Socks and sandals: cute or a crime?

Socks and sandals... a fashion statement that has had style gurus and average Joe's alike divided for decades. Is it the biggest sin one can commit in the fashion world, or are they effortlessly cool? I, personally, am all for socks and sandals. I can already feel the grimace through the screen... Give me a chance to elaborate.

I understand that, in reality, socks and sandals together is a little bit ugly — which is why it can only be pulled off when done right. You can't just put on the first pair of socks you find in your drawer with any old pair of sandals. There's a science to it, people.

See Exhibit A. This is kind of disturbing to look at (sorry, Paul). The practically-neon blue and the dark brown are not working together. The style of sandals could definitely be better. And the length of the socks is WAY too high.

A great sandal alternative to Exhibit A's are Birkenstocks - they often have thicker straps on the sandals, which helps split up the sock to sandal ratio nicely. You don't want your socks to steal the show, hence a bright, contrasting colour (such as *ahem* electric blue) isn't the ideal choice. Instead opt for a simple, white sock or a colour that compliments the shade of your sandals. You also want to make sure your sock doesn't go any higher than about 5cm above your ankle; there's no logic to this one, just completely based on vibes.

Another amazing aspect of socks and sandals is its comfort levels. Oh how I love walking around on holiday without any sand or tiny stones creeping in between my toes or under my feet. This can only be achieved with socks and sandals, my friends. Sandals will never get uncomfortable when you have a soft layer of cotton hugging your heels - as long as you don't use those sandals that have a toe separator .

Socks and sandals are also a fun way to implement a bit of personality into your outfits. Take the teenage boy version of socks and sandals, for example, with their sports sliders paired with Nike socks. It's not quite the vibe I personally go for, but it works nonetheless, hence its popularity amongst young men.

Of course, not everyone is on the same (correct) wavelength. Haters will try to say that socks defeat the purpose of sandals, that they look mismatched or weird. But wear them with confidence and you will always look effortlessly cool.

Besides, I don't want people looking at my toes for free.