Go Sockless This Summer

As the days start to lengthen and the rains turn to spring, it’s important not to sacrifice style for comfort, particularly when it comes to your footwear. If the change in heat is getting to you, maybe it’s time that you embraced sockless style. Here’s how to do it right.

THE VITAL PREPARATION

Before you step out sans socks, there’s some serious preparation to be done to keep your favourite loafers looking fresh and your paws sweetly scented. Feet will shed dead skin and sweat in the heat, so you’ll need to pay them some special care.

Scrub your feet with a pumice stone to remove dead skin when you wash, paying attention to the harder, rougher parts on the foot’s ball and heel. And if you’ve got some time to kill, soak your feet in a footbath with one part white vinegar, two parts Listerine and two parts warm water to loosen up the skin before you scrub. And when it’s time to don your shoes, powder your feet and shoes with talcum to absorb moisture and keep sweat to a minimum.

THE SOCKLESS SOCK

If you’re a sweater, these steps might not be enough to protect your feet and your shoes, but a pair of sockless socks will do the job. These thin, low-cut socks will protect your feet, absorb moisture and prevent rubbing without giving away their position and destroying your sockless look. Check out NOTSOCKS for the latest styles.

CHOOSING THE SHOE

By their nature some shoes will look much better than others when worn sockless. Your choice will portray your style, so if you’re new to the game keep it safe and stick to tried methods. Boat shoes love going sockless, and pair perfectly with cinos and a polo. Keep a jacket handy, swap them for loafers and you’re ready for the evening too.

The moccasin, once famed for its status as a driving shoe, has without doubt left the pedals and firmly hit the streets. A great addition to any casual or semi-formal outfit, always wear it sockless and the moccasin will speak of your class.

Espadrilles are your most casual option for an afternoon by the surf. Lightweight and breathable, they’re perfect with shorts and an open shirt. Don’t be afraid to swap the shorts for linen slacks and a jacket for the evening, especially if you’re dining on the beach.

To keep it formal are the wingtips, oxfords, penny loafers and monkstraps. Some will raise an eyebrow at a sockless business suit, but all you need do is watch the runways, and you’ll see proof of their success. And a little hint of skin at the end of a trouser will bring style to your gait, so don’t be afraid to have that trouser hem cut a little higher.

And then there is the smoking slipper. This decadent item of footwear, once a staple of aristocrats and playboys, will transform the most simple of outfits with utterly effortless style. Turn up the hems of a pair of white jeans with a vintage v neck and a blazer for an afternoon on the coffee strip, or lose the oxfords at your next cocktail ball and stride sockless across the ballroom. Trust me, you’ll turn heads.

AFTER-CARE

Once the shoes are off, take a moment to care for them. Use a pair of cedar shoe trees to absorb moisture and odour, and to reshape weakened or deformed outers. And when sourcing shoe trees, look for those that are centrally split and varnish-free. They’ll keep your shoes walking longer than you.

SO BE BOLD.

Cast aside the socks, show a little skin and stride boldly into the warmer months. If done well and with confidence, you’ll like you wrote the book.