The case for and against stepping out sans socks.

In recent years, the fashion barometer seems to be pointing towards ever-increasing quantities of visible ankle, both in terms of trouser length (they just keep getting shorter, don’t they?) and the general trend towards not wearing socks. Of course, people have always done this in high summer, when they’re likely to be on holiday. But should they? What’s more, as early in the year as April, can we honestly say that this is right and seemly? Excuse us for indulging in what seems like a somewhat Victorian controversy. But these are the things that matter to us at MR PORTER. To prove that point, we asked two of our associates to dip a toe into the debate.

Mr Samuel Muston, Deputy Editor, MR PORTER

To wear socks is to show esteem to your fellow man. To demonstrate a concern, if you will,  for the well-being of humanity and the olfactory organs of all those in your immediate vicinity. Why? Because, friend, your feet smell. And in summer they smell doubly so. Sort of like époisses, in fact.

Now, I do not by this suggest you do as Mr WG Grace did – he was said to don knee-lengths with sock garters to the beach. For you do not need to. You can wear those nice invisible socks, available from MR PORTER, which happily encase your foot in absorbent cotton, so the pong of your piggies is kept in check.

Or, if you want to tap into another aspect of the current zeitgeist entirely, you could accent your casual summer outfit with a pair of that streetwear favourite, tube socks – excellent, wry examples of which are currently available from the likes of Vetements, Off-White, Balenciaga and Gucci. Either way, there are options – I would beg you to make the most of them.

Mr Andrew Barker

It was on a stroll along the Seine some 10 years ago that I decided to give up my socks for that summer and every other since, thanks to two Left Bankers – one in black denim, black Derbys and a plain white T-shirt, the other in a Breton top, white denim and sneakers who gave me an unsolicited (and sockless) masterclass in breezy summer dressing.

The big downside of no socks is, of course, sweaty feet. But there’s no need for scaremongering – there are solutions to this problem. I now use an antibacterial foot spray/powder before sliding on slippers and a foot deodoriser when I take them off.

A good tip is to fill a pair of (offending) socks with bicarbonate of soda and place inside your loafers and boat shoes when you’re not wearing them. The powder will gradually disperse over time soaking up odours and killing bacteria. (Good for gym shoes, too.)