My friend, Joanne called me with a question. Her generous son had given her several pairs of backless slip-ons. I don't know exactly what you call these backless shoes. I have them in Easy Spirit and Merrells. Both are very comfortable. I use the Merrells in Chicago as house shoes and love them.
OK... so now the question. Are you supposed to wear these half sneakers without socks or with?
Joanne and I pondered this question for a long time. OK... I did read some place that your sneaker socks should match your shoes, not your clothes. I could wear shorter socks, but they tend to ride down my heel. I must walk funny. Don't ask Art if I do.
Perhaps No Socks look better but doesn't that mean you'll be sweating in your shoes and make them stink eventually? Ahem... I'm not saying my feet smell, but I do know someone close to me who just might have that problem.
What do you do?
Once I know, Joanne and I can step into the New Year with confidence.
POSTSCRIPT:
Commenter Sunny just sent this photo to me and I had to post it. She said she saw this at Costco.
I love it! Not for me, mind you... I don't think I have quite the guts to pull it off. But I do love it!
Thanks, Sunny!
OK... so now the question. Are you supposed to wear these half sneakers without socks or with?
Joanne and I pondered this question for a long time. OK... I did read some place that your sneaker socks should match your shoes, not your clothes. I could wear shorter socks, but they tend to ride down my heel. I must walk funny. Don't ask Art if I do.
Perhaps No Socks look better but doesn't that mean you'll be sweating in your shoes and make them stink eventually? Ahem... I'm not saying my feet smell, but I do know someone close to me who just might have that problem.
What do you do?
Once I know, Joanne and I can step into the New Year with confidence.
POSTSCRIPT:
Commenter Sunny just sent this photo to me and I had to post it. She said she saw this at Costco.
I love it! Not for me, mind you... I don't think I have quite the guts to pull it off. But I do love it!
Thanks, Sunny!


Now this is an interesting question that made me pause. I'd go with no socks, but then again, I go with no socks all the time, except in the dead of winter like it is now. I'll be interested to hear what your readers think.
ReplyDeleteWell, here in the Pacific Northwest, it is de rigueur to wear socks with your Birkenstocks, so I would vote for the white or black socks. I prefer the white, but what do I know? I've never lived in Hawaii and don't know the etiquette. :-)
ReplyDeleteI vote for no socks (which means that where I live I can't wear open-backed shoes for half the year).
ReplyDeleteI never had these Crocs type shoes. I only know that if you wear socks with sandals in Israel, everyone will know you're an American tourist.
ReplyDeleteIf they are washable I go for no socks, unless they create blisters.
ReplyDeleteTry putting the shoes out to air in the sunshine and try make sure to let them dry between use. If that doesn't keep they odor away put a spray nozzle in a bottle of rubbing alcohol and spray the inside of the shoes and put them outside in the sun.
ReplyDeleteI think there is no right answer to how to wear these. Maybe if your clothing is monochrome you could wear some sock that is colorful with a pattern.
~L.
Hmmm... putting them out in the sun is doable. We do have lots of sun. :- )
DeleteThese are the conundrums of our lives! LOL
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu-Side
ComfortSpiral
<3
I'm among the no socks crew, and I let them air before they are worn again.
ReplyDeleteNo socks are better, because they show your ankles. Foot powder takes care of (possible) foot odor.
ReplyDeleteHi there, I use Toe Socks, they are half socks that only cover half your foot for these types of shoes. I purchased Toe Socks by PedaBella online from Footsmart or you can try Ebay too. I found a different brand at Target in Hawaii, but they were very thin, more like a pantyhose type material, which I didn't like because it was too slippery. Try this link http://www.footsmart.com/P-Toe-Toppers-Socks-Women-6-Pr-98270.aspx. They come in black, white, or ecru.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through Jalna, a co-worker, and just want to say I enjoy your blog a lot! Happy New Year!
