A sock in a heel sounds wrong until you have spent a day in pumps with nothing between your foot and the lining. The back of the shoe rubs, the insole gets damp, and your foot starts to slide forward with every step. A no show sock fixes all three, as long as it is the right shape for the shoe. In some heels it disappears completely. In others it will always show, and no sock will change that.
This is how to tell which is which.
Can you wear socks with heels?
Yes, in any heel with a closed back and a closed toe, provided the sock sits below the edge of the shoe all the way round. That means the lowest kind of no show sock, the kind that covers the toes and the heel and leaves the top of the foot bare. Ours is the Low-Cut.
What decides it is the shape of the shoe, not the height of the heel. A closed-back stiletto hides a sock better than an open-back block heel.
Which heels work with no show socks
| Shoe | Will the sock stay hidden? | What to wear |
|---|---|---|
| Closed-back pumps | Yes | Low-Cut |
| Pointed pumps and stilettos with a low front | Usually, if the sock is cut low at the toes | Low-Cut |
| Block heels and heeled loafers | Yes | Low-Cut, or Mid-Cut for heeled loafers |
| Slingbacks | No, the back of the sock shows | No sock |
| Mules and other backless heels | No, the back of the sock shows | No sock |
| Peep-toe, open-toe and strappy heels | No, the toe of the sock shows | No sock |
Closed-back pumps
This is the easiest case. The shoe covers the toes, the sides and the heel, so a Low-Cut sock sits entirely inside it. It stops the back of the pump rubbing the top of your heel, takes the sweat instead of the lining, and gives your foot something to hold on to so it slides forward less.
Pointed pumps with a low front
Pointed pumps are often cut very low over the toes, and that is where a sock is most likely to peek out. Look at the shoe from above while you are standing. If you can see the sock along the opening, it is too high at the front for that shoe. In September 2026 we widened the front opening of our Low-Cut by 0.6 inch so it disappears in more of these shoes.
Block heels and heeled loafers
A closed block heel works the same way as a pump. A heeled loafer is cut more like a loafer, higher over the top of the foot, so it can take our Mid-Cut, which covers more of the foot and stays below the loafer opening.
Slingbacks, mules and open-toe heels
These will show the sock, whatever the sock is. A slingback or a mule leaves the back of the heel bare, so the back of any no show sock is on view. An open toe or a peep toe shows the front. If you want to wear socks with these shoes, wear a visible sock on purpose.
Keeping the sock from slipping in heels
Heels put your weight forward, so a sock that is only loosely held at the heel ends up bunched under your arch. Two things help.
Size by the shoe you wear in heels. If you wear a different size in heels than in flats, go by the heel size. Our Low-Cut runs S for US women's 5 to 6.5, M for 7 to 9, L for 9.5 to 11.5 and XL for 12 to 14.
Choose a sock built to stay on. Most no show socks are knit as a tube, so the heel is the same stretchy fabric as the rest of the sock and a silicone strip has to do all the holding. Ours is cut and sewn from a cotton and modal fabric, so the heel already sits where it should, and the silicone grip keeps it there. If yours slip, we refund or exchange them for free.
Choosing a color
Match the sock to your skin, not to the shoe. If a little shows at the edge, a color close to your skin reads as bare foot. Almond Beige suits lighter skin, Toffee Tan suits medium skin and Espresso Brown suits deeper skin. Midnight Black is the one for black pumps if you would rather a sliver of sock read as part of the shoe.
Frequently asked questions
Do you wear socks with heels?
Many people do, in closed-back heels, to stop rubbing and keep their feet dry. The sock has to be a very low no show sock that stays below the edge of the shoe.
What socks do you wear with heels?
A low cut no show sock, sometimes called a liner or footie, that covers the toes and the heel and leaves the top of the foot bare. Pick a color close to your skin.
Can you wear no show socks with slingbacks or mules?
Not without them showing. Both leave the back of the heel bare, so the back of the sock will be visible.
Will a sock make my heels feel tighter?
A little. If your heels already fit snugly, try them on with the sock before a long day.
What size no show socks should I get for heels?
Go by the shoe size you wear in heels. Our Low-Cut runs S for US women's 5 to 6.5, M for 7 to 9, L for 9.5 to 11.5 and XL for 12 to 14.
What if they slip?
Tell us within 30 days of delivery and we will refund or exchange them for free. Email support@shopundercurrent.com.