Socks: Do's & Don'ts For Men

Color:

There is much debate over whether socks should match a man's shoes or pants...or is it his belt. In most cases, the best advice is to err on the side of conservative. If you are wearing black pants and black shoes, its pretty obvious what you should go for here: black socks. Brown shoes with black pants call for brown socks. Wearing jeans throws things off a bit sometimes, but if you are wearing athletic sneakers and jeans, feel free to wear athletic socks. Matching colorful socks with a colorful sweater is something very few men can get away with. If you do attempt this, we hope you know what you're doing, otherwise the results could be disastrous.

Trends:

You might be wondering if it's ever appropriate to go sockless? In general, unless you are wearing sandals or flip flops, or happen to work for the Miami Police Department, you always want to be wearing socks. Not only do socks protect your feet and provide a level of comfort, your shoes will start to stink up pretty quickly without them. In terms of trendy designs or color for socks, you should stick to the understated classics. If you are not colorblind and slightly bolder with your wardrobe, go for argyle or subtle stripes.

Materials:

As with color, the thickness of your socks should correspond to the type of outfit you are wearing. Thick wool or athletic socks don't work with suits or formal wear. For those sorts of dress wear you want to stick with thinner trouser socks. Rules for jeans are slightly more lax, but again, a thin pair of dress socks does not go with a casual pair of jeans.

Sock Length:

As a basic rule, except for sports and warmer weather when you might be wearing shorts, never wear socks short enough to show any leg. It's particularly unseemly to glance over and see a well dressed businessman cross his legs and flash his pale pink legs in the process. Always make sure your socks are long enough to cover whatever sort of leg territory you've got.

Comfort:

With few exceptions (i.e. formalwear, business attire), its really all about comfort. Make sure you are wearing the proper socks to fit your activity and make sure that you are always comfortable. When you find a type or brand of sock that works for you, stick with it. Buy up the socks in all the styles and colors that you can to ensure that your feet are always feeling comfy and cozy.