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There’s a style secret that every fashion insider takes into account when planning an outfit: Socks. You heard that right — this wardrobe basic is an essential finishing touch for any look, and our editors are equipped with a variety of Bombas socks for all occasions, from office hours to happy hour and everything in between.
Whether it’s frilly socks that add a feminine twist to loafers, ankle socks that soften the silhouette of a slingback kitten heel, or simply a great no-show sock that doesn’t slip, the humble sock can make or break a look. Similar to statement jewelry or a sculptural designer handbag, socks add a layer of interest and intrigue to provide that je ne sais quois to any outfit. We’ve seen style stars like Bella Hadid, Taylor Swift, and Irina Shayk embrace layered sock looks, with these notable names using socks to dress up everything from loafers to heels. On Schiaparelli and Victoria Beckham’s spring 2024 runways alone, statement socks in varying cuts and materials were seen on models.
You may know Bombas for their performance socks, but we’re eyeing so many chic pairs that bode well for springtime frolics, summer vacations, and for elevating your everyday wardrobe. Beyond a style statement, socks are a workhorse of the wardrobe. So it’s important to select high-quality pairs that will hold up to wear, tear, and frequent washing. Bombas’ selection of socks delivers on that, with the brand’s seamless toes that prevent rubbing, honeycomb arch support, blister tabs, and zone cushioning. On top of chic styles and tech-forward features, Bombas also gives back: With each purchase, Bombas donates essential clothing to shelters, rehabilitation centers, transitional living centers, and more (over 100 million donated & counting!). One Purchased = One Donated.
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These socks come at a premium price — so are Bombas worth it? According to our editors, Bombas’ wide variety of sock styles are well worth the splurge for their quality materials, luxurious feel, and long-lasting durability (not to mention our newfound love for them as fashionable accessories). And we have a surprise for you: Footwear News readers can score 20 percent off their first purchase with code FWN20.
After extensively testing a slew of Bombas’ bestselling styles, our editors are excited to share our favorite pairs and how we’re styling them for spring and summer.
Fashion-Forward Function: Ribbed Socks and Metallic Kitten Heels
Never in a million years did I think my silver kitten heels could be elevated even more, but Bombas proved me wrong with the Lightweight Ribbed Quarter Socks. To be honest, these gorgeous point-toe shoes aren’t the most comfortable, as they always pinch my toes and cause blisters in just a few hours of wear. These ribbed quarter socks are a holy grail solution — not only do they prevent painful rubbing, they help my foot stand more secure in the footbed, aiding in stability in every stride, and add an editorial vibe to styling for the office or a night out.
The material of these socks feels super smooth and seriously luxe, while the ribbing and striping brings texture and somewhat of a sporty vibe to contrast chic design of the shoes. They feel lightweight and thin on my feet, and flash in so many vivid colorway options that I’m already planning on stocking up on for summer days ahead.
They can certainly be worn with my daily sneakers, but why hide a fun design? I can easily see myself wearing these as statement socks with cute sandals or recovery slides, or even popping out of ankle boots for visual contrast and an added personality touch. Plus, the socks themselves are convertible, so you can also wear them as fold-over socks when temps are especially high on sunny days. — Olivia Cigliano
Femme Flourish: Frilly Socks With Loafers
Frilly socks are having a moment, and I’m so here for it. I own a handful of options that I wear on the regular, but they’re all prone to pilling and the frilly seam starts to sag after a few washes. Not the case with Bombas’ women’s frill socks! They have the lightweight, silky feel of hosiery, but that delicate design is surprisingly durable — after multiple wears and washes this month, they’re still good as new.
I’m convinced that I need enough of these Bombas frilly socks to wear for every day of the week; there’s nothing they don’t go with. On the weekend, I’ll pair them with tan sneakers for a tonal look, or go full girly with a slip dress, frilly socks, and mules. For days at the office, I pair them with my go-to chunky loafers and cropped trousers — the frill detail adds a fun, femme touch to an otherwise plain outfit.
Another reason these are the best frilly socks on the market? They never slide down. I ordered a pair true to size, and compared to similar options I’ve tested, these have a soft hold right around the ankle that doesn’t stretch out or sag during a long day of wear.
Bombas’ frill socks have a second-skin feel to them that makes it easy to wear with any pair of shoes in my closet. Because they’re so thin, they don’t cramp my toes in pointed flats, and that feature also lets me wear them with shoes that would otherwise rub or create blisters after a long day on my feet. Those with sweaty feet will love how breathable they are, too. — Claire Sullivan
Undercover Comfort: No-Show Socks With Cuffed Pants and Statement Sneakers
I’ve got to be honest: I used to absolutely hate no-show socks — until I got my hands on a pair of Bombas’ lightweight no-show socks. So many of these unseen foot essentials slide right off my heel with one step out the door, and it drives me insane throughout my busy day. While athletic socks are trending now, sometimes a good outfit is made greater with a pant cuff and flash of ankle. (As a former fashion and celebrity stylist, I speak from experience.) What makes Bombas’ no-shows ideal for your spring and summer style moves are the Stay-Put Heel Grips. Yes, other brands have similar technology in their no-shows, but Bombas really delivers with their best-selling product. From men’s dress shoes to fashionable sneakers, I could wear them all day and I don’t even have to worry about headache-inducing sock slips — I even forget I have them on sometimes.
