Sneaker socks? - YouLookFab Forum

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About: Link Love: Athletic Sneakers Outside the Gym

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Sneaker socks?

Classically Casual

Veteran

I love the sneaker trend, and am proudly wearing my gray classic New Balance sneakers a lot. However, when I'm "dressed up" and in my sneakers, I much prefer the sockless look. But in reality, I cringe at the feeling of sweaty feet in my sneakers. Are there some magical invisible socks that don't slip down? What are other fabbers wearing?

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Classically Casual

suzyq

The ones that are truly invisible do tend to slip don't they. This is almost embarrassing but when I'm stateside I hit my local Wally's. They have a very inexpensive brand that has little bits of rubbery ovals built into the heels. They kind of stick to your heel and prevent them from sliding down. I'm not sure of the fiber content if that matters to you but they feel like a heavy stocking/nylon. I've tried many brands at all price points and toss before exiting the house.

rabbit

Veteran

There are some magical invisible socks that don't show under Converse and are more substantial than those microfiber slip on things. I don't know what they are called though, I'll see if I can find a picture....

socks of this height might not show under running shoes, but they will show under converse: http://www.sears.com/new-balan.....0P?prdNo=6

I have these 'no show socks' which don't show under converse or most oxfords: http://www.sears.com/silvertoe.....0P?prdNo=2

these are mens, but basically show the boat shape you are looking for: http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....ance-liner

Classically Casual

Veteran

Thank you suzyq & rabbit. The men's options are what I'm aiming for, I think.
Thanks rabbit for ferrating these out (rabbiting out?).

Diana

Veteran

These smartwool ones are the best I've tried. Certain shoes will still eat them but they stay in place pretty well with most shoes. Sometimes 6pm has them for a discount. Don't get the super low cut ones though as those don't work as well.

http://www.zappos.com/smartwoo.....-pair-pack

Greyscale

Veteran

I've seen Stance brand invisible socks that look perfect for sneakers, but I haven't tried them. Some options here:
http://www.zappos.com/stance-w.....ICBRgBAgoH

And there are these Converse "cut-for-Chucks" socks that I think we had a thread about a while ago
http://www.zappos.com/converse.....-stripes~1

ElleH

Veteran

I like the vans ones. They have some that have more coverage than peds but less than most ankle socks so they don't show under converse etc.

April

Veteran

CC, I don't know if you have fussy feet, but be aware that many socks, however invisible, increase the tight fit of shoes in a way that may cause you more discomfort than the sweaty foot issue.

Or, the sock itself creates compression on the foot. For example, I had great hopes for these: http://www.hue.com/Socks/Foot-.....overs.aspx since it's always the heel part that comes right off my foot. These have no heel component, little rubberized grips on the bottom, no added thickness to speak of. They seemed perfect.

But they are tight enough around the base of my toes (bunion area) that they cause foot pain.

Someone needs to develop spray-on socks.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ugh, the slipping down socks. I hate this so much. I had it happen yesterday with a thin, old pair of Under Armour socks (admittedly, I knew they were on their last legs) that slid down inside my Ash Genials. After lunch, I popped into Target and grabbed a three-pack of cheap Merona short socks, crossing my fingers that a new pair would stay up. So far, so good.

Anonymous

I found a 3-pack of Sperry Topsider no-show socks. They were specially designed to stay invisible with Sperrys but work well with a number of other shoes, too.

BethL

(website)

Veteran

Classically Casual, I've tried the Converse Cut-For-Chucks that
Greyscale linked to above, and they do work pretty well, except in my
higher cut, heavier sneakers. They're a little iffy in my New Balance
classics, and I prefer my Smartwool socks, similar to the ones Diana linked to, in those, even though they show a little more.

I wear these sometimes under oxfords and such: http://www.herroom.com/Hue-129.....v& . I got them at Nordstrom, but I don't see these exact ones online. They have a silicon patch at the heel that keeps them from slipping down. I've worn them under my Converse look-alikes, but I don't really like how they feel under sneakers. They definitely don't work under heavier sneakers.

Ugh, April, I know exactly what you mean. The pain that's caused when my
socks compress my toes too tightly is almost indescribable, and it's ultimately because of my bunion.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I vote go without socks. You get use to it.

I can't handle socks that slip, and seeing them with sneaks ruins the fashionable look.

Classically Casual

Veteran

Thanks for all the wisdom, ladies. Before I buy one of your selections, I'm going to take Angie's suggestion and try going sockless. Nothing to loose, right? But euwww...

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

In contrast to Angie, I refuse to go sock less in sneakers, and always wear regular socks, because the no-show socks never work for me. I don't object to a little bit of a sock above a casual sneaker; what's wrong with it? It's a casual look anyway. If I wanted to look dressier, I'd wear flats.

rabbit

Veteran

Yeah I don't do sockless with sneakers or oxfords -- that's a recipe for clammy sweat when I've tried it (when you take your shoes off at the end of the day and the cat makes a grimace face, that's a bad sign ).

