Can you wear white socks with black shoes? Socks and shoes say a lot about you, but with the ever-evolving socks trends, no look is impossible to pull off now, including this black and white shoe and sock combo. So, yes, you can wear white socks with your black shoes However, there are a few rules you’ll need to follow to pull this look off. This article will explain where and how you can wear this combo.
White socks and black shoes? Why not?
Wearing white socks with a black pair of shoes is a classic look you can wear in any season. The combination adds some contrast and personality to your outfit without going too far into crazy territory. I recommend trying out this combination if you’re looking for a new style and if the look is acceptable to the event you want to attend.
White socks and black shoes are best suited for casual outfits and events. You can wear the look with shorts, jeans or chinos. You can even wear them with suits if you’re feeling adventurous, but this is always a risky move.
When it comes to a suit or another formal outfit, I recommend wearing black shoes with black socks. If you don’t want to wear black socks, choose socks with a darker color, such as brown, navy blue, or maroon. Finally, you can also choose a different shoe color for your black suit.
The white socks and black shoe styling is great for warm weather. The contrasting colors of your casual outfit will help you look cool in the hot sun. If you’re wearing them with shorts or jeans, consider breaking up the black and white with an accent color like blue for the pants. This will make your outfit pop!
Where Can You Wear White Socks With Black Shoes?
You can rock this classic look in many places, including school, work, or even a casual night out. The key is ensuring that the rest of your outfit is on point, including your belt and accessories. This is because, like most things in fashion, the white socks with black shoe look can be very polarizing. As a result, you’ll either get a lot of compliments or a lot of dirty looks.
Who Can Wear Black Shoes with White Socks?
This shoe and sock combo is a great casual choice for men and women. Men can wear white socks with black shoes with shorts, jeans, or another casual pair of pants.
It is best to avoid wearing black leather shoes with white socks as this might be the biggest fashion faux, where flashes of white socks pop up every time you sit down. Instead, wear casual shoes like black sneakers if you want the black shoes and white socks.
For women, the look is a little more dressy. For example, you can wear white socks with black shoes when wearing jeans and dresses or skirts. Luckily, you are not limited to the shoes you can wear; you can rock leather shoes or sneakers with white socks easily.
Unfortunately for men and women, not all cloth colors can be worn with white socks. If you wear white socks, I advise choosing clothes of a solid color. The rule of thumb here is that if your outfit has some pattern on it (e.g., plaid), you should try to match it with your socks.
How to Wear Black Shoes With White Socks
To wear white socks with your black shoes, follow these dressing tips for the best look:
a) Only wear the combo for a very casual event
The only time this look will not be a fashion faux is when you wear it for a casual occasion. So, do not consider black shoes and white socks for a formal, smart-casual, business-casual, or black-tie setting. If you want to maintain a formal and serious look, I advise wearing black socks that will not carry the attention from your suit or outfit. If you make the mistake of pairing white socks with a suit, the attention-grabbing flash from your white socks will inevitably ruin your look.
The combo is a good way to stand out and show off your personality and adventurous style in a casual setting, such as a night out or wedding.
So, as you look for ways to wear black shoes with white socks, understand that white socks are more suited for athletic wear, which should also influence the type of shoe to wear.
b) Only wear black casual shoes with white socks
As you look to pull off the black shoes and white socks look, I recommend avoiding dress shoes. Dress shoes are shoes you wear with formal suits for black-tie events. These are shoes like brogues, oxfords, derby shoes, and monk strap shoes, among others. When you wear dress shoes, they tend to show a bit of skin, and in our case, socks, especially when you sit.
Now, while white socks show unique style and personality, wearing them with black dress shoes will simply ruin your formal look. Simply put, the socks will be too distracting, thus taking all attention away from your suit.
So, to pair this combo for a completely sage look, I find black sneakers the better shoe option. This athletic look is easy to pull off regardless of your clothes. Since most white socks are suitable for athletic settings, you can easily wear the combo with any black sneaker and look good in pants, shorts, a dress, or even a skirt.
But, there is one consideration to make when pairing this sock and shoe combo; the height of the socks.
c) Wear short white socks with black shoes
There is a long history of socks, which mostly revolves around functionality and comfort. In the case of which type of white socks to wear with black sneakers, I recommend going for a quarter-back design, also known as ankle socks. The ankle sock is a functional and comfortable sock that is easy to pair with most outfits for men and women.
In addition, ankle socks are not attention-grabbing since only a flash of fabric is displayed, especially when you wear them with sneakers. White ankle socks with black shoes are the perfect combo with a subtle athletic appeal fit for any casual indoor or outdoor setting.
d) Wear white cotton socks with your dark shoes
Are you wondering what fabric has to do with pairing white socks with black athletic shoes? Because the look is eye-catching, I advise you to wear high-quality socks that will not disappoint the curious eye. In addition, high-quality cotton socks are comfortable, easy to clean, and durable.
e) Wear shorts to complement the sock-shoe combo
Since we have established white socks only pair well with black athletic shoes, I also find it important to wear them with shorts to maintain the athletic look.
Besides maintaining the athletic look, displaying your socks and shoes shows you picked the combo intentionally, not by mistake. Since you are going for a unique and confident look, you may even opt for taller socks that go just a bit over the ankle.
f) Complement the look with more white
When you want to wear white socks that you can display, it is ideal to choose a dark-colored outfit, but adding a pop of white somewhere gives the impression the socks were not a mistake.
For this tip, you can choose dark-colored shorts and a dark-colored top, but ensure one of these or another athletic accessory has subtle flashes of white to improve the look.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wearing White Socks with Black Shoes
a) Is it okay to wear white socks with any black shoes?
While you can wear this combination if you love it, it is not always a good look, especially for a formal outfit. So, I advise avoiding the combination if you need to wear a suit to a formal, business-casual, or black-tie event.
You can wear the look to more casual events with shorts or skirts. It is best to also wear casual shoes like sneakers instead of other formal dress shoes.
b) Should I match my white socks to my outfit?
White socks can be quite intimidating to pull off, especially since they limit you to casual outfits. But, one way to make it easy to wear socks is to always coordinate the colors with your pants or shorts. So, when wearing white socks with your black shoes, wear them with white shorts or add a pop of white to your outfit to complement the look.
c) Should men wear white socks?
Yes, men can wear white socks. However, it is important to pair the socks with the right shoes and outfit. Light-colored socks are always ideal for athletic activities such as hiking, working out, running, or biking.
d) Which color is best for formal outfits with black shoes?
Since it is not ideal to wear white socks with your dress shoes, you can choose solid-colored or dark-colored socks, such as black or dark blue socks, to wear with a suit. If you need a lighter color, you can choose grey, light blue, or striped socks, as these will maintain a formal look.
