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Men's Dress Socks: A Complete Guide
Dress socks are an essential yet overlooked component of formal attire. They might not be the centerpiece of your sharply tailored suit, but then again, your fit wouldn’t be complete without them. Every man dressing for a formal occasion needs a comfortable and durable pair of men's dress socks, but with so many options out there, how is one to choose?
In this post, we’ll cover all things men’s dress socks, including how to choose, style, and care for them. We’ll examine the different types of dress sock wearers – Corporate Professionals, Style Enthusiasts, and Fashion Mavericks – and help determine which persona best speaks to your wardrobe. Lastly, we’ll recommend which pairs are best for you and answer your burning questions so that you can walk away – nay, strut away – with confidence.
What Are Men’s Dress Socks?
Dress socks are just like they sound – socks for wearing when dressing up. But how do they differ from, say, a regular sock?
Men’s dress socks are thinner by design and knit to fit inside formal dress shoes without causing hot spots or blisters. They often are solid in color or feature subtle geometric patterns or stripes that complement suits and other modern formalwear.
If you’re shopping for men’s dress socks, here are some primary features to consider before slipping your foot into any old pair:
- Height – how tall or short do you need them?
- Thinness – do you prefer cushion or no cushion?
- Material – will they wreck your feet after one hour of wearing?
- Quality – how long will they last before ripping?
- Intended Use – where do you plan on wearing them?
Choosing the Right Dress Socks
When shopping for the right pair of men’s dress socks, there are four main factors to consider – Height, Fit, Comfort, and Quality. There’s also a fifth factor – Intended Use – that we’ll cover later in the post when we dive deeper into styling.
Dress Sock Height
At Darn Tough, we knit men’s dress socks in three primary heights: No Show, Crew, and Mid-Calf. Depending on the occasion, all three heights are viable options, so long as you know how to style them. Traditional styling rules dictate that the more formal the occasion, the taller your socks should be.
- Summer wedding outdoors? You might opt for a No Show.
- Gearing up for a work party? Crew socks might be the move for you.
- Classic black-tie event? Can’t go wrong with a Mid-Calf.
Fit & Functionality
Finding the right fit largely depends on your shoe choice. But luckily for you, we have a sock that fits your needs no matter your choice in footwear.
Men’s dress socks are generally thin to ensure proper fit and performance inside dress shoes. They shouldn’t be too tight but shouldn’t be loose either. All Darn Tough socks are knit with a Performance Fit, meaning they act like a second skin and won’t slip down or cause blisters.
It’s important to determine your preferred thickness before lacing up your shoes for the first time, as choosing the wrong sock could wreak havoc on your feet. In general, Lightweight socks or Lightweight with Cushion socks are the best choice. At Darn Tough, we offer classic and funky options in both these weights.
All Day Comfort
Let’s face it… fabric matters. And if you’re seeking comfort in formal attire, there’s only one option – and that’s Merino Wool.
Merino is the gold standard of all the world’s formal fabrics, and unlike cotton, it’s packed with natural benefits. Not only does it keep your feet comfortable, but Merino naturally wicks moisture and sweat, helps reduce odors, and regulates to your core body temperature (meaning it keeps your feet cool when it’s warm, and vice versa).
Quality & Durability
Getting holes in your dress socks? That’s just embarrassing, not to mention uncomfortable, which is why if you’re trying to look and feel your best, a high-quality sock is a good place to start.
What you pay for is what you get – and if you’re buying Darn Tough socks, just know you’re making a long-term investment. Our socks are Guaranteed for Life for a reason, remember. And if quality is what you’re after, you’ve come to the right place.
So not only will our socks enhance your wardrobe and add sophistication to your formal attire, but what we knit is guaranteed to last forever – or your money back.
How to Style Men's Dress Socks
Now, we’re not going to pretend that we’re style experts – but socks we know. And if anyone’s going to help you style your dress socks, it’s us.
