Stumped by socks - YouLookFab Forum

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Stumped by socks

Amanda

I need advice from fashionable folks! I started a new job in a FREEZING office. My go to look used to be slim ankle length pants, worn sockless with flats, loafers or booties. In my new office, I'm finding I cannot make it through the day sockless without shivering... but adding socks to my usual pant/shoe look is just not working. And I haven't found any inspirational style images to help me picture a cuter way to wear socks with the slim ankle pant silhouette. Any ideas out there? Or do I need to give up and transition to full length pants?

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Toban

Veteran

I don't really have a solution for ankle pants, other than wear booties. Some bootie/ankle pant combinations do work. On cold days I generally wear full-length trousers with booties or tights and tall boots with a skirt or dress and I save the ankle pants for warmer days.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Would sheer hosiery add enough warmth?

rachylou

Veteran

Doubled knee high nylons...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sheer knee-highs, and a space heather by your feet.

LaPed

Veteran

My solution, when I need to look polished, is a sheer black knee-high (I suppose you could also do nude knee-highs) plus a Smartwool footie. May not work if your shoes are very snug. Smartwool makes two different heights, one for low vamp, one for high vamp (see Finds). Sometimes if you put them on underneath the nylons the teeny ones stay on a bit better and don't slip off as easily (but they're also harder to fix if they do slip!). That said, I also like the menswear look of trouser socks, and don't really have a problem with visible socks for everyday wear. I guess it depends on the level of formality at your workplace.

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Helena

Veteran

I wear scrunchy socks in the winter with boots ... cute enough that they can stick out the top ... but not sure if that would be too casual for your workplace?

Amanda

Good ideas, all! I will give the sheer knee highs a try. (And use my space heater!)

Mainelady

Veteran

What Toban said. I am going to try LaPedestrienne’s suggestion.

unfrumped

Veteran

I just can’t manage in true mid winter.
For warmer weather I still wear nude sheer knee highs OR if not high summer I may wear full pantyhose. But, I have a high tolerance for some form of tights as an underlayer. I size up and don’t go for major shapewear fit so it’s not as binding.

DonnaF

Veteran

Trim trouser socks that don’t wrinkle at ankles like crew socks.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I would wear trim trouser socks with booties -- ensuring no "gap" between pants and bootie (except maybe when sitting). If warmer, then sheer hose, but in my winters that would never be enough.

Roxanna

Veteran

This is my *exact* issue (see my last WIW post for a conversation in the comments!)

I wear thick socks and boots to work (I live in a cold and snowy climate.) Then I change into two pairs of sheer knee highs and my low vamp pumps. I also keep a space heater under my desk (sometimes with a shawl on my lap if I'm extra cold!)

Joy

Veteran

When it is transitional weather, I wear sheer skin-tone-blending knee highs or hosiery for even more warmth. Remember that you can wear one pair on top of another to add warmth.

Gigi

Veteran

You could try some fishnet anklets. I have some for transitional weather, and they are warmer than you would think.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I wear socks most of the year that is not sandal weather. Very few in between shoes like mules and loafers. I find the covered toes are not really enough to keep me very warm. The top and/or back of my foot would still get cold.
Thus,some low-vamped shoes may show some sock, and I wear full-length skinny or straight pants. I match the sock to the shoe if the vamp is low- brown socks with my brown-and-gold ballet flats, navy socks with my navy/tan/gold loafers.
The only cropped pants that are not for summer are the cropped jeans which have been good with higher shaft boots. I wear skirts or dresses with tights or pantyhose quite a lot less as my lower legs get cold and I hate fussing with the waistband of said tights or pantyhose.
Cropped pants get worn in summer with open-toed sandals, for me.