What do you prioritize in socks?

[Son Of Saphir]

^^^^

That burnt orange will be great for a nice solid winter sock. Both are on my list for a bulk Easter order.

In the meantime l bought my size out for these Corgi socks. It is the nicest of all the range and yet the most scarce. Now l am stocked up on this colour. Will buy more another day.

 

[TimothyF]

Yes, those socks that are like shaggy dog sweaters do last a couple of winters with decent use, but then they start to deteriorate. It is worth it because they are so nice to wear, nice and toasty and snug during winter.

Where does a person get the thicker worsted socks from?

I haven't seen any OTR. I was gifted some handknit from family and friends.

I was thinking about the whole question of durability. It is not hard to make any kind of sock very durable, within bounds of reason for shearness. You can take 100% cashmere, or silk, and just reinforce the s**t out of the high wear areas with nylon or polyamide. I'm thinking the heel, toes, and maybe under the ball of the foot. Let me know if I'm off base, but any maker of socks costing more than $10 should reinforce those regions for durability

 

[JBielan]

I am no connoisseur, but I switched from basic CK cotton bulk socks to boardroom OTC merino's. OTC is essential, staying up is a quality of life feature, as is the extra fabric due to being in a northern climate. Many of those in our local weaving and knitting guilds insist that a little poly is essential to a durable sock, and these folks have made their own bespoke socks, and worn them in a narrow rotation for decades. It is hard to argue with their experience. Often though, these are made from much, much thicker yarn than what you would expect in RTW socks. I digress. I chose Boardroom because they were one of the few making socks in the US and stuck mostly to neutral basics. It seems overly fussy to me to be super gentle on something I put on par with undergarments, so a little bit of poly seems reasonable for me. One of its few uses where it is not just for cost cutting, but practical.

 

[sho'nuff]

I bought a few pairs from MES CHAUSSETTES ROUGES and will let you know how it goes I can't wait

 

[aristoi bcn]

Schostal Originals

My Store

schostaloriginals.com

I have several pairs of thick wool socks from this shop, I would guess made by Palatino in Rome. Not many colours but the green and brown are made with lovely melange yarns which almost perfectly match my Scottish made pullovers in Moss and Porcupine colours. These are thicker (and made out of rougher wool than the heaviest Bresciani available in their own website and Mes Chaussetes Rouges). Lovely in winter days but agreed on what has been mentioned before, too thick to be worn with properly sized/bespoke shoes:

A&S Haberdashery stocks thick Shetland socks, I’d say also made by Palatino, my favourites so far but not available anymore in Small size.

 

[Son Of Saphir]

I was thinking about the whole question of durability. It is not hard to make any kind of sock very durable, within bounds of reason for shearness. You can take 100% cashmere, or silk, and just reinforce the s**t out of the high wear areas with nylon or polyamide. I'm thinking the heel, toes, and maybe under the ball of the foot. Let me know if I'm off base, but any maker of socks costing more than $10 should reinforce those regions for durability

I wouldn't like lots of nylon under my heels toes and feet, beats the purpose of high natural fiber socks.

I bought a few pairs from MES CHAUSSETTES ROUGES and will let you know how it goes I can't wait

What did you order, please share.

It is interesting how many here order what the retailers always tell me. Simple limited colours and higher durability. That is what sells best, and it is no wonder sock options are so limited. I see that with nearly all highend the sock companies, and it is no wonder l find most sock options a big meh. They increase the poly content to keep costs down, they make them durable because men highly desire that, they limit colours and they sell lots of half length socks; it is all carefully targeted business, and they don't want to stray from the formulae and take risks because they know they will probably get burned. I've tried doing deals with sock companies and retailers to get some exciting projects started, but sock salesmen and manufacturers are the most stubborn people i've ever met - they know their business really well and they stick to what works. They want nothing to do with filling the sock dreams of the top 1% of sock daddies.

- Pantheralla = high poly% and limited colours
- Dore Dore = high poly
- Falke = limited colours and high poly
- Mazarin = high poly

You don't see many makers doing high % wools in many colours. Even those socks posted by @aristoi bcn are limited in colours and designs.

The man who founded William Abraham was obviously a sock lover and not a businessman. That business is a total disaster, he sold the business soon after. I bet MCR regret buying it, but none-the-less credit to them, and they still check their emails everyday. Those two men are very dedicated to socks, but they are no fools.

Remember when Kabbaz would order 72,000 socks. He was a sock lover too and never overly cared about making wise business decisions either. Apparently many of the type of socks he sold never sell well, but Kabbaz never cared (he had piles of socks years later), he just sold them because he loved them. A total sock junkie if ever there was.

