It’s sock season – and what’s age got to do with it?
Photo: Neil Mackenzie Matthews
It’s sock season and I’m ready for it. As the owner of lots of different types of socks, from sports to knee-highs, glittery knit to Argyle pattern; I am obviously someone who cares about a head-to-toe ensemble.
Preppy loafers and a plain knit, yes please. Sneakers and snazzy sports socks, bring it on.
This summer, my friend’s 19-year-old daughter casually asked if I was wearing trainer socks. When I said yes, she informed me that this showed my age – according to some fashion bollocks trending on TikTok your socks should be higher and on show. Whatever, I replied. It was July and I was standing in a field, at a festival, in the pouring rain; my socks invisible beneath my baggy cargo pants and Gore- Tex Salomon’s. My feet perfectly comfortable and dry. The fact that I don’t pay much attention to what’s going on on TikTok is probably a greater indicator of my Gen X status than what goes on between me and my shoes.
Anyhow. Here are some lovely ankle socks. And don’t miss our round-up of the best loafers for autumn:
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Discussion (20 Comments)
Pru says:
I’m a sock fanatic and over the summer I wore red socks with black cotton summer clothes red silk from cos and red cotton from Primark. Sparkly animal print from Fenwick for special occasions and Felix the cat cotton socks with trainers from Primark. so good I bought 6 pairs all to wear with white or off white denim and linen, they even impressed the assistant in Toast yesterday afternoon during my hunt for brown leather shoes and I proudly name dropped my Community Clothing trainers. I’m still hunting a pair of chocolate brown leather loafers and reluctantly realize I will have to buy from USA. It’s the duty import that I don’t like.
Angela Griffiths says:
Hahahah! Isn’t it great just not giving a damn about that sort of thing whilst caring PASSIONATELY about what *really* matters?! My own sock drawer overfloweth and choosing for the mood brings me joy! Thanks for the reminder to buck “trends” confidently!
Boadicea says:
I also love socks. Thick socks inside boots means autumn and winter walks, wrapped from head to toe, hot and clammy maybe, but happy.
But socks with loafers and skirts? Not happy. To me, they are a real mismatch: St Trinians! Socks, glorious as they are in all their diversity, belong with shorts and sneakers, under jeans and up long skirts, high enough so you can’t see where they stop. Socks go with men’s kilts and little girls’ Mary Janes. Not with everyday footwear with a length of leg stretched between sock top and hem. Sorry, Alyson!
PS I can recommend bamboo socks.. They’re not chunky-thick but boy, they are comfy! And they wash well.I love a mismatch, Boadicea! And…when we were taking this photo in central London a cool young man on a bicycle stopped to tell me how much he liked my outfit. How nice is that?!
Lorraine says:
If you wear socks with your shoes etc, do you buy a larger size of footwear to accommodate the thickness of the sock?
I’m in-between (shoe) sizes and so I work the other way around – find the socks that go with the shoes. But I do like thick socks and boots in winter.
Vey nice indeed! Clearly, I fall into the old fogey category, but after reading how experimental others are, and how interesting the results, I just may put a sock in my opinion and take another look at the joys of a mismatch! Thanks, Alyson.
Theodora says:
Thank you Alyson for this post ! I am a huge fan of socks, they bring me joy. I’m happy to share my secret address: I shop them at royalties-paris.com from Paris France, they are expensive but never found such a good quality and style. Let’s check and tell me what you think ?
Christine March says:
I love socks. Have a drawer devoted to them. That said, I have my rules and they include: no socks with sandals. Ever. Most especially white. No visible socks with a skirt, dress, short pants, etc. They should seamlessly work with the outfit. So, as much as you might love the look in your photo, to me, the socks look silly. But fashion is about individuality and creativity so if this look works for you – and others – go for it.
Patsy Rowley says:
It’s my face that shows my age, 71.
I don’t think anyone is looking at my socks!
I have always worn exactly what I want, including socks.
