in your face as a contrasting colour would be. Heels can be the most daunting to take on with the ankle sock look. Black is the safest but by wearing a white or sheer ankle sock or even a colour with a pair of heeled sandals, platforms or pumps – you are really making a fashion statement and if you can wear this look, you can wear anything! Plus…the socks make the shoes so much more comfortable to walk in.
Pairing your trainers (either of the dad or athletic variety) with white sports socks, is nothing new. Most of us wear this look daily to the gym or whilst going for a walk/run. But why not elevate this look by styling your trainer/sock combo with a dress – something unexpected. It could be a floral midi-dress or a cute mini or even a shirt dress, the choice is endless.
If you’ve mastered the socks with your trainers with an ‘everyday outfit’ look, then you are ready for the socks with loafer’s vibe. No one has owned this look more than Emma Chamberlain – in fact her look created a viral TikTok audio explaining this go-to summer outfit formula. What is that outfit formula you may ask? Well, it’s a long skirt, scrunched down ankle socks, a pair of loafers and a basic tank top. Hailey Bieber is another fan of the loafer/sock’s combo preferring to style the look with micro-mini skirts and oversized blazers. If loafers aren’t your thing, you could go for the Taylor Swift look and team your white ankle socks with a pair of brogues instead.
If you’re more of a classic shoe gal, try teaming your socks with a pair of ballet flats which have made quite the comeback and I do hope…here to stay for good. The ballet core trend has welcomed the addition of leg warmers worn with ballet flats (I’m looking at you Miu Miu) but if you’re like me and you don’t want to look like you’re leaving a dance studio after auditioning for Swan Lake, be careful with which ballet flats you choose to wear this look with. Pair your ankle socks with ballet flats that have an edgier look rather than classic Mary Janes which have the tendency to go down the schoolgirl look.