Hello Kalin's Mommy! I'm very happy to meet you. This is the first time I've heard of toe socks and its very intriguing. I'm going to keep my eyes open for them. Thank you for the link. I don't think I want to buy so many so I'll look at the regular stores first. I was surprised when I discovered that Jalna knew my cousin. Hawaii is so small.
DeleteKay, I have extra's. Email me your address and I can send you a pair. (Kalin318@yahoo.com) They don't sell them here in Hawaii and shipping can be expensive for such a small item. Michele
DeleteYou are too kind. I just sent you an email. Please be sure to let me reimburse you. I can't wait to tell Joanne I'm going to test it out.
DeleteI agree with the mommy above. I use toe socks. Well, at least I did when my Easy Spirits were newer. Now that I use them in the yard when I'm doing yard work, I just wear low socks to catch the grass that is thrown by the mower.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... toe socks? I've never even heard of them.
DeleteI think they look best with no socks, but the black look better than the white socks. The only shoes i have that are in anyway similar are garden clogs. I find that any socks pull down in them. I think I ended up throwing the shoes away finally. I didn't realize it might be that I walk funny.
ReplyDeleteI think the black look better. If you are looking for uplifting quotes, a little humour and positive thoughts, please feel free to visit my blog, or even follow. It would be an honour to hate you, Kay.
ReplyDeleteHate me? Hunh?
Deletethose are called mules and i wear them without socks. they're my favorite shoe for around the farm for easy slip-on to go out with the dogs or to the barn - especially in summer. :)
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping in! i'm so happy that denise is excited to win the bear drawing! she's a dear!
You are so very talented!
DeleteKay, it looks much better without socks. I confess this is a problem area for me, and I have experience to share! The best solution for me are odor-fighting insoles that you trim to fit your shoe. Two brands are Odor Eaters and Dr. Scholls. You trim them to fit your shoe, and they last a while. You replace them whenever you feel they're not doing their job. They're available in the foot care section at Longs and probably at Target, Don Quijote, etc.. I use them for my crocs which I wear around the house. For my sandals and dressy slides, I cut a little oval to fit under the ball of my foot where most perspiration occurs. (Sorry if it's TMI!) I've tried toe socks, but they don't stay on my foot; the thin nylon-type doesn't work and the heavier sock-looking type wouldn't go with open-toed styles. I also used foot powder sprays, but I dislike excessive use of aerosols and inhaling whatever disperses into the air. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAloha, Sunny
Hi Sunny! It's so wonderful to meet you. I do believe I'll try wearing them without socks and will look for the odor eaters. Here in Hawaii, our feet do sweat more.
DeleteBeats me! I'm just lucky to get the shoes on let alone have them match something!!!
ReplyDeleteI realized after not having to wear shoes daily, that I hate shoes. My tootsies gotta be free so sandals are the way to go. I can't even stand wear socks. However I wear those shoes to walk my dog becuz it keeps my feet dry when walking through wet grass but they are not confining. I've always had foot odor so I learned just to put a little baby powder when I had to wear shoes. It's becuz my feet are sweaty so the bacteria grows. Go with whatever feels good for you. I for one never ever look at people's feet and their shoes.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you never look at people's feet because I never have my tootsies manicured. Is this you, Hank?
DeleteI would do whatever made me comfortable and kept my feet healthy. Here in tColorado in the winter, I never wear shoes at home ~ strictly socks. I'd probably use the half socks or footsies with those shoes, because me feet blister badly when I go sockless. Happy weekend to you!
ReplyDeleteCan't wear that type of shoe but think the no socks looks better.
ReplyDeletefirst I've noticed these half sneakers
ReplyDeleteI think any kind of half sock or even an anklet would make me crazy...no socks!
ReplyDeleteI'm joining the majority . . . No socks!
ReplyDeleteLol, funny post. They look better without socks I think. You could wear longer pants with socks, lol.
ReplyDeleteFor me would be no socks. Kinda weird to me if wear it with socks on.
