Sock it! To Sock or Not to Sock, That is the Question! (Men's Fashion Tip Series, Part 3) by Salvador de Lara Belisario V, M.A. If this title doesn’t get your attention, not many will! Although socks are a small part of your wardrobe, it can make or break your entire ensemble. There are few simple rules about socks enumerated below in random order: 1) To sock or not to sock; that is the question! Men wearing leather dress shoes with NO socks! Really? I understand you’ve seen them on designer print ad campaigns and/or runways, and I previously suggested getting tips thru these media, but you do NOT always have to emulate everything you see! Practicality and common sense still need to be considered. The “no socks” fad may be the “norm” in certain regions, but not in mine. Just because Zegna or Armani style their models a certain way by not putting socks on them doesn’t mean we have to agree; they are, after all, just mortals like you and I. Case in point: just because Mohawk hairstyle is “in,” it doesn’t mean, we, too, should look like roosters or show horses in heat…fads are NEVER for everybody! I happen to believe that socks were invented for a reason: to minimize excessive sweating, add comfort, and keep your feet warm and clean(er.) If you take a poll in the U.S., I’m willing to bet that vast majority of people, especially women, will agree that men should wear socks when wearing leather shoes…it’s required in most professional jobs and of course, the hygiene factor is paramount. Sure, some more casual footwear would look funny with socks on (Espadrilles, driving shoes, top-siders), but that’s why I rarely wear them. Show me a man whose feet don’t sweat excessively and who can keep fresh smelling feet in any shoes without wearing socks…it’d be rare feat, pun intended! 2) Shorts, sandals and socks! Unless you’re 90, retired and could care less about anyone’s opinion, then do NOT wear socks with your sandals! It’s also a rare occasion that you’d be wearing shorts (cargo, casual, surf, beach type) with socks because most of the time (hopefully), you’d be wearing sandals, flip flops or casual footwear. Don’t even mention dress shorts, either, unless you’re referring to the 80s! Shorts and sandals = no socks; exception would be athletic activities when you should wear ankle socks with shorts. 3) Now, the old age question: do your match your sock color to your pants or shoes? There are differing opinions about this conundrum. Some will answer with “shoes,” but more will probably answer with “pants.” I’m going against the grain on this one. In my humble opinion, your socks are an extension of your shoes and/or feet, so in essence, they should match or compliment your footwear, and not necessarily your pant color. Picture this: Navy suit, with black belt and shoes. Which do you think will look better on, dark blue or black socks? Bottom line is, look in the mirror and judge for yourself or ask a fashion sensible person’s opinion when in doubt. 4) Keep them fresh, clean and hole-free. Whatever you do, you must put on a fresh pair of socks EVERYDAY, and when I say fresh, I don’t mean those that were hung to air with the intention of wearing them again. I mean, freshly laundered and bone dry! Never wear a pair of socks more than once without washing them…that’s just plain wrong and disgusting! Keep you sock drawer pretty full and constantly replenish the ones with holes, worn-out soles and elastic bands to minimize embarrassing moments. You’ll never know when occasions require that you take off your shoes (visiting an Asian household, going thru airport security or getting examined at your doctor’s office.) 5) Dress white socks are not as pure. Hopefully you don’t own a pair. Unless you’re a male nurse or it’s a required part of your uniform, I don’t know many men who own a white pair of leather shoes, hence talking about white dress socks seems irrelevant. There are always exceptions when it comes to fashion, of course with rubber/tennis shoes, the typical white sports socks are the go-to pair. 6) Multi-colored, crazy prints, novelty socks. Okay to wear them in the comforts of your home to keep your feet warm, but they are called novelty for a reason. They are usually meant as funny and/or gag gifts. Would you seriously consider a job applicant if you see Tweety Bird, Mickey Mouse or all the rainbow colors in his socks when he crosses his legs? I doubt it! It’s no secret that a lot of men break these simple rules on a daily basis, but you don’t have to. Now that you’re armed with a little bit of sock knowledge and etiquette, hopefully it will guide your future decisions concerning socks and footwear! --------------------- Disclaimer: this series is merely a personal opinion so take it for what it’s worth. It's not meant to offend anyone or be treated as gospel truth. At the end of the day, YOU have the final say about what you wear and the image you want to project. Many factors affect the do’s and don’ts in men’s fashion (geographical location, seasonal changes, personality types and field of work, to name a few) so not everything I opine about may work for you. I did not attend the Fashion Academy, do not hold a fashion degree nor do I claim to be an expert…just your average guy who apparently has a knack for fashion and an eagle eye for faux pas (or at least that’s what I’ve been repeatedly told all my life) so just paying it forward with some encouragement and positive feedback from a handful of friends after recently posting my published article...thanks for reading! :)