How to choose the right socks?

Such a simple detail, hidden under slacks or jeans, you might think that socks have nothing to do with a stylish look. While it is unlikely that great they will be the key to a winning outfit, the wrong socks for men can go a very long way at wrecking an otherwise smashing ensemble. An outfit is only as nice as its weakest accessory, they say, and a nice pair of socks can add another subtle touch to refine and distinguish your look.

While there’s not a ton of rules to follow when it comes to socks, there are actually a few that are key to making sure you’re able to pull off your otherwise carefully put together ensembles. Certain socks are only for particular occasions, for example, and certain colors of socks should only be worn with specific outfits.
As a general rule socks should be as dark as the shoes they are worn with. On the other hand the socks should also fit to the remainder of the outfit. The contrast to trousers and other clothing should not be too strong.

Choose the Right Socks

First we need to know about the Physiology of your feet. The average inactive male person foot gives off 1/4 cup of perspiration in a 12-hour period. This is increased dramatically when working, hiking, running, cross-country skiing, humid conditions or any high activity. Moisture management is very important. If your feet are moist heat and cold are transferred 23 times faster. Excessive moisture creates blisters and makes your feet hotter or colder.
Are your feet cold, clammy, hot, or sweaty? If your feet are always cold, wool is the fiber to use; it is hydrophilic and absorbs the moisture from your feet. Wool has many characteristics: wool absorbs moisture and passes it to the outside; it is warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Many people’s feet are always hot and sweaty, that person needs a moisture control sock with fibers that move the moisture away from their feet. A moisture control sock consists of various synthetic fibers on the bottom or next to the skin that repels water (hydrophobic) and fibers (hydrophilic) on the top or outside with the purpose to create a push pull concept moving moisture up and away. Moisture control socks need heat from the foot to create the pressure to move the moisture away via a capillary action.
There are many medical problems that a person can have that make the proper sock selection very important.
Sock size is very important. Many consumers wear the wrong size sock because they look at the sock chart, relative to their shoe size and as a result they normally have a sock that is too big. If your foot is thin, and narrow, you may go down one size. It is like putting a small finger in a Chinese finger puzzle it stretches longer than if you put a bigger finger in the puzzle. A sock that is too big can create many problems on your feet as well as one that is too small.

Socks rules

White socks are only for sports

If you’re going to the gym, white socks are fine. They’re also fine, and actually even look better than black socks, if you’re playing sports outdoors or going for a run. Apart from activities where you’re going to generate a lot of sweat, however, white socks are a big no-no. Even with jeans you should wear black socks, so section off your sock drawer and keep your white socks close to your workout clothes and well away from your dress-up wardrobe.

Dress shoes require dress socks

If you’re going to wear dress shoes, you can’t wear athletic socks — no matter what their color. For example, it’s simply not enough that your socks be black. The reason for this rule is the following: Athletic socks are often bulkier than dress socks since they’re usually made of heavier cotton or other materials, so they tend to bunch out over dress shoes. Plus, athletic socks are frequently ribbed and the contrast of cheap, ribbed socks against smooth, high-quality dress shoes looks odd. Instead, wear dress socks with dress shoes. They’ll be easier to slip in to your shoes and the finer, thinner material will mean that any attention focused on your foot area will remain centered on your swish shoes instead of your socks.

matching socks

Match your socks with your pants, not your shoes

When wearing dress pants or casual pants, apart from jeans, the color of your socks should be dictated by the color of your pants and not by the shade of your shoes. Black pants should obviously go with black socks, and brown pants with brown socks. The same goes for blue and gray pants. Choose your socks carefully for pants in other hues. Try out a few pairs of socks if you must in order to determine which socks match best with your pants. If you’re in doubt, a darker color usually works better. The reason it’s important to match socks with your pants is that when you have to take your shoes off or you sit down and your socks are exposed, socks that coordinate with your pants make your outfit appear more fluid. On the other hand, socks that don’t match your pants will break up an otherwise awesome ensemble.

