The first question everyone asks about over-the-calf socks is: Are they not too hot? No, the difference in heat is pretty tiny for a couple of inches of wool/cotton/blend, and the difference in style is immeasurable. Shorter socks don’t stay up; they always fall down, they always bunch, and that is not a good look with a finely pressed suit in rather fine worsted.
On some days however, such as the past three in London, they are certainly too hot. Even fine cottons, even a silk mix, even a linen mix like the pair I recently bought from my friends at the Dandy Store. On those days, it is better to go with no socks at all.
Not, it should be noted, with the fine worsted. Bare ankles are not appropriate for business. But then, when conducting business one is usually in air conditioning and heat is less of an issue.
In every other circumstance, loafers and slip-ons work well without socks. It is advisable to change at some point during the day, to help with any odour. Suede is preferable to leather in a lace-up; unlined shoes are particularly comfortable. If you must, wear a slipper sock that sits inside the shoe. But make sure it remains hidden.
With cotton suits, with chinos, sockless slip-ons are stylish and surprisingly cool. A lot of blood runs near the surface of your ankles.
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Every now and then I will not wear a pair of socks. Especially during the summer. It just seems so fitting.
ReplyDeleteRashon aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting
Lovely look
ReplyDeleteWould have gone for a button-down shirt though for a tad more casual look
Brgds
This is something I just can't do. It's not about being a traditionalist, I simply can't stand the look and feel of it. It looks hipsterish and foolish.
ReplyDeleteOn my only ever holiday to South America it was really scorching and I wore no socks, but I don't think there's ever a reason to wear no socks when wearing long trousers is still tolerable. If it was so hot that I was forced to wear shorts then okay, but otherwise I'm not doing it.
Great photo, is that yourself Simon?
ReplyDeleteI always place a pair of Odor Eater inserts into the shoes that I wear sockless. I purchase several pair every spring so that I have enough extras to replace any that start looking worn or soiled all through the warm season. I also use a little foot powder before going sockless and put cedar shoe trees into my shoes after wearing, and the result is I never have any noticeable foot odor or stinky shoes ever.
ReplyDeleteNo, not me - though I do have a navy cotton suit just like that in the works.
ReplyDeleteSimon
I do believe 'Not sock' only work if you are Italian... I pass, certainly, socked 100% when in town.
ReplyDeletethe fact that you are having a conversation about no socks with a suit and loafers is super gay. preppy or both.... Sorry, I am hater, and by gay I mean no disrespect to homosexuals.
ReplyDeleteMay I enquire as to who you have commissioned the cotton suit from Simon?
ReplyDeleteSure - Choppin & Lodge, an old name that used to be part of Graham Browne, recently started up again by Richard Wainwright (ex-Huntsman front of house) and Paul Wilkinson, both of them friends and currently sharing premises with Russell and Dan at Graham Browne. Similar cutters and tailors, but I think a different aesthetic. Report coming in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteSimon
@Anonymous 27 April 2011 07:45:
ReplyDeleteNo disrespect taken, philistine.
To be more exact and prescriptive :
ReplyDeleteThe more formal the attire the less acceptable short socks are.
Socks in navy, black or grey to be worn with suits, regardless of material, should not be short. Point finale.
It can be equally unattractive to see calf when sporting seersucker or linen ( suit, of course ) but if the sock in question is a cotton voile in aqua or lime one can be forgiven in July for not wearing over the calf.
one part vodka to 3 parts water sprayed in the shoe, lightly mind you, clears up any odor.
ReplyDeleteI do it every summer and always with a suit. I get questioned about it all the time and just say it's comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI never wear socks in the summer unless I wear a black suit
ReplyDeleteSimon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for an excellent blog.
I just wanted to share with you my disappointment with the Gamarelli socks. I love the story of them and promptly ordered four paris(blacks, cotton). I ordered size 11, they came in size 12. I can live with that.
The probelem is they breathe badly. Perhaps worse than regular supermarket socks and definately worse than off-the-shelf The Gap socks.
This might just be me (or my feet, rather) but I think the cotton-elastane (or similar artificial non-breathable material) mix is way off.
Any advice on other brands that in your experience are very breathable?
Once again thanks for all the work. I had your camel hair DB coat copied with great success in Jakarta and have indulged myself at Drake's on your recommendation.
Best
Ian
I think that wearing shoes with no socks (and riding bicycles with no breaks, baking your own sourdough bread etc) is perfectly acceptable, even commendable, if you are a hipster living in Williamsburg, New York or Södermalm, Stockholm.
ReplyDelete/Fredrick