Valentino Pre-Fall 2026. Courtesy of Valentino.
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Brands lean into fashion’s favorite “ugly-chic” styling trick, pairing delicate socks with strappy heels.
The polarizing socks-and-sandals trend reaches new heights this season, courtesy of Valentino, Chloé, DSquared2, and Ulla Johnson, who style strappy heeled sandals with ribbed or sheer crew socks. For extra polish, choose a lace-trimmed pair, as seen here with Alessandro Michele’s Rockstud redux.
What was once dismissed as a fashion don’t has slowly become one of the industry’s favorite styling formulas. Equal parts practical and provocative, the combination plays into fashion’s ongoing fascination with contradiction—mixing delicate femininity with an intentionally awkward edge. The result feels slightly eccentric, but in the most editor-approved way possible.
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The styling trick also reflects fashion’s larger shift toward personality-driven dressing. Rather than striving for perfection, recent runways have embraced looks that feel layered, lived-in, and a touch unconventional. A sheer sock under a barely-there heel instantly softens the shoe while adding texture and dimension to an outfit.
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SWOW SWAG
Valentino. A Grand Italian Epic (Extra Large)
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