In this section, we’ll cover how to match your dress socks with your outfit in ways that will help you stand out (if that’s what you want). We’ll also touch on the differences between donning a pair of dress socks with formal versus casual wear and offer tips on what not to do.
Matching Socks to Outfits: Choosing the Right Color
The traditional men’s style rule is that your dress socks should match your pants over your shoes. Doing so creates the illusion that your legs are longer, enhancing style overall and offering a more streamlined, continuous look that people will notice.
If you’re not sure what color dress socks to wear, following the traditional rule is the best route to take. That said, modern styling allows for more creative color matching, especially in semi-formal settings. Matching the color of your socks to an accessory, like your pocket square or tie, draws attention to the accessory while creating a cohesive look and feel.
And dress socks aren’t limited to solid colors like black and navy blue anymore, either. If you’re feeling funky and the occasion calls for it (say, at a friend’s wedding), consider adding some flavor with bold colors or patterns – both of which we knit to add style to your formal attire.
Formal vs. Casual Events
Styling your dress socks largely depends on the event that you’re attending. For example, much like you wouldn’t wear a pair of hiking socks with your suit (though we know some exceptions), you probably wouldn’t wear a pair of dress socks with your hiking shorts.
We won’t judge you if you do (every sock we knit offers a performance fit for a reason) but when dressing for formal occasions, it’s important to make sure you’re pairing your socks correctly. Let’s consider a few examples:
- Formal wear – Think formal weddings, black-tie events, and galas. These are the tip of the iceberg in terms of formal events, which all necessitate formal dress socks. For these events, we recommend following classic style rules and matching your dress socks to your pants. Opt for a solid color (in lieu of patterns) and a taller height – your skin shouldn’t show above your sock cuff when you sit down.
- Business casual – Think work meetings, conferences, and networking events. More structured, formal outings that require professionalism but can still be infused with creative style if the situation calls for it. These types of occasions are a great opportunity for socks with subtle patterns or matching your socks to accessories instead of your pants for a tasteful color pop. For this, we recommend a crew height sock.
- Smart casual – Think happy hour, friendly gatherings, and family parties. Semi-professional but with some room for creativity, allowing you to let your personality shine with bold patterns or colors. This is when you can pull out funky dress socks or flash a little skin by pairing no shows with cuffed chinos.
What Not to Do
Offering you tips on how to style men’s dress socks is easy enough. But what’s perhaps even more straightforward is telling you what not to do. Even if you like to break fashion rules from time to time, the following dress sock etiquette is something every man should stick to:
- Don’t wear cotton socks with dress shoes
- Just say no to white socks with dark suits
- Go easy on the patterns (i.e. if your sock is patterned, don’t layer that with a patterned suit)
- No room in your wardrobe for stained or holey socks
- No shows are OK, so long as you don’t go sockless
- Pay attention to the dress code
What Your Dress Socks Say About You
In today’s world, labels are everywhere. On food packaging, on your clothes, and even on your personality. Yes, society has deemed your personality worthy of a label not because it’s trendy, but because it’s helpful when shopping.
Your dress socks – and how you present yourself publicly – are largely a conveyance of your personality, for which there are three buckets of self-identification, including:
- Corporate Professional – you’re engaged in corporate life and adhere to a strict dress code, sticking to professional tried-and-true fashion trends.
- Style Enthusiast – you’re very interested in fashion and style and are often among the first to try new trends.
- Fashion Maverick – you challenge the norms of your time and are likely to make a significant impact on the world of fashion.
Whichever persona you identify with, we’ve got sock recommendations and styling tips for you – starting below with the Corporate Professional.
The Corporate Professional’s Guide to Dress Socks
You’re a corporate worker – a professional in the truest sense of the word – and you’re shopping for dress socks. What you’re looking for is comfort, durability, and designs that stand the test of time. Nothing too fancy, only what’s practical and, most importantly, formal. If this sounds like you, here are some classic sock choices for professional settings:
Styling Tips
If you identify as a corporate pro, you’re likely keen on which socks to wear with suits in formal settings. Here are some tips.
