I am highly suspicious any trend that oscillates quickly between “do” and “don’t.” The more divisive the trend, the more likely it will look dated by the time you get your clothes back from the cleaners.
That kind of instability spooks my inner-pragmatist — I don’t want to look like a fashion victim 5 years from now just so I can say I tried bubble necklaces. (Which I didn’t, I swear.)
But earlier this week, my attempts to avoid outlandish trends went awry. I got a run in my stockings — and all hell broke loose.
Unfortunately, I was wearing open-toed pumps when this mishap occurred — and I didn’t fancy my entire office seeing my little pig go to the market. Compounded with the fact that it was a brisk day that required leg coverings, and I found myself in a sartorial pickle.
I had to get creative. So, I wore socks. With heels.
I did not come to this decision lightly. We all know how much I hate the recent resurgence of “socks with sandals,” a trend BEGGING for a dose of locker room fungicide. But this iteration seems more elegant and dainty — like the ruffled socks I wore to cotillion in 5th grade.
These outlandish trend may be palatable because the shoes, dress and socks are all in the same pink-maroon-purple family. The exception is the socks’ green toe detail, which charmingly peeks out of the shoe.
The key to “socks with heels” is to find the right combination of print, color and textile to keep the socks from looking too infantile, incongruous or sloppy. This is certainly not a perfect execution — but I was encouraged to keep experimenting. (These runway versions’ sophisticated textures are worth copying.)
But don’t take any shortcuts. Chanel produced a shoe with the socks pre-attached — and when I recently tried them on, they looked thick and slouchy in all the wrong ways.
Would you wear socks with heels? If so, bon courage — and send me a photo at TheStylePragmatist AT gmail DOT com!
