Now that winter time is closing in on us, it’s time to re-stock the wardrobe with warm clothes, without compromising on fashion. Socks, for instance. They come in a variety of colours, size and shapes. But if you want to pair them with your flats without committing a terrible fashion faux pas, all you need to do is understand what kind of socks can be paired with what kind of clothes. It’s a tricky affair, but following are the five kinds of socks you definitely must own.
No-Show Liner Socks
These provide comfort and warmth without peeking around the edges of your flats or shoes. There are three kinds of liner socks that you can buy. First, the low-cut, that you can wear with your canvases and ballet flats. Second, the ultra low-cut, which you can wear with lower cut flats and pumps, to ensure no-show. And finally, the super useful, peep-toe no-shows, which can be paired with peep-toe flats and pumps.
Knee Socks and Trouser Socks
Let’s define these two kinds of socks first. Knee-highs are generally made of substantial material. They may be quite thin, very thick, or anywhere in between.
Trouser socks do not reach very close to the knee, and they are almost always made of a thin material (though usually more durable than nylon knee highs). They’re basically just socks that reach to the upper calf. They’re great if you want the perfect skater girl look.
They can be paired with a short skirt or dress that shows some skin between the skirt and the top of the sock.
But, if you’re going to pull this off, the colours, patterns and materials, of your entire outfit will need to come together well. Use your own discretion.
Tights,Pantyhose, and Knee Highs
If you are wearing a dress or skirt, tights or pantyhose that coordinate with your outfit are always a safe option. This can sometimes even work with shorts. For cold weather, wear a thick pair of tights to keep your legs warm. Nylon knee highs are also a relatively safe bet to wear with flats, but only if you are wearing long pants that will coordinate well, such as dress pants or possibly ankle-length leggings. Knee highs that match your skin tone are the best, for maximum discretion.
Crew Socks
These are typically much shorter than trouser socks, but they cover the ankle. If you are wearing long pants, then a thin, stylish pair of crew socks may work with flats in much the same way as knee and trouser socks. The key is to make sure that absolutely no skin will show above the socks, so skirts are out. And stay far away from those super-casual everyday white socks that you bought in a pack of six, or any sock of a similar material. Those just won’t look good with flats, ever.
Ankle socks
First rule of ankle socks—never wear these with skirts, dresses, shorts, or anything that will allow skin to show above the sock.
Use caution when pairing with long pants. Follow the same rules as with crew socks, above.
Very low-cut ankle socks should pretty much be avoided when wearing flats, because the skin of your ankle is likely to make an appearance when you bend your leg.