I’d argue that the hardest working, most undervalued pieces in our wardrobes are our socks. They bear the brunt of our daily toil, yet rarely receive praise or acknowledgment. Our toe coverings deserve some sartorial consideration – it’s the least we can do.
Despite their bland ubiquity, socks have been pulled into many cultural quarrels. It was only recently that people labelled ankle socks as millennial-coded, and crew socks as gen Z-coded (because the height of your sock translates directly to your age bracket).
We’ve also been privy to a turning of the tides when it comes to “fun” socks – the patterned and colourful pairs sporting avocados or dogs found on corporate ankles or in Father’s Day targeted ads – and the declining popularity of “no-show” socks, the teeny, ever-slipping socks you wear to make it look like you’re not wearing socks.
Socks see us through thick and thin. And we see them go from thick to thin. They shouldn’t be an afterthought when it comes to assembling an outfit, but a crucial part of its foundation. Here’s how I styled visible socks for a week.
Office outfit: day one
In this in-between Melbourne weather, where spring is playing hide-and-seek, I’ve been wearing button-up shirts paired with pants and a medium-weight jacket – something halfway between a thin cardigan and a puffer jacket. This pair of lantern pants (from LA brand No Less Than) is on high rotation. It cuts off above my ankles, allowing a pair of statement socks to shine.
I’ve owned these red houndstooth woollen socks for longer than recommended, but I adore their instant vintage injection into any outfit. They’re peeping out from my pair of Sneaky Janes (from local brand Twoobs) that would probably look more in place on the feet of a geriatric lifeguard.
Office: day two
Visible socks don’t have to be loud; they can whisper over the tops of boots. The sliver of white here helps break up an otherwise dark outfit. For a day in the office followed by a show at Comedy theatre, I wore an op-shopped button-up shirt and knitted vest by Melbourne maker By Hanan, with a secondhand knitted skirt featuring a leg cut-out. (Sorry if this breaks your workplace’s dress code – the dress codes in predominantly millennial creative workplaces like my office don’t really exist.) Equestrians and their riding boots inspired this combination of Radical Yes boots and long white socks. Giddy-up.
Weekend: day one
For those foraying into the world of sock styling for the first time, might I suggest matching your socks to your shoes? I’ve embraced being matchy-matchy here, with light-blue Paire socks and Radical Yes suede shoes.
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A sock-and-shoe combo can be a cohesive added layer to an outfit; you don’t have to commit to a top-to-toe colour-coordinated look. Instead, try complementary or analogous colours. My khaki Kowtow sweater and op-shopped dark teal skirt nicely contrast against the baby blue.
Weekend: day two
Most of my sock collection leans pretty neutral. True to my generation, I’m commonly found in a pair of white crew socks. But there are a few bolder pairs I am particularly fond of. I got these cobalt blue ones from an op shop’s new, donated stock section. My outfit – an oversized Ganni sweater and op-shopped checkered skirt – relies on a muted, warm palette. The zing of blue freshens it up. If in doubt, add something unexpected. If in further doubt, stick to something block-coloured.
Night out
Socks aren’t purely functional; depending on their length and material they can also be used as an accessory to switch up the overall look of an outfit, the same way you might use a scarf, belt or brooch. Case in point, black mesh socks – no, they’re not compression socks – can be paired with dressy shoes like heels or loafers, a look that’s been quite popular at fashion weeks in New York and Copenhagen. For the opening night of a performance by Bangarra Dance Company, I wore a Variety Hour dress with a secondhand Levi’s coat. These mesh socks add a textural detail against the silk dress and patent loafers.
