I have a hat, gloves, scarf and winter coat on, yet I’m still shivering uncontrollably. It’s cold. Very cold. So why does every guy I pass have his trousers hitched up round his calves? Skinny drain-pipe jeans, wide corduroy trousers, tailored tweed suit trousers: whatever they’re wearing on their bottom half, it’s turned-up, revealing socks and, at times, far more leg than the average male should, especially in the dead of winter.
Visible sock syndrome— VSS?— is a recent trend. Some say that it originated around the East End area of London a few years ago, and is spreading through the city fast. Championing the trend are the usual indie figureheads – Nick Grimshaw et al – whose carefully calculated looks are a good indicator of London street style. The question remains: Why are men so eager to expose their (sometimes hideously clashing) socks? Substance hit the streets of Shoreditch to help shed some light on the phenomenon.
We asked several chilly-ankled young men why they’d rolled their trousers up. Their reasons were: they liked the colour of their jean’s selvage seam, they wanted others to see the detailing on the top of their boots, or they simply wanted to show off their stylish Prada ankle socks. One young dandy didn’t want the sight of his rather fetching sock garters to go to waste, so he’d hoicked the trousers of his three-piece suit up to his knees. Details like the width of turn-ups matter. Even if you’re freezing, least you’re fashionable.
