Ask A Woman: Upping the sock game
If you’ve got a question that needs the female treatment, chances are you’re not the only one who wants to ask it. Beth is our source for the answers. From opinions on men’s style to decoding the sometimes mysterious ways of women, she’ll take on a different question every Thursday. And don’t worry, your identity will be protected too. Click here to get to know Beth, then get in touch with her by sending your question to: askawoman@dappered.com
Beth-
I’ve got a decent wardrobe (thanks Dappered!) but I keep feeling like there’s one area that is lacking…socks! All I know is “black shoes, black socks,” and I’ve read that other than black, your socks should match your pants… but what do you do with brown, or really any colored shoe beyond black? Where can a guy find stylish socks? I tend to prefer the thicker cotton socks, but I don’t even know where to start or what’s stylish without going too far.
– Micah
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Hi Micah
This column has addressed kilts, cowboy boots, keeping a clean apartment, chivalry, and what a junked up car says about you. High time we covered something as basic as socks. Not that I don’t appreciate all you weirdos out there with your unique quandaries…
I’m going to assume we’re limiting the scope of this question to oxfords/lace ups/dress shoes, since you probably don’t need help matching socks to athletic shoes, and boat shoes look best without socks. There are a couple variables when it comes to socks. First, formal wear. When wearing a suit, your sock should match your pant. So you’re not really making a decision on the sock, because it should always match the suit pant. What you ARE making a decision on is the correct color of shoe to match the sock and pant. Think of black and grey tones being on one side of the spectrum, and brown/blue/red tones being on the other side. Black and charcoal suits should be paired with black shoes, and depending on the color of the suit, matching socks. Brown and navy blue and linen/taupe/khaki colored suits should be paired with brown or burgundy shoes, and depending on the color of the suit, matching socks. Now, maybe you’re picturing solid-colored socks, but patterns apply here too. The majority of colors in the pattern should follow these rules. If you have an argyle pattern with mainly black and grey, but also a hint of light blue, you can still wear them with a black suit and black shoes.
If you’re dressed more casually, you can match your sock to your shoe, instead of your pant. Wear a black sock with black shoes and jeans. Wear a brown sock for khakis paired with brown shoes. To me, though, the rules seems a bit more fluid when talking jeans and chinos. I doubt anyone would kick you out of the club if you wore khaki-colored socks with your khakis and brown shoes.
Where to buy stylish socks? Well if you’re talking solid colors, there’s really no style involved. Plain black socks are plain black socks. Although I know it’s your preference, I’d caution you against wearing too thick a cotton sock with your lace ups. First, they’ll make your feet look like they belong in slippers, perched on an ottoman. Also, thick colored cotton athletic socks have a tendency to fade very quickly in the wash–I know this only from personal experience so I can’t tell you why this is the case–whereas thinner socks
-Beth
Got a question for Beth? Send them to: askawoman@dappered.com
Club Room from Macy’s. Used to be 3 for $12.95. Recently, I’ve noticed they’re 3 for $14.95.
Lots of colors and patterns. Not the most durable socks in the world, but tough to beat the price and selection.
Also, check out Nordstrom Rack. I’ve had good luck finding English Laundry socks there for cheap. Usually under $3 per pair. Very nice quality, but not as much selection on colors.
Embrace wearing socks less often. Especially as your shoe collection grows and you’re not wearing the same pair every day (and shoe-treeing the pairs in between wearings to reduce moisture damage and odor).
this might be a warped perspective, but i think of socks as “pocket squares for your feet” and tend to go a little bit off matching for them, I found topman makes good socks for this (everything else, not so much…but love their socks)
I just recently discovered Moxy Maus socks and couldn’t be happier. I don’t work in government or funeral services, so I can pretty much wear whatever I want to work. From the knee up, I’m all business, starched shirt, pressed pants, nice tie. From the knee down, I’m a psychedelic hallucination.
I can’t do loud ugly ties, but loud ugly socks? Hell yes, please.
Busy-ness is a big issue also. You can have busy, patterned socks but then I think the pants and shoes must be plain. If there is pattern or busy-ness in pants or shoes, then the socks must be plain. You don’t want to look like Jackson Pollack below the knees.
