Sporty socks, but long?

[radicaldog]

When not wearing business/ceremony-appropriate tailoring I (would) really like to wear these kinds of socks:

But due to Italian childhood brainwashing I have an insurmountable aversion towards socks that don't go up over the calf. And here's my problem: nobody seems to make good marled/sporty socks higher than crew length, i.e. below the calf. Any leads?

 

[radicaldog]

Nothing at all?

 

[dieworkwear]

you want over the calf sport socks?

if you really have to, i guess you can look at soccer socks. or the stuff at american apparel. but ... this for regular wear seems really dorky.

 

[radicaldog]

In fact I have some from AA, but they're not as nice as the ones above. I even bought some kilt hose and some technical long work socks, but they're not quite what I'm after. It's a psychological/class thing: unless I'm playing tennis, I just can't wear short socks. Ask any middle class Italian (Italian-Italian, not Italian-American) man and you'll get the same answer, I promise.

 

[radicaldog]

To clarify. What am I wearing right now? Vintage NB runners, chunky pleated cords, a Barba RTW shirt, a The Gigi knit jacket. And some American Apparel long varsity socks. I don't even care if they fall down -- in fact I like it because then the varsity stripes would show. But I still simply can't see myself wearing socks that won't stretch above my calf. Sorry.

 

[comrade]

I have over the calf heavy wool socks in bright colors
which I wore with knickers for cross country skiing.
Purchased over 30 years ago when they were widely available
in colors and patterns. Knickers have fallen out of favor
for this sport, at least in CA the last time I went 7-8 years ago.

 

[radicaldog]

Yes I also have some patterned Norwegian socks. But there's still the problem of summer.

 

[JJ Katz]

I hear you on the OTC issue. In the UK, the tragic "mezza calzetta" is absolutely the norm but in Italy it's JUST NOT DONE.

I can't see the image in your OP, right now, but Pedemeia (Portuguese co.) sells some nice lisle-cotton (filo di Scozia) OTC socks with patterns and plains in bright colours. They are pretty good quality and very affordable.

I have not seen 'ragg'/'marled' or bold-stripe socks in light weight and OTC but there is a US website (cannot remember name) that makes lightweight argyle socks in all sorts of colours, if you're willing to frighten the horses / set small children bawling.

 

[radicaldog]

Thanks, Katz. Finally a sympathetic ear. I've found that another solution is women's welly socks -- thankfully my feet aren't huge.

 

[dieworkwear]

nothing more italian than welly socks

 

[radicaldog]

I did live a decade in Blighty. Fusion style requires compromises in the hosiery dept, apparently. The result is this:

 

[comrade]

Not affordable.

https://www.hollandandholland.co.uk/product-category/accessories/accessories-socks/

More affordable.

https://www.cordings.co.uk/menswear/accessories/shooting-stockings

Can you yodel?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/German-Tra...=item2f18b85f21:g:9kgAAOSwewJTm02W:rk:34:pf:0

 

[radicaldog]

Thanks! I've had Tyrolean socks before. Itchy. Shooting socks are more or less like kilt hose -- viable though not ideal.