You should be able to match your socks with three of the most classic suit colors – black, navy, and gray. Defer to choosing solid socks in classic colors or subtle patterns, opting for heights like Mid-Calf and Crew. Finally, focus on matching your socks to your pants, and if it’s a patterned sock, try matching the base color of the sock to your pants color.
Why Quality Matters
For the same reason you don’t take too many fashion risks, you also know better than to risk wearing a low-quality dress sock. As someone who’s invested in corporate life, you know that the key to maintaining comfort during long workdays is a high-quality pair of Merino Wool dress socks.
Whether you’re running back and forth between meetings or stuck at the podium all day delivering speeches, a high-quality, durable pair of dress socks is essential for long-term comfort. They might not scream personality, but they won’t scream blisters either – and that’s a compromise the Corporate Professional is willing to make.
How Style Enthusiasts Can Elevate Footwear
Adding personality to your formal attire – whilst staying professional – is what Style Enthusiasts do best. If this sounds like you, then you likely know a thing or two about balancing boldness with formality. But if not, we’re here to help elevate your footwear so that you might inspire others to match your personality.
Consider the following styles that incorporate patterns while staying professional:
Fortune Favors the Bold
Establishing a balance with your wardrobe is how you can effortlessly elevate footwear in professional settings. It could be as subtle as a pinstripe or a dollop of color, but when done correctly, it can enhance your personality without shining too bright a light on your desire to be noticed.
If you want to add more boldness to your formal attire and know how to match vibrant or textured socks with classic, modern, and semi-formal suits, you’ve come to the right place.
Finding Your Perfect Match
For help finding the perfect match, consider the following tips that can be utilized no matter the occasion or what type of formalwear you’re donning.
- The subtler the better. Don’t overdo it.
- Consider the occasion, and who will be attending.
- But don’t be afraid to take risks.
Some examples include matching burgundy socks with a navy suit or, for more pizazz, donning a gray suit with socks that have geometric patterns on them, which offers a subtle dose of texture without being too overtly funky.
Pushing the Boundaries with the Fashion Maverick
Dress socks have the potential to express creativity and personality – something the Fashion Maverick knows all too well. Whether you’re attending a work event or a family wedding, you want to use your socks to make a statement… to highlight what makes you unique and prove that you’re unafraid to take fashion risks.
Consider amplifying your fit with one of the following styles to showcase your true personality in formal settings:
Experimenting with Color & Texture
Colorful and patterned socks – like our Men’s Wild Life and Animal Haus styles – are bound to elicit feelings of fun and funk (and not the smelly kind). Combining avant-garde designs, textures, and colors are all bold choices that can enhance your formal attire if done well.
Not that there’s a playbook for how to dress well, but experimenting with color and texture are two ways to solidify your wanting to make a statement the moment you step foot into the room.
An Exploration into Non-Traditional Formal
Non-traditional formal – as the kids call it – is a fancy way of saying that you don’t adhere to traditional fashion norms. This modern, non-traditional approach to footwear is making waves in the fashion world as a way one can dress differently. It strays away from the cut-and-dry, black-and-white, formal approach of wearing dress socks the “right” way, offering a non-conventional alternative that focuses more on the intent to make a statement.
It could be as simple as a bold color choice or a funky pattern, but you – as the Fashion Maverick – are at liberty to decide. And luckily, we’re here to help. Consider the following tips to help amplify your style and find your inner-Maverick:
- No Shows give the illusion that you’re sockless, even though you’re not.
- Going bold with vibrant colors or patterns is sure to turn some heads.
- The funkier the dress sock, the funkier people will assume you are.
Practical Sock Basics for Every Man
Personality aside, every man must know how and when to wear dress socks. Regardless of your corporate status or managerial experience, it pays to have a general knowledge of how to style dress socks.
For starters, let’s recap our selection of dress socks based on primary factors to consider, starting with height.
