Would You Wear… Thigh-High Socks?
Photo Credit: 1
For this week’s Would You Wear?, I decided to focus on one of fall’s most anticipated trends: over-the-knee socks. These tall stockings are predicted to be a huge trend for fall 2010. Although they’ve been hip for a little while now, they will be insanely popular this fall.
Last year, Blake Lively caused a ruckus in the fashion world when her character Serena van der Woodson on Gossip Girl wore her thigh-high socks to school. Since then, celebs such as Alexa Chung (pictured above), Kirsten Dunst, and Rihanna have been photographed wearing them as well.
Personally, I think thigh-high socks are one of this fall’s most wearable styles. They look fabulous with flat boots, heels, skirts, dresses, shorts and rompers. They can easily transition from fall to winter and can be pulled off no matter what your personal style may be!
These socks are also an easy-to-wear trend for college girls on the go. For an effortless, adorable look, throw them on with a dress and messenger bag and you’re good to go to class!
Weekend Outfit Idea…
Product Information: Dress – Modcloth, Vest – Buckle, Socks – Nordstrom, Boots – Blufly, Earrings – Miss Selfridge, Hat – Amazon
Your Thoughts?
How do you feel about this trend? Leave a comment and let me know. Do you think this is a cute new way to keep warm? Would you wear thigh-high socks with flats or heels? Would you wear the sample outfit? Do you think these look too schoolgirl-esque? Debate below!
Posted on on August 17, 2010 / Filed Under: Would You Wear? / Tags: Alexa Chung, Blake Lively, fall trend, Featured, Leighton Meester, over-the-knee socks, schoolgirl, tall stockings, thigh high socks
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Beth
love it. i already wear them all the time because i’m obsessed with cute socks :)
Karissa
I have been dying to try this trend ever since I saw Aria where them on PLL; they are so cute! I love the outfit- fantastic job Caitlyn!
Laura
ahhhh, any type of high sock reminds me of my high school uniform…but I wore them all the time, so it’s okay! I LOVE the sample outfit you gave, sooo cute! I’m in the faculty of Fine Arts though, so wearing anything nice to school is like having a bull’s eye on your back. All of my nice clothes collect paint spatter, greasy inks and other staining liquids. Boo. But I love what I’m doing, so no complaints. And if there is ever a scenario for dressing up, I go full tilt! Thanks for the ideas, CF!
Serena
I’ll be wearing my grey thigh-highs with my OTK equestrian boots. Love!!
epps
knee socks are finally in fashion! before i’d only be seeing in Japanese fashion magazines and now they’re making it here too :)
any thigh high socks give an instant slimming effect, and gives you the chance to look cute paired with a simple skirt and tshirt when it gets a bit colder but you still want to wear skirts :)
Luinae
I really, really like them- they fit in with my “look” as well.
Germangirl
Those socks do look great an girls with legs like Bake Lively but as much as I’d love to wear them, they look awful on my legs! I really feel like they emphasize dimples and not so slim legs…
Hannah
I love thigh-high socks, but they’ve been given the thumbs-down by my family. My dad says they’re not such a classy look, which is too bad! I love them. They’re cozy and chic. I’m looking forward to pairing them with OTK boots, flowy dresses, and chunky-knit cardigans for fall.
xoxo Hannah
Jen
I’m in love with the outfit you put together; it’s so adorable! I’ve always been a huge fan of thigh-high socks. Unfortunately, my thighs are too chubby to wear them haha!
arisel
I love the outfit you put together… I have to get my hands on that dress!
Vivi
Absolutely I’ll wear thigh high socks! They are so cute! Great article but wish you made more outfits ideas!
OMG-CF
Love this look! I just bought some thigh-highs this weekend. I’m thinking of wearing them over sheer tights for more coverage!
Sapphire
My only criticism of this article is that you only put up one sample outfit. It was ADORABLE, I want mooooore….
I’ve never worn thigh-high socks before, but I really want to – especially as they become more popular, there are more styles available that are more cute than sexy.
Elle
I love this look, I actually wore them all last winter and fall with some calf high boots. I’d definitely try it with taller boots like in your sample outfit! So cute!
Katie
i love thigh high socks i wear them a lot
Maddie
Those are really cute! I love the outfit, its so me.
m
this reminds me very much of the movie clueless. i think thigh highs were popular when that movie came out as well.
Jamie
You’re certainly right about the Gossip Girl thing, since that’s when I started wearing them… but sometimes I feel self conscious because I feel like it looks like lingerie… I don’t know, hahaha!
Charlotte - University of Birmingham
I wear a lot of ankle- and knee-high socks but I’ve always been a little fearful of thig high socks- I guess I don’t know how flattering they’d be on my thighs!!
I love the trend though and the outfit you’ve put together is gorgeous.
Maybe i’ll give it a try :]]]
Charlotte xxx
Laura
I also love what the girl in the top photo is wearing, with the red tights!
