How to Properly Style and Wear Socks

Image via Complex Original

Crew? Ankle? No-show? 

Everyone likely has a bit of a preference when it comes to the socks they wear on a daily basis. Some people stick to strictly crew length and hike up or bunch up the sock depending on their shoes being highs or low. Others prefer not to have their socks showing and opt for an ankle or no-show style. The one major gripe here is the no-shows can sometimes slip off your foot mid-step, which creates a pretty uncomfortable wearing experience. Once I put on my socks, I want to never worry about them until I take them off at the end of the day, not be constantly sliding and adjusting throughout the day. To clarify, when we say no-show we mean something like this, not these crazy things. It’s probably best to avoid wearing those with sneakers at all costs. The only other general rule worth following here is you probably don’t want to wear low-cut socks with high-top sneakers like a Dunk High or an Air Jordan 1. Not only does it just look off visually, but you’ll also probably irritate your ankles without that extra barrier of cotton in place. If you insist on wearing no socks at all with your sneakers, something we don’t necessarily recommend, at least load up on the powder or something. If you’ve never done it, you’ll thank us once you try. 

On the topic of size, make sure to double check the size of the socks you are buying before checking out, too. There’s been at least a few occasions where I’ve accidentally bought pairs made for a size six-to-eight foot when I wear a size 11. Spoiler, you cannot make it work comfortably. On the flip side, if you have a smaller foot and accidentally buy a bigger size you’re going to have some excess material and the socks won’t be as form fitting. That extra 0.5 seconds it will take you to glance at the packaging is definitely worth it. 

The proper height isn’t the only thing to consider when choosing what socks to put on. Depending on the season and activity, there’s actually plenty more to think about. For instance, in the colder weather you may want to grab some thicker wool socks to keep as warm as possible during your outdoor treks. On the flip side, you definitely want to keep the hiking socks tucked away in your drawer come summertime. Instead, there are plenty of thin, moisture wicking options. We know for some people it’s unavoidable, but please make the effort to at least minimize the sweat. 

Activities can also play a part in your sock selection. A regular day of errands calls for regular cotton socks, but if you’re hitting the gym or the local basketball court for a couple of hours then you may want to consider some sort of performance socks, which are made specifically with movement in mind to give some extra protection in certain areas of the foot or aid with impact absorption. It may sound a bit silly, but trust us. Try a pair out and you will notice the difference. Also, please have a couple pairs of dress socks in your drawer for those weddings or other formal events. Nothing is worse than wearing Nike socks with your suit. Don’t be that guy please. 

This one may seem a bit obvious, but there are tons of socks out there these days. Pay attention next time you’re walking around. There are a ton of people who thought it made more sense to wear a pair of Rick and Morty socks rather than just keep it simple and they look a bit ridiculous. When it comes to something like socks, there’s really no need to overthink it. If you find yourself thinking excessively about what socks to wear with an outfit, chances are you should just be tossing on a white or black pair. They go with literally anything. Is it boring? Kinda. But socks shouldn’t always be the star of the show anyway. A general rule of thumb is that white socks are for casual settings and darker socks are more formal. When it comes to deciding between white or black socks with your sneakers though, it really just comes down to personal preference. If the fit is darker tones, maybe go black so the socks don’t stand out. If it’s brighter, go with white.

However, that doesn’t mean that more colorful socks are totally out of the question. Some people just prefer to wear tons of colors. If you’re one of those people, go crazy. If you are someone who usually sticks to something more simplistic, like white T-shirts and black jeans or shorts, a bright pair of socks are an easy way to add a subtle pop of color. Various tie-dyed varieties have become popular recently. Stores like Uniqlo have a full wall of socks in dozens of colors for dirt cheap if you want to experiment with some different colors, too. Socks can be a great way to pull some accent colors out of an outfit without looking like you pulled your whole fit off of a mannequin.

This should go without saying, but please wash your socks. One wear only. After one wear, throw them in the hamper. DO NOT RE-USE DIRTY SOCKS. Please people. Basic hygiene is important. There’s a reason the Hanes and the Nikes come in packs with multiple pairs. 

While on the topic, if you can see your toes, or your heel, or any part of your foot the next time you put some socks on, it’s probably time to toss them in the trash and re-up with a fresh pack. We know that sometimes nobody will see you with your shoes off, but you never know. Do you really want to meet someone for the first time and have them discover you are marching around in crusty socks? We didn’t think so. 

Pilling sucks. You know, those little balls of lint that form around the heel of your shoes after a few wears. It’s sort of unavoidable, but if you want to make it a bit less obvious then always try to match the liner with your sock color. So, no white socks with a black liner and vice versa. A lint brush is a good remedy to clean up any pairs that have already fallen victim to the annoying phenomenon, but it’s by no means a permanent solution.

There’s plenty of people who probably still consider this an absolute no-no, but we have definitely gotten to a point where it is OK to rock your slides with some socks on. Unless you’re taking care of your feet with a fresh pedicure, it’s probably better that way anyway. Nobody wants to see your unkempt toes out in the open. The advent of sock/sandal acceptance also provides a great opportunity to show off any of the crazier socks you may have purchased. With less materials covering your foot, you may finally be able to justify spending $50 for a pair of socks you thought looked cool the last time you were perusing MR PORTER.

For plenty of people, packs of Nike or Hanes socks are the gold standard. They put little to no thought into their socks. They are merely a necessary undergarment. But some people may want to stand out a bit more and grab some socks from their favorite brand. Socks are also an accessible way to support a brand whose clothes are a bit out of your budget right now. You may not be able to justify a $500-plus coat from Human Made just yet, but a $30 pair of socks seems like a reasonable purchase. That Kapital patchwork denim is great, but those $50 socks with the smiley face heels are definitely taking much less of a hit on your wallet. You’ll get the big items one day. It’s all about balance. Now yes, some people still may think it’s wild to pay that much for a singular pair of socks when a six-pack of Hanes is like, $12, but it’s good to know the option is there if you ever want to up your sock game and have something on your feet that not everyone else does. Looking for something a bit more accessible that still offers plenty of colorful options, Stance and Bombas are other great places to look.

Do not rock some Air Jordan 1s with a pair of Adidas socks. Do not throw on some Stan Smiths and have a Nike Swoosh visibly present. If you have pants on and nobody can see, then sure, who really cares? But if you are rocking some shorts in the summertime, don’t do this. Some people will tell you this is a stupid rule to obey. And sure, if you want to do this then you are certainly allowed to make your own choices. But over here we like to keep things sacred. Mixing Nike and Adidas socks and shoes is one of those things. There’s really no excuse to be doing this, either. Target, Walmart, Uniqlo, Foot Locker, etc. All of these places sell brandless black and white socks. Invest in a few pairs to avoid this unfortunate issue ever arising when you are getting dressed.