Tips and Tricks for Kicking Up Your Sock Game

We all know that socks are a staple of any man’s wardrobe. However, for the majority of us, socks are merely seen as just that: a staple that serves only for the benefit of practicality and function. With this mindset, socks are cast aside as an entirely missed opportunity at evoking a keen sense of style. As stylish gents, we’re quick to pay close attention to details like ties and pocket squares, but many of us forget to extend that same attention to detail when it comes to what’s underneath our shoes. Gentlemen, we implore you to think about your socks in a whole new light, and give these accessories the attention they sorely deserve. Socks are without a doubt an easy and, frankly, awesome way to add subtle boldness, personality, and panache to your day-to-day. With all the shapes, styles, materials, and patterns available these days, there’s a world of opportunity out there. We’re here to point you in the right direction, so you can kick up (literally) your sock game. Read on for info about sock styles and sock guidelines to choose the right pair to complete any look.

• If you are in a conservative environment (i.e. working with money, attending a funeral, or going to an important meeting) or simply want to stick to the classics, match your sock color to that of your pants.

• If you do match your socks to your pants, try to play around with texture to add a bit of visual interest while maintaining an overall subdued appearance. Ribbed socks are a great way to pull this off, and are available in virtually every neutral color on the market.

• Use solid or color-blocked socks in interesting colors to add a sense of sartorial know-how and a touch of personality to your look. Colorful socks are a great addition to patterned, striped, and solid suits.

• Like colorful socks, patterned socks can also add a degree of personality, fun, and unique style to your look. When choosing which patterned socks to wear, a general rule of thumb is to match with a color that you’re wearing above the waistline (i.e. the color of your shirt, tie, or sport coat). Another rule of thumb is to avoid matching the pattern of your socks with a pattern that already exists somewhere else in your look. If you’re wearing a striped shirt, try dotted socks. If you’re wearing an argyle sweater, try subtle stripes instead. Similarly, if there’s already a lot of pattern going on in your look, perhaps reach for the solids or neutrals instead and save your patterned socks for another day.

• Speaking of ankles, make sure that if your ankles are showing, that it is a deliberate choice. That means if you’re wearing mid- or over-the-calf socks, accidental ankle-bearing is a no-no. If the temperature and fashion atmosphere allow, and you want your ankles to be free, go sockless or don a pair of no-show socks instead. No ankle socks and suits please.

CONTEST TIME

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3. We will randomly select a winner from the ones that have filled out the form, and announce the winner on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 3 pm Chicago time.