The Highs & Lows of Dress Socks
No Show Dress Socks
Our shortest, lowest sock height is barely noticeable in formal dress shoes. This modern approach is best suited for summer or dressy casual events. Donning this look for more formal occasions is a bold choice, so make sure your suit pants are tailored properly to show off your ankles – and be prepared for the onslaught of questions from those who might not understand your choice.
Crew Dress Socks
Crew height socks are every man’s bread and butter, reaching just below mid-calf for ample protection and comfort. This height can be worn with just about any suit or formal outfit so long as you match properly and don’t allow your socks to scrunch up at the ankle (but if you’re wearing Darn Toughs that’ll never happen).
Mid-Calf Dress Socks
The second highest-reaching dress sock we knit for men, the Mid-Calf height is long enough to extend beyond, well, your mid-calf. It’s strong, supportive, and offers maximum protection in formal dress shoes, making it one of the ideal heights for colder occasions or long days on your feet.
Over-the-Calf Dress Socks
You won’t find any Over-the-Calf (OTC) socks in our Lifestyle collection; however, we do knit plain black knee-high Lightweight socks in our Tactical and Ski categories.
So, if you’d prefer something taller than Mid-Calf that pairs well with the most formal occasions (i.e. black-tie events), consider an OTC.
Fabric & Fit
Now that you’re an expert in sock heights, it’s time to consider sock fabric and fit. If you’ve made it this far and are a fan of our brand, you’ll know that we exclusively use one fabric – Merino Wool. This natural, moisture-wicking fabric is superior to all others (namely cotton and other synthetics) because of its innate ability to reduce odors and prevent hot spots and blisters.
From a thickness standpoint, we knit men’s dress socks both with and without cushion. Depending on how your body runs (i.e. hot or cold), we’ve got a dress sock for you.
If you’re dressing for a formal occasion in a colder, more unforgiving climate, we recommend opting for a cushioned sock option. This will help protect your piggies from the cold and offer more support if you’re, say, a groomsman at your best friend’s wedding. Or, if you’re seeking comfort during long travel to said wedding. And for men who sweat incessantly (like the author of this post), cushion underfoot means more Merino ready to help trap and get rid of moisture.
On the other hand (or should we say foot), non-cushioned socks are more breathable and lighter on your feet. Opting for a dress sock with no cushion is ideal for men who prefer a lightweight feel that doesn’t add extra bulk in dress shoes (that may or may not already be too tight). The key is to experiment with what works for you and for the occasion you’re dressing for.
When to Wear Dress Socks
Some men like wearing thinner dress socks at home for breathable, all-day comfort. And while that’s totally fine, we also understand that some men only wear them when they have to. If you fall into the latter category, here are some situations where dress socks are more or less essential, including but not limited to:
- Weddings
- Black-tie events
- Work/office meetings
- Job interviews
- Funerals
Basically, in any situation where you want to present a polished and professional appearance, you should be wearing dress socks. They’ll make you look good, sure. But what people won’t realize is how good you’ll feel wearing them.
Dressing for Specific Occasions
It’s simple, really – the better you look, the better you’ll feel. Whether you’re dining out or meeting your girlfriend’s parents for the first time, it helps to be grounded – and what better way to do so than with a fresh pair of Darn Tough dress socks?
If you’re still unsure how or when to wear them, consider these three occasions:
- Everyday professional settings – work, meetings, conferences, interviews, etc. The best dress socks for these are likely Crew or Mid-Calf in height and classic colors and patterns like black, navy blue, and stripes.
- Special events – weddings, galas, black-tie events, with a tuxedo, etc. Check the invite for the dress code, which for a wedding might range from casual to formal, but generally speaking, these are more formal events where you’ll want solid dress socks in a Mid-Calf height.
- Business travel – Merino Wool stays fresh for miles, packs light, and keeps your feet happy – not to mention, it requires doing less laundry (who doesn’t love that?). The sock height and color you choose to pack depend on what you’re traveling for, but any of our Merino Wool dress socks will be a solid pick for comfort and all-day wearability.
If you need more help, we’re putting together a recommendation list of the best socks for every occasion. It'll covers everything from interviews to weddings, highlighting which socks are best for each occasion — check back soon.
