Do you wear socks with Birkenstocks or are you on the fence about this fashion choice?
Wearing socks with Birkenstocks is having a moment and it is sending some people into a tailspin. When the fashion world starts to do something different with sandals it can look so wrong but at the same time feel so right.
So should you wear Birkenstock sandals with a pair of socks or is the latest cozy Hygge fashion choice something that should be left to the fashionistas only?
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Is it Weird to Wear Socks with Birkenstock Sandals?
If you wear socks with Birkenstocks or any other form of summer sandal wear it does initially look wrong.
Sandals and flip-flops are supposed to be worn in the summer with bare feet. This isn’t a cute fashion choice but a practicality because your feet get hot and sweaty in the summer and sandals help to keep them cool and dry.
This means that traditionally Birkenstocks have been worn in warmer weather.
However…
People wearing Birkenstock sandals have learned how comfortable these sandals are once they have molded to their feet. Their clogs and strappy sandals make walking a breeze and they are so easy to slip on and wear all day long.
Is it any wonder that people started to find ways of wearing them with socks so they didn’t have to consign them to the back of their closets in the colder weather?
This started a whole new fashion trend where people started to wear socks with Birkenstocks to keep their feet warm and the trend has stuck, at least for some people.
Wearing socks with Birkenstocks is all the rage in some circles but whilst of course, you can do what you want and wear what you want this isn’t always the best idea.
The reality is that only some people look stylish or cool when they are wearing this look whilst the rest of us look terrible. This is why in my view unless you are stylish or young this look should be worn at home only.
Is This Because I am British?
I am a person who always believes that people’s fashion choices are their own choice but there is a good reason why socks and sandals strike me with horror and that is because I am British.
For years the media in the UK has portrayed British men as being totally unfashionable and incapable of looking good on the beach.
In fact, for years a comedy figure of fun has been a British male wearing horrible sandals with socks up to their calves. It summed up post-war Britain and suggested that whilst the swinging 60’s and 70’s may have happened it bypassed a good percentage of the population.
This unattractive vision has stayed with me for years. I think the picture below sums up the look that is best avoided.
Types of Birkenstocks That are Good To Wear With Socks
Do you wear socks with Birkenstocks? Well, time has moved on and thankfully not everyone who wears socks with Birkenstocks looks terrible when they are wearing them.
In fact, plenty of people who wear Birkenstocks with socks on look downright cool or cute. Is this because they are young and beautiful? Well possibly because I’ve seen tons of pictures of Instagrammers who have taken the perfect fashion shot of themselves wearing just the right jeans and socks with their Arizona sandals.
These people look stylish in them and it makes me think I could as well. But equally, I know I am not twenty-something anymore my cute socks are likely to look like saggy bits of cloth hanging around my ankles.
If you are going to wear socks with Birkenstocks and make a fashion statement then at least do it with the right style of sandals.
Birkenstock sandals come in a wide range of styles and colors and some will look better with socks than others.
The number one go-to Birkenstock style that seems to go best with socks is their Arizona sandals. These have a really simple design with two straps that go across the front of your feet.
Not only are they super comfortable but the sock and sandal styles that I see predominantly revolve around this design.
Closed-toe designs can also work well such as the Birkenstock Boston sandals.
Whilst you can technically wear socks with their sandals that are more like flip-flops the look is never going to be as stylish. Wearing Birkenstocks with socks when you are trying to ram your cloth-covered toes in between a toe post doesn’t look good and is probably going to wear your socks out fast.
Special Mention to The Arizona Shearling Sandals
I’ve already mentioned people wear socks with Birkenstock Arizona Sandals but there is a different style in this design that deserves a special mention.
There are the Arizona Shearling Sandals that have comfortable shearling lining on the footbed and underneath the straps. These are not only cozy but comfortable and warm making them the perfect sandals for winter.
These are the perfect sandals to wear indoors in winter to keep your feet toasty whilst you walk around the house.
Can you wear them outside? Well of course you can but for anyone who has ever tried to keep cream shearling clean when walking in a city environment, you are going to be making life hard for yourself.
