Advice needed

[CameronBornAndBred]

Certainly, the socks must match either the pants or the shoes, and provide a smooth transition between hem and shoe.

The funny thing is, I never thought I had such a strong opinion on this topic, but the "always match the shoes" advice was jarring to me - I usually match the suit pants. Navy suit = Navy socks, and it doesn't matter if the shoes (and belt) are brown or black.

Not that any of your advice isn't worth paying attention to, I was just thinking that I've never been in an interview where they paid much attention to my feet. In fact I might wonder that things were going badly if they weren't focused on what's above my shoulders and what I had to say.

[CathyCA]

Dark blue suit, you can wear brown belt and shoes, but you should wear dark blue socks.

No! Don't wear brown shoes with a blue suit! Wear black.

Brown shoes go with brown suits and tan suits.

I hadn't thought about the bootie effect, but it makes some sense. Really, the entire leg should create one long line with no visual interruption. So, black shoes, black socks and black pants.

You all wouldn't believe how much time I have on some days to visually critique people in suits. If some people would spend an extra 5 minutes each morning, they would look so much more put together.

Fashion tips for women:

Women should never wear shoes with ankle straps. The ankle strap visually cuts the leg line and makes the woman look shorter and, therefore, heavier. Also, one inch of heel subtracts 5 pounds. (I think I've posted that on CTN before.) I'm going to be wearing 4 inch heels to my high school reunion. It's a quick and easy way to "lose" 20 pounds. Women should never wear dark stockings with a sleeveless dress. The dark stockings drag the eye downward toward the woman's heftier areas. Also, women should think about wearing v-neck blouses and tops. The v-neck has the visual effect of elongating the silhouette and therefore, visually subtracting pounds.

[devildeac]

Sorry about the interview. Better luck next time!

I couldn't just let this go:

Socks should match the shoes. So, if you're wearing brown shoes, wear brown socks that match the shoes. Black shoes get black socks. White sneakers get white socks.

The idea is to create a monochromatic line from shoes to the cuff or hem of the pants.

Dissent. That's known as the "bootie effect" and is a no-no. With a business suit, the idea is to both avoid the bootie effect and to make the socks inconspicuous. Usually, this means matching the slacks. Dark blue suit, you can wear brown belt and shoes, but you should wear dark blue socks. If, with a dark blue suit, you choose black belt and shoes, go with either blue or black socks. With a dark gray suit, I go with black belt and shoes and dark gray socks, with black as a second but still acceptable choice.

Google on the topic ("socks shoes pants") - there seems to be a consensus against the bootie effect. Of course, you will also see a lot of "high fashion" advice that you'd never follow in an interview. Even so, a general rule of socks matching your suit pants is going to be right most of the time.

Examples of internet advice: #1: Quick guide to dressing for an interview (PDF- sorry). It says, in relevant part:

Interview Shoes, Belt and Socks
• Match your shoes to your belt (leather to leather). For example,
with a charcoal gray suit you should wear black shoes and a
black belt. With a navy suit, you can wear black shoes/belt, or
you can wear burgundy shoes/belt.
• Wear lace up shoes on interviews.
• Match your sock color to your pants color. For example, charcoal
gray socks would be worn with a charcoal gray suit.

#2: Excerpt from a post on the topic at Sartorish:

Matching the socks
Here’s a little cheat-sheet for the basic options:

Black shoes & navy pants: black or navy socks
Black shoes & gray pants: black or gray socks
Black shoes & brown pants: black or brown socks
Black shoes & tan pants: black or tan socks

Brown shoes & navy pants: navy socks
Brown shoes & gray pants: gray socks
Brown shoes & (significantly lighter) brown pants: brown socks
Brown shoes & tan pants: brown or tan socks

Cordovan shoes & navy pants: navy socks
Cordovan shoes & gray pants: gray socks

Certainly, the socks must match either the pants or the shoes, and provide a smooth transition between hem and shoe.

The funny thing is, I never thought I had such a strong opinion on this topic, but the "always match the shoes" advice was jarring to me - I usually match the suit pants. Navy suit = Navy socks, and it doesn't matter if the shoes (and belt) are brown or black.

