Apparently We're Wearing Lingerie on Our Feet Now

Peekaboo lingerie is nothing new—people have been letting their bra straps show and whale tails wag for decades now. But as far as I know, the titillating trend has yet to reach our toes—until now. Welcome to the era of "foot undies."

Following Gen Z's bold banishing of millennials' beloved no-show socks, the low-cut foot coverings are back with a vengeance. But this time, they're not trying to hide.

Originally coined by Yeva Kouzouian, the curator behind fashion account @tourist.souvenirs, lately appearing on the grids of influencers and recently covered by The Cut, "foot undies" refer not to ordinary socks, but to what can essentially be considered lingerie for your feet: ultra-low-rise shoe liners in flirty fabrics like lace and mesh, cheekily peeking out from beneath the edges of a low-vamp pump or flat.

At first it sounds ridiculous—and suspiciously like a ploy by foot fetishists on the internet (hey, no judgment)—but after taking foot undies for a spin myself, I can't help but be all for them. As a fashion lover, I am all about a new and unexpected detail popping up in an outfit. But the visual wink of the trend isn't its only merit—it's also totally practical. Hear me out.

One of my biggest gripes when wearing closed-toe shoes sans socks is how sweaty my feet get, followed by the inevitable chafing that occurs between my damp, bare skin and the stiff edges of the shoe. It's a one-way ticket to blister city. But these sort of socks are designed to prevent that exact situation—and by embracing their aesthetic, we don't need to fret over whether or not our footwear keeps them covered. It's a sexy solution to a decidedly unsexy fashion predicament.

Having tried the concept IRL for a day, donning these $8 socks (which come in a pack of ten) with both Rothy's Mary Janes and some pumps I recently wore to exhaustion at a wedding, I have to admit, the unexpected pairing makes for a surprisingly comfortable step. The lacy lining even provided enough coverage to quell the blisters I took home as a party favor from said wedding. The eye-catching contrast of color and texture? Just a fun bonus.

Granted, I have never met a weird style trick I didn't want to try at least once, but I'm calling it now: "Foot undies" are fresh—and functional—enough to go mainstream. (I will draw the line at "Foot G-strings," however.)