The Great Sock Debate: Functionality vs Fashion
- Erika Doty
- Nov 2, 2025
- 6 min read
Help! With the seasons changing I'm tucking away my sandals till next summer and...I'm thinking way too much about socks. Which ones do I wear? And how? And with what???
If you're in midlife, like me, and you don't want to look like a totally out-of-touch "old lady" who doesn't know what she's doing...like me, then you've probably asked yourself (daily, maybe?) which socks should I wear? And why is this a thing now?
Growing up in the 80s there weren't many sock choices and no one really cared. (Or at least I didn't.) I wore what my mom bought me. Usually a package of 12 pairs of white Hanes socks. Great. Perfect. Sometimes I'd get the ones with ruffles or a bow, for special occasions, of course. We'd put them on our feet each day and didn't think twice.
Then in high school Clueless happened and everyone had to have the tall nylon socks to wear with our Docs or loafers or chunky sneakers. Then the no-show socks came along, which were an answered prayer for my ballet flats. And then ankle socks in all the colors. Oh, and don't get me started on the options for when I hit the gym. Gah!
The jeans trend has shifted dramatically in the past few years, and that brings changes to the sock game. No more skinny jeans. No more showing your ankles. (I'll explain below.) And definitely don't tuck your jeans into your boots...apparently.
So, I did what any mom would do...I asked my on-trend, stylish teenage daughter about The Great Sock Debate. With an eye roll she said, "Mom, wear whatever you want. Just no more ankle socks. Ugh." She has also been known to vehemently scold my husband for wearing ankle socks with sneakers...apparently men in ankle socks is THE WORST. (Teenagers are fun.)
As much as I love and trust my daughter...I'm not a teenager, nor do I want to try to look like one. But a little perspective and some room to grow and adjust to the trends never hurt. I did some serious research on this not-so-serious topic to find some answers about what damn socks we (non-Gen Z-ers) should be wearing and how.
What's What
First things first, let's get the terms straight:
Got it?
And remember... it's simply a fact of life that no matter the time, the 18-30-year-old segment of our population generally dictates the current fashion trends. Sometimes it's a welcome trend (I'm personally loving the wide-leg pants these days) and sometimes it conflicts with our personal style or body shape (I refuse to ever embrace low-rise pants again! Ever!). There is no rule that says we have to follow these kids and their fashion sense. Do what works for you. Period.
But if you're interested in what's "on trend" or what to do with what you find in the stores/online... check out our guide to socks below.
🧦We'll go through this by sock length. Pretty much anything is in these days (except ankle socks, but we'll get to that) - it just depends on how you wear them.
🤎Also, the big bold bright colors from 5 years ago - out. Neutrals are IN. Especially just the basic white sock. Coffee colors, creams and mochas are all the rage this season, as well as textured socks. Get ready to see these everywhere.
THE Sock: The Crew & Quarter Sock
The crew and quarter sock is everywhere - in stores, in ads, on most people you'll run into on a daily basis. I have to admit, these aren't just trendy, they're functional. No more cold ankles. As someone who is often on a dirt path for exercise, no more dirty gross ankles either. Crew and quarter-length socks are cozy, practical and I genuinely don't have to think about my shoes when wearing them (nothing is slipping off my heel).
Crew Socks:
Crew socks are THE on-trend sock right now. There is a school of thought out there that the ankle sock makes your legs look longer with shorts, but that's not true. Crew socks elongate the appearance of your legs by balancing the proportions of your outfit. Though I fought it at first, a pair of white crew socks paired with shorts or leggings is pretty cute.
Shop The Crew Sock:
From left to right: Adidas Crew is great for the gym; Amazon Everyday Cotton Sock is just that - great for everyday wear; we love these white crew socks with a ruffle; and these Ugg slouchy socks are SO soft - perfect to pair with some sweats or leggings.
Quarter-Length Socks:
When I first dipped my toe in The Great Sock Debate (pun intended), I purchased quarter socks. For me, these were my Gateway Sock - not quite the height of a crew or knee-high, but definitely less "age-defining" than those ankle socks. And maybe because I'd been wearing ankle socks for so long, the crew socks felt really loooooonnnnngggg on my legs, especially when I was in shorts. So a quarter-length sock was an easy change to make. I've been happy with the quarter sock - particularly when paired with shorts (athletic shorts or otherwise).
Shop The Quarter Sock:
So many options for a quarter-length sock out there. Here are a few we love: Amazon Everyday cotton for (you guessed it) everyday wear; Stance quarter sock is very high quality; these Nike socks are everywhere and can be wore everywhere; lastly a little ruffle to add a little cuteness to your fit.
Tights, Knee Highs & Calf-Length Socks
Boots are IN this fall, especially a taller boot. Another trend this fall is showing a little sock above your boot - no matter how tall or short the boot is. With a taller boot, a taller sock is necessary. Wear your boots with skirts, cropped pants, dresses, or shorts. And pair with tights, knee-high socks or calf-length socks. We're loving the look of a taller boot with a cute ruffle or colored sock peeking out.
Shop Knee-Length & Tights:
Check out what Brooke has in her closet this Fall:
Bye-Bye Ankle Socks
If you're on TikTok, you've seen the many memes about ankle socks and how they are THE millennial/Gen X giveaway. I have no illusions of being mistaken for a hip teenager because I'm sporting some crew socks, but I don't love the idea of some stranger thinking they know how old I am just by looking at my socks. (It's the GenX-er in me, maybe. Damn The Man.) So though I'm in midlife and mostly do not care what anyone thinks of me, or my outfit, I also love fashion and trends...and, well, the practicality of the current sock trends.
At the end of the day, do what works for you. What's cool isn't designed for everyone all of the time. As my daughter wisely said to me, "Mom, wear whatever you want."
So, I do. I'm fully embracing the quarter and crew socks with sneakers, shorter boots, and at with leggings. But I'm also sometimes wearing my no-shows under my wide-leg jeans and sporting my colorful ankle socks at the gym (but just sometimes). It's called adaptability...and if anyone is good at that, it's us GenX/midlifers.
But What Do I Wear?!?
We've covered which sock lengths and colors are in, and which are out. But how do I wear these with today's fit or tomorrow's gym attire? Here's what "the experts" are saying:
✅ YES: Tall socks with sneakers and pants (this actually elongates the leg and overall look, especially when paired with cropped pants/jeans)
🚫 NO: No-show socks with cropped pants
✅ YES: Quarter or crew socks with leggings
🚫 NO: No sock showing above the boot
✅ YES: Fun socks with loafers and flats. Trending: coffee colors, darker neutrals, subtle prints and textures
🧦What socks do you wear?
🚫What sock trend are you totally ignoring?
Tell us! Email me at erika@babblewithbrooke.com I'd love to hear from you!
Want More?
See all of our sock choices in one spot at our Amazon Storefront Sock page!
Couple of fun resources I used when researching The Great Sock Debate:
Gym Shark:
Primer Magazine:
And this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INl0qmzJXEk
[Brooke and I will definitely be exploring that Cape Blazer...more to come soon!]
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