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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU- Sockgate. Trainer socks are okay, right?

60 replies

Beaversinjam · 15/10/2021 13:16

Sent DS to preschool this morning in Trainer socks and trousers.

DP is adamant that I've dressed him "wrong" and that Trainer socks should ONLY be worn with Shorts, ankle socks at all other times.

So, mumsnet, help me out please-

YABU - You've missed a bit of social sock etiquette and Trainer socks are only for shorts

YANBU- Trainer socks are fine with trousers!

OP posts:
Rayna37 · 15/10/2021 13:33

Trainer socks with shorts only, yes I'm afraid. DH committed this crime with DS once. Not the end of the world, obvs!

My DS3 pointed at my very small "invisible" trainer socks recently and asked why my socks didn't fit. Felt like a bit of an emperors new clothes moment and maybe he was right!

SpiceRat · 15/10/2021 13:35

@SoupDragon

IMO, it is the footwear the determines the sock, not the other way around. So I wear trainer socks with trainers, but not boots.

This.

The clue is in the name - trainer socks. Not shorts socks.

I wear trainer socks with tights and boots, stops your feet slipping but doesn’t add too much bulk to get then zipped up.

Aren’t they also called ankle socks, no show socks, etc…

I think if you had normal socks clean it’s odd to opt for ankle socks but it doesn’t matter if your son was ok with it. DP wears them sometimes with trousers as he gets heat rash on his legs with normal socks.

seaandsandcastles · 15/10/2021 13:36

YABU. Your DH is right.

Whitefire · 15/10/2021 13:36

@LittleOwl153

My DD refuses to wear anything other than trainer sock... so they come with shorts, trousers, leggings, even skirts! She is admittedly old enough to generally make up her own mind on such matters...
Same here, though has been doing this since before she was two. She wears ankle socks for school, the rest of the time mostly trainer socks. She has however rarely worn a dress or a skirt since before she was two and even when she does she wears leggings underneath. A battle not worth having.
Myusernameisnotmyusernameno · 15/10/2021 13:36

YABU

Quisto · 15/10/2021 13:37

Buy Quarter socks. It's a game changer. My son wears them with trousers and shorts.

Comefromaway · 15/10/2021 13:39

Trainer socks are for any occasion when you want it to look like you are not wearing socks. Or if you have a child with sensory issues and it is all they can tolerate.

Personally I do think they look odd with trousers.

BiddyPop · 15/10/2021 13:40

What age is DS?

Why were only trainer socks available?

If a teen, and socks have languished on his floor rather than being washed by said teen (or at least put in communal laundry collection), then it's on his own head.

If younger, or that you don't have ankle socks for DS, then DP may have a point

Princesspickle777 · 15/10/2021 13:41

Definitely not ok to wear with trousers, his poor ankles must be freezing 😅. It just looks odd to me though.

Cas112 · 15/10/2021 13:51

Aww you really cant put trainer socks with trousers. It doesn't look the best haha

SirensofTitan · 15/10/2021 13:51

@BiddyPop

What age is DS?

Why were only trainer socks available?

If a teen, and socks have languished on his floor rather than being washed by said teen (or at least put in communal laundry collection), then it's on his own head.

If younger, or that you don't have ankle socks for DS, then DP may have a point

If the DS is a teen still going to pre-school the OP has bigger fish to fry than the style of socks ShockGrin
Original poster
Beaversinjam · 15/10/2021 13:53

His trousers are long enough not to really show any ankle.

Kind of shocked by the responses here! Glad to see a few that are with me- I didn't realise this was a thing!

OP posts:
Original poster
Beaversinjam · 15/10/2021 13:54

DS is 3, but also non verbal- so he doesn't communicate any sock preferences depending on the outfit of the day Grin

OP posts:
DigOlBick · 15/10/2021 13:57

Is everyone wearing ankle swingers? Who can see what socks you’re wearing if you’re wearing trousers ffs.

Glitterblue · 15/10/2021 13:58

I would expect his trousers to go right down to his shoes, covering his ankles, so either type of sock would be fine? I wear trainer socks with jeans but my jeans totally cover my ankles so nobody would ever know what kind of socks I have on!

honeylulu · 15/10/2021 14:00

Trainer socks are for trainers!!! If you wear trainers you can wear trainer socks.
I have orthotics so I wear plain black trainers and plain black trainer socks most of the time (change into heels in the office). So I wear them with sports wear (shorts, leggings, trackies), jeans, smart trousers and dresses/skirts. In the contrary I think full on ankle socks would look silly especially with a dress, like primary school uniform!

Original poster
Beaversinjam · 15/10/2021 14:00

Okay, DS in the offending socks, pictured below.
Apparently toddlers don't like staying still for photos Wink

OP posts:
diddl · 15/10/2021 14:04

@OneTC

Anything that could be mistaken for this is to avoided

😭

What's wrong with that?
TheKeatingFive · 15/10/2021 14:10

I see absolutely nothing wrong with that sock situation as pictured 🤣

CasparBloomberg · 15/10/2021 14:16

I'm in the 'no way' camp and couldn't send him in with trainer socks. Proper socks in a colour that works with shoes and trousers.

However, for about 5 years teenage DS would only wear trainer socks irrespective of the outfit or amount of socks I provided him with. Only this year has he returned to proper socks, but to my horror insists on rolling up the bottom of his trousers so they're too short and now show said socks (usually purposely not matching). Is it fashion because I don't see others doing it? It's like he's doing it to terrorise me ConfusedConfusedConfusedGrinGrinGrin

Lockheart · 15/10/2021 14:17

I wouldn't personally but I don't think it really matters when you're at preschool.

DigitalGhost · 15/10/2021 14:18

I only own trainer socks. Not weird at all

Haveyoubrushedyourteethtoday · 15/10/2021 14:27

Wear socks. Any socks. Bonus points if they’re clean and match.

ILiedAboutBeingTheOutdoorType · 15/10/2021 14:49

The kid is three. As long as he has something on his feet, what does it matter?? Can't believe this is something anyone could care less about in real life.

Supertree · 15/10/2021 14:51

I think it's weird and would never choose to put my son in it, but I don't think he'd care either way. Occasionally my husband will lay out a pair of trainer socks for him to wear with normal trousers and I discreetly swap them for a normal pair. My husband is weird and will ONLY wear trainer socks. He thinks they are just normal socks and that standard socks are called 'ankle socks'. So wrong. I've told him that at least when he goes to interviews/weddings/funerals he must wear normal socks. He had an interview last week and put on a pair of standard socks which he then rolled down so they were lower! That's how I used to wear my school socks in infant school Grin