SOCK ETIQUETTE FOR MEN
Many men fail to stay on top of modern trends or fashion foibles, but it is crucial to professional and casual appearances. One area of fashion that men seem to get wrong consistently is their sock selection. While a pair of custom printed socks is more than OK in a majority of circumstances, you need to know your audience and appreciate your ensemble.
Despite trousers and jeans covering socks most of the day, a properly fitting pair of pants will give a glimpse of the footwear when you sit, revealing your ankle or a little shin. This inadvertent display can either complement your attire or distract from it, depending on your adherence to sock etiquette.
A Pair Needs To Match
Sometimes, when in a rush, it is easy to reach into the dryer, pull out two socks and pull them on without noticing the differences. Unfortunately, wearing two conflicting patterns or colors is a mistake and not an appropriate dress code for the working professional.
While some men may disagree, stating the individual’s preference for rebellious design, there are few, if any times, that mixing and matching socks is a good style choice. Sure, strange selections and bold choices can speak to a fun and flamboyant personality, but it rarely exudes confidence and fashion sense.
Throw Away Stained or Holey Socks
It is not uncommon to have a pair of favorite or even lucky socks, but even the most endearing and beloved pair will reach its inevitable end. Socks are clothing, nothing more, nothing less. They serve a purpose to protect your feet. When they can no longer perform their job satisfactorily, discard them.
Too many sock drawers are filled with stained and holey socks because, for some reason, men still see usefulness or adequateness in the pairs. Socks with holes in the sole can lead to blisters; others with stains look unprofessional or unhygienic. Throw them away.
Dress Socks Should Match Trousers
While a pair of custom printed socks are suitable for most casual occasions, when wearing a suit or trouser pants, make sure the socks match. Wearing footwear that is bold, colorful, or heavily patterned can distract from your look. However, wearing socks that blend suggests uniformity and maturity of taste. You ensure that the focus remains on you and your ideas, not your fashion or style choices.
Wear Knee-High Socks With Suits
While occasionally wearing ankle socks to work is excusable, it should never become a habit. When wearing suits, it is preferable to wear knee-high socks. Ankle socks run the risk of showing your exposed ankle and leg hair during meetings, often distracting. Wearing mid-calf or low-calf options risk the socks falling and bunching at your ankle, giving an impression of an unkempt appearance. Knee-high options are more likely to stay up and keep your skin covered.
Sock Choice Should Suit the Ensemble
While most suggestions thus far have focused on professional attire, your sock choice should always suit your ensemble, creating opportunities for attention and focus on critical areas. For example, when wearing shorts, if you want the focus on your t-shirt, wear no-show socks, but if you prefer attention on your shoes, wear something longer and bolder, perhaps a pastel low-calf sock.
Personality Matters in Selection
As with anything in fashion, these rules of etiquette are mere suggestions. The primary aim of style is to present the best version of yourself, allowing you to exude confidence. Therefore, while this list primarily suggests limiting bold color choices and minimizing sock appearance, you may choose the opposite to highlight specific personality traits.
Are you in the market for some new socks? Consider ordering custom printed socks to really complement your unique fashion sense.
