If you’re into looking your best, you know that it’s often the details that make all the difference. Socks are details of an outfit commonly neglected and overlooked, so I’m going to run through some of the fundamentals in this quick entry.

A lot of guys will put together great outfits but then forget to pick a pair of socks that complete it. I’ve seen many guys ruin a great suit with a pair of clunky casual socks in the wrong color that won’t even stay up on their calves; and also guys who unknowingly wear white socks with everything.

Knowing the Difference Between Sock Types

Casual socks

Come in cotton and wool, and are available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and thickness.

Athletic Socks

Athletic socks are usually cotton and available in gray or white. The also come low-cut so that when you wear your sneakers your socks are almost invisible.

Dress socks

Usually made from silk, cashmere, or fine cotton and wool. Long enough to stay up on your calves.

Choosing the Right Size

When shopping for sock sizes, there is nothing worse than a sock that doesn’t fit you. The heel of the sock should be on your heel, not below or above it. Generally your sock size should be a size bigger than your shoe size.

If the socks only come in small, medium, or large, check the label and see what shoe sizes they cover. For example it may say that a medium is 5-9. If you get a size and they are too big, get the size smaller and see if it works for you. The more snug the better. Do a quick check right now of socks in your drawer and get rid of all socks that don’t fit. When’s the last time you went sock shopping?

Matching Your Socks To Your Outfit

When wearing dress shoes, the fashion rule is to blend the color of the socks with your suit color or pants.

Note for above picture: when wearing lighter suits, make sure the socks are darker than the suit, but a shade or so lighter than the shoes. 

The reason why you want to match your sock color to your dress pants is because you want your outfit to visually flow from top to bottom.

If socks are matched with the shoes instead, then people’s eyes will stop at the end of the pants because the pants and shoes seem separate. When the socks match your pants, you let the flow of vision all the way down to the sole of the shoe. This sets apart the apparel and accessories but at the same time well-coordinated.

For example, a navy suit and brown shoes should be worn with navy socks rather than brown socks. Charcoal suit and black shoes appears more stylish with dark gray socks.

NEVER wear white socks with dress shoes. It’s akin to “finishing” too early on your honeymoon night. Which means you should be ashamed.

Although, you could want your socks to make a statement and not match them to your pants at all. More subtly, you can go for something bolder and match your socks to another part of your outfit. For example if you’re wearing a grey suit with a red tie and black shoes, you can wear black socks that have a red pattern.

Try patterned socks with a solid suit to break the pattern and add some flair, and solid socks with a heavy patterned suit. Having pattern on pattern makes things too busy.

If you wear dress socks with a suit and tie, make sure the socks extend over your calves. This prevents people from seeing your bare leg when you’re seated. It doesn’t leave the best impression to keep having to pull your socks up your legs.

Keepin’ it Casual

If you decide to wear dress shoes with jeans, go for dark navy socks or black. If you’re wearing sneakers wear the low-cut kind in black.

While white socks are totally welcomed in the gym, they are never flattering in other situations.

For casual outfits you’d still look more stylish with darker socks than white socks. Just make sure to match the texture or fabric. Cotton or wool socks would go better with a casual outfit than a pair of silk ones.

Try to match the color to your pants, for example navy for jeans, beige for khaki pants. If you don’t want to be this matchy, I suggest wearing low-cut black socks for your casual outfits so they are invisible with shoes. This way when you take your shoes off at somebody’s place you have black socks instead of cheesy white athletic ones. Even better are fun casual socks that show some personality.

If you’re up to it, you can dress down a suit or an outfit and go really bold with an eye catching color or pattern.

Sometimes it’s extremely stylish to go completely sockless (more appropriately during the spring/summer).  It always looks refreshing and hip. If you get sweaty feet, wear some low-cut socks to create an illusion of wearing no socks.

Conclusion

Socks are a small part of your wardrobe but because it’s important that your outfit is planned head to toe, make sure that you got your feet covered with the right socks.

1. For formal wear, remember to match your socks to your pants.

2. Match the texture of the socks to the rest of the outfit. Silk socks with a slight luster complement tuxedos and other fine formal wear. Thicker wool socks are more appropriate for heavier winter wear. Cabled and ribbed socks go better with casual wear.

3. Keep the white athletic socks for sports and the gym.

4. For casual wear, you can match your socks to your pants for a more sophisticated look, for example beige socks with chinos, or stick to low-cut dark socks (low-cut black socks with dark blue jeans).

5. For a bolder statement, try patterned socks to match other colors in your outfit, or go for something that stands out on it’s own.

6. Take your worn out socks and make them into sock puppets. Or “BURN THEM” like I always say to my clients.

Stay sharp (from head to toe),

Jae

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