Keeping them clean is not going to be easy if you want to wear these outdoors. If you plan to wear these Birks outside of your house I strongly recommend going for the darker color option to hide the marks.
Pros and Cons of Wearing Socks With Birkenstocks
Do you wear socks with Birkenstocks? Well, you need to weigh up the pros and cons to decide whether wearing Birkenstocks and socks suits you or whether you are a barefoot-only type of person. Here are some of the pros and cons.
Let’s start with the Pro’s
Comfort
Wearing socks with Birkenstocks can be comfortable. There is a good reason why people tend to use socks to break in their Birks. Because it saves their feet from getting hurt whilst the footbed molds to your feet.
Never underestimate comfort when it comes to shoes and sandals. It is the reason why people buy these sandals in the first place. If there is a way to make them more comfortable people will do it.
Warmth
Wearing socks with sandals is going to keep your feet warm in the cold weather. Bare feet are fine in summer but having cold feet in winter makes you miserable.
A pair of thick socks keep your feet toasty warm hence why people started wearing them with their Birkenstocks.
Fashion
If you wear socks with Birkenstocks it doesn’t have to be all about comfort it can also be about fashion as well.
When Instagrammers and social media start to show cool pictures of people styling their sandals with socks expect the masses to follow.
Medical
Socks can also be used for a huge range of medical reasons. Diabetics for example might wear a sock with their Birkenstocks to protect their feet and circulation. People with Raynaud’s disease might need socks to stop their feet from getting too cold.
Medical reasons can show you that not everything is about looks and fashion.
So what about the cons? Well here are some reasons why it doesn’t make sense
Sweaty Feet
If you have sweaty feet then Birks are the ideal solution. In fact, the cork footbed is designed to either absorb sweat or let it evaporate into the air.
Wearing socks disrupts this process and can make your feet sweat more.
Wet Feet
Wearing your Birks with socks outdoors sounds like a dream until it starts to rain. Ever walked around all day in soggy socks? It isn’t pleasant or practical.
Hot Feet
Socks naturally make your feet hotter. This works fine when it is cold but on the wrong day when it is milder it can be uncomfortable.
You Look Stupid
The fact is that not everyone looks good wearing socks with Birkenstock sandals. You have to style yourself a certain way and wear the right socks and clothes to pull off the look. If you don’t have what it takes you are going to look odd.
The Best Socks for Birkenstocks
Well, it appears that Birkenstocks themselves decided to get in on the action and create their own range of socks to go with their sandals and shoes.
It makes sense as they clearly know what works with their products. There are some really cute designs including these lace-trimmed ones that look casual but expensive at the same time. Wearing Birkenstocks with ankle socks is definitely something that plenty of people do and the lace trim on these elevates the look.
They also have some slightly longer cotton socks that also work well. These would be perfect for the ruched-down sock look that many of the influencers are currently wearing.
Will Birkenstocks Break in With Socks?
If you have just bought a new pair of Birkenstocks and are wondering if you can still break them in properly if you are wearing socks the answer is yes but it will take longer.
Birkenstocks mold to your feet due to heat and sweat. Ok, it doesn’t sound very pleasant but that is how the cork footbed starts to take on the shape of your foot and this is what makes them so comfortable.
If you wear socks then the time period you need to allow for this process to take place will be significantly longer. So it makes sense where possible to buy your new sandals in the summer when you won’t need socks.
What about Birkenstocks with Socks for Men?
Finally, do you wear socks with Birkenstocks if you are a man? Well yes of course you can. Plenty of guys are wearing Birkenstocks with socks and have found stylish ways to make them look good.
If you feel that you can carry off the look outside then it doesn’t matter what gender you are. Wear what you like.
Meanwhile, in your own home environment, you can get away with whatever you like and wear whatever the hell you want for comfort.
Read Related Articles About Birkenstock Clogs and Sandals
The Benefits of Birkenstock Sandals and Shoes
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Why Do Birkenstocks Hurt My Feet?
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