=^.^=
Liz
You put together such a sweet victorian look that I think it takes the edge away and I’d feel more comfortable trying it. I wouldn’t be brave enough to do tight skirt and thigh-highs though!
Do you think you could scope out some “real” people wearing them? Other college gals and bloggers? I’d love some more accessible inspiration :)
Miss Alesha
I actually really like that hat but when I clicked on it it didn’t come up.
Sari
I love the look you put together! I’m with Charlotte though, I feel like I would rather work the knee-highs. But I feel like they still give off the same vibe. Good post!
Shadowcat14
NO! It reminds me of the all girl’s catholic school I went to where I had to wear knee highs. Some were so long they became thigh highs.
Caitlyn - FIDM
Epps – Good point with the slimming effect. I had not even thought about that, but it is so true!
Liz – Thanks for the idea about finding more “real” girl looks. For my next post, I’ll definitely keep that in mind!
Thanks girls for all the love on the polyvore set! I may have to make two sample outfit sets next week.
Leslie
I love them! I’ve bought several pairs lately.. just waiting on the weather to cool down!
michelle
i would totally wear them if more stores sold them… i mostly see knee socks. i have a couple pairs of thigh highs but they roll down like CRAZY.
Sarah
I love the idea of thigh high socks with knee high boots. Perfection! Thanks for the tip!
Kate
As pompous and elitist as this sounds, I’ve been rocking thigh highs on the regular since I was twelve- that’s about seven years ago- long before anyone else thought they were cool. So, naturally, this fall won’t be any different.
Joleen
YES.
Milana
I always wanted to try these, but I always thought they were too much… They look great on people in movies though ;)
Ally
Loveeeee these, I already live in them! The best ones I’ve ever bought are from American Apparell – tall girls have issues finding socks long enough sometimes! The ones from AA I’ll sometimes clip to a garter belt to prevent slippage. So comfortable. <3
francine
i loooooove thigh-high socks, but i’m afraid it looks a bit too sexy to wear them in school as serena van der woodsen does. how can i wear thigh-highs in a more normal way that is not so provocative?
Laura
I also can’t find the hat!
MUST
FIND
HAT!!!
Jaclyn
I’m not willing to have the Clueless era or wardrobe come back. Thigh-highs are a no-go in my book.
Faith
I like the look, but it’s not one I can pull off. My legs would look like sausages.
Karen
personally LOVE IT!! <3 I'm slightly glad that not too many girls at my school would wear thigh-highs so I get to stand out xD
Lizzy
I think this is really cool and have tried wearing them before but I got “thunder thighs” (literally! lol) and I’m not sure if they just dont fit or I’ve never found ones big enough yet for my thighs…. though I know Torrid is blowing up with these so I might have to try again!
Ann
I love thigh highs and OTKs! I just ordered a bunch, although I usually have to buy OTKs since on my thin legs they stretch out into almost thigh highs. That’s something to keep in mind when buying these kind of high socks: the stretch.
A lot of girls are afraid of that possible bulge of skin right outside the sock, but there are pretty simple ways to avoid this. When shopping for socks you don’t want to look just at the length, but also at the width stretch of the sock. Some socks don’t stretch much and that’s how you get that unflattering bulge. A way to look for this is to look at the weight estimates for the socks or some places, like sock dreams, actually list the maximum width stretch of the sock so you don’t even have to estimate it. It might be better to go a little larger than what you think you’ll need, especially if you’re on the cusp of a larger size. You’ll definitely avoid the bulge then.
For skinner girls a lot of socks are going to stretch lengthwise, so it might be better to go for the shorter sock and stretch it up unless you’re really tall.
As to what to wear it with, I can pretty much wear it with anything short. Short skirts, short dresses… but my favorite is wearing them with a pair of dark-wash denim shorts! I think they actually add a touch of class to a look while still being sexy. I’m also hoping that they’ll make my wardrobe more versatile as fall comes around.
I also prefer solid thigh highs and OTKs to those opaque ones. The opaque ones tend to have a sort of lingerie look unless you really know how to work them. I would definitely go for a more solid pair if you’re just starting out.
Tara
I love thigh high socks! My feet are tiny so any knee-highs become thigh-highs on my legs.
My friends thought I was on crack ever since 6th grade because, unless I’m at work, I’m always wearing socks that go above the knee..but now they are all starting to wear knee high socks.
Lee B
I never comment and never see this many comments—but TOO CUTE.
aish
love them
already hav a pair of black opaque thigh high socks
Laina
Interesting, thigh high socks have become a trend? I’m like Kate, been wearing this look since I was 12. I was always chided by the somewhat more conservative dressed residents in my city.
My favorite way to wear them is with a pair of short-shorts. And you don’t have to go with plain gray/black/tan! In the winter, I layer colored thigh-highs over black tights. It’s best when you’re showing just a sliver of skin, rather than a large gap between your knee and mid-thigh.
