I'm trying to pack light, so I'm bringing just 1 pair of Keen's (Mary Jane style) and 1 pr. of Teva's on our trip to France & Spain this Spring. I have no problem wearing socks while wearing long pants, but I know I'll want to wear the Keen's on occasion while wearing capri's. Do I HAVE to go bare-footed with them, or are there socks/peds/whatever that I can wear that won't get scrunched down under my heel, and won't look too outrageous? Any style & brand suggestions? Thanks!

Have you checked historical temps to see if it is even seasonally appropriate to wear capris in the spring? At least in France, it will be 50-60's F. through April, 70's in May, some days.
I don't pack anything that will only 'work' under certain conditions.

Socks and capris will not do at all. They do have strange little things that are supposed to hide inside your shoe. I've never tried them, but a friend did and she wore them only about an hour. Said they just scrunched into a lump in the shoe - and threw them out. They do have the little tennis socks with the bobble at the heel to hold them on the foot - but I always think that looks odd unless you're playing tennis.

IMHO if it's warm enough for Capris it's warm enough for bare feet. And I don;t own any casuale shoes that I can;t wear with bare feet - since I hate socks and get rid of them as soon as it hits the 50's.

By the way - don;t know when in spring - or where in Spain and France - but southern Spain can be very warm and a lot of France can still be cool and somewhat rainy.

I appreciate the replies so far. We're going in late April, to Provence in France, and the Catalonia/Valencia in Spain--all locations near or on the Mediterranean. I have looked at past years temps, and it seems like we'll most likely get upper 60's - mid 70's during the day. Thanks for the remarks about socks and capri's! Perhaps its just that I'm from chilly Michigan, but I can't wait to wear warm-weather clothes! Thus the eagerness for capri's (I no longer wear shorts). I would be happy if temps never got very hot, because I'd rather layer and be a bit chilly than be too hot.

Check out TJ Maxx or Marshalls in their nylons/socks section. I have a pair from Liz Clairborne, just says "Slip Ons" on the package. Nude colored nylon footies and they're invisible under my Prada loafers.

My friend bought hers at Target or Walmart - they're almost like those things you slip on at the shoe store when trying on heels except there's a band that keeps them on. She used hers with a Mary Jane flat in Turkey and she said they saved her feet from blisters. She wore them until they were shredded up and torn 2 weeks later, washed them every night and was kicking herself for not buying more than one pair.

They're not like a ped sock but they do help eliminate friction.

I have little nylon booties that I got at Target - like fishee mentions. They work great. I wear them with my loafers too - although mine are not Prada If I made a habit of covering my feet in Prada, I wouldn't have money left over to trave - LOL. I've never had a problem with the booties sliding off my feet or anything, and it is nice to have a layer of fabric between my foot and my shoe. And for packing light, these little things pack down to nothing and can be rinsed out in a sink and dried within a few hours if the weather is warm, overnight if it is a bit chilly.

For other types of socks, if your capris are really casual - either jeans, carpenter, or cargo pants, you can get away with ankle socks and tennis shoes. I'm sure others will disagree with me, but if the pants are that casual and the socks are low (and worn with tennis shoes, not sandals - LOL), then I think it is fine.

Try out wearing the shoes w/o socks for a long day of walking here and see if you get blisters....that may be the deciding factor.

If your shoes have removable insoles, put a ped type sock or nylon upside down over the insole and replace in bottom of the shoe or sandal. Now you will have a soft washable surface underfoot and it won't look like you are wearing socks.

Linawood, that is a brilliant idea! I will most certainly do that. Your tip goes into my file of all-time best travel tips. Really, all I need socks for are for the soles of my feet. The shoes are comfortable without them, but sweaty feet are an issue, and this completely takes care of that! Thanks SO much.

I have that same pair of Keens and they are sooo comfy! We are headed to Paris in June and was thinking of taking those with the nude colored hidden sock thingys (great words huh? lol!). I have some that don't stay on well, but others that are great. Try a few pair out before the trip so you know what works. I love the idea of using them on the insoles...I need to try that!

I use Calvin Klein little ped sock things inside my mary janes. They are more sturdy than nylons but they don't show and they don't slip around either. You can get them at Macy's.

Socks are tricky, but to me a MUST when traveling. There's times when fashion sense goes out the window if you need to protect your feet.

I have a collection (not easy to find) of ankle height cotton socks in good colors that I wear with certain type sandals or puma type sneakers.

If you go bare-footed in certain sandals for long periods of walking you will get blisters and it is not pretty.

Now I understand the term "fashion victim": you are supposed to do what is dictated (by whom, I don't know) rather than dress for comfort and practicality.

Wear socks. The opinions of those who think badly of you for doing so are not worth worrying about.

Seriously, take some socks. Nothing will ruin a trip faster than blisters. And not some dumb 'peds' or sockletts because they will scrunch down, like you said.

Like I said above, get some little "anklets". Shop for good colors and even slight prints (hides dirt too). They can look OK imo. And even if they don't, you won't care after you've been traveling awhile... comfort trumps fashion.

Make extra copies of your capri permit to give to the European fashion police when you are stopped for questioning.

Perhaps the fashion police are more strict in France and Spain, but in Germany last summer we saw capris on plenty of Europeans. Maybe they all go to Germany so they can wear their capris in peace?

I have worn peds with Keens no problem.
The only problem is that on certain Keens--the Sydney in particular, the top of the sock is visible through that lopsided hole.

They are comfortable without socks, so the suggestion to "sock" the removable insole is brilliant!

I think they look cute with capris. I don't wear shorts either, but I do wear skirts and I think Keens are cute with skirts too.

I was just in Bangkok last month, and I wore my capris with the little socks that are "hidden" (mostly) inside of a shoe. You could see a small part of it. I didn't feel out of place at all. I'm not a fashion expert. I require comfort!! My sandals are not all that comfortable for walking a lot in bare feet. My feet tend to blister.

Do what is comfortable!!!! I've never seen any fashion police in all my travels to Europe.

I was just chuckling reading this and the jeans post too.

But isn't it ironic that were are so concerned about the littlest bit of sock or peds peeking out from our shoes (Gad even halfsie peds now) while some women run around with thongs showing from their pants & black bra straps intentionally showing under their white tank tops?

Yes, but that look has been officially approved by the international league of fashion police. It's in all the videos, even the French ones!