You can wear the most elegant dress in the world but if you lose sight of matching with quality stockings , of the right length and color , you won't look as good as you expected.
Good socks are able to enrich the lower part of your outfit and must be in full harmony with your look, especially in matching trousers and shoes .
Navigating the vast choice of fabrics and colors can be really difficult for a man and the risk of wasting all the effort put into creating an attractive outfit is just around the corner.
That's why today we decided to help you choose the best socks, whether it's for an important event, for work or simply to create elegant outfits for everyday use. If you follow these precautions, advice and rules you will see that you will be free to express yourself on every occasion.
First rule: choose the fabric that's right for you
To choose the model of sock that best suits your needs , it's best to start with the fabric . There are different types and not all of them could be right for you.
Surely cotton socks are the ones that adapt best to every season because they allow the foot to experience comfort and freshness , while ensuring elegance at the same time.
There are different types of cotton socks. Here is our ranking of the best solutions:
Socks in Filoscozia®
In first place we find what is recognized by all as the best yarn in the world: Filoscozia® is designed to give maximum comfort. There are few companies in the world that are able to offer collections with this type of fabric which, due to its natural and healthy structure, is particularly suitable for the most delicate skins .
The peculiarity of this precious type also concerns the fact that it does not shrink in washing and releases less lint than any sock. It retains these properties even after numerous washes, it does not leave redness, redness and itching.
Another peculiarity is that it makes socks bright and soft like no other yarn, as well as disfavouring perspiration and unpleasant odours.
That's why we recommend it and put it the very first place in the ranking . If you want to have a sock that maintains its characteristics over time and that gives elegance to your combination, Filoscozia® is the best choice you can make. If you want to discover Filoscozia® models click here.
Discover the Filoscozia® CollectionMako socks
In second place we find an Egyptian cotton yarn with a fiber between 30 and 34 mm long, particularly elastic, which adheres to the leg without leaving unsightly marks.
Makò cotton is non-mercerized Filoscozia (mercerization is the process that transforms a normal cotton yarn into Scotland thread).
As we have said several times, cotton can also be mercerized and then transformed into Scotland thread , but basically if the raw cotton used is short-fiber or of poor quality, the result will not be the best.
In essence, an extra-long staple cotton, not mercerized, is better than a cheap cotton mercerized and transformed into Filoscozia.
Scotland thread socks
In third place we find the Scotland thread fabric, not to be confused with the previous Filoscozia®. A good quality fabric in terms of lightness and resistance. Scotland thread socks have the ability to absorb and disperse heat in a completely natural way.
However, it has limitations : it can often be annoying if worn for several hours and it gives off odors that are sometimes unpleasant compared to Filoscozia®. Compared to the latter it is less bright and shiny.
Socks in Winter Cotton
In fourth place we find what is also called warm cotton and/or combed cotton. This is due to its characteristic of maintaining heat and being plush .
Suitable for those who particularly suffer from the cold and as an alternative to the classic wool sock, certainly not suitable for formal occasions.
Second rule: choose the length
Choosing the length of a sock can often not be so simple. However, there are some points of reference that we can take into consideration.
In fact, the general rule establishes that for an impeccable look, a man's socks must reach below the knee or in any case be long enough to cover the calf.
If you know you have to attend a formal occasion where elegance is required, then the short stocking is not the right choice.
So remember that as the formality of the event decreases, so does the length of men's sock to wear.
Having said this, we can state that there are three levels to differentiate:
1.longer sock for special occasions or the so-called business man look;
2. short for everyday life;
This is an unwritten rule but if followed it will allow you to be adequate and coherent with the context in which you will find yourself.
Discover the long and short BoxesThird rule: a question of color
After having seen which are the best fabrics and the different lengths with relative formal devices, the time has come to talk about another key topic in choosing your combination: colour.
It is known that color plays a key role not only on a psychological level but also and above all on a formal level. Getting the wrong color of a sock can completely ruin your style and leave you unable to suit the occasion.
The first thing you need to do and understand is about pants vs shoes . Which of the two garments will I have to match my clazini with?
If you are wondering, know that you are not alone in the world: it is one of the doubts that most grips all great gentlemen.
To dispel this dilemma, two small general rules must be taken into consideration.
For dark pants, socks that match the pants or even darker ;
For light-colored trousers, socks that match the color of the shoes .
Fashion is known to be constantly evolving and aesthetic canons are often revolutionized. However, these two precautions are an evergreen that will never pass and above all will allow you, when in doubt, not to make mistakes.
At the same time, we must underline that the new trends have given impetus to sock-trouser-shoe combinations, taking into account the many patterns and the desire to dare with modern looks.
