Rock Out With Your Sock Out?

Nov 20, 2007 @ 2:21pm

We almost bought a pair of black thigh-highs the other day. We were going to wear them with our Wellies and our beloved Vanessa Bruno mini skirt.

But then we remembered that we're 5'4'' and a size 8, and that instead of looking like the girls on the Miu Miu Fall runway, we'd look more like Scooby-Doo's Velma - and that'd be tragic.

We debated the look in the office this morning, but we think you have to be supertall and superthin for thigh highs to look like anything except a sorority hazing outfit.

The proportion of the sock, whether it's to the knee or above it, has to work perfectly with the shoe matched to it.

And they should be paired with a pretty casual outfit, unless you're really trying to rock the Prada Fall '07 look, in which case, your dress had better be very frumpy and very expensive.

Has anyone had any luck with the thigh high?

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 2:38PM

No - even if you are tall they don't work!
I'm 5'10 and a size 6 and "thigh-high" socks end up being knee socks on me. Nobody wins with this one!

--Alison Cool

posted by Rose

Nov 20, 2007 2:54PM

I'm 5'2 and about a 6, and yeah...no good. I feel like a child generally. Which is unfortunate, because I love the look when a girl can rock it properly.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 2:58PM

I don't know... I'm short and I wear them in lieu of tights with longer skirts. It looks much better when your clothes come off.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 3:25PM

ok, i need an honest opinion here. i am 5'10, sz 6, and have rocked overknees successfully in the past - 15-20 years ago! i'm 39. i don't look it. i have the legs to pull it if. should i, or is there a time when you just have to realize that the clothes don't match the face anymore?

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 3:40PM

I think you can do it if you work the aforementioned prada look-- very lady-like, almost gray gardenseque. Definitely not school girlish.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 3:47PM

wore them to work this morning... ended up changing into tights, but i think they'll work for night.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 3:48PM

I love over the knee and thigh high socks. The key is in the proportions: length of sock, length of skirt/dress, heel of shoe.
Wearing a mini with thigh highs and heels does give off a slightly whorish impression. However, if you're wearing a boot, that's a different story.
My favorite resource for socks is www.sockdreams.com - anyone who is questioning how to wear longer socks should definitely check them out. If you don't buy anything, at least see how they're styled!

posted by thefashionyblog

Nov 20, 2007 3:50PM

I bought two pairs of thigh-high socks a few months ago, and have been wearing them successfully ever since. I'll admit that I'm 5'7" and pretty thin, but they are flattering, comfy, and I generally love them. I think the trick is to pair them with an outfit that is as far from schoolgirl as possible.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 3:57PM

I'm 6'and size 6 and it generally doesn't work at all. Most of the thigh-highs end up quitting on me and slumping down to knee-socks. Also, it is so difficult to pick the right shoe to wear with this look. Jazz shoes and wingtip oxfords (both unflattering as well) seem to be the best call. Sometimes, I can pull it off it the skirt (or loose shorts) hits right wear the thigh highs hit, which makes the look less precious and less slutty. Generally though, the only thing this look succeeds at is eliciting schoolgirl fantasies.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 4:02PM

I wear my thigh highs so that they end just over the knee - I don´t mind. I (6ft3, us sz 6-8) wear them with high biker boots or wellies, peeking out, slightly scrunched up, over opaque tights. Kind of grunge look, not school girl. I think it is a way how not quite a gamine girl can wear them.

posted by lentil

Nov 20, 2007 4:11PM

I bought a pair of the cutest grey thigh highs earlier this year... but yeah... no luck wearing them.

posted by Rockmantica

Nov 20, 2007 4:33PM

Oh, I feel your pain. I'm 5"4 and size 8 also, and my legs are muscular. =( I've been obsessing over American Apparel thigh highs for years now, and I still don't own a pair. It's sad, really. But I've seen thin tall girls rock it so well, I'm green with envy.

posted by superflippy

Nov 20, 2007 4:46PM

I don't think it's height so much as leg shape. I have curvy calves and tall socks are really unflattering on me. However, I can rock a pair of fishnets or seam-back stockings.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 4:57PM

Guest 2:58 is right...they do look better when you're nekkid!