The lightweight material is also a key feature that makes these Bombas no-shows a go-to in sock arsenal. The last thing you want when you’re going for a refined look is a chunky no-show that adds bulk to your foot, which will make dress shoes uncomfortable and less polished in appearance. I used to try old-school Peds knockoffs that had the lightweight, thin look I wanted, but as we all know, those didn’t provide much protection and basically only last for one use.
Even though Bombas no-shows will go under the radar, a mixed colorway four-pack is smart choice for men’s dress shoes with an ultra-low cut. This way, should anyone even see a glimpse of Bombas’ no-show socks, you can wear ones that pair best with your outfit of the day. When visiting friends with “shoes off!” house rules, it’s the little details that’ll make you stand tall with suave style (even if you’ve lost some height without your shoes). — Adam Mansuroglu
Preppy Pairings: Striped Socks With Lifestyle Sneakers
I have an overflowing sock drawer of white crew or quarter socks that I wear regularly with highly-cushioned dad shoes and chunky sneakers à la Princess Diana, but none of them make an impact on my foot support quite like the Bombas x Venus Williams Quarter Socks. My Nike Cortez Shoes were specifically purchased for their super plush underfoot feel, regardless of which socks I choose to wear, so I was shocked at how impactful these socks felt in my overall comfort, even in conjunction with thick insole cushioning.
They’re so snug, soft, and breathable, with noticeable cushioning zones that don’t feel bulky inside my shoes. As someone with flat feet, I’m always searching for added arch support, and Bombas’ signature Honeycomb design aptly delivers on flexible compression. This pair is one I grab for when I know I’ll be spending long periods of time on my feet, whether I’m heading to the gym for a cardio workout, strutting in dress shoes to the office, or scaling the New York City streets on busy weekends.
While these socks are optimized for performance in mind, with a major stamp of approval from none other than Venus Williams, I love the colorway for artful styling as well. As much as I love my green sneakers, they can pose a challenge in terms of color pairings, however I really enjoy the way the peach-tone striping brings added contrast and playfulness to my bold footwear. Even with neutral shoes, like white sneakers or black loafers, they bring style value and a pop of color, and can effectively supplement my favorite shoe styles that may lack comfort features like cushioning or arch support. — Cigliano
Retro Moves: Vintage Calf Socks and Sneakers
My extensive collection of the best men’s socks has a new addition I love wearing. White ribbed socks are one of the the biggest men’s fashion must-haves of the moment, and for a person like me who doesn’t get sweaty feet often, they’re also great for weekend sports. What makes these vintage-inspired Bombas half-calf socks a winner in my book is their durability, feel, and of course, fashionable look. I’ve paired them with my Y2K-inspired retro runners and classic, cool loafers that compliment my double-pleated pants at the office.
Sturdy, timeless loafers are a top shoe trend that’s not going away any time soon, but man, breaking in a well-constructed pair of the dapper shoes can give your feet and ankles a brutal beating (ouch!). Thankfully, today’s sock trend helps to soften the new-shoes pain and prevent blisters. Bombas’ half calf socks are my first choice in a line-up for their Stay-Up Technology (that actually works) and long-staple cotton material that provides a smooth finish with durability to fight friction.
As a veteran style editor, I found this wine-striped style to be instantly appealing; it’s versatile and on-trend. From my shiny silver Nike P-6000s to my dark-green Gazelles, it’s impossible to find a pair of sneakers in my closet that doesn’t look seriously stylish with these bestsellers. Pick a color, any color — these Bombas bad boys have you covered.
What really impressed me about these socks were how they held up after several machine washes. Unlike other socks I own, I know my Bombas can withstand endless wears and still look fresh. Now, my only problem is making sure I don’t misplace one half of the dynamic duo.
Basically, you know Bombas socks are that damn good when you start building your daily ‘fits around them. — Adam Mansuroglu
More Bombas Socks We Love
How We Tested and Reviewed the Best Bombas Socks
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis, and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items.
Three Footwear News Shop editors spent one month testing bestselling Bombas socks across the brand’s myriad collections. During testing, we wore these socks with various shoes, including loafers, sneakers, heels, and more, to assess the fit and feel of the different styles. Our editors machine washed and dried the socks multiple times throughout the course of testing to take note of any pilling or tears (none to report). Based on this extensive testing, we whittled down our five favorite pairs of Bombas socks for men and women’s styling. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Authors and Testers
Adam Mansuroglu is the Director of Commerce for Footwear News and WWD, overseeing strategy for shopping content on both brands, along with writing and editing shopping guides, product reviews, and shopping trend stories for all types of footwear, from designer shoes to athletic sneakers for both men and women. Prior to his current role, Mansuroglu was a fashion editor and stylist at Cosmopolitan Magazine, Style Editor at BestProducts.com, and Senior Style & Gear Editor for Men’s Health Magazine, where he edited the annual Men’s Health Sneaker Awards. Mansuroglu has been tapped as a shopping expert for editorial websites such as Wirecutter, and his writing has also appeared in Out Magazine, Esquire and other publications. Mansuroglu tested four pairs of men’s Bombas socks to write his firsthand review of his favorite pairs.
Claire Sullivan is the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for Footwear News and WWD. She has over six years of experience as a writer and editor for national media outlets including Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle, and Byrdie. She keeps her finger on the pulse of all things related to beauty and wellness, regularly digging into foot health-related topics like plantar fasciitis-friendly shoes or top-notch foot creams. Sullivan has been a Bombas fan for three years, regularly testing and wearing myriad sock styles from the brand.
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes shopping content on the best-rated footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Olivia received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. Cigliano loves experimenting with sock trends, and tested four pairs of women’s Bombas socks for this article to write her firsthand review.
