Sock It To Me
One of the great luxuries of business and semi-formal attire is an area that we might not give much thought: socks.
When it comes to athletic wear, athleisure wear, and even casual dress, we typically choose socks for practicality, comfort, or convenience.
Millennials have been known to enjoy ankle socks and later no-show socks for decades, but are now the butt of jokes by Gen Z for it.
However, we owe it to ourselves to give our hosiery with a little more consideration when we don more serious trousers, suits, and tuxedos. Here’s what you should look for when shopping for quality socks.
What To Look for in Quality Socks
Over-the-Calf
One thing that always stands out to me is seeing a man’s bare leg when he crosses his legs in a suit. It means his socks aren’t long enough (or are so poorly constructed that they slide down).
Your dress socks should be over-the-calf length, sitting just below your knee, with elastic that allows for a firm fit but is not constrictive. This way, you won’t have to be pulling your socks up over and over throughout the day or evening.
Ribbing
The best socks have ribbing, or vertical lines. These can be the same color as the rest of the sock, or different colors to create a nice contrast and highlights.
The benefit of wearing socks with ribbing is they make the sock more flexible so it moves with your foot and leg, also making it less likely to slide down.
Thickness
When considering a good pair of socks, they needn’t be thick. Having a thicker and spongier feel in casual socks is fine, but your dress socks are better if they’re thinner. Thinner socks are more breathable and they allow your shoes to fit properly.
Investing in the Sock Market
There are a number of purveyors of good over-the-calf socks. Some of them are as mainstream as GoldToe or Boardroom Socks.
Then there are higher-end options such as Kirby Allison, Fort Belvedere, Proper Cloth, and Mes Chaussettes Rouges that give you exact fit, color and design options, and a luxury feel like no other.
Whatever you decide, get a leg up on the competition by selecting over-the-calf socks that complement, rather than distract from, your overall look.
After all, you’re Classy AF.
