The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
The Insider Pick:
When it comes to traditional menswear, dress socks aren't exactly the most exciting topic to read about. But if you want to upgrade your style, then your sock game needs to be on point. The wrong socks can spoil an otherwise great outfit, and worse, poor socks can make your feet sweaty and uncomfortable, slide down your leg, and pool around your ankles, looking and feeling like a mess.
You likely already have some cheap dress socks in your closet, and if you're like most guys, you probably defaulted to black one. There's a good chance that they're not made of great materials, either. Attention to detail is one of the main principles of traditional menswear, as it's little things like your choice of necktie or pocket square that can make your break an outfit.
Your dress sock are no exception to this rule. If it's time to upgrade, then read on, keeping in mind these two basic rules for dress sock shopping: Avoid socks made from 100% synthetic fabrics and invest in well-crafted pairs that fit your feet and stay up properly. That pretty much rules out most of what you're likely to find at your local department store.
But don't despair: To give your sartorial flair a leg up, we've picked out five pairs of dress socks that we think every man should have in his drawer, from timeless solid-colored classics to some more colorful pairs to wear when you're feeling bold.
Here are the best men's dress socks you can buy:
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks
The best dress socks overall
Why you'll love them: Crafted in England of fine merino wool, the Turnbull and Asser over-the-calf dress socks are fit for a prince — literally — and they're worth every penny.
Whether you're buying your first nice suit or you're just starting to fill out your dress sock drawer, the basic rules of menswear always apply: Keep it simple, keep it solid, and invest in quality, as you're going to be wearing these staples a lot. Solid-colored basics are easily the most versatile clothes in your closet and will continue to get the most play well after you've built up a rotation that incorporates brighter colors and bolder patterns.
For most environments and occasions, you simply can't beat classic "workhorse" colors like navy blue and charcoal gray, because these two shades play nicely with almost everything in your closet. Our pick for the best solid dress socks money can buy come from Turnbull and Asser, a historic English menswear brand that holds a royal warrant from the British crown.
The socks, available in navy and charcoal as well as a number of other colors, are made in England from a blend of fine merino wool and nylon. The merino is warm yet breathable, while both the wool and the nylon are better at wicking moisture away from your feet than other common fabrics like cotton. The nylon adds some durability to the merino, too, and the hand-finished toes are seamless, giving them a better shape and fit over your feet compared to cheaply made machine-stitched socks.
When it comes to dress socks, I recommend keeping it over the calf for your workhorse pairs, for the simple reason that they will stay up better as you wear them throughout your busy day. Another nice touch regarding fit is that Turnbull and Asser offers these socks in a number of different sizes.
They're fairly costly at $45, but if you want the best, then Turnbull and Asser's socks are it. Do yourself a favor and treat your feet to at least one pair. These dress socks are fit for a prince — rather literally, in fact, given that the brand's royal warrant was granted by Prince Charles.
Pros: Made in England, merino wool is warm yet breathable and wicks moisture away from your feet, over-the-calf length is great for all-day wear, available in a wide variety of colors, and the seamless toe provides a proper fit and extra comfort
Cons: Fairly expensive at $45 a pair
The best patterned dress socks
In the world of patterned dress socks, argyle remains king. Your grandfather wore it, your dad wore it, and you should wear it. Unlike some other old-school patterns like paisley (which guys seem to either love or hate), argyle has stubbornly stood the test of time — at least for dress socks, if not for larger clothing items like sweaters. These ones, from the historic American menswear brand Brooks Brothers, hit that old-school style nail right on the head.
Argyle is a subtle and conservative way to add some color and character to your dressier outfits, the diagonal pattern slightly breaks up the sleek vertical lines of your suit without being distracting, and it generally doesn't clash with vertically or horizontally oriented patterns like stripes or plaid.
The Brooks Brothers argyle dress socks are made in England of merino wool and nylon, which is a very popular blend for sock fabric owing to the breathability and moisture-wicking properties of the materials. This stands in contrast to textiles like cotton which tend to absorb sweat instead of move it away from your foot for evaporation.
Brooks Brothers offers these socks in a variety of different colors with enough choices to pair with just about any suits or pants you own. Matching argyle to your outfit is pretty straightforward: Keep the sock's primary shade in the same family as that of your trousers, and use the other colors in the sock to complement your shirt, tie, or pocket square if you want to.
Pros: Made in England, nice blend of merino wool and nylon, the argyle pattern is timeless and versatile, and the socks are available in a number of colors
Cons: Unavailable in over-the-calf length, and no individual sizing
The best lightweight dress socks for spring and summer
Why you'll love them: A unique cotton-linen blend makes these American-made dress socks the perfect choice for staying cool while you're rocking your spring and summer suits.
One of the biggest challenges men who wear suits face is how to stay cool in the summer without sacrificing style. To solve this problem, many men favor lighter fabrics, ditching the heavier wools and all-cotton clothing in favor of more breathable weaves like linen and linen blends.
U.S.-based clothing brand American Trench has high-quality, well-priced, and fully American-made cotton-linen dress socks that will keep your feet cool even on hot days.
American Trench makes socks at its factory in Reading, Pennsylvania. These socks are knitted from linen and Egyptian cotton yarn that was originally spun in Italy. The linen imparts lightness and breathability to the cotton fabric, while the linen and nylon render moisture-wicking properties to the socks. The cotton is there to add body to the linen and the nylon also offers extra durability and "cling" to better hug your leg.
This unique fabric blend is what sets the American Trench cotton-linen dress socks apart from the sea of wool and all-cotton socks and makes them a superior alternative to these for warm weather wear. The light pastel colors also pair beautifully with those brighter shades, like ivory and khaki, that characterize your lightweight summer suits.
Pros: Made in the United States of Italian-blended yarn, the cotton and linen fabric is lightweight and breathable, and the lighter colors are perfect for summer suiting
Cons: Limited color availability for over-the-calf length socks, and no individual sizing
See the rest of the story at Business Insider