Olive-colored suit/pants=olive socks, I assume, or black? How about the shoes? Brown or black?
White pants=white socks? (jk; I don't own any white pants, and, if I did, I would not wear them after Labor Day or before Memorial Day )

[lawgrad91]

Also, one inch of heel subtracts 5 pounds.

Really? Do they still make 6 inch stilettos?

[CathyCA]

Also, one inch of heel subtracts 5 pounds.

Really? Do they still make 6 inch stilettos?

Yes. http://www.6inchheels.net/

[devildeac]

Also, one inch of heel subtracts 5 pounds.

Really? Do they still make 6 inch stilettos?

Yes. http://www.6inchheels.net/

Paging Ozzie...



Would anyone here (outside EJ, of course), actually wear a pair of those shoes? And BTW, to me, those don't look like 6 inch heels.

[CathyCA]

Would anyone here (outside EJ, of course), actually wear a pair of those shoes? And BTW, to me, those don't look like 6 inch heels.

The platform on the front provides an extra inch or so in height. The heels may not actually be 6 inches. I suppose it depends upon whose ruler you're using.

[lawgrad91]

Would anyone here (outside EJ, of course), actually wear a pair of those shoes? And BTW, to me, those don't look like 6 inch heels.

The platform on the front provides an extra inch or so in height. The heels may not actually be 6 inches. I suppose it depends upon whose ruler you're using.

I doubt there are too many men who would stop to measure the heels if a lady walked by sporting a pair of those. If I walked by sporting a pair of those, I hope the gentlemen I walked by would be kind enough to help me up off the ground after my ankles gave way.

[devildeac]

Would anyone here (outside EJ, of course), actually wear a pair of those shoes? And BTW, to me, those don't look like 6 inch heels.

The platform on the front provides an extra inch or so in height. The heels may not actually be 6 inches. I suppose it depends upon whose ruler you're using.

Or where one is measuring.

[devildeac]

Would anyone here (outside EJ, of course), actually wear a pair of those shoes? And BTW, to me, those don't look like 6 inch heels.

The platform on the front provides an extra inch or so in height. The heels may not actually be 6 inches. I suppose it depends upon whose ruler you're using.

I doubt there are too many men who would stop to measure the heels if a lady walked by sporting a pair of those. If I walked by sporting a pair of those, I hope the gentlemen I walked by would be kind enough to help me up off the ground after my ankles gave way.

At you bidding, Counselor.

[lawgrad91]

I doubt there are too many men who would stop to measure the heels if a lady walked by sporting a pair of those. If I walked by sporting a pair of those, I hope the gentlemen I walked by would be kind enough to help me up off the ground after my ankles gave way.

At you bidding, Counselor.

Thank you, DD! I'd probably also need a referral to one of your orthopedic buddies. ;)

[CathyCA]

Would anyone here (outside EJ, of course), actually wear a pair of those shoes? And BTW, to me, those don't look like 6 inch heels.

The platform on the front provides an extra inch or so in height. The heels may not actually be 6 inches. I suppose it depends upon whose ruler you're using.

Or where one is measuring.

We're on the same wavelength. ;)

[indoor66]

Also, one inch of heel subtracts 5 pounds.

Really? Do they still make 6 inch stilettos?

Yes. http://www.6inchheels.net/

I thought they were called FuckMePumps.

[lawgrad91]

I thought they were called FuckMePumps.

Around the courthouse, they are referred to as CFM's. For Come Fuck Me.

[devildeac]

Really? Do they still make 6 inch stilettos?

Yes. http://www.6inchheels.net/

I thought they were called FuckMePumps.

Yep, FMPs. But I thought that was Ozzie's line .

[Lavabe]

Also, one inch of heel subtracts 5 pounds.

Really? Do they still make 6 inch stilettos?

Yes. http://www.6inchheels.net/

Osteologically speaking, these things are disasters in the making.

[CathyCA]

I thought they were called FuckMePumps.

Around the courthouse, they are referred to as CFM's. For Come Fuck Me.

I've always heard them referred to as KMDAFMs. As in "Knock me down and ____ me."

[captmojo]

I...I...don't dress amymore.