Style Shrink | Sock It To Me
Going sockless sure looks good, doesn’t it? Not only does it feel great when the summer heat scorches upwards from the sidewalks, it also silently broadcasts your evolution in style.
But on the other hand, there’s nothing like weeding out the wannabe grown-ups from the men than foul foot odour. Picture this scenario: It’s Friday, 6:00 pm, you and some work friends hit the local watering hole for a few post-work drinks. You land up being invited to hot Katie from accounts’ house for a party. After umpteen beers and a few tequilas, hot Katie from accounts asks you to join her in the jacuzzi. Which – even if Katie is splashing about in a white T-shirt – you won’t do, because if you have any dignity at all, removing your sockless feet from those shoes will be unspeakable.
The main cause of foot odor is sweat. While sweat is odourless, every drop of it is a breeding ground for the bacteria that causes foot odour. Your feet produce copious amounts of sweat because 1) your feet are packed densely with sweat glands and 2) you stick your feet in shoes that have little or no ventilation for hours a day.
Unless you plan on shopping for foot powder and tea-tree oil and washing your feet more often than you brush your teeth, the easiest answer here is low-cut socks. Call them what you like – ankle socks, invisible socks, secret socks, spare-me-the-embarrassment socks – they are the unsung heroes of going sockless. Invest in a few pairs, because it really is the ONLY way to pull off the sockless look. Once you’ve got that covered you can say hello to liberating your ankles for summer and look forward to splashing about with Katie at her next house party.
Got a style query? Email us at onll ne@condenast.co.za and we’ll get it sorted.
Image taken by Tommy Ton and originally published on GQ.com