The year was 1994… yes, over one score ago… I found myself in Paris for the ever insane Bastille Day celebration.

When I travel, I have a rather religious belief that traveling light increases my happiness to exponential proportions.  I usually bring light clothes that are easy to wash, and I tend to prioritize practicality over fashion. Another of my rules, when packing for an awesome trip, is to leave adequate space in your bag for new items scored along the way.

While packing, it was evident that I was really in the need of new shoes. I was headed to London, Paris and Rome. Rome was going to provide me some new leather shoes- she just didn’t know it yet. So, I packed my basics, along with empty space, ready for new shoes and other goods and headed off.

I did pack comfort shoes and leather summer sandals (from a previous trip to Florence) to get me through the first legs of the trip. Cozy and Cool.

Once in Paris, I learned that Bizet’s Carmen was being performed at the Paris Opera House. I love the opera, I love the building! Had to go! After scrambling around a bit, tickets were obtained and the plan came together.

As I was dressing, it became apparent that my shoe selection was a bit inadequate; grungy comfys or open sandals? Shit! No time for new shoes; the show must go on! I had to improvise.

At the opera, you would have thought I was a freak show in the circus. Yes, I was american then, too. I also realized that if Parisians love Americans, they usually hid it very well. But this was different… SANDALS WITH SOCKS?? AT AN OPERA!

I felt that I may have set back American/French relations back to the 1780’s. In fact by the scars I had from the stare daggers, I thought maybe I set back fashion to the 10th century!

And then today, I read this story on the front page of the Wall Street Journal…

Seeeee?

 

From Today’s Wall Street Journal:

I’ll Be Darned, Wearing Socks With Sandals Is Fashionable

At men’s apparel shows this spring, runway models sported a look that many fashion experts believe is just wrong. “It’s not acceptable,” says Sam Spector, a fashion stylist whose clients include actors Daniel Radcliffe and Neil Patrick Harris.Wearing socks with sandals—a source of endless ridicule for dads, German tourists and hippies—is allegedly in vogue. Calvin Klein Collection, Bottega Veneta, Marni and other luxury labels showcased the pairing at men’s runway shows in June. Attendees at men’s New York Fashion Week in July wore the comfortable combination. Footwear-maker Teva recently started selling sock-and-sandal packages while offering an online guide on how to pull off the look…

… Consuelo Castiglioni, creative director for high-end fashion label Marni, saw socks as an accent, “an accessory, adding extra color and texture to the outfit.” At Marni’s Spring 2016 show in June, socks and sandals were worn with dressy shirts and slacks.Some in the fashion industry applaud the trend. “Why not wear your favorite sandals year-round and pair it with beautiful cashmere sock?” says Grant Woolhead, a stylist and the fashion director for Out Magazine. He finds the I-don’t-care look of socks with sandals “kind of sexy.”

Source: I’ll Be Darned, Wearing Socks With Sandals Is Fashionable – WSJ