# Socks for ballet flats? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687 "2014-05-05T03:20:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gestalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@Gestalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gestalt)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/1 "2014-05-05T03:20:20Z")
I love, love, love flats but cannot find a way to suitably wear socks with them. I know there are tons of liner-type socks out there, but they always slip off my feet! I’m a size 10-11 foot, wide. Anyone have good experiences with no-show socks that actually stay on your feet? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/2 "2014-05-05T03:22:26Z")
Lo these many years ago–ten years ago–at Target I could buy cotton socks that only went over the toes and ball of the foot. They were completely hidden by shoes that weren’t cut too far down on the instep, and provided all the comfy protection my toes could ask for. Nothing on the heels, though, obviously. No problems with them slipping off either. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/3 "2014-05-05T03:31:29Z")
I have the same issues. I just deal with the ones that slip. I did find a set that don’t slip quite as much as others at Walmart but I don’t remember the brand. They are brightly colored with neon stripes and polka dots. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/4 "2014-05-05T03:36:13Z")
Is there a dance accessories shop near you (like where you bought the shoes)? I bought a few pairs of socks with the shoes, and they work fine. And don’t worry about the “men’s vs. women’s” issue. My normal shoes are 10.5-EEEE, but my dance & tap shoes are women’s 12.5. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/5 "2014-05-05T04:50:13Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Lo these many years ago–ten years ago–at Target I could buy cotton socks that only went over the toes and ball of the foot. They were completely hidden by shoes that weren’t cut too far down on the instep, and provided all the comfy protection my toes could ask for. Nothing on the heels, though, obviously. No problems with them slipping off either. That’s a cool idea. I have the same problem as the OP, but a big part of why I need them IS the heel - I get blisters on the back of my heels / Achilles tendon really easily without a barrier between skin and shoe (even super thin tights are enough to protect). The no-show footies always slide down the heel; if I’m lucky, they don’t slip right off and bunch under my foot, but they still leave my blister spots naked and vulnerable. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/6 "2014-05-05T13:31:22Z")
Kicking this to IMHO, from Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/7 "2014-05-05T13:35:30Z")
My mother used to wear footies, today’s “no show socks” that were made of pantyhose-type nylon in every shoe she wore that today, I wear sockless. They never showed and even a bit that did was flesh-toned so it wasn’t real noticeable. I’m sure they wouldn’t have slipped down or she wouldn’t have worn them for 40 years. I have never bought these for myself, but if I did, I’d look in the hosiery department of an establishment department store where old ladies are likely to shop, like Dillard’s. They might have them there. ---
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/8 "2014-05-07T00:56:42Z")
I got a few pairs of these at Payless recently and they stay on pretty good, even when I’m wearing them without shoes. Maybe go one size down? They might leave lines on your feet but if they’re tighter they won’t slip? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/9 "2014-05-07T03:31:39Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > That’s a cool idea. I have the same problem as the OP, but a big part of why I need them IS the heel - I get blisters on the back of my heels / Achilles tendon really easily without a barrier between skin and shoe (even super thin tights are enough to protect). The no-show footies always slide down the heel; if I’m lucky, they don’t slip right off and bunch under my foot, but they still leave my blister spots naked and vulnerable. Oh. See, if a pair of shoes does that to me, I declare them defective 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/10 "2014-05-07T12:09:58Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Oh. See, if a pair of shoes does that to me, I declare them defective 😃 I have a pair of running shoes that rub my heels. I don’t want to just pitch them because they were kind of expensive, so I pasted a thick band aid on the shoe in the place that rubs. Not a pretty solution but it works and I can wear them! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-for-ballet-flats/687687/11 "2014-05-07T12:42:49Z")
> [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](#): > > I have a pair of running shoes that rub my heels. I don’t want to just pitch them because they were kind of expensive, so I pasted a thick band aid on the shoe in the place that rubs. Not a pretty solution but it works and I can wear them! Have you tried Moleskin or Molefoam?