It’s too cold for bare ankles in the Autumn

[CharlotteSometimes1]

I’ve been enjoying myself looking at Autumn fashion recently, but really struggle with the footwear element as so many outfits are styled with bare legs. Yep cropped trousers look fab with trainers/loafers, but it’s already too cold in my part of the UK to wear them without socks, which isn’t always as easy to pull off. So many looks just aren’t going to work for me as they’re styled with bare ankles I want to wear some slightly cropped trousers, but struggle to work out what to wear on my feet.

Following. I have this issue. Today I wore wide leg trousers just so I could hide wearing socks with trainers. I’m a bare ankle girly usually.

I wear socks and very chunky shoe/boots. I find it helps if the trousers are properly wide (I wear Toast Annie Jeans or Rundholz cropped trousers) and end higher up the leg, as just grazing the ankle looks weird, it fights with the sock.

I get my everyday socks in M & S but find the women’s socks are always very dull, too thin and too short so I go for men’s socks. Better colours, better length, better quality.

If I’m wearing tweed or a long Winter dress I sometimes wear fancy patterned knee socks by Powder or Palaver. I don’t get on with tights.

I don’t think it’s always as simple as filling in the gap with socks or tights. The bare ankle completely changes the proportions, look and feel of the outfit,

I love cropped trousers but have come to the conclusion that, for me, they’re a spring/summer thing. I see other people wear them with boots and socks and they look brilliant, but it doesn’t work for me. The lack of visible gap between shoe and trouser makes me feel out of proportion. I’m not sure if that’s in my head but in any case, if it makes me feel ‘off’ I don’t do it. In the dark ages when we talked of such things I’d be called pear shaped. A bare ankle creates a balance that I can’t find with boots or socks. Mine all go away in autumn and I wear full length wide legs until it warms up.

I thought ankle socks were back? They were seen on the runways. I’m a fan of a ruffle myself!

I agree with you - I’m a short hourglass with very broad shoulders, so having a lot going on below the knee with layers, long skirts, short trousers, crumpled socks and platform boots gives me that balance!

How about wearing knee high tights-socks under the cropped trousers?

Just wear full length trousers?
Sorry but the cropped ones look like the wearer outgrew them and they couldn't afford to buy new ones that fit.

More seriously have you tried stable style (or possibly cowboy style) boots over the trousers? The Bareback brand ones are really comfy and fit over slim fitted trousers or under wide leg ones. A gap of bare leg is a summer look and too cold for autumn/ winter.

I wear black opaque popsocks and loafers with cropped trousers in autumn. But my cropped trousers are all tailored, for work, not very casual. Can’t be doing with white chilly ankles.

Damn it, I was hoping visible socks would stay around! Practical and warm!

I wear snag tights. I have some nice bright orange ones or just ordinary tights if Im in a skirt. Nobody wants to see my untanned spam legs.

I still have bare ankles in winter 😂. I rarely feel the cold. I don't even own a pair of socks

This is my mam! She wears sliders all year round, no socks 🥶 since having my DC though I get it, I run hot all the time now I'm dreading having to put a pair of socks on 😬

Why would you put them on then?

This is my struggle too!!

After a week of mild autumn weather practicality is now winning for me, over style.

Having been soaked twice wearing wide leg trousers and had the sodden excess fabric clinging to my legs and the having water going in the top of my shoes when wearing cropped jeans, I am going to spend winter in straight full length jeans or trousers with boots or trainers. Or dresses/skirts with boots.

I came to the same decision last year but had forgotten! I can’t stand being soggy or cold.

I don't mind untanned legs, far nicer than fake tanned legs. Bare ankles are ok in summer but just look bonkers when it's cold. Even in summer I think ankle socks look great with dresses and skirts.

We get a lot of snow where I live, I can't wear boots and no socks 😅

I'm considering layering nude tights with them. I don't think it'll be obvious at a glance such it's just as tiny slither of skin.

Often my stock choice is boring and either matches my footwear or the trousers/skirt/dress in wearing, but I also have a good many pair of various chup and chup-like styles that are multi coloured.

I don't recall socks being such an issue when I was young. We didn't have any money, so maybe I was just dressing sensibly, but I just don't recall socks being a problem item. Now, each fall, I have to learn all over again how to wear socks and learn to not see them as odd. Thankfully I have a lot of nice socks that I look forward to wearing!

I've noticed a few young women wearing flesh colored tights this summer, proper tights, as in an undergarment under dresses. It caught my attention because I haven't seen it in so many years. Maybe they're making a comeback!

Wear socks. They're great.
I try to colour match them to either the trouser/bottoms or footwear. Sometimes I wear sheer socks with sandals. For me, the biggest issue is finding socks long enough to ensure there's no mm of flesh between hem and sock.

Love tights for warmth
polar explorers wear them dontcha know!

Reading with interest... I often wear black leather loafers with black trousers for work, with something more colourful on my top half. What socks could I get away with? I'd usually wear an invisible trainer liner type sock (grew up in the 90s ha!)

Boots!! Gorgeous high ankle boots. Both John Lewis and Other Stories have lovely leather boots that go high enough up leg to work with most slightly cropped trousers.

I have several pairs of Wool/Cashmere mix socks from Tk Maxx in plain & patterned. I wear the patterned with tonal outfits & loafers for a bit of interest.

Alternatively yesterday I wore Clarks Torhill Rise boots in beige nubuck to cover my ankles as I was wearing the slightly cropped Sienna Miller Jeans.