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Fashion for Men: Connecting Socks to Fashion

By Douglas James Scammell

Published 4:09 PDT, Wed June 3, 2026

Last Updated: 4:23 PDT, Wed June 3, 2026

Fashion for Men

Fashion for Men

BY DOUGLAS JAMES SCAMMELL

Connecting Socks to Fashion

When it comes to gentlemen’s fashion and adding accessories such as ties, jewelry and yes even socks, whether wearing a business suit or attending a more formal event, or just even a casual look for daily activities the one thing that often gets overlooked are men’s sock fashion. Having the right pair of socks is very important and will help complete your look as well as keep you feeling extra fresh and comfortable in your favorite pair of shoes.

For years, the traditional sock colour of black, dark brown and grey were the standard. Then as the “slim” look in men’s suits and casual pants entered the scene and the pant length exposed the ankle, designers got busy creating designer socks and an actual new business was created. These were “fun, crazy, colourful, and trendy” for a while but at the end of the day, you can never beat a traditional, classy look.

To help elevate your sock game try to avoid these common styling mistakes.

• Never wear white athletic socks with dress shoes.

• Try not to expose bare skin on your ankle or leg while seated. That means your socks are too short or the elasticity in the fabric is too loose causing them to slip and never wear ankle socks with dress shoes.

• Throw out socks that are worn out.

• Try to match your socks to your pants rather than your shoe colour. This helps extend the longevity of your shoes, elongated line. For instance, if you're wearing grey trousers opt for grey socks.

• If you're wearing a fancy tailored suit try to stay away from the colourful looking socks with wild patterns. They do not do you any favors but takes away from your sharp look. The point I am also trying to make is less is more. If you’re wearing a beautiful navy blue suit. Just keep things simple by wearing a matching blue pair of socks. This will always look way better and will help give you that complete look. The solid basic color socks just look better on men because they create a clean, unbroken visual line from your trousers to your shoes, which visually elongates the legs and makes you appear taller.

• Unlike the wild patterns, solid socks blend seamlessly into the overall outfit rather than acting as a jarring distraction. Also when your wear more patterns the more they fight each other creating visual chaos. If you’re wearing a patterned suit, the solid coloured socks will always balance your outfit by letting your clothing be the hero.

• Another important thing to mention is by wearing socks it will help your shoes longevity because your feet naturally produce sweat. Without wearing socks, this moisture along with dead skin cells, gets absorbed directly into the leather or canvas of your shoes. Without wearing socks over time the un-absorbed sweat will degrade materials and you will be stuck with permanent odors in your shoes. That is one of the major reasons why wearing socks is so important.

When it comes to the warm summer months in the 21st century it is okay to wear a sockless look with your shorts or cropped chinos, but just wear true no show socks to protect your shoes from sweat while maintaining that clean, breezy aesthetic.

When it comes to wearing a suit in the middle of summer during the heat of day I recommend going with the “no show socks” with a pair of loafer shoes. Yes, it is not as formal and some will argue your look is not complete but I would also argue at least you’re looking a lot more comfortable in your summer suit, especially when wearing a linen fabric or a seersucker suit.

Having great socks fashion I say is essential for the modern gentlemen because it bridges the gap between hygiene, comfort, and your personal expression. A thoughtfully chosen pair of socks will protect your feet and help extend the life of your favorite pair of expensive footwear and will also serve as the ultimate detail that proves your refined attention to detail in your outfit.

Photos courtesy DJ Scammell