‘Live’s Kelly Ripa And Mark Consuelos Learn Why Ankle Socks Are “Canceled” From Gen Z Members Of Their Studio Audience

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos received a fashion master class from some members of Gen Z on this morning’s Live with Kelly and Mark. Class kicked off after Consuelos read that “Gen Z has officially canceled ankle socks.”

“Quote: ‘They’re for old people,'” he read aloud with a chuckle.

He then asked for which years comprise Gen Z, prompting a chart to be pulled up distinguishing various generations and their names. While Gen Z was categorized as those born between 1997 and 2012, Ripa was stunned by the title granted to the youngest generation: “Generation Alpha.”

“Are we calling 2013-2025 Generation Alpha? Isn’t that giving them a lot of power?” she quipped. “Generation Alpha? Why don’t we let them graduate nursery school first?”

After getting back on track, Consuelos and Ripa called in some experts, and located some Gen Z correspondents in the live studio audience to ask them their thoughts on whether or not ankle socks are “out.” After they confirmed that the sock style was no longer in, Consuelos and Ripa asked why.

Two girls were given the mic, and one offered up the following hot take: “Just cause.”

The girl next to her added, “They’re just, like, shorter. It’s not cute,” before passing the mic back to the first girl who argued that ankle socks are “not the vibe.”

However, a fellow audience and Gen Z member sitting behind them didn’t get the memo.

“I’m Gen Z and I am currently wearing ankle socks. This is news to me,” she said.

The two girls in front of her clarified that she’s “wearing boots” and thus “hiding them,” making it alright to sport ankle socks. They noted that sneakers are a different story.

Consuelos asked, “So with sneakers, you don’t wear socks?”

After the two girls clarified that “you wear socks” with sneakers, Ripa teased, “Well, do you wear them up to your thighs? Or what do you do?”

The two co-hosts were then informed that in terms of socks with sneakers, “you can go shorter than ankle or higher than ankle, but just not at ankle.”

Consuelos came around to the advice, declaring, “You know what? I kind of agree with you. I’m throwing them away today.”

One girl thanked Consuelos, telling him he “can be honorary Gen Z now.”

Ripa quipped, “Mark is running for president of Gen Z.”

She later asked the Gen Z’ers, who she called the “Gen Z conglomerate,” for their ages, which ranged from 19-21. After the woman next to them chimed in to share that she turns 85 next month, Ripa teased, “You’re wearing double ankle socks!”

“You guys are adorable,” she gushed to the Gen Z correspondents. “You know what I loved best about the whole interview? The original answer, ‘Just cause.'”

Consuelos added, “It’s not a vibe.”

Live with Kelly and Mark airs on weekdays. Check out their website for your local listings.