But the no show socks do work for me, not the micro-fiber ones so much - they want to slip down, but ones with cotton or merino in them that are cut low. If a little bit of the sock shows, I just roll the edge under a bit or push it down a 1/4" at the heel and I'm good to go.

I also see people showing their socks with casual sneakers, and looking good (especially with patterned or colorful socks -- very hipster). One of the reasons I sometimes don't is that my socks don't stay a pristine white or black for long, and I don't want the socks to detract from the rest of the outfit.

ETA: do gifs show up here? Imagine this but without socks... http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gnwh.....et+cat.gif

Diana

Veteran

One more tip - in a pinch, fashion tape works. Just tape the sock to the back of your heel. I've even used scotch tape but I wouldn't recommend that!

Those footies with the little silicon patch never work for me. They don't slide down but somehow creep UP so that the whole silicon thing is sitting ABOVE my shoe, which looks really yucky.

I am wearing some footies today that are a mesh kind of fabric with a padded sole. They are comfy and stay up nicely. I much prefer the mesh fabric to normal nylon or microfiber - I think it's a little less slippery so stays in place better. They are ancient though and I wish I knew the brand.

(And I never, ever wear my sneakers or oxfords without socks. I have a weird issue where almost any pair of closed toe shoe, no matter the size of the toe box, rubs on the top of my toe knuckles and causes blisters without socks. I think I just have knobby knuckles.)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Footies are a disaster on me. DISASTER. So are secret socks. I have spent a fortune trying every solution, and they all slide off. I would much rather go without. If you can keep your footies and secret socks on - you're lucky and that's a great solution here.

Diana, perhaps you can link to the footies you're wearing?

Laura, I beg to differ. The sockless sneaker is the look. Wearing them with visible socks veers into "bad style" territory - unless it's very intentionally fashionable. (The Japanese gals in Harajuku spring to mind). It's a subjective opinion of course - but FWIW, that's my opinion.

High tops cover socks quite nicely, so that's a plus for the style.

Diana

Veteran

Angie, I wish I knew so I could buy more! I bought them several years ago at tj maxx or similar and have no idea what the brand is. The smart wool ones I also like are linked above.

Louise

Veteran

I have some high cut shoe liners similar to these http://www.sockshop.co.uk/prod.....ocks/index

April

Veteran

Diana, those Smartwool ones plus fashion tape look really promising -- would they show in a loafer, do you think?

Diana

Veteran

I'm not sure since I don't wear loafers or any low vamp shoes. On me, I'm guessing they would since I have very low volume feet and footies tend to come up around the sides and top of my feet (which might be why I have less problems with them falling off than others). They don't show in my oxfords though. There is a lower vamp version (called Hide and Sleek, I think) but I don't think they stay on as well.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Diana, perhaps you can take a pic so that I can get an idea of what to look for. And don't you have black loafers?

Diana

Veteran

Will do when I get home, Angie. I don't have loafers. I have some leopard slipper flats that I wear with mule socks but I don't wear them for heavy walking days.

danskogirl

(I also posted this in Diana's photo thread of her footies.)

Just wanted to second Diana's recommendation for the Smartwool Hide and Seek socks. Coincidentally, I had ordered some and they arrived yesterday so I was able to give them a test run with my oxfords. They held up beautifully, not slipping once all day. I have high-volume feet, btw.

The Hide and Seek socks are not visible when I wear my oxfords or sneaker-type shoes like the Dansko Veda. They are visible, however, when I wear slightly lower vamp shoes like my Dansko Vesta. (So, April: Have a look at the Vesta to see if the vamp looks like it goes lower than your loafers.)

Just fyi: Since I wear mostly black shoes, and Zappos didn't have the Hide and Seek in black, I ordered a 3-pack from Vermont Gear. They were great -- sent the socks very fast.

Also, I tried the low-vamp footie version that Smartwool has, called Secret Sleuth. They stayed up better than any footies I've had before but also ended up slipping every once in a while.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I always wear sneaker socks (I grew up calling them peds) and by far my favorites are the Steve Madden brand. I purchased mine at DSW. I have narrow, fussy feet and they don't slip down (ALL others do) and they don't show.

Classically Casual

Veteran

So yesterday I went commando in the sneakers for about half the day. It was about 70' outside, and I didn't do a lot of walking. And I did survive the experience! But, I would only do this in a pinch I think. The dog wasn't in the room when I removed my sneakers at the end of the day, luckily.

Danskogirl, thanks for weighing in. Like many on the thread, I'm a fan of Smartwool socks too. Through your vendor I was able to order the Hide & Seek in grey. Score! Now to move on to the next style cunumdrum...