All Types Of Socks For Men By Style, Length & Purpose
Socks come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Finding the right sock that matches your needs and, your outfit all while being comfortable as well can take a lifetime.
But once you find what you're looking for you'll never want anything else, let's have a look at what makes a sock the right sock and find the right sock for you.
Types Of Sock Styles
The style of a sock determines its purpose, simple and elegant socks are the perfect match for your formal outfit.
While more sophisticated socks with all kinds of different fabrics and technological advancements can provide you with the perfect support during your athletic endeavors or perhaps providing that warm and cozy feeling while you're at home lying down on your couch.
We'll make a distinction between three different styles of socks, being: dress socks, casual socks, and sports socks.
Dress Socks
A pair of dress socks is the perfect match for your suit or your smart casual outfit. They are designed not to distract or interfere with the rest of your outfit.
Dress socks can be found in a variety of lengths ranging from mid-calf all the way to over the knee. Using the right length will prevent your socks from falling down during the day and starting to bunch up your pants.
What Are Dress Socks Made Of
In general dress socks will be made from thin fabric and provide no additional support or cushioning. This ensures a perfect fit with your dress shoes, so make sure you wear dress socks when you go out to buy new dress shoes!
Most dress socks will be made from natural blends ranging from cashmere in the upper range to wool and cotton in the lower price ranges.
In recent years more and more synthetics have started to make their ways into dress socks, while these can provide some benefits, dress socks containing more than 10% synthetic material are best avoided.
Dress Socks Colors
Traditionally dress socks were just meant to complement your suit our outfit, with muted and darker solid colors, however in recent years more vibrant dress socks have been used to provide a color accent to an outfit.
When choosing a color as an accent, make sure not to go overboard, your socks should never distract from the rest of your outfit but should only provide a pleasant surprise when your outfit is studied more thoroughly.
If you're more of a traditionalist make sure your dress socks are the same color as your pants and at least one shade darker. When in doubt, black or navy blue socks are never wrong!
Casual Socks
A pair of casual socks can be anything you want it to be, be it a warm and padded sock to wander around in your home on a cold winter day. Or a sock with images of your pet or favorite fruit.
Casual socks tend to have a crew cut length, although on the warmer days ankle socks are also a possibility.
Natural fabrics usually make for a more comfortable sock, although they can also come with rubber padding providing extra grip.
Sports Socks
Sports socks are made with specific (athletic) activities in mind. There are socks specifically made for running, cycling, skiing, you name it.
Using all sorts of fabrics and synthetic materials these socks provide the support or grip needed to perform at peak level.
All while providing the best comfort and cooling. There are even socks that provide compression for the best recovery after exercising.
Types Of Sock Lengths
Socks can really be any length, there are socks that only cover your toes and those that go up so high you might as well start calling them pants.
However, sock cuts for men are a bit more limited. Here we'll explain which sock lengths there are, how they are called and when they are to be used.
You can reference the chart below to look for sock height names, for example, what are long socks called or whichever type of sock length you are looking for!
No-show Socks
Low cut or no-show socks are designed to free up your lower legs during warmer days while still providing protection for your feet.
Unlike ankle socks no-show socks are cut so low that they are invisible and thus provide a perfect sock-less look while avoiding sweaty feet or blisters.
Ankle Socks
Do what it says, cut off around the ankle, opposed to no-show or low-cut socks that cut of just below the ankle these protect better against blisters around your Achilles' heel.
Ankle socks are a perfect during hiking or activities, where looks are less important than the health of your feet. While still providing the cooling of your lower legs that crew socks don't.
Quarter Crew Socks
| Quarter Crew Socks | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3" above the ankle |
| Suitable for | Hiking, or high cut boots |
Quarter or mid-crew socks cut of around 3" above the ankle, and, if worn incorrectly, aren't the best look.
However, they do have there use and are a perfect match for high cut hiking boots where protection and support for your feet are essential, as unlike ankle socks quarter socks also protect the skin above your ankles from blisters.
This way you keep the amount of sock running up your shin to a minimum and stay literally and figuratively cool.
Crew Socks
| Crew Socks | |
|---|---|
| Length | 6" above the ankle |
| Suitable for | Sports activities, informal attire |
A crew length sock is commonly referred to as a sports or athletic sock. Unlike dress socks they tend to be made of a thicker material that allows for more sweat absorption and provides more grip.
During the colder seasons their higher cut provides more warmth than ankle socks.
They are available in all sorts of colors although most popularly they are either white, black or gray, often sporting a stripe or brand logo just under the cut.
Crew socks can be worn as either casual or during sporting activities.
Why Are Crew Socks Called Crew Socks
In the early to mid 20th century the US Navy went looking for the right sock length that would provide their 'crew' with enough support during their work day without falling down their legs.
They developed a sock, originally made from wool, that provided a tight fit and cut off just below the calf, the 'crew cut'. Ever since the name stuck.
How Long Is A Crew Sock
A crew socks cuts just under the calf, generally around 6" above the ankle.
Mid-calf Socks
Mid-calf tends to be the length of most dress socks, however, for those of us with more defined calves mid-calf socks can fall down pretty easily.
Although all socks will fall down some, if it provides problems for you, you might want to look into over the calf or even over the knee-length socks.
Over The Calf Socks
Over the calf socks cut of above the calf and just under the knee, this is the ideal length for dress socks for those with more defined calves, because, unlike crew and mid-calf length socks, the socks are held up by your calves.
Next to their ability to stay up they can also provide extra comfort and warmth during winter, therefore, if worn during summer make sure to buy socks with fine fabrics that can help keep cool during hotter days.
Over The Knee Socks
If over the calf doesn't work for you there are always over the knee socks, these cut of well above the knee and provide just that bit more support and resistance and falling down your leg.
Can Guys Wear Knee-high Socks
Wear what is comfortable for you, it is about what you look like with pants on, so if knee-high is best for you go ahead and do it!
What Things To Use To Hold Your Socks Up
When socks fall down your suit pants will start to bunch up therefor it is important to prevent your socks from falling down unnecessarily by choosing the right sock length and ensuring the right fit.
However, if longer socks are somehow not an option for you or your socks fall down regardless you might want to look into sock garters to help keep things up.
Sock Garters
Sock garters are like suspenders for your socks, they are clamped just above the calf and then clipped to your socks. This way they prevent your socks from falling down during the day, ensure your look stays clean.
