The feels for heels: the best socks to wear with heels

Posted by SOCKSHOP

Officially declared a trend by British Vogue in late 2025, the ‘heels with socks’ trend is going strong and will be a key look this year. It’s all about adding a visible flourish to your overall look and can certainly make you stand out in a crowd. But are you brave enough to try it?

To help you take the plunge, we've put together some top tips for experimenting with this key trend for 2026.

Why do socks with heels work well?

Wearing socks with high heels works as a statement look because of the contrast between the classically feminine, or formal, high heels and the more classically masculine look of long socks – which are more of an ‘off duty’ look, popular with hikers, for example. 

Socks with heels is an unusual and ironic look that’s built on the idea of juxtaposition, similar to the ‘trainers with dresses’ look that exploded in the 90s with the Spice Girls. Rules are made to be broken, especially when it comes to fashion!

How do I wear socks with heels?

Socks are having another moment as an essential fashion accessory, but how to make the look work for you? When deciding how to style socks with heels, think about the overall look you’re going for. Quirky? Preppy? Girly?

Here are some key elements to consider:

1. Your style and height of heel

Your choice of shoe doesn’t necessarily dictate, but certainly influences, which socks to go for. Will you be wearing platform shoes, Mary Janes, kitten heels, peep-toe shoes or stilettos? As well as whether your heels are open or closed toe, it’s also important to consider the heel height and whether there’s an ankle strap on the shoe. 

For the ultimate inspiration look to nostalgic 00s TV show Gossip Girl, where preppy characters like Blair Waldorf wore black or grey ankle socks with black platform-heel court shoes or heeled open-toe sandals. Or you could go even further back to the mid-90s and take inspo from Cher Horowitz in Clueless – knee-high sheer white socks with metallic silver Mary Janes, anyone?

2. Select your sock fabric

Next, it’s time to choose your sock finish. Will you go thin, sheer, ribbed or chunky? If you’re new to the trend you might want to start with a sheer or plain sock and build up to the bolder looks, like woolly hiking socks with a silk-style babydoll dress. 

These sheer black leopard print socks [CM2.1]make a subtle style statement. Another cute option is to wear leg warmers with heels.

3. Choose your sock colour

If your outfit is patterned, bright or bold, your socks need to be plain, neutral or muted. Likewise, if your outfit is understated or neutral, you can afford to be brave with your choice of socks with your heels. If you’re just starting to experiment with the socks and heels trend, why not start with a monochrome outfit and black or white socks and shoes? 

For a little dopamine boost, try these cute Love slogan ankle socks with Mary Janes or pair a stripy sock with a platform heel in a neutral colour. 

And if you really want to make the ultimate colour statement, these Elmer the elephant socks would go well with a mostly black outfit and black or white shoes.

4. Consider your sock height

The socks-with-heels look works well with knee-high socks, crew socks and ankle socks, so the main consideration really is the rest of your outfit. Over-the-knee and knee-high socks tend to work best with shorter dress, skirt or skort lengths, a crew looks good with cropped trousers, and an ankle sock goes with almost anything. 

Experiment with a variety of heel heights and sock heights until you find the one that looks the most intentional. Remember, you haven’t forgotten you’re wearing socks with heels, you’re doing it on purpose!

5. Decide how to wear them

Linked to sock height, is how you wear the socks, for example if you want them pulled up, or intentionally folded or pushed down. This is an important step – remember this isn’t the traditional way socks have been worn, i.e. hidden under trousers for centuries! 

Crucially, you don’t want your socks falling down during the day or evening if their height is an essential part of your look. The same goes for wearing slogan socks with heels – the point is that the slogan can be easily read.

FAQs

Which celebrities are wearing socks with heels?

Singer Billie Eilish was spotted wearing white knee-high socks with black, closed-toe pointed shoes at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Emulate Billie’s look with these women’s white cashmere ribbed knee-high socks from Pantherella.

Kylie Jenner was seen sporting the look in late 2025 at Paris Fashion Week. She wore long grey ribbed socks with kitten heel shoes.
Copy Kylie’s look with these grey bamboo knee-high socks.

Swedish model Elsa Hosk wore socks with heels even earlier in 2025 when she paired lacy white ankle socks with red open-toe heels. Steal trendsetter Elsa’s look with these ELLE frill welt bamboo ankle socks in Parisian skies blue or Lace frill white.

What other shoes do long socks go with?

The trend isn’t restricted to wearers of high heels. And it’s not restricted to women either. Anyone can wear socks with ankle boots, pumps, clogs, trainers, sandals and slides. Remember this is a fun trend so don’t take it too seriously! 

How many pairs of socks for heels do I need?

If you’re only buying a few pairs of socks, they need to go with as many pairs of heels as possible. In this case, it’s best to keep it neutral with sheer socks, monochrome socks or neutral colours. One key tip is to match your socks to your skin tone.