Casual Interest in Textured Socks Shifts Past Neutral

Socks are usually the afterthought of a guy’s wardrobe. Lots of men pull out the first available pair in the drawer--usually white athletic socks--to wear with a casual outfit. But if you want to make your socks part of the outfit rather than a forgotten accessory, there’s a wide selection to choose from.

“Textured socks have become popular for casual wear,” says Matt Blanchard of Polo Country Store in Costa Mesa. “They have stripes or a knit pattern that adds some style to what you’re wearing.”

Bill Snyder of Posh Gentlemen’s Clothing in Newport Beach says, “For spring and summer, a lot of guys are choosing a linen and cotton blend. They’re available in patterns, which makes them popular for casual wear.”

There’s nothing really outrageous about these new socks. They’re basically casual socks made a little dressier. “We’re seeing lots of textures in the lighter colors, which makes them more appealing,” Blanchard says.

Light-colored socks other than the athletic crew variety often spend long, lonely lives in the sock drawer, because there’s often confusion over when men can wear socks that aren’t blue, black or brown.

“We’re seeing more flax socks, which are oatmeal colored and have multiple shades weaved into them,” Blanchard says. “They go with everything whether you’re wearing light or dark pants, and they won’t stand out (like) a pair of blinding white socks (will).”

For those not be interested in multicolored footwear, there are fashionable alternatives.

“I’d go with a textured solid,” Blanchard says. “There are more colors than you’d find in a rainbow and in lots of different patterns.”

Says Snyder: “It’s the basic navy and black colors that seem to be the most popular, but olive, tan and gray are also a good choice at this time of year.”

The old rule about matching your socks with your outfit is becoming flexible. While you don’t want them to clash, they don’t have to be equal.

“If a guy has olive or khaki slacks, he might want to get a sock that’s a shade lighter that has a pin-stripe or some other pattern with a color that comes close to matching the pant,” Blanchard says.

“You want to tie it in a little with your pants and shoes,” Snyder says. “But there’s some leeway there, and we’re seeing a lot of men who are looking for non-traditional matches, such as finding socks that match a bright, yellow tie.”