Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette!
Today's video is all about men's dress socks.
We discuss what a quality dress sock looks like, what it's not, and anything else you
wanted to know about this.
First, let's start with sock history.
In ancient times, hunters would skin animals and put their skin under feet to protect them
from elements.
In medieval times, socks were truly a luxury item and only reserved for the top 0.1% of
population.
During the 17th century, socks became affordable for regular families but of course, they could
only afford the rough, homespun yarn, woolen socks whereas the aristocracy would have fine
silk or cotton socks.
If you want to learn more about the truly interesting history of socks, please check
out our in-depth guide on our website, here.
Initially, socks were knitted by hand but with mechanization, socks started to be knitted
on machines.
First, socks were actually knitted on a machine that was flat, once the knitting process was
finished, it was put onto a wooden foam such as here then it was sewn together and that's
why you sometimes see these seams in the back of socks in old movies because it was purely
functional.
In fact, the Cri de la Soie knit ties we offer from Fort Belvedere