Aug6Written by:Sally-ann Moffat
Friday, August 06, 2010 12:34 PM 
The trick to wearing this look and keeping your dignity intact is to get the crucial ‘shoe + hosiery = fabulousness’ equation just right. Because there is simply not one look to rule them all. Some types of hosiery or and certain pairs of open toed shoes should never be seen out in public together. You’ll want to stay well away from nude hosiery – textured or opaque is best and make sure the shoe is a heavier built shoe – not a fine pump or sandal.
For the bravest of the brave amongst you who are game enough to rock heels and socks you will want to mix up your patterened socks and textures with platform sandals and booties. A manly textured sock can be a rebellious contrast to a funky feminine sandal. Or stone grey fine socks with a charcoal grey platform sandal can look divinely inspired.
Be warned: this fad is not for the fainthearted as people will stare. The outdated rule of “thou shalt not wear hosiery with open toed shoes” has been in our psyche for so long that well meaning but sadly misinformed people proclaim it as gospel. Those nay-sayers may even try and stop you. Don’t worry – once everyone thought the world was flat too, because the problem with common misconceptions is that they are all too common.
Fashion will always look to the new, strive for re-invention and evolve beyond the norm and the mundane. This is its job – to lift us out of ourselves and to inspire us to be bigger, better brighter versions of ourselves. Happier and more fulfilled selves, wearing crazy footwear….whatever the current craze is.
Those sky high drag-queen-esq platforms are still going strong as far as crazes go but their newest incarnation is as strappy sandals. Embellished with ties, lacing, ruffles, plastic animal print, or stud trims, coming in colours of sorbet pinks, yellows, bright blues, rich reds and garish greens so there is no need to buy in black.
Tribal inspired flats and mannish brogues are bringing balance to the shoe spectrum for summer 2010, both of those will look great, and feel safe paired with socks.
They say that God is in the details and this season the details are in the heel – art heels, kitten heels and chunky wooden heels ensure that we have a lot of choice for the season ahead, and if you can’t handle the heel – flats are your saviour with an array of fashionably flat styles to save your soles.