7 Common Fashion Mistakes You May Be Making With Your Socks
If you consider yourself to be a snappy dresser, you should know that socks are an important part of any outfit. Whether you’re a stickler for the rules or like to do your own thing, it’s important not to overlook these pieces in your wardrobe. If you want to learn about some of the most common mistakes when it comes to wearing socks, here are a few to keep in mind:
Exposed Skin
When it comes to socks, longer is definitely better. That’s because wearing socks that are too short will end up showing off your ankles or legs. This can result in a sloppy and unprofessional look, especially if you’re wearing corporate attire or formal wear.
Fortunately, you can look more put together by wearing longer socks. That way, you can keep your legs covered even if your pant legs hike up each time you sit down. Over the calf socks for men are a great no-fail option, as they offer the appropriate length whether you’re wearing cropped or cuffed pants.
Not Wearing Dressy Socks with Dress Shoes
Dress shoes were designed to be worn with dressy socks for a reason: any other type of sock will cause said shoes to look deformed.
Sports socks, for example, feature a ribbed design and are usually made of thicker cotton to provide support during sport or exercise activities. But when you pair them with dress shoes, sports socks are likely to bunch over the shoes. Additionally, the socks’ thicker fabric can cause the shoes to expand in an unsightly way, making it appear as if your feet are swollen underneath.
To save yourself from committing this fashion faux pas, keep four to five pairs of dressy socks in your wardrobe. This will ensure that you always have the right kind of socks on hand when you need to dress up for work or special occasions.
Owning Only White Socks
Unless you’re a Michael Jackson impersonator, there’s no reason why all your socks have to be white. After all, they’re not that versatile and are rather boring to look at. To make matters worse, some people associate white socks with school uniforms, which is the last thing you want people to think when they lay eyes on your outfit.
Fortunately, fun-colored statement socks are becoming popular again. Done properly, your socks can become the highlight of your outfit. If you don’t have a pair or two of these striking pieces in your wardrobe, you’re missing out on some potentially interesting outfits.
Color Coordination Mistakes
As a rule of thumb, your socks should match your pants, not your shoes. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your socks and pants have to be exactly the same color. However, they should come in colors that complement each other.
This is because color-coordinating your socks and pants creates a nice contrast against your shoes. Additionally, this style hack can also create the illusion of elongated legs, making you look taller.
Rolling or Bunching Up Your Socks
If you wear jeans and slacks often, you should always be wearing your socks pulled straight up. Otherwise, rolling or bunching up your sucks creates unnecessary bulk on your legs and ankles. This can make your pants look unflattering, especially if you’re wearing something with a slimmer fit.
More importantly, rolled up or bunched socks are more suitable for young boys and girls. By comparison, pulling them straight up makes you look more polished and grown-up.
Mismatched Socks
Unless you’re wearing pants that are long enough to completely cover up your legs, putting on mismatched socks just makes you look sloppy. By the same token, wearing matching socks will always make you look more professional and put-together.
Hence, when organizing your laundry, make it a point to group all your socks in pairs. That way, you can easily grab a matching pair whenever you’re getting ready every morning.
Skipping Socks Altogether
Wearing socks with any type of closed shoe isn’t just a fashion rule for aesthetic purposes; it’s also for the sake of good hygiene. That’s because socks can prevent your shoes from harboring bacteria and smelling horrible as a result. Additionally, socks keep your feet dry, decreasing your risks of developing conditions such as athlete’s foot.
If you want to go for the bare-ankle look while wearing closed shoes, opt for no-show socks instead. That way, you can still go for the sockless aesthetic while keeping your feet clean and healthy.
It can be hard to make sense of how to wear socks properly, especially since it’s considered a staple in any dapper man’s wardrobe. That being said, we hope that the information above has helped you identify any styling mistakes you may have been making without realizing it. Just keep these reminders in mind so that you know exactly how to incorporate socks into your outfits without committing any more faux pas in the future.