I'd say this look is probably too sexy to wear in the daytime at work unless you are in fashion/art/etc.

Guest 3:40...LOL at Grey Gardens. True, tho, very true.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 4:57PM

I'm 52, 105 lbs, and I wear them. I tend to wear them with mini's and a loose t-shirt, and shoes that match the color of the thigh highs- or boots. There's a lot of proportion in it. If the flats don't do it, a flat vintage ankle boot is pretty good.

posted by Jac

Nov 20, 2007 5:01PM

I thnk I could maybe pull it off, but if i tried to wear it to school someone would ask me why I went to class as a "tennis ho".

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 5:09PM

I'm also 5'4" and size 8 and I wear knee socks with tall boots all the time. It looks fine as long as it's not a mini skirt, a better length is a just above the knee. Also, check out yesterday's whowhatweardaily.com for some pics of this look.

posted by Summer

Nov 20, 2007 5:41PM

I wear mine layered over tights or with boots. I'm 5'4" and a size 4. I love them.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 6:18PM

i wear them over tights with minidresses and flats and i think it looks good.

i'm 5'4" and not that thin, but i have thin legs so it works!

posted by Jacqueminette

Nov 20, 2007 8:46PM

I have a French friend who's about 165cm, and she can pull them off stunningly. Then again, she has the thinnest legs I've ever seen on a person with a healthful diet.

I'm 183cm and wear pants that are IT40/high-end American 4/Gap 2, but the socks look awful when the end just above the knee. Visually, it cuts your leg in half, which makes them look shorter over all.

Actual thigh-high stockings are another story altogether, of course.

posted by guest

Nov 20, 2007 8:47PM

i'm 5'8 and a size 0 and i've been wearing knee socks all season and have been getting TONS of compliments on them...i have so many different pairs, i can incorporate them into any outfit!

posted by jolie

Nov 20, 2007 11:32PM

guest 8:47... you're 5'8 and a size 0??!! omg i envy you!

posted by dumbbrunette5

Nov 21, 2007 4:17AM

ooh i love thigh highs but i usually only wear them with dresses and definately not heels. every time i try it with a skirt i end up changing cuz it always looks too school girl-ish. my younger sister has all these crazy neon and striped socks that she pulls off really well too, but i prefer solid colors

posted by guest

Nov 22, 2007 10:35PM

i wore them alot last winter. im 5'8 size 4 and my trick was to wear them over a colorful pair of tights. instead of seeing skin it kind of elongated my legs by adding color, not to mention it was rather sliming. put on a mini dress and its an amazing outfit.

posted by guest

Nov 24, 2007 9:37PM

i did thigh high socks today (panterella for acne grey space-dye wool socks) with frye boots, black tights, and a shirt-tail hem mini-dress and it worked out. im 5'5" sz0 but with short legs so the shirt tail hem made my legs appear longer when a straight hem esp with over the knee socks can really chop off your height plus wearing tights under the socks kept the socks from slipping down my legs all day.

posted by guest

Nov 25, 2007 12:16PM

i'm 5'2 size 6 shoe and wore knee highs with a pencil skirt and high heel oxfords. and i looked fabulous, so yes it can be pulled off!

-k

posted by guest

Nov 26, 2007 11:43AM

I'm 5'8" size 12 with muscular, properly proportioned legs and I can pull them off. I usually wear tights or fishnets and the socks with boots oxfords or my patent leather booties. I think its all in the style and how confidently you can carry it off.

posted by guest

Feb 22, 2008 4:32AM

im 5"7 and a 2, and they work on me. i am 17 though.
one of my favourite outfits this winter has been thigh highs over beige nylons with a mini and a loose shirt.
footwear-wise, montreal winter forces me into boots, but i find tall equestrian style works.
im looking forward to wearing them with strappy sandals and gladiators in the spring/fall.