Anatomy of a Sock: Sock Sizing & Lengths

Socks come in a wide variety of sizes and lengths to fit all types of feet.

Knee High, Trouser socks and Over the Calf socks provide coverage up to right below the knee. Knee highs are fashion socks worn by women, usually in colder weather. They may be worn with pants or skirts and often come in a variety of colors and patterns. Trouser socks are worn by men, often with dress outfits, suits and formalwear.

Crew socks, Work socks and Boot socks provide leg coverage up the mid calf. Often these socks come in different ribs or textures and may be worn pulled up, cuffed or scrunched down. Work socks and Boot socks may be modified with extra reinforcements in the heel and toe for added cushioning and functionality.

Mid-calf socks are a style of women's socks that fall to right below mid-calf. They are often made of stretchy materials for comfort and are worn pulled up or scrunched down.

Cuff socks are a style worn by women and children and provide coverage between the ankle and calf. These style of socks are often folded over in "cuffs." This style wears well with warm weather gear and most types of shoes.

Ankle Crew , Anklet and Quarter Length socks cover the foot up to the ankle and work well as athletic or casual wear socks. These types of socks may also be worn by small children of pre-walking age.

Footie, Low Cuff or Quarter Top socks cover the foot up to just below the ankle. These types of socks tend to be popular in warmer weather or climates and also work well for athletics. Sometimes these types of socks are embellished with pompoms and patterns.

"No Show" socks are not visible and barely cover the foot. These socks work well for certain shoes that may require socks but for which the wearer does not want them to be visible. "No show" socks also work well in warmer weather.