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend to you
If you care how they look, don't wear socks. If you care how your feet feel, wear socks. Your choice. I don't have any backless shoes, so I don't have to make that choice.
ReplyDeleteI never had to think so much about what I do with those kind of shoes: ok, I think they're called "slides" or "mules." I have a pair of grey sneaker-style ones. I call them slip-ons. In summer, if it's warm enough, I'm in my thick Teva flip-flops and shorts. When it gets colder I can wear flip-flops with thin jeans. When it's even colder I can put on crew socks, (I hate low-riser socks,) and wear those with the slides. Whether the liner insole is in them or not, I don't like the feel of my bare toesies in the slide, so I usually wear socks with them, sometimes nylon hose knee-his. For around K.C., I haven't worn the slides with shorts, so I don't have to worry about my socks, cuz my light or heavy jeans are covering the ankle. I don't care for the looks of either color of low sock with the slides. I like running around in very thick socks without shoes when it's warm in the house but cold outside. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteLooks like the majority is going with no socks. You know... I've never worn it with no socks. I wore them on the mainland only with long pants. Here in Hawaii I'm almost never in long pants. I'll try it with Kalin's Mommy's half socks and then with no socks.
DeleteI like them better without socks when it comes to how it looks. I also think the black socks look better than the white. I like the look of the black socks. That look works. I have some shoes that aren't backless but have a slight lip on the back (if that makes sense) and find that socks will crunch-up in my shoes if they aren't fairly long. These particular shoes of mine are more like a clog, and I think clogs are better with socks.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I love that we can ask each other these questions. ;) I wish I could put on an outfit and ask for you opinion on if it looks good or not because my husband is not the one to ask!
I really love being able to ask our cyber family for advice too. This is how I was finally able to get egg whites to whip every time. I think you should go ahead and put on an outfit and ask. I'd love to check it out.
DeleteI have several pair of the Easy Spirit ones, in different colors. In the house I just wear socks. I wear these shoes sometimes with and sometimes without. Depends on the weather. I have even been known to throw them in the washer and let them dry over a heating vent - turned upside down so that the heat dries them from the inside out if that makes any sense. They sure are comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI like those slippers, as I call them. I wear them with and without socks, it depends on the temperature. In winter I wear socks ,in summer I wear them without socks. They are easy to wear and you can wear them indoors as well as outdoors.
ReplyDeleteWow, a lot sure got in on this question. It looks like the answer is "Whatever one wants to do". LOL
ReplyDeletei'd say it's more a personal preference than anything. each looked good enough to wear that way. so my vote is whichever made you happiest and most comfortable. hope all is well. have a great day~
ReplyDeleteno socks...unless it's snowing-lol!
ReplyDeleteI had some leather Mary Janes like this, but the backs of the heels only halfway up, so to speak. I wore them socks, of course, because I wore them in the winter with pants. They were from Target and I spent $5.00 on them! Best shoes I have ever had!
ReplyDeleteI wear socks everyday to protect my dry feet. White, black, red, you name it. Wear colors to match my outfit. Got to make a fashion statement somewhere.
ReplyDeleteMy spouse have a pair of shoes like this and he wears them without socks. As for me, I wear socks even with slippers because I like to protect my feet from direct contact with dust so I guess it is up to personal preference though some may beg to differ. Thanks Kay for leaving comments on my blog so often. :)
ReplyDeleteLook at that....46 comments about socks. What a winner you are.
ReplyDelete47 now! LOL! I LOVE it!
DeleteIt's the truth! Here is #48! You pose excellent questions!!!!
DeleteHi Kay! It's so funny that this topic is so popular and is generating so many comments! You could choose to go BOLD and make a fashion statement. ;-) I am emailing you a picture I took while waiting in line at Costco today - I didn't know how to embed it in the comment. :-)
ReplyDeleteAloha,
Sunny
This is too wonderful! I've just added it to my post. Thanks so much, Sunny!
Delete