Avoid socks with shorts

Another all-too-common sock mistake is wearing socks with shorts. Committing this fashion error also inadvertently results in two further faux pas. Inevitably, you’ll have to either roll, fold or scrunch up your socks when you wear them with shorts since you won’t wear them pulled straight up your calf — at least we hope not. However, as we’ve already discussed, rolling and folding socks also violates the rules of proper sock etiquette. Second, wearing socks with shorts visually cuts your leg almost in half, thus making your legs appear shorter and stockier. If your body type is short and athletic-looking to begin with, wearing socks with shorts definitely won’t do your appearance any favors. Since you don’t want to go around wearing shoes without socks, invest in a few pairs of ankle socks that are not overly visible when you wear them with your sneakers. And for the record, steer clear of socks with sandals.

No socks in bed

A friend of mine recently told me that her ex-boyfriend refused to take his socks off while they were doing the deed. She then lamented what a turn-off this behavior was for her. It wasn’t hard for me to empathize. On top of the fact that wearing your socks in the sack looks utterly absurd, girls like to play footsie with you, and it’s really not as much fun with a foot that’s covered up. Also, sex is about skin-on-skin contact, not skin-on-sock contact.

“Funky” socks are only OK for home

Yes, purchasing novelty socks with crazy patterns or your favorite anime characters is fun, but please don’t leave the house in them. Socks with wild stripes and other wacky details are the right thing to wear around your pad when you’re chilling out and doing what you want. Sporting unusual socks in other situations, such as work or even at the bar, will result in people thinking you’re immature and a bit of a joke or at least a goofball, and makes it harder for others to take you seriously.

Socks features

Color

While white are fine for the gym, they never work for dressy occasions with dark pants and shoes. For these situations, choose dark socks that match your pants. For the office, brown or beige work under khakis. The men’s socks should blend harmoniously into the visual line created by the pants leg. If you are wearing a gray suit and black shoes, go with dark gray instead of black. Brightly colored are best reserved for sports attire or casual situations.

Fit

When selecting socks for a formal occasion, make sure you pick a pair that stay up. Socks that bunch around your ankles and require you to fiddle with and tug at them definitely ruin a look of refinement and grace. Cotton and nylon or lycra blend socks have a good amount of stretch and memory and will stay put around your calves. Wearing over-the-calf socks with formal dress will ensure that they do not slump and bunch.

Texture

Subtle ribbing or stitching detail can add exactly the touch of class and elegance you want. While the detailing of the men’s socks should not compete with the texture of the suit, pants, or shoes, a light touch can do wonders. Silk socks with a slight luster complement tuxedos and other fine formal wear. With a heavier wool winter suit, thicker wool socks are appropriate. In general, the thinner the sock, the more formal it is. For instance, thick cabled or ribbed should be worn with more relaxed outfits.

Pattern

Argyle and other patterns are generally not considered to be elegant or modern, but on the right guy and with the right outfit, they can be unique, sexy, and attention getting. A slight glimpse of something out-of-the-ordinary under a pants cuff can be alluring. Patterns can go very well with tweed or houndstooth coats. Stripes or dots can offset similar elements in the shirt or tie. Beyond this, reserve patterned socks for plain suits. Likewise, avoid pairing patterned socks with a patterned suit. This will create a busy, complicated, unflattering look. Create contrast between the suit and accessories.

Different situations

Business Socks

For a Business Outfit it is recommended to wear single colour socks at any time. Most likely these socks should be black, dark grey or dark navy. This will ensure a smart attire.
Alternatively the socks could be chosen to match the colour of the tie, jacket or shirt. A red tie might be accompanied with red socks of similiar shade.
A strict no-go should be a black sock with brown shoes. For brown shoes brown or beige socks are most appropriate. Depending on the other clothing also shades of grey or blue could fit well.
Under all circumstances the socks should be long enough to avoid showing any skin. Knee-high socks should be considered.

busisness socks

Casual Socks

For the Casual Outfit socks with pattern can be more appropriate. Single coloured socks are always a safe and classy choice, however. Socks with pattern are harder to combine than single colour socks.
The rule for pattern socks is: the background colour should match your trousers, while the colour of the pattern should match the main colour of the most noticable piece of the outfit, like the pattern of the sweater for instance.

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