The "tone on tone" solution and a gentler chromatic transition are thus accompanied by stronger combinations (e.g.: colored men's socks with bold hues , different from the classic blue or black) .
Discover the Nobile BoxesWe will talk about this shortly by analyzing all the possible combinations, one by one. Let's go back to our question: how to choose colors?
We have understood one thing up to now: the color of the socks matches the color of the shoes, but at the same time the color of the trousers and jacket must also be taken into account.
To get a good combination, you just need to respect the basic rules of color combination and always have black , dark blue and dark gray socks available in your closet.
With these three shades you can easily match everything you have in your wardrobe, without much effort.
The choice of solid color socks remains the most elegant to use on formal occasions.
If, on the other hand, you prefer patterned socks , you can decide to combine them with the color of the tie or shirt by playing with colours.
The color to avoid
Everyone agrees on one thing: the only color that is absolutely forbidden for a man's sock is white .
The use of white stockings is allowed only during sports but they must be strictly terry cloth (possibly short).
Discover All ModelsThe pairings we recommend
After having talked about the general rules concerning the combination of socks and clothes, let's see in detail which combinations we would like to recommend if you want to maintain elegance and style on all occasions.Tone on tone
The most classic but not for this obvious. It involves choosing socks that recall the chromatic tones of the trousers or shoes .
Brown shoes or pants, for example, require brown socks just as black shoes or pants require black socks .
It is a simple solution to combine socks with a solid color men's suit but it is equally effective for separate suits.
The tone on tone must be applied paying close attention that the shade chosen is always sufficiently lighter or darker than the shoe or trousers so as to clearly notice the difference.
Advice: do not overdo the contrast because the chromatic combination must always be pleasant and appreciable.
Look at the solid color modelsStrong and marked
Unlike the tone-on-tone combination, here you risk more and it is certainly not always suitable in business environments. If your nature is eccentric and you want to communicate this way of being, you can opt for tights in stronger colors and with a marked detachment from the rest of the clothing.
This whether it's solid color dresses or a separate dress. The most obvious example is the combination with purple stockings.
As in all sectors, if you want to dare, you need to know how to do it and have the right experience as well as an adequate physique du role .
Tip: don't completely ignore the colors of shoes and trousers by choosing strong and marked colors that still have a stylistic trait d'union with the colors of the suit, trousers or shoes. This is to avoid conveying the idea that you have chosen random socks in your closet.
Discover the empire style modelsGeometry
Suitable for leisure time and to wear with a separate suit, difficult to combine with a greater number of colours.
The presence of geometric motifs generally attracts more attention and for this reason the combination of geometric socks is the most difficult but at the same time also the most interesting.
It is capable of giving your look that extra touch of personality compared to other combinations.
Look at the honeycomb patternsTip: Pay less attention to the color of the shoes and mainly consider the color of the jacket. Choose socks that match the dominant color of the jacket and the secondary color of the trousers (possibly tone-on-tone for the latter).
Conclusions
As we said at the beginning, you can wear the most elegant dress in the world but if you lose sight of matching with quality stockings, of the right length and color, you won't look as good as you expected.
A suitable sock is able to enrich the lower part of your outfit as well as making your outfit harmonious in its entirety.
With the rules and advice we have illustrated to you, you will have full freedom to choose the best combination and leave room for your creativity to make your style truly unique, with elegance and good taste.
The perfect solution for you: Nobile socks
Our hosiery was born in Racale in 1982 , we were little more than a shop. It was the golden age of Italian hosiery factories, and Racale was its capital. After difficult years (with the 2008 crisis, 90% of the hosiery factories in the town closed) we chose to give new life to the noble Italian yarns, from which Nobile was born.
Unlike other hosiery factories, the socks are not produced in an industrial way, but go through a quality control at each stage of production which combines the work of the machine with the manual work of the craftsman. Finally, each sock is inspected, ironed and washed by hand.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How to combine socks with men's suits?
Three fundamental variables such as fabric, length and color must be taken into consideration. Starting from these three we can choose the best combination. For dark trousers, socks that match the trousers or even darker. For light-colored trousers, socks matching the color of the shoes.
How to combine socks with men's shoes?
The general rule is that for dark trousers, socks match the trousers or even darker and not the shoes. For light-colored trousers, socks matching the color of the shoes.
How to match the color of the socks?
The color of the socks matches that of the shoes, but at the same time the color of the trousers and jacket must also be taken into account. To get a good combination, just respect the basic rules of color combination and always have black, dark blue and dark gray socks available in your closet. With these three shades you can easily match everything you have in your wardrobe, without much effort.
How should men's socks be?
There are three levels to differentiate: longer socks for special occasions or so-called business man looks; media for everyday life; short for a casual and sporty outfit.
