WIW: patterned hosiery - YouLookFab Forum

The tights are black but the knee-highs definitely count as fun.

I'm not 100% sure about the socks in this outfit to be honest. I haven't worn them in quite a while and I'm not sure if maybe their era in my wardrobe has passed? Or maybe with a shorter and straighter skirt, so they have more of a sporty legwarmer type effect (kind of a Japanese mountain/forest girl type thing). Or maybe my eyes just need to readjust!

I'll add my burgundy patent ankle boots when I go out later today.

Worn with a recent purchase in the "I want new and dramatic silhouettes!" vein. Hard to see in the full-length photo, but it's a cropped cardi with elbow-length sleeves, one button at the neck, and a cape-like cut. I'm enjoying experimenting with this piece and another similar style (a third purchase in this vein was a dud but oh well, inevitable with online secondhand shopping as we've discussed and I'm not beating myself up about it. Just focusing on experimenting and learning and being deliberate. It's satisfying!).

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

2 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh I love the cardigan! Looks great!
The socks might be a bit too maximal for my taste, but I see the fun and I do like fun! The burgundy boots sound good with them.

LaPed

Great cardi and very cute socks! I understand feeling hesitant when something has a lot of pattern and colour, especially on feet/legs vs up top (I doubt the same colour/pattern would feel like "too much" in a sweater or scarf). The black really makes them stand out. Might be able to tone them down with a lower-contrast (grey/burgundy perhaps) outfit?

I have lots of "loud" socks, and always go back and forth on whether I should be embracing the loudness or trying to subdue it.

Cardiff girl

The cardigan looks great and l really like the socks!Ithink plain socks are a wasted opportunity.

Stagiaire Fash

I can’t tell how many pairs of socks are layered there, but it’s such a cute look. Perfect pairing too, with the simple skirt and just the right sweater—very predictable, in a good way.

Firecracker (Sharan)

That's a fun outfit. I like the pattern mix and the new-to-you silhouette.

SarahD8

Jenni NZ thanks! Yes fun is a horses for courses situation, isn’t it? (Just a matter of figuring out what sort of horse I am!)

LaPed these are great ideas for a future iteration of this outfit, thank you! I did consider rust colored tights today…maybe that is something to play with until I can source some more colorful winter skirt/dress options.

Cardiff girl, ha, well when it comes to socks we know where you stand! I have become very dependent on fair isle socks of late but most are not quite so extra as these ones.

SF thank you! I was trying to strike a balance between drama and backdrop, sounds like I succeeded. (It’s just 1 pair of tights and 1 pair of socks here, but the socks do have ALGO.

Firecracker a lovely vote of confidence, much appreciated!

slim cat

It's pretty and fun - I like it all .

Brooklyn

Love the vintage English vibe you’ve got going. (Don’t ask me why your outfit seems English, it just makes me think of liberty prints and Burberry trenches.)

I think the socks are great. If you have knee high or mid calf boots you could tone down the pattern mix a little by just having the tops of the socks peek out from the boots.

Joy

Embrace the loud socks . Others see only a sliver of sock and they will make you happy, as well as anyone who can see them.

rachylou

Definitely fun!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like the fun match of cardi and socks too, SarahD8! Like Brooklyn, I see tall boots complete the outfit.

Hope you're enjoying your new and warm home

Jaime

I love this! The cardigan is just right on you.

Suz

What Brooklyn said. If the socks feel like too much, you can wear with taller boots. I really like the cardigan and can see it transitioning into early spring well, too.

Thanks for the kind words, slim cat, rachylou, and Jaime!

Brooklyn, yes, I'm definitely aiming for something like a vintage English vibe, so glad to hear I'm hitting the mark -- although I might point my aspirations even a little farther North, to Scotland's outlying isles and skerries...

You and Angie and Suz have a good suggestion to tone down the socks with tall boots. I think that's how I've worn them in the past. I did wear ankle boots the other day and thought they were fine, but will probably do tall boots in the future. Or maybe mix it up with either from time to time!

Joy, I like your attitude!

Suz, I agree the cardigan will be good in early spring, too. I'm finding that these 3/4- or short-sleeve sweaters don't work for the coldest days (even in our warm new house, which yes I am very much enjoying, Angie!) but they're great for milder weather. A useful realization, because it can help guide the color palette of such purchases if I keep in mind what colors I like to wear at what times of year.

How about clogs? They’d show off the hosiery in all its glory, but not add another transition line on your leg.

SF I like the idea of clogs! Mine are open heel and Mary Jane style though, so I think they'd add multiple transition lines on the leg? Particularly bc they are relatively high contrast with the socks. The burgundy ankle boots are probably the option that creates the least transition line of any of my footwear tbh

Zaeobi

I like the socks but agree you might find them easier to style with a different colour palette - the opaque black tights help with the English look, but I think the socks would also look right at home with a khaki parka, tan saddle bag, your burgundy boots & either olive or plum tights. If they feel ALGO, have you considered wearing them scrunched down to bootie length instead of pulled up? Or folded over necessarily for more of the Japanese 'mori girl' look you mentioned.

Also love the cropped cape silhouette of the cardigan - strikes the right balance between dramatic (silhouette) & practical (length)

Zaeobi, yes - this exercise is really bringing home the fact that it would be useful to have some winter skirts/dresses that are *not* black.

(Currently I just have the dress I'm wearing here, and an above the knee merino knit skirt. I've bought and passed along a number of items for a winter dress/skirt capsule in recent years and just haven't been able to hit the mark yet. And, these are occasional looks so often other priorities intervene. But, the discussion here is helping me home in on what I DO need/want!)

Love the idea of scrunching the socks, thanks for that!

Category