 

[Son Of Saphir]

Old memories of the fancy Kabbaz socks. Never had the chance to collect the full set, but l have multiples of most for them thankfully.

The really fancy cashmere ones.

 

[DorianGreen]

Old memories of the fancy Kabbaz socks. Never had the chance to collect the full set, but l have multiples of most for them thankfully.
View attachment 2330987
View attachment 2330989 View attachment 2330991 View attachment 2330995 View attachment 2330997

The really fancy cashmere ones.
View attachment 2330999

I was interested, but shipping costs and import taxes discouraged me.

 

[DorianGreen]

Schostal Originals

My Store

schostaloriginals.com

I have several pairs of thick wool socks from this shop, I would guess made by Palatino in Rome. Not many colours but the green and brown are made with lovely melange yarns which almost perfectly match my Scottish made pullovers in Moss and Porcupine colours. These are thicker (and made out of rougher wool than the heaviest Bresciani available in their own website and Mes Chaussetes Rouges). Lovely in winter days but agreed on what has been mentioned before, too thick to be worn with properly sized/bespoke shoes:
View attachment 2330723

A&S Haberdashery stocks thick Shetland socks, I’d say also made by Palatino, my favourites so far but not available anymore in Small size.

I have them too, bought in their small shop in Rome. Yes, they are made by Palatino. Excellent quality.

As a boy I always looked at those beautiful Palatino socks, I also owned some. They were much more easily available back then. Today you have to search to find them.

 

[DorianGreen]

I wouldn't like lots of nylon under my heels toes and feet, beats the purpose of high natural fiber socks.



What did you order, please share.

It is interesting how many here order what the retailers always tell me. Simple limited colours and higher durability. That is what sells best, and it is no wonder sock options are so limited. I see that with nearly all highend the sock companies, and it is no wonder l find most sock options a big meh. They increase the poly content to keep costs down, they make them durable because men highly desire that, they limit colours and they sell lots of half length socks; it is all carefully targeted business, and they don't want to stray from the formulae and take risks because they know they will probably get burned. I've tried doing deals with sock companies and retailers to get some exciting projects started, but sock salesmen and manufacturers are the most stubborn people i've ever met - they know their business really well and they stick to what works. They want nothing to do with filling the sock dreams of the top 1% of sock daddies.

- Pantheralla = high poly% and limited colours
- Dore Dore = high poly
- Falke = limited colours and high poly
- Mazarin = high poly

You don't see many makers doing high % wools in many colours. Even those socks posted by @aristoi bcn are limited in colours and designs.

The man who founded William Abraham was obviously a sock lover and not a businessman. That business is a total disaster, he sold the business soon after. I bet MCR regret buying it, but none-the-less credit to them, and they still check their emails everyday. Those two men are very dedicated to socks, but they are no fools.

Remember when Kabbaz would order 72,000 socks. He was a sock lover too and never overly cared about making wise business decisions either. Apparently many of the type of socks he sold never sell well, but Kabbaz never cared (he had piles of socks years later), he just sold them because he loved them. A total sock junkie if ever there was.

I would differ here.

Pantherella is excellent quality in my opinion, they have ranges in pure cashmere, pure wool (Kangley) and 90% wool (Naish).
Falke has increased the synthetic percentage recently, quality was better.
Same for Mazarin, almost everything with much nylon and the hated spandex/elastane. I only buy their cashmere/silk range with no synthetics.

As for William Abraham, as previously said, I think their mark-ups are simply excessive. I certainly would buy (had bought) many of their styles if the prices were more reasonable.

 

[Son Of Saphir]

^^^

here are the other-the-calf Pantherella. 90% wools, but limited colours.

Naish Merino Wool Tailored Long Men's Socks

Naish over the calf tailored merino wool men's socks from Pantherella are available in sizes matching your shoe size. Shop long tailored socks online.

www.pantherella.com

A few 100% wools. There are some 100% cottons, but very limited colours/patterns again. No shadow stripes, and no argyles in OTC for Pantherella either. Lots of 30% poly and short socks.

With Falke there is 15% poly in a number of the wools and 25% poly in other wools. Expensive too. A lack of patterns for cottons.
https://www.falke.com/uk_en/men/luxury-line/knee-high-socks/?p=4&sort=new

None of those makers above draw me in, but the Palatino paiurs by @aristoi bcn look nice. Will bookmark this pair too, sadly it is 80% wool 20% poly, but it is a green argyle so l wouldn't mind getting a bunch of these.

