My Friends Hate This Shoe Trend, But I Wear It All the Time

Socks and sandals aren't really one of those combos you can quietly dip your toe into. You're either committing to it or you're not—you can't just wear it a bit like a sheer sleeve on a blouse or a touch of leopard print on a bag. It's quite the divisive dressing choice. I happen to wear this combination often, most frequently a pair of Alexa Chung x JuJu's Embellished Jelly sandals and a ribbed-knit sock, and my friends hate it because they say it looks "ugly" and like I've "just thrown on the first shoes at the front door." I have to insist that it really is fashion, despite the eye rolls I get in return.

Delve into the history of the look, and it turns out this combination is somewhat of a classic: Socks and sandals were first debuted by the Romans. That makes the trend something close to over 2000 years old. While dressing like a Roman doesn't sound too bad, the real negative connotations come from elsewhere. It's associated with dads and terribly dressed tourists and hikers. But the reality now is that all those previously mocked groups are being emulated on the runways, in street style and even by the A-list—but particularly when it comes to socks and sandals.

Given that Birkenstocks are having a moment (having fashionable collaborations with Manolo Blahnik and Proenza Schouler, as well as a sell-out style helps), the "ugly" sandal is the shoe of the summer, and adding socks makes sense to take it into autumn. 

The only question that remains is knowing how to do this without looking like it's something you unintentionally put on as you dashed out to Tescos. My own take is to clash your sandals with your socks as much as possible—whether that's pink socks with black chunky sandals or gold mesh socks with metallic Velcro sandals. Other fashion editors opt for a similar take on this: The more jarring the combination, the better, so as to prove this is a real style statement. To see what I mean, I suggest you keep scrolling to see how everyone from influencers to the street style circuit is wearing theirs. Then keep going to shop my favourite socks-and-sandals pairings.

How the Fashion Set Styles Socks and Sandals

Style Notes: It's true; a tie-dye sock and a rubber sandal shouldn't make sense, but somehow with a pink outfit, they just do. 

Style Notes: Helena proves that the trend can work with any sandal, including Fabrizio Viti's shearling-and-leather slides. 

Style Notes: Erica manages to tick off three trends in one outfit: the Breton knit, the wide-leg trouser and, of course, the socks-and-'stocks pairing. 

Style Notes: A guest attending London Fashion Week wears a pair of chunky black sandals with tonal pink-and-white tie-dye. 

Style Notes: Mauve socks and brown sandals is a chic combination, especially with a little heel. 

Style Notes: Make chunky white sandals stand out with a pair of black socks. It's the cool way to make a formal dress a little more casual. 

Style Notes: Perhaps my favourite way to do it, add a fine-knit sock to a strappy party sandal. Not only does it look good, but it will save your feet from aching too. 

Socks-and-Sandals Combinations to Shop

#1: Party Sandals + Minimal Socks

#2: Logo Mania

#3: Sporty Sandals + Tie-Dye Socks

#4: Embellished Sandals + Black Socks

#5: Shearling Sandals + Comfy Socks

#6: Velvet Platforms + Sheer Socks

#7: Colour-Block Sandals + Socks

#8: Printed Wedges + Nude Socks

Up next, the biggest autumn/winter 2019 trends you need to know.