Wearing socks with sandals is usually listed near the top of any fashion don’t list.

Last fall, everyone welcomed tights with open toes. But it looks like spring’s headed in an even less practical direction pairing socks, whether ankle or knee high, with your favorite sandals. You can do it with platform wedges a la Topshop or Burberry, flats like Marni, shoe booties like Wang and Charles Anastase or studded party shoes like Louise Goldin.

Marc’s fall 06 show was the last time we even considered trying this (though alas, we aren’t Karen Elson), but we’re still not sure about its resurgence for spring.

Or we should say, will you break out any of your official high school gear just because the runways tell you to?

Even Alexander Wang, god to the too-cool for school crowd, embraced the iconic American jock in his all-American SS10 collection. He sent Hanne down the runway in a letterman inspired jacket, albeit one with a side zipper, v-neck and flattering waistline. Then in London, though Topshop’s Unique collection was pretty scattered, a good portion of it was sporty, including a letterman-like sweater (but with a number) on Anya Kazakova.

I spent my last day in London wandering through Regents Park and up to Camden Market where almost every rack of vintage featured a handful of jackets I last saw in my high school halls (until these recent runways at least) and they’re just as unflattering now as they were then. Which means of course you’d have to buy an Alex Wang one or get yours, or your boyfriends, taken in.

Worth it?

Last season, one couldn’t squeeze into a show without being knocked around by a pair of expensive shoulders. Though the Balmain or Margiela or any shoulder interpretation of the two have stuck around here and there, SS10’s featured a healthy crop of anti-shoulders so far.

Designers ranging from Richard Nicoll to the team at Topshop, from Australian Josh Goot to the Brooklyn based Vena Cava girls, haven’t just ignored shoulder pads, they’ve actually cut out the shoulders of their tops and dresses. Julien Macdonald placed extra larges slits at the shoulders of his slashed dress and Osman Yousefzada cut the shoulders out of a handful of looks in his all-white collection.

Will it knock its opposite off the runways? All eyes on you Carine.

At this point in the game, the only way to possibly survive is to inhale coffee and water all the time.

So my first stop at the Topshop Unique show yesterday afternoon was the bathroom. Down a hallway and around the corner, I almost ran smack into Jefferson Hack and turned as bright pink as my new brogues. The ladies’ room itself was empty save a woman in a grey hat and strappy snakeskin sandals brushing her teeth. Once in a stall I thought, wait, no, really?

It was. Do you know how hard it is to wash your hands next to Kate Moss brushing her teeth and not stare? She was apparently distraught over someone trying to take her picture. Hopefully someone explained that all anyone wants to do is take pictures of Kate Moss and that she probably shouldn’t attend fashion shows if she’s decided to turn camera shy.

The show itself, styled by Katie Grand and opened with Dree Hemingway, featured more wacky 80s gear like last season. There was oversized studded denim layered over what looked like neon latex suits, brightly colored dresses, messy hair and and a whole punk rock jock thing - think studded letterman jackets - that was like Alex Wang on acid.

It was fun to watch, but a bit hard to give my undivided attention with Kate Moss present.

Last week, Lydia Hearst told me she’d be walking two shows this season: An unnamed exclusive in Madrid and of course, Pringle of Scotland in Milan as one of the brand’s new faces.

But you guys noticed that Lydia was MIA in Milan, even though Pixie, another new Pringle face, sat front row.

Apparently, it’s because she’s off to Cairo on a mission for Operation Smile with her sister and brother-in-law. The heiress and model is this year’s official ambassador for the charity, and we guess she got her date book a bit mixed up.

Anyway, as for us, we’re off to Paris! Tomorrow look for tweets on just how many LVMH-ers are in Gareth’s front row.

Those Balmain shoulders, the sharp eighties silhouette Christophe Decarnin so successfully reinvented last season, popped up on almost every runway, from Behnaz to Topshop, from Herve to Pringle. But a few designers weren’t satisfied with mere shoulder pads and actually ballooned their silks into real life leg-of-mutton sleeves.

Roksanda Ilincic’s silver, almost angular sleeves added an edge to her glamourous pastel shifts while Dolce & Gabbana’s worked in the opposite direction. Their rounded shoulders gave linear dresses womanly curves.

Julien Macdonald’s steroid sleeves are a bit less dramatic but maintain the bubbly upper arm that skinnies at the elbow - because a sleeve of Dolce’s proportions on Macdonald’s already 80’s-loving, zippered, bedazzled mini might be a bit much.

Like any good American girl, I’m obsessed with Topshop.

And like any good fashion obsessed girl, I love Katie Grand.

But I have to admit, the Katie Grand styled Topshop Unique show was kind of a mess.

The clothes were very new rave, neon and kind of grungy. Liu Wen, Karlie (walking her first London Fashion Week), Jourdan & co. stomped down the runway in hooded anoraks and massive, blanket-like scarves. There were Balmain-shouldered sweatshirts paired with patchwork leather skirts, ill-fitting tube dresses and a hooded multi-colored sequined jumpsuit to top it all off.

Meanwhile, the accessories rocked, especially the glow stick necklaces and clutches.

Before the show, Hanne Gaby Odiele complained about her fat legs.

During the show, I sat right behind Daisy Lowe, Pixie Geldof and Lydia Hearst (from here on out referred to as the Brit It-Girls). I’d stuffed my face half full of delicious Topshop meringues before someone was kind enough to point out that I’d be in every single paparazzi picture this side of the Atlantic.

Whatever, the meringue was delicious. Wish the clothes were, too.

It’s pretty evident that the 90s have made a come back - we all know about the crop tops, but now we’re seeing its big sister, the bra as top, all over the runway.

But the bra top raises a couple questions, like:

1. Is it a bra - as in, an undergarment made to wear under one’s clothes - or can it actually be considered a top? Cushnie et Ochs certainly thinks the latter, though we wonder what happens in cold rooms or in the rain.

2. Is it really ok to show not just a sliver of your midriff, like with a crop top, but the entire thing?

3. Where exactly is the line between “bra” and “bra top”? Is it in the construction / coverage / use of lace?

I’ve personally attempted this look with a structured bathing suit top, and another time with a cotton bandeau - BUT, only with high waisted pants. However, the runway’s been showing more skin than the new 90210, and, well, unless it’s hiding under a blazer, is anyone really going to have their six-pack hanging out like that? (Do regular girls even have six packs?)

So what’s the verdict: Runway or reality?

—ALEXANDRA BEN-GURION