Lisa
I’d go right into the store and buy this outfit if I saw it on a manniquin. I’m a summer and this would look so beautiful on me! I wish I had it T^T
Ivana
I love thigh high socks! I have a pair of black and wore them twice last fall, after i saw Serena wearing them and looking so chic. I’m sorry i don’t have a pic from my outfits to show you, but i will tell you this-it takes a lot of efford to make an outfit with them! My advice is – don’t ever try this trend if you are shorter then 170 cm and don’t have so skiny legs. I don’t have skiny legs but i’m 172 cm, so i make a balance somehow, but only with black socks…every other color would make my legs look too fat—–total fail!
=)
Ivana
P.S. I totaly digg Ann advice about buying larger size of thigh high socks. :)
Laura
I always thought this loo was a little too “catholic school girl” for me, but I am seeing this trend everywhere for the fall. I think I may just have to try it! As a major girly girl, I love your sample outfit!
Virginia
I too love the hat, but it is not to be found at the link you provided. Boo…
Otherwise great article, though.
Beth
I would totally wear thigh high socks! They seem like a fun, funky, and individual trend-can’t wait to try them!
crystal
ann – opaque means solid/can’t see through them.
Ann
Oops. I meant sheer. I wrote that comment in a bit of a hurry the other day.
Annie
These have been in fashion in Japan for while. I’ve seen them all over Tokyo for the past several years and they look great on the women there (small and thin), but they do not look great on me. On my bulky 5’8″ Anglo-Saxon frame, outfits like this look a little less “kawaii” and a little more “hooker,” especially with heels.
In the States, I would maybe attempt this look in a larger city. In my small hometown though, I’d look pretty scandalous! I actually really love this look, but make sure you’re in the right environment and that you have the confidence to pull it off!
Caroline
I love them! They’ve been popular in the UK for a couple of years now. I’d probably wear them, but my legs are not long enough to pull off the look.
Sigrid
love it! It’s really pretty, and you can wear it with or without stockings underneath!
Yvonne
Thigh high socks are an absolute YES in my book!
Vivian
I absolutely LOVE the socks+shorts and socks+dress look. They also look nice with a longer coat and boots when the weather gets chillier!
Lea
is it me or do tigh-high socks only look well with heels? i tried to wear it with ballets but to me it looked weird.
Estelle
Well, even though I really like them, I don’t think that I could wear them, as I think that it would be too much for a day at college..
But I promise to give it a try..
Syd
Indeed I would! I’ve been wearing them for years already (they were in style with emo kids when I was in high school, went out for a minute, and now they’re back, but more more mature. YAY!). Once it cools off here, of course…I’m in the desert, so it’ll be too hot to wear them even at night until October or November.
Cara
I bought a pair of cheap, grey thigh-highs from Charlotte Russe last winter, just to see if I liked them – I very much did! I look forward to investing in more, particularly white and purple, and wearing them this year, since they are so practical as well as adorable. I even went to private school, and I still love the knee or OTK socks look.
Beloved One
I have been wearing OTK and Thigh high socks for years being a dancer, and just style wise overall, they help keep me warm but I still get to show a little skin, I love it, I’m looking forward to wearing my existing pairs as well as adding new pairs for the fall.
nVictoria
I love over-the-knee socks. i’ve always loved to wear them but until recently you’ve only been able to get Gothic -looking ones. i’m soooo happy that they’re in style now. anyone can where them as long as you’re comfortable. i think they can look really cute when layered too. that’s a trick i learned for cold Chicago nights.
and they look really cute with flat boots too. i’m 5’7 Afro-Caribbean and i have thunder thighs (yes i admitted that) if i can where them anyone can.
cece
In this part of my world(Nigeria) its not accepted neither is it necessary cos of our weather but even if it were i would still not try it as its not my style, but it sure looks good on some people.
Ciara
I love this trend I were them with my uniform a la serena but none of my super strict teachers seem to care and I personally don’t think it’s a lingerieish look, but I wouldn’t recommend white ones or sheer ones because they are the opposite of slimming! Darker colors are much more flattering in my experience. I love the outfit!! Can u make another?
Anna
I’ve been wearing these socks for ageeessss! I love it.
Jocey N.
This will be my challenge this winter, to wear a outfit with thigh-high socks> I have the perfect Kenneth Cole boots, i just need a nice shirt/skirt combo.
Nicki
I have always loved the way thigh high socks, I would wear them no matter what!
Mark
I have worn overthe knee socks from late fall to early spring. My girlfriend sugested I do this to keep warm and they worked.
I sometimes wear them with shorts when we are at home and they look great
ilhame
There are the best accessories with over the knee and thigh high boots for this fall and winter ! But I think there are no season and no year to wear them.
Kayla
I bought my first pair of OTK socks this winter and I love them!
Ijeoma
I try soooo hard to find thigh high socks that actually go up to my thighs, but they always end up stopping right above my knees! Any tall girls out there know where I can find some real deal THIGH high socks! And by tall I mean 5’9 and up lol
Thanks!!