Merino Wool Argyle Socks - Over-the-Calf

Expertly crafted in Italy, these over-the-calf wonders are the perfect addition to your wardrobe for the chilly months ahead. Made from 80% premium Merino wool and 20% nylon, our socks boast a unique blend of natural insulation and enhanced durability. The Merino wool fibers provide an...

schostaloriginals.com

 

[Son Of Saphir]

I have them too, bought in their small shop in Rome. Yes, they are made by Palatino. Excellent quality.

As a boy I always looked at those beautiful Palatino socks, I also owned some. They were much more easily available back then. Today you have to search to find them.

Wow, a real connoisseurs mind on display right here. You were looking at these highend socks as a boy, you've been doing it all you life, you are an old hand at it. Respect.

I might climb the sock ladder to high levels but l will never have the rich sock background you have, and that's what marks the big sock daddies from Johnny come lately sock daddies (new kids on the block who have been in the sock game for less than 20 years).

 

[DorianGreen]

^^^

here are the other-the-calf Pantherella. 90% wools, but limited colours.

Naish Merino Wool Tailored Long Men's Socks

Naish over the calf tailored merino wool men's socks from Pantherella are available in sizes matching your shoe size. Shop long tailored socks online.

www.pantherella.com

A few 100% wools. There are some 100% cottons, but very limited colours/patterns again. No shadow stripes, and no argyles in OTC for Pantherella either. Lots of 30% poly and short socks.

With Falke there is 15% poly in a number of the wools and 25% poly in other wools. Expensive too. A lack of patterns for cottons.
https://www.falke.com/uk_en/men/luxury-line/knee-high-socks/?p=4&sort=new

None of those makers above draw me in, but the Palatino paiurs by @aristoi bcn look nice. Will bookmark this pair too, sadly it is 80% wool 20% poly, but it is a green argyle so l wouldn't mind getting a bunch of these.

Merino Wool Argyle Socks - Over-the-Calf

Expertly crafted in Italy, these over-the-calf wonders are the perfect addition to your wardrobe for the chilly months ahead. Made from 80% premium Merino wool and 20% nylon, our socks boast a unique blend of natural insulation and enhanced durability. The Merino wool fibers provide an...

schostaloriginals.com

View attachment 2331033

The Naish is offered in few classic colours, but I love those thin ribs, so lovely and distinctively British (curiously Italian brands don't offer that knit).

If you're willing to pay the extra mark-up, there are those from Turnbull & Asser, identical to the Naish, in more interesting colours.

https://turnbullandasser.co.uk/products/green-long-merino-wool-socks

 

[fashion_review]

I've been speaking to the owner of Mes Chaussettes Rougues lately, seeing if they could move away from the higher poly count socks they usually stock (20 - 28% poly) and the stale old designs and move more towards more 90% wool socks, more vibrant designs and more one tone 90% wool socks. To my surprise they prefer the higher poly count because they last longer, and despite them preferring the feel of the 90% wools, they consider them too fragile. It would appear longevity is a major factor for men's socks at Mes Chaussettes Rougues. I also notice there are a lot of old stale designs like houndstooth and others, and it explains why William Abraham was introduced to the market; so many socks are so uninteresting and uninspired from the top makers. Kabbaz also introduced vibrant ranges when he was alive. The real problem is the price of socks these days, and Mes Chaussettes Rougues offers a good price point, but it often comes with the compromise of higher poly count or the old uninspired designs for the wools, but the cotton shadow stripes are always good. The owners tell me the 90% wools don't sell that well, nor do the vibrant 90% wools they have sold in the past. Now they are heavily promoting longevity of the extra durable which are about 30% poly.

So what are people's thinking on socks:
- do people prioritize longevity over the comfort of high wool/low poly?
- what do people think about the sock designs of the top makers?
- are you prepared to sacrifice longevity for extra sock comfort?

Sometimes one needs to go through special sock sources because the online highend socks are so boring and often limited to mid calf length. Trying to find a nice thick sock for winter shoes is also difficult. Trying to find nice socks is very difficult these days, and some of the nice ones are one size fits all, there seem to be very few socks which are `just right'. Finding a good sock is like finding gold, there are so few which hit the mark. One can use secret sources to get the nicer socks that are never advertised or sold online, but the cost is high.

Socks are so expensive these days, but a lot of work goes into them. Look at the sock machines they have, incredible. The problem is, socks are so thin and they don't last for many wears.

O.k, how about we have a proper sock conversation, it is well overdue.

Well I always prefer comfort, be it socks, footwear or clothes

 

[DorianGreen]

Outrageous prices at Anderson & Sheppard for socks with 26% nylon and 2% elastane.

https://shop.anderson-sheppard.co.uk/products/long-ribbed-woollen-socks-red

More and more difficult nowadays to find the luxurious, fairly priced socks so widely spread some decades ago.