How to Wear Knee High Socks

They come in a wide variety of sophisticated textures, heather solids, and fun prints. A comfortable alternative to tights, they are convenient in the in-between seasons, fall and spring. They add just the right amount of warmth to an outfit that might otherwise need to wait on a hanger for warmer weather. The question, then, is how do you wear them?

Paired with Short Skirts

Pair knee high socks with a mini-skirt to bring in a schoolgirl uniform vibe. What sort of skirt precisely? Think tweed, dark solids, plaids, neat pleats or a smooth A-line cut with ruffles along the bottom. The hem of the schoolgirl mini-skirt hits around mid-thigh or a little lower, if you prefer to play it conservative.

The main point is that there should be a good few inches of skin between the hem of the skirt and the cuff of the knee sock. Thick, cabled, wool socks in black, navy, and gray perform well here, as do argyle prints. Make the look more mature by choosing sophisticated textures in solid colors, such as wine, inky purple, or dark gray. Play up the theme by wearing patent leather Mary Janes, saddle shoes, or oxfords.

Paired with Shorts

Knee socks can also be worn with shorts, making your summer favorites last well into the fall. You have to be careful, though, that you style the look so it doesn't seem as though you took a summer look and threw on some knee-highs. Wool socks, the same you wore with the mini-skirt if you like, can be paired with menswear-inspired shorts. Anything tweed, brown or gray plaid, or casual linen shorts will do. Pair brighter socks, for example American Apparel's knee socks, with denim shorts.

Paired with Denim

Denim also allows room for a little risk-taking. Bright stripes or polka dots, checks, houndstooth, you name it, it all looks good with denim shorts or a denim mini. Let the exciting socks take center stage though. Wear with a solid-colored shirt or blouse and solid ballet flats. If you want to be a little more daring and flashy, in terms of color, choose bright sneakers, like Pumas or Converse, and wear your knee high socks with denim shorts, a t-shirt, and maybe a bright sweatshirt or cardigan. But be careful not to introduce too many colors. Keep it to three, or at most four, colors if you don't want to look too eccentric.

Other Styles

There are, of course, millions of other possibilities. A sweet, short eyelet skirt in white or off-white would go well with soft, light gray over the knee socks and black ballet flats or Mary Jane heels. Wear black and white houndstooth knee socks with a pair of brightly colored or metallic Nike high tops, trouser-cut denim shorts, a black or solid color rib knit tank top, and bright sweatshirt or cotton cardigan. You can also wear knee high socks on top of tights in winter to add an extra layer of warmth and an extra burst of fashion.