Why Do Guys Wear Shoes Without Socks?

Have you ever wondered why do guys wear shoes without socks?

If you have you are not alone. Once upon a time wearing shoes without socks would have been thought of as unthinkable but now there is a definite trend where bare feet in shoes is seen as the norm.

So why do they do it and is this a look you should leave for the warm weather only?

Is It Normal To Wear Shoes Without Socks?

Firstly is it normal to wear shoes without socks in the first place?

The fact is that the sockless look is a trend but mainly with young people. Younger men in particular seem to be sporting the look, especially in the summer but in general, if you walk down a typical street men’s fashion still seems to favor socks with shoes.

Yes, there are pockets of people who are wearing shoes without socks but it is still not the norm in most countries I’ve been in even in hot countries such as Australia. Sandals or flip-flops yes but sockless feet in shoes are still rare.

If you do see the sockless look it is mostly consigned to smart casual or casual wear. Formal wear and corporate working environments are still very much dominated by people wearing shoes with socks. In fact, in a business environment, it would be seen as unprofessional to turn up to work in a suit without socks.

Should Men Wear Shoes With Socks?

So should men wear shoes without socks? Plus Are socks bad for your feet?

Well, the fact is that socks serve a purpose and protect your feet. They can help you to remain cool and protect you from sunburn on a hot day by wicking away moisture. They can keep your feet dry and free from sweat. They also help to keep your feet clean and away from dirt and debris.

In the colder weather, they keep your feet warm and toasty. They help to stop fungal infections caused by sweaty feet. People wear socks because generally, it is much more preferable to bare ankles and feet. So why do guys wear shoes without socks if this is the case?

Style

One of the key reasons that you may see guys without socks currently is because of fashion. There seems to be a trend of fashion-forward influencers wearing slightly cropped trousers and shoes without socks all over social media.

These outfit choices tend to pair the trousers with shoes such as leather loafers or driving shoes to give off a luxe look. I very rarely see the sockless look with oxfords, dress shoes, or with formalwear.

Fashion dictated by social media does have a direct influence over guys but it can be slower to take off and is usually limited to people under 40.

Hot Weather

When the weather is warmer people naturally want to wear less and that includes taking off the socks that they would normally wear at other times of the year.

Going around without socks is normal in hotter weather but it is usually accompanied by a change in footwear. This is the time of year when sandals, slides and flip-flops start to appear. It is less usual for people to go sockless wearing shoes but it does happen.

As your feet are less likely to feel cold people are happier to go without socks however they often don’t think through the consequences of their look. In particular sweaty smelly feet can get blisters as they slide around in shoes.

Convenience or Laziness

Whatever way you look at it wearing socks takes a little more effort than the sockless look.

By not wearing socks people can save some time because they aren’t having to think about laundering socks, storing them and matching them.

Slipping feet into shoes without bothering to put on socks does save time but not much. The question is whether the time that you save is worth it vs the consequences of not wearing them.

Shoe Fit and Style

The fact is that there are a bunch of shoes out there on the market currently that aren’t really designed to be worn with visible socks.

Many kinds of loafers for example have a more casual vibe and are meant to be work sockless or at least with no-show socks.

Ruining the look by putting on socks means that aesthetically the shoes don’t look as good.

Culture

Certain countries or cultures have a tradition of going sockless and so it seems the norm.

Choosing to not wear socks is typically more common in countries with hotter climates.

Comfort

Whilst most people prefer to wear socks with shoes there are others who much prefer to leave them off.

Going sockless makes them feel more comfortable. This is because socks were creating friction or bunching up inside their footwear.

Also, some people like the idea of allowing their feet to breathe rather than encasing them in a sock.

What Is The Point of No-Show Socks?

Why do guys wear shoes without socks? Well, sometimes they aren’t because there is an alternative to the full sock and that is invisible socks.

When you wear invisible socks you still get the look you want but without the side effects like sweaty feet, smells, and foot fungal infections.

Invisible socks come in lots of different styles and colors and are the perfect way to wear shoes like loafers and driving shoes so that you still look as if you have bare feet.

So are the people you are seeing with bare feet really sockless at all or are their socks hidden in their shoes?

How to Wear Shoes Without Socks

If you don’t want to wear any socks at all then you need to think carefully about how to do this without all the nasty side effects.

If you are going to take this approach then you need to be scrupulous with your foot hygiene to keep your feet and your shoes smelling fresh.

Make sure you soak or wash your feet thoroughly at least twice a day to avoid sweat and smells. Use a tea tree and peppermint foot soak to help banish fungal infections and dry your feet properly before putting on your shoes.

If you have particularly sweaty feet then using a foot antiperspirant is a must. Carpe foot antiperspirant lotion is my favorite. You only need a small pea size amount and it is easy to put on your feet and has a big impact on reducing sweat.

It can also make sense to put a pair of Odor Eaters inside your shoes to avoid any disgusting smells. These can act as cushioning for your feet as well as a way of neutralizing sweat smells. Remember to change them regularly as they don’t last forever.

Men’s Shoes You Can Wear Without Socks

Finally, if you were wondering what styles of shoes work well without socks here are some footwear styles that work perfectly with the no-sock look.

Sperry Men’s Authentic Original 2-Eye Boat Shoe

Boat shoes are one of the classic styles that you might typically see without socks.

These are the perfect slip-on summer shoe and the style is relatively timeless. Someone I dated wore a similar pair in the late 80s and the style has barely changed in the last 40 years.

These have the added bonus of an Ortholist insole for comfort and an outsole built for traction.

POLO RALPH LAUREN Reynold Loafers

Loafers are another style of classic shoe that works well for the casual luxe European vibe. Loafers come in a range of materials such as suede or leather and are definitely thought of as sockless shoes.

This particular style is not dissimilar to a driving shoe. Driving shoes tend to have a thinner sole.

If you are looking at driving-style loafers remember that they aren’t really supposed to be used for long walks. They are more of a car-to-bar type of shoe.

If you are wondering how to wear them jeans, cropped trousers, or shorts all work well with this style of shoe.

Hey Dude Wally Sox Loafers

Whilst many people think about wearing socks without shoes with traditional style loafers there is a new sporty style that is now incredibly popular as made by Hey Dude shoes.

These lightweight loafer/sneaker hybrids are super comfortable and perfect for hot summer days.

As these are washable it makes it far easier to solve the odor problem as you can keep them smelling fresh by putting them in the washing machine on a cold wash.

Vans Slip on Shoes

Finally, let’s not forget a huge section of the footwear market that is dedicated to slip-on shoes.

The fact is that people love to be able to put on shoes without laces and go. If they can wear them without socks all the better.

This is why a huge market has opened up for slip-on shoes such as Vans which are super casual and easy to wear.

The Shoes Without Socks Fashion Is Here to Stay

Why do guys wear shoes without socks? Well as you can see it isn’t just for fashion but because of comfort, weather and a host of other reasons. This means that this style isn’t going anywhere fast. Just remember if you are the person following the trend to make sure you think about your foot hygiene because nobody wants to smell stinky feet!