How to Style Socks With Sandals, the Controversial Trend Cool Girls Are Embracing This Spring

If you’re still side-eyeing the idea of socks with sandals, consider this your sign to reconsider. What was once considered a fashion faux pas has fully crossed over into trend territory—less suburban dad on vacation, more fashion editor on the streets of Paris or Tokyo. Yup, socks and sandals are officially a *thing* and they’re being embraced by designers, editors, and street style stars alike.

As with most polarizing trends, pulling it off is more about confidence than rules. And the best part? You don’t need to shop for anything new. Odds are, you already have a pair of sandals that can make the look feel intentional. We love it when you can partake in the latest trends using items straight from your closet.

Whether it’s chunky Velcro styles or strappy heels, the right socks can take them to a new level. Ahead, 15 unexpected sock-and-sandal pairings that’ll inject some personality and just the right amount of chaotic good into your outfits.

Balance a Bold Print

Don’t give up on those printed or patterned sandals just because they don’t match your usual clothes. Slip on some neutral socks to bring everything together and make the look work. This mix lets your shoes be the standout piece without clashing.

Color Match Your Accessories

One way to create cohesion in an outfit using only socks and sandals is to wear a pair of socks that match your accessories—whether it’s your bag, belt, or other accent pieces. By narrowing the colors in your outfit down to just two, you’ll add a level of intentionality and style to your look.

Sheer Luxury

Think of sheer socks as the equivalent to the naked dress, but for your feet. This soft texture injects an instantly flirty vibe to your outfit and can look so elegant when paired together with some sandals or heels.

Monochrome

Go all in on tonal dressing by matching your socks to your heels and outfit. It’ll look seamless and super curated, especially when you go for shade that’s in the same color family, but either slightly lighter or darker to add some contrast.

Opt for Comfy and Whimsical

You don’t need to teeter around in sky-high heels to make socks and sandals work for you. A pair of vibrant, low sandals and whimsically printed socks is the perfect combination. The best part? It gives a casual ‘fit a fresh, fun finishing touch.

Go for Glitter

It doesn’t get more chic (at least in sock world) than a pair of glitter socks that take the phrase “twinkle toes” to another level. Glitter socks with a few pops of color are a great option if you want to add some depth to a mostly monochromatic outfit nestled right in the scope of your fave color palette.

Lean Into Business Casual

The most normcore sock and sandal pairing on our list, plain white socks and brown Birkenstocks are a classic for a reason. They’re also super casual unless you wear them as part of a deconstructed business casual look. But think light on the business and heavy on the casual, such as an oversized blazer, leggings or sweats, and a plain white tee.

Contrast Stripes

Pairing horizontal and vertical stripes can seem like a bit much—but, confined to socks and sandals— contrasting stripes serve sophistication, not circus. You can do this by switching up the direction of the stripes (like mixing vertical and horizontal lines) or going with two differently toned colors, like blue and orange.

Crispy Whites

When you’re wearing sandals, adding a pair of white socks might feel counterintuitive, but it can actually be the extra detail that sets it apart. With its crisp, clean lines and style, it works well either as an accent piece or blended into the rest of your outfit.

Try Black and Tan

Wearing black and tan is a world away from wearing black and brown. And as a sandals combination, it also adds a touch of elevated taste to a trendy look, especially if you work a pair of khaki shorts into the fashion equation. Bonus points if you add a pop of color with a vibrant blazer.

Colorblock

When matchy-matchy works, it works. This take is bold and innovative, featuring bright, contrasting shades that nail colorblocking to a T. To get the eye-catching aesthetic, make sure the various hues match exactly for maximum impact.

Mix Textures

If you’re a fan of matching but still want to create a bit of contrast, you can try mixing textures within the same color palette. Take this open-knit black sock with a black velvet sandal combo: the differing textures freshen up a simple monochrome color palette.

Step Into Florals

If you’ve got an outfit that has a lot of color, add a fun print via a pair of floral patterned socks. It adds a bit of whimsy and, depending on the colors in the floral pattern, can pull a whole look together.

Pair Crew Socks With Flatforms

For a street style-informed take on socks and sandals, try wearing athletic crew socks with a pair of platform sandals or flatforms. If you’re going the all-white route, consider wearing a different color shoe to add dimension and interest to your outfit. However, if your ensemble will be colorful, try a black or white shoe to let the outfit shine.

Make It Neon

Whether you’re wearing heels or slides, neon is a great color choice to make a statement. If your sandals have even a hint of highlighter bright color, pull that color through the rest of your look. Start with your socks and top everything off with a matching cardigan or jacket.

Read the original article on InStyle