Thank you for all the sock suggestions, I’ll get shopping.Sarah P says:
I am a big fan of Nishiguchi Kutsushita Wool Jacquard socks. They come in several colours and are available at Toast. Personally I handwash them. I layer them over regular M&S cotton socks for warmth, so they don’t touch my skin and thus don’t need washing as often. They make excellent Christmas presents.
Cindy from Canada says:
I wear socks all year round – ankle, knee high, and in between. I don’t wear sandals or shoes with a heel that is more than 1 inch. I wear sneakers and ankle boots (chelsea boots, blundstones) – and no one sees my socks when I wear jeans, dress pants or leggings. I agree with Diane and Angela – age has nothing to do whether someone wears socks or not.
Elaine says:
My 20 year granddaughter who is at University in London happily wears trainer socks and very gratefully accepted my offer of a “6 pack” of mine when I visited in the summer and noticed hers were looking pretty grotty. Your selection sounds like my sock drawer(s). I have all sorts and can’t resist a good looking pair. I’ve cut back on clothes buying but not socks. I’m 78 by the way.
Lorraine says:
I am 65 and love a striped or glittery sock on show between my turned up jeans and brogues. Unfortunately I cannot get a loafer to stay on my narrow feet, but love wearing socks with my velvet platforms.
I was doing the school run yesterday for our grandson and a very trendy mum complimented me on my ‘style’ I felt on cloud nine.Jane says:
Thanks for this post Alyson.
I’ve become obsessive about good socks lately (does this happen to all 50-something women?) but have struggled to find the perfect pair: above ankle.. for me, needs to be long enough to pull up under a long skirt; decent heft, without having to buy bigger shoes (don’t like thin, nylon-y or sparkly socks; high wool content; hand-washable in cold water without shrinkage; gorgeous colour / geometric pattern. Am hoping someone on here will have pointers. I’ve tried quite a few brands and even some of my more expensive socks (around £25 a pair) have shrunk despite careful hand washing. . Community Clothing do great colours (and not expensive), but they have a high cotton content and my feet get cold 🙁Yvonne says:
What are trainer socks? Alyson, you do you! You always look fabulous! Who cares about what others think? Not me. Too old to care even though I am not very old.
Thanks, Yvonne. They’re low-cut or ‘secret’ socks – the ones that show your ankles and are less visible than regular ankle socks.
Debs C says:
My feet either run too hot or too cold, so at this time of year I do need socks! I have a wide variety of styles, including knee length fancy socks for wearing with my mid length dresses, and my current go to for socks being Calzedonia on line, after I tripped over one of their shops in Rome – Ijust like the variety of their styles and colours and they wash well. I agree that socks need to partner with shoes and I also think they need to look their best, so sadly I don’t tolerate tatty looking socks, but they do get a second life as hand dusters (I put them over the hand and run along venetian blind slats as dusters).
Mrs Tonia says:
I’ve enjoyed reading the range of comments on socks. My choices are bamboo socks for everyday wear with trainers or Birkenstock sandals indoors. I buy multipacks from TK Maxx of a brand called Glenmuir.
I never liked to wear trainer socks because they seem to slide under my heel when I walk. So I chose ankle socks. My favourite socks which are getting harder to find are solid colour knee highs of good quality. I used to get so called pop socks in a thicker denier. Foreign companies like Calzedonia still make these plus lacy or patterned knee highs with discounts on a multi buy purchase. Falke also do good socks.
The Best Buy I’ve had last winter we’re socks I found in a small boutique specialising in woollen artefacts in Oxford covered market. They stock an Italian wool blend sock in different colour ways for about £12 a pair. I liked the warmth and comfort so much I bought purple striped as well as orange striped to wear with stiff leather hiking boots. They keep feet warm and protect feet from blisters. I’ve just seen these and others available on the website. Search for wool shops in Oxford market.
I like to coordinate my sock colours with my outfits.
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I love this as I’m a big fan of socks! I’m 66 and, yes, I wear trainer socks. However, I also love ankle and knee high socks. My favourite pair of ankle socks feature Nosferatu. Socks have nothing to do with age, it’s just a preference.