Socks’n’sandals: how the faux pas went mainstream
From David Beckham – in red socks and Birkenstocks – to Tyler, the Creator and Kanye West, style icons have rushed to embrace this anti-fashion statement
Despite previously dabbling in heavily bleached cornrows, abundant curtains and even, during a particularly dark period, a tie-dye sarong, David Beckham has outdone himself in the questionable style stakes. Papped last week while shooting an advert for his new skincare range, Becks rocked bright red socks with brown, two-strap Birkenstocks, seemingly inspired by the anti-deep-vein-thrombosis look preferred by many a mature flyer.
But was it really such a faux pas? Socks and sandals might have received a bad rap over the years, but, like normcore “dad” trainers and hiking boots, they have become an unexpected trend for both men and women. Just ask rappers Tyler, the Creator – who posts umpteen pics of his socks and sliders on Instagram – and Kanye West, who wore the combo to a recent wedding. (Curiously, for someone who has his own shoe line, they appeared to be at least a size too small.) Elsewhere, Louis Vuitton and Anna Sui have sent the look down the catwalk and influential fashion blog Man Repeller recently published a guide to nailing the look. But just how has this former anti-fashion statement – the footwear of choice of Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig – crossed over to the mainstream?