Hello Style Ravens, it’s Elfonnie here. Last weekend I traveled to Pennsylvania for a gender reveal party at my inlaws’, and that was where I spotted two fine-looking gentlemen looking ultra suave from head to toe.
As a lover of understated elegance, I was totally won over by their looks, and I couldn’t hide my excitement. I pulled out my iPhone 6 and went straight into photographer/shoot director mode. LOL!
I was like, “give me sexy, give me posh, oya now look serious…” the gentlemen were laughing so hard and wondering how I went from cool and collected to paparazzi mode in a matter of seconds. Well, that’s what happens when I spot great style. I always say there’s nothing like a good-looking man with a wow sense of style. What did it for me was the sockless look; that really was the ensemble’s highlight on Mr. Momah & Mr. Ilonzo.
The temperature is quickly rising over here in the US, and summer is the perfect season for the sockless look, which Italian men have mastered for decades. But going sockless, although fabulous, isn’t as easy as it looks. You can’t just grab a pair of shoes and decide not to wear socks. This style is ideal with shoes that are comfortable and have breathable interiors but look best with fine leather shoes which aren’t as breathable; well, unless you’re one of the few chosen ones who do not sweat on their feet.
Guys, before you try this look, you’ll need to learn the science and art of going sockless with style while staying fresh and sweat-free. I have summarized 5 quick tips (adapted from esquire.co.uk) to rock the sockless look like a pro.
5 tips on how to go sockless like a pro…
#1. Choose the right shoes
The perfect shoe for going sockless is a loafer. Louche by the look and by name, the summer style looks the business teamed with a bronzed ankle and a slightly cropped trouser. For the office, wear a pair of thin-soled derbies; at the weekend, opt for a penny or horse-bit loafer, and when on holiday, the only choice is a driving shoe or a suede espadrille.
Shop editor’s loafers edit
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#2. Don’t actually go sockless
There’s nothing worse than that sweaty, squelchy sensation that comes from a day of walking around with your bare feet in a pair of leather shoes (and the smell’s pretty rough too).
Shop editor’s no-show socks edit
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#3. Keep your hems close
Or specifically, with a circumference of no less than 13 and no greater than 15 inches. Last year, Kim Jones sent models wearing super wide-hemmed, baggy trousers and no socks down the runway at the Louis Vuitton show. There are very few of us who can actually pull that look off. Thus, keep things skinny and, in turn, failsafe.
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#4. Take inspiration from the Italians
The trouser to opt for is a slim cut chino that sits close around the buttocks, slim around the thigh and calf with a slight kick at the hem. It’s a shape favored by stylish men in Milan. The trouser’s base should sit around two inches from the rim of your shoe, exposing the start of the ankle, any higher, and you’re wearing pedal pushers.
Shop editor’s chinos edit
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#5. Invest in some accessories
If you’re planning on a sock-free summer, you might want to invest in some products as a backup. An unvarnished cedar shoe tree, properly inserted, will soak up sweat perspiration, help prevent bacterial growth, and deodorize shoes. A foot antiperspirant such as Scholl Deo-Activ Foot Spray will also help fight any unsavory issues at the source.
Shop editor’s accessories edit
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Now, you’ve got the tips you need to master the sockless look. Be sure to tag #StyleRaveNigeria on Instagram when you wear yours. You just might get featured.
Stay stylish!
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