Comments on: Rules on the Proper Wearing of Socks

By: k2000k

k2000k — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:36:47 +0000

I tend to just have black and brown socks for business occasions. I don’t have the spare money to buy socks to match all my business slacks, nor would I if I did, there are better things I can spend my money on. I understand why you don’t take someone seriously in business if they wore white socks, it stands out and looks odd. But what about individuals that simply match their shoes. I understand that your *supposed* to match the socks to paints, but it feels unmanly to spend so much time worrying about the perfect look. As long as I look professional I’m good to go.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:18:11 +0000

I like the look of socks with sandals. It looks clean. It feels gross to wear shoes without socks, and it looks gross, too.

By: alex

alex — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:00:52 +0000

I have always found that a low cut ankle athletic sock underneath a dress sock really helps if you have a new shoe and are your feet all day. I learned it in the service, its adds comfort and since it is low no one will notice. It also prevents blisters.

By: Scott Ferrell

Scott Ferrell — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:42:29 +0000

I have told my friends that if they ever see me wearing black dress socks with shorts, it is time to put me down.

By: Anton

Anton — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:29:45 +0000

I rebel against having to spend too much time making decisions about clothing every morning, so I try to keep it as simple as possible. Black socks for work and other more formal occasions. White socks with jeans. No socks with shorts. The exception is wearing very short “runner’s” socks with sneakers for jogging and long walks. While sticking to black socks for dress clothing may not be totally correct, it sure makes it easy to match socks early in the morning. Oh yeah.

Anton

By: A Cawston

A Cawston — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:57:49 +0000

I disagree that sox should match your trousers. Sox should instead match your tie (and your handkerchief, if you have one). Belt should match your shoes and your watchstrap (if it is leather). Watch should match rings and cufflinks and tie clip — no other jewelry is acceptable for men to wear if they intend to be taken seriously. Shirt is to be lighter in color than the suit and the tie.

Never gym sox with a suit.

By: johnmc

johnmc — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:12:50 +0000

What is the proper etiquette when wearing denim? I tend toward a black athletic sock when doing so, mostly because I’m usually in a casual setting when doing so and they’re comfortable (and not white). However, I’ve been wearing jeans for work recently because the current phase of my project involves time on a very dusty building site where dress pants are inappropriate – they get dirty far too quickly and I end up looking foolish.

By: Clarence

Clarence — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:26:36 +0000

Two things come to mind:

- there are no hard fast rules on dressing up “nowadays”; just general guidelines
- clothing is classified into two general categories; formal and non-formal

For formal wear, matching your dress socks with your pants is ideal. BUT, when one is in a situation where there is no socks to match with your pants, common sense comes into the picture. Ergo, matching your socks with your shoes is a logical alternative. Wearing a third color, socks in this case, is a NO – NO especially in “formal” men’s wear.

As with casual wear, almost anything goes nowadays. Comfort is a primary concern but likewise, not without regard to what is considered acceptable and proper.

Wearing socks with a very sporty-looking sandals could be very apropos. My only advice would be that it be ankle high for knee length walking shorts and mid-calf length (or a bit shorter) for mid-thigh or shorter shorts. Proportion is key for the right look.

Leather sandals are better off worn without socks since is gives an “implied” formality in its casualness as opposed to gum-soled and synthetic sporty sandals.

Wearing clothes should always exude the air of living in the “NOW” and not what WAS considered appropriate in the distant past. Times change and so does clothing etiquette.

By: Desi Quintans

Desi Quintans — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:54:24 +0000

Hey, if you’re all such big men, how can you rationalise disrespecting and denigrating someone based on the socks they’re wearing?

They’re just socks, guys. It’s like disrespecting someone based on the color of briefs they wear: what the hell business is it of yours in the first place?

Why not respect him for being a sharpshooter and go-getter, just like he seems to be?

By: David Valenta

David Valenta — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:25:53 +0000

As a general rule, wearing socks the same hue and tone as your pants is the simplest way to look good. Wearing hose with a pattern when the suit is a solid is a nice way of adding a bit of interest. As with any rule thee are times when you can make an exception. As we move away from serious suiting colors and fabrics, we can find opportunities to break the rules. Earlier, a gentleman referred to his father as wearing a black and white hounds tooth suit with red tie and pocket square and red hose. Because the hounds tooth is a step away from the blues and grays of serious suiting’s we find an opportunity to dandify our outfit. I would caution that this not be made one of your personal rules to always make this exception. Exceptions to the rule should be rare and made with a specific intent as to the complete look.

By: This Hurts Us | IowaDawg's Blawg

This Hurts Us | IowaDawg's Blawg — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:17:54 +0000

[...] When to Wear Dress Socks (or when to wear no socks or white socks) | The Art of Manliness [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:30:50 +0000

My company, Oberon Socks (www.oberonsocks.com) pretty much agrees with this post. We like our socks a little flashier though – we take classic patterns like argyle and add a bit of a twist to them. Our socks are professional, but give the wearer the confidence of knowing he is dressed a little differently than the other guys in suits.

By: Native Texan

Native Texan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:16:28 +0000

None of this matters to me, as I generally wear boots with my suits. But then I am in Texas and it fits my profession. I generally wear ankle socks and try to limit my sock drawer to one or two different types of socks so I don’t have to worry about pairing them up, but they don’t show up at all while wearing boots with my suits. Of course, not everyone can pull this off. A suite is probably a bit overdressed for my profession, and you look good as long as you shave and don’t have Skoal ring on the back of your pants…

By: Will

Will — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:38:03 +0000

No offense to anyone here, but I like looking like 1980s Michael Jackson with my black shoes and white socks. In fact, when somebody joked about it once, I showed them up by doing some very smooth moves.

When it comes to style, you’ve got rules of thumb, as seen in this article. But it comes down to who you are as a person. I often wear vintage outfits such as heavy polyester leisure suits, reflective sequined jackets and shirts with silver shoes, even the occasional zoot suit. People like it, and obviously get a kick out of the silly factor, but they also find me to be a very impressive and respectable person afterwards.

Of course, I wouldn’t advise doing this at a business meeting, but if you follow these rules stated above everywhere you go, you’ll go from Steve Urkel to Adrian Monk.

Note to the author: if you’re going to reference pop culture, make sure you spell the names correctly.

By: swilly

swilly — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:44:17 +0000

@jessica irving –
letterman is a dork, and you’ll be one as well with white socks…