T&C Tried & True: These Cashmere Socks Are Made to Be Worn Outside—and I Have a Lot of Thoughts

Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With Tried & True, our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.

I love a polarizing trend. Stovepipe jeans, cummerbunds, wearing black and brown together? Bring it on. But of all the divisive styles there are, freaky shoes are my kryptonite. There is simply nothing more satisfying than seeing someone stop in their tracks and ask what the heck it is that I am wearing on my feet. It just never gets old.

For the last few years, one of my favorite freaky shoe has been Brave Pudding’s cashmere sock shoes. If you’ve heard about them or seen someone wearing them, you know exactly what I am talking about. If not, hold onto your hats.

First introduced in 2024 by Sarah Fiszel, the aptly-named Hampton Strolls look like any ordinary pair of cashmere high socks, but they have a recycled rubber outsole that’s made to be worn outside. Since then, Fiszel has debuted several other iterations, including loafers, boots, and shearling-lined flats. Beyond cashmere brand also offers cotton and lace styles, as well as accessories.

But the OG Hampton Strolls? I got a kick out of them when I first saw them and continue to do so now. I'll admit, it felt a little unnatural at first and took me a beat to get used to the idea of wearing socks that weren’t actually really socks outside. But holy moly, are they a delight to slip on and walk around in. The cashmere is lovely and soft and you can really feel the quality, but the way they mold to my feet is just... beyond. The knit comfortably hugs my feet and ankles, while the cushioned insole feels like walking on air.

Photography by Florence Sullivan/Prop Styling by Mia Katoh & Ruby Kaminsky

A sock construction allows the wearer to style them pulled up, scrunched down, or folded over.

Photography by Florence Sullivan/Prop Styling by Mia Katoh & Ruby Kaminsky

The sock shoes are crafted in Portugal and made of premium recycled cashmere.

Perhaps most impressive is the fact that two years on, they still have maintained their shape and appear in great condition. I even got my mother hooked and would argue she wears them more than me, and hers still look great.

I've said this before but getting me to leave the house during the colder months is like pulling teeth. I know that may sound hyperbolic, but all I really want to be doing is hibernating indoors, wearing my coziest loungewear with my favorite cashmere socks. The Hampton Strolls have been the perfect incentive for me to go outside because wearing them is truly like wearing socks. Better still, they’re a super convenient airport-to-airplane shoe; they’ve become my go-to’s for travel.

Photography by Florence Sullivan/Prop Styling by Mia Katoh & Ruby Kaminsky

The rubber sole makes the sock shoes suitable for wearing outdoors.

The sock shoes are also surprisingly easy to style. You can obviously wear them with loungewear, but no one would even bat an eyelid if you wore them with jeans or a knitted maxi dress either. (That is, if they didn’t notice them at first glance.) Because I knew I was going to wear mine out regularly, I opted for them in black to mask any accidental stains. Should you prefer an alternate shade, the brand offers them in teal, cream, gray, brown, navy, and a gorgeous burgundy.

Suffice it to say, I love them, and if I had it my way, I’d wear them every single day.

Photography by Florence Sullivan; Prop Styling by Mia Katoh & Ruby Kaminsky.

Sophie Dweck is the Shopping Editor for Town & Country, where she covers all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle, shares her expertise on the most worthwhile luxury products, tests and writes in-depth reviews on the very best essentials worth investing in, as well breaking news about the latest launches, and of course, reports on the biggest sales and deals to shop no matter the day. Some of her favorite items to date are Gwyneth Paltrow's ski trial cardigan, the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser, and ZIIP’s microcurrent device. When Sophie isn't testing state-of-the art beauty tech or breaking down TikTok aesthetics, she loves indulging in BonBon sweets (Sorbisars, for the win!) and finding the next trend before it goes viral.

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