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Honestly, Socks??

VKK3450

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Ok, seriously, we all know that we should be matching our socks to our trousers. But really, does everyone religiously follow this on a regular basis? Not to say that I don't wear dark socks with business wear, but I just find it a pain ********** to get reasonably priced charcoal grey and navy blue socks in the right shades.

I mean really, how am I supposed to maintain it when like 90 percent of men's dress socks out there are black? Or is it just that I should be diligent in my pursuit of being correctly dressed regardless of sock availability?

K (wearing back socks with grey dots and grey suit today...)
 

Film Noir Buff

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I dont know what you feel like spending on your socks but Pantherella always has a nice selection and you probably can get them reasonably in Holland.

Also, I dont think there is anything wrong with black socks with a navy or charcoal suit and black shoes. Everyone does it, or at least everyone will consider it normal practice. Even when you do match your socks to your trouser, there should not be too much concern that the socks are exactly the same shade, which is considerably difficult with a navy suit and socks.

Again, I dont know whats up in Holland but anyone in the USA whose noticing my sock shades is worrisome for a whole 'nother set of reasons.
 

PunctualAlex

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I actually rarely match my socks to each other, let alone to my trousers. But then again, no one ever accused me of following all the rules...

As for a serious answer, I doubt anyone but the most sartorially apt are going to pay attention to your socks as long as they don't stick out (see above), so it really depends on how much you think it improves your look, and whether or not it bothers you when the 3 other people out there who are as well-dressed as you whisper behind their hands to each other and point at your socks.
 

VKK3450

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I think you are both right. It's this board that does it to me though.

I never used to, and 99% of the people out there have no concern about these things, but for some reason I now question them.

Thanks styleforum for the paranoid dementia!!!

K
 

Film Noir Buff

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You'll never get out of your house if youre trying to match your socks to your pants perfectly. A little difference isnt bad. Actually,I think the socks should be a few pips lighter or brighter. Thus a brighter navy sock with a dark navy suit adds some glint of interest similarly to a cufflink's metallic (or enameled)glint relieving the dullness of suit and shirt fabric.


On the other hand, you might want to purposefully mismatch the shades enough to draw out and make a list of those persons in your day-to-day who are taking enough of an interest in you to notice your socks. Dpending on the observer and their motives it might be good.

There was this guy who used to stare at me and say things like, "I notice you always match your pocket square colors with some color or all of them in your outfit." I was always like "Its coincidence" and Id make a speedy exit.
 

Teacher

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For more formal/serious occasions, my socks match my trousers. As FNB said, it isn't a perfect match, but it's pretty close. For times that are less formal, I usually match my shirt or tie. Rarely, though, do my socks not match something in my outfit, and they never are closer to my shoes than to my pants.
 

yachtie

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If you look at the old Esky or AA pictures (like on londonlounge) the socks almost never match the trouser color but rather have either a compliment or an included color that is either a match or on the palette. Makes life a lot easier (and more fun- striped socks, cool!
cool.gif
)
 

Manton

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Originally Posted by VKK3450
Ok, seriously, we all know that we should be matching our socks to our trousers. But really, does everyone religiously follow this on a regular basis? Not to say that I don’t wear dark socks with business wear, but I just find it a pain ********** to get reasonably priced charcoal grey and navy blue socks in the right shades.
I think the point of this old rule (or guideline, or suggestion, or whatever) was not to insist that sock and trouser genuinely exactly match. It was to say, If you have to choose between a sock that is closer in color to your shoes or to your trousers, go with one that is more like the trousers.

It's not a bad rule, as far as it goes. It just doesn't go very far. I nearly always prefer socks that match neither shoe nor trouser, but that instead reflect the color of my tie or shirt or pocket square or something else. The only thing to worry about is that the socks not outright clash with trouser or shoe.
 

Matt

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Originally Posted by Manton
I think the point of this old rule (or guideline, or suggestion, or whatever) was not to insist that sock and trouser genuinely exactly match. It was to say, if you have to choose between a sock that is closer in color to your shoes or to your trousers, go with one that is more like trousers. It's not a bad rule, as far as it goes. It just doesn't go very far. I nearly always prefer socks that match neither shoe nor trouser, but that instead reflect the color of my tie or shirt or pocket square or something else. The only thing to worry about is that the socks not outright clash with trouser or shoe.
so Manton lets say you are wearing a dark navy suit with a deep brown shoe with a sky blue shirt and maroon rep tie and white linen pocket square....a conservative enough get up. does this mean you would wear sky blue socks with that kind of ensemble to match the shirt? A maroon to match the tie? Presumably not white to match the square (although you would fit in nicely in Vietnam in a suit with shiny white socks) if not...what would you say fits there to "reflect the color" of your shirtpocketsquaretie?
 

Manton

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Originally Posted by m@T
so Manton lets say you are wearing a dark navy suit with a deep brown shoe with a sky blue shirt and maroon rep tie and white linen pocket square....a conservative enough get up.

does this mean you would wear sky blue socks with that kind of ensemble to match the shirt? A maroon to match the tie? Presumably not white to match the square (although you would fit in nicely in Vietnam in a suit with shiny white socks)

Because the shoes and suit are so dark, in that case, I would go with maroon socks. I have several pairs of deep maroon socks that would work well.

I also tend to dress seasonally, so the sky blue socks (which I also have) don't get out much in cooler months. (Do they have cool months in Vietnam?) Neither do my lighter clothes in general. In summer, on the other hand, I almost never wear navy. Everything tends to be lighter.
 

jml90

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Originally Posted by Manton
It's not a bad rule, as far as it goes. It just doesn't go very far. I nearly always prefer socks that match neither shoe nor trouser, but that instead reflect the color of my tie or shirt or pocket square or something else. The only thing to worry about is that the socks not outright clash with trouser or shoe.
I 100% agree with this on 90% of occasions I never match my socks to my trousers but instead go with a completley diffrent color but not to match the shirt or tie but just to compliment them. I like to wear a lot of pink and red socks and if they aren't available bright argyles.
I have an advantage with this because I'm almost never wearing a suit. But, khakis and a blaer
 

coatandthai

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I not only match socks, I match my watch strap to the color of my belt/shoes and my wedding band to the color of my watch/belt buckle. Afflicted by the hobgoblin of small minds, I suppose.
 

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