I disagree with the shoe color suggestions, while they work, they are actually women’s fashion rules.
First, ‘black shoes, black socks’ is not a rule. You should almost never wear black socks. Beth is right about the sock matching the pant when wearing a suit and really you should almost never be wearing black pants (funeral, tux). Don’t match your socks to you shoes.
Second, there is lots of misinformation out there about shoes and pants. Traditionally in mens fashion black shoes go with navy pants (no black and blue is a women’s fashion rule). This rule of course can be broken. Brown shoes are traditional with grays, though traditionally shoes should be darker than pants (hence black shoes with navy pants), this rule can also be broken.
If you live in the New York City area, buy socks from Uniqlo. They have every color imaginable for 4 for 10$. And tons of different patterns and styles as well.
Uniqulo is AWESOME for essentials such as socks and T-shirts.
To me black shoes are terribly boring. Any chance I get I will wear brown. Brown shoes pop with grey suits and should be encouraged always. Brown shoes also look great with navy. Save the black shoes for the black pants.
Waitaminute, so Beth is wrong, but then there are these “rules” of which almost all can be broken? I’m confused 🙂
(But I’m completely with you on the black shoes / navy pants thing. I know most men prefer brown with their navy, and it looks great don’t get me wrong, but I really dig black and blue. Super clean/sharp.)
I’ve actually begun matching more my socks with my shirts as well as my pants. So if I’m wearing a lavender shirt or a light blue shirt with black pants or a black suit, I’ll try to wear socks that are black based, but have noticeable accents of lavender or light blue. In more conservative environments, it’s a good way to add some creativity to your outfit. No one will notice the socks until you sit down. After that, Party Time!
.. and I second the Uniqlo recommendation. Their colors and patterns are incredibly extensive.
This. Yes. Socks don’t have to be over the top but work if they incorporate colors from the whole ensemble or draw off of colors from the items close to them.
That leads to abominations like these:
http://www.thestyleblogger.com/7986/shorts-dressed-up-down-featuring-townsend-smith/
If the suit is a solid color and you’re not going to a funeral, get a colored dress sock. I wear purple with my black suits, it’s regal.
That is a great site for perfect examples of how NOT to dress.
Target Merona socks – they have your basic colors in argyle (& others) for $3/pair. I believe they are the perfect weight for year-round wear. They also carry Mossimo socks that have fun colors/prints for summer wearing; same price point. I recently purchased a pair of royal blue socks with cyan sharks! Too contrived with my boat shoes? Viva la mar! If only I lived near the ocean…
Also, stick to cotton (or other natural fiber) socks unless your feet have no sweat glands. In a past life I made the mistake of wearing a lot of polyester gold-toes. They certainly never faded, nor stretched out, but my shoes felt like a swamp at the end of the day. It took me some time to derive my podiatric failing.
Joe’s take on Merona socks/bold socks with a suit:
http://dappered.com/2010/06/merona-bold-stripe-socks-2-50-at-target/
I’ve been wearing very thin, long black athletic “liner” socks and they’re way better than cotton. My feet are much drier and comfortable at the end of the day because they wick moisture away.
Thanks for the tip on Moxy Maus! I like Happysocks too.
If you guys are looking for some “luxury” sock, brands like Marcoliani and Pantherella make great socks. You’d be surprised how comfortable and cool a pair of wool socks can be, even in the summer, depending on the weight and weave. I’m wearing a pair of Pantherella’s right now in 80 degree-L.A., and I’m comfortable.
While they cost $30 a pair retail, you can sometimes find them on StyleForum’s classified section for anywhere from $10 to $20. For just one pair, that still might be a splurge, but they are definitely worth it.
And by “luxury”, I meant quality. Should have just said that.
I disagree with Beth about matching socks to shoes for casual purposes. I think it is the inferior choice for all possible situations. Either match the pants or match nothing. Shoes should “pop.” If you are wearing socks the same color as your shoes, there will not be a distinct line where your shoes begin and your leg stops.
How about brightly colored shoes?
By shoes i actually meant socks…
Go crazy with your socks while wearing a suit – it’s the one place you get to be a little more creative.
– Guy who wears a suit everyday