Caring for Your Dress Socks
Like any other piece of formal clothing you own, your dress socks require the same level of care. Not that you need to get them dry-cleaned (in fact, you shouldn’t), but as a man with a sense of style and fashionable fascination, we recommend the following tips to get the most out of your dress socks:
Sock Storage
The simplest way to fold and store your dress socks is to stack them on top of each other, folding once at the heel (and potentially once more if you have limited storage space). Doing so will keep your dress socks wrinkle-free and in good shape.
Plus, if you store them side-by-side, you’ll be able to quickly identify each pair (based on the color or style) without rummaging through your sock drawer like a madman.
Washing & Maintenance
To effectively wash your Merino Wool socks, first turn them inside out. Then, using a mild detergent with a neutral pH, wash them in cold water on a gentle cycle. Lastly, tumble dry your socks on low heat or, preferably, hang them to air dry.
Replacing Old Socks
Our socks are Guaranteed for Life, so if you ever need to replace a worn pair, we got you covered – simply fill out the form on our website and we’ll hook you up with a fresh pair free of charge.
And if you’re wondering how many pairs of dress socks the average man should own, we recommend having at least a week’s worth of dress socks – or 6-7 pairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still have questions regarding dress socks and how to wear them, we took the liberty of answering some of our most frequently asked questions for you below.
Q: Should dress socks match pants or shoes?
A: Your dress socks should match your pants over your shoes, per classic men’s formalwear rules. Doing so creates the illusion that your legs are longer, enhancing style overall and offering a more streamlined, continuous look that people will notice.
Q: What are the different types of dress socks?
A: Dress socks come in several styles, including classic solid colors, patterned socks, and funky designs – all of which come in various heights. The most common height is Crew, but we also knit dress socks in No Show and Mid-Calf heights.
Q: How many dress socks should a man own?
A: A well-dressed man (assuming everyone reading this knows or is one) should own at least a week’s worth of quality dress socks – approximately 6-7 pairs. Having this many ensures variability while limiting wear and tear, not to mention saving you loads of laundry.
Q: What makes a sock a “dress sock”?
A: A dress sock is typically thinner by design and knit to fit formal dress shoes without causing blisters or hot spots. They often feature subtle geometric patterns or stripes that can complement suits and other modern formalwear.
Q: Why are men’s dress socks so thin?
A: We knit our dress socks thin – with and without cushion – using breathable, moisture-wicking Merino Wool for all-day comfort and long-lasting durability. The thinner the dress sock, the better they’ll fit formal shoes without being bulky.
Q: Do dress socks make a difference in comfort or style?
A: Finely knit dress socks (like the ones we make) are designed to enhance both comfort and style without adding too much bulk. Our Merino Wool dress socks naturally wick moisture, prevent blisters, and add style to any outfit – formal or otherwise.
Q: What is the rule of thumb for dress socks?
A: The key rule of thumb for styling dress socks is to choose a pair that matches your pants and covers, at the very least, your calf (no skin should show between your sock cuff and pants, even when seated). You should also avoid wearing white dress socks and opt instead for darker, more neutral tones.
Q: What socks should I wear with formal shoes?
A: With formal shoes, we recommend wearing a high-quality, breathable dress sock made from Merino Wool. Thin socks in dark or neutral colors add comfort and durability while keeping things light, adding elegance to any and all formal attire.
Where Will Your Dress Socks Take You?
If you’re in the market to enhance your wardrobe and add comfort (and confidence) to your sock drawer, we’ve got a dress sock for you. Whether you’re a Corporate Professional, Style Enthusiast, or Fashion Maverick, Darn Tough Vermont offers premium dress sock options for every man and every occasion – Guaranteed for Life.
We hope this information has been valuable, and we hope your experience finding the right dress sock is as enjoyable as it was for us to write this post. Explore our entire collection of men’s dress socks online or visit your local retailer and ask them if they carry Darn Tough Lifestyle socks for men.
And remember, always dress to impress.
