As an extension to last week’s post on fashion faux pas to avoid for men, I’ve been asked by some of my guy friends on what are the fast rules on socks. It’s quite unfair that females get to run wild with different types of socks and it doesn’t even matter if whether they match or not. However, this set of rules does not work for men who want to be taken seriously and really up their style factor. So, here’s a quick guide on what types of socks to wear for various situations.

Business and formal occasions

If you are going to wear a suit, you’ll be wearing dress shoes. This really means that athletic socks should not be added to the equation regardless of what their color is. This is because sports socks tend to be thicker and bulkier than dress socks. They are also ribbed and so it really cheapens an outfit when you wear dress shoes with sports socks. Wearing dress socks also help you slip into your dress shoes easily because the material of dress socks is often smoother. As for the choice of the colors of socks when it comes to business or formal occasions, anything on the darker side of things will add to your stylishness.

White socks should only be worn for sports

This rule isn’t that difficult to remember. Stick your white socks into a separate box and label “For sports use only”. White socks should really only be worn for sporting purposes such as tennis, basketball, gym and etc. Wearing a pair of white socks can really break an otherwise stylish outfit.

Socks should match your pants not your shoes

To look stylish and not like roadkill, the color of your socks should match your pants and not by the shade of your shoes. Therefore, darker coloured pants should go with darker colored socks. Black pants equal black socks and dark brown pants equal dark brown socks. The last thing you want is to have exposed socks that break your outfit when you sit down. Color coordination is really important as it makes your outfit flow better and make you look sharper.

Maintain your socks

Socks should be changed on a daily basis. If you sweat more, then change them as often as possible to keep your look clean and fresh. You should also buy your socks twice a year. Look out for sturdy socks that are made of good quality cotton. This avoids holes and provide more comfort when you wear them. If your socks have holes in them, it’s time to throw them out and replace them with brand new ones to keep your look fresh and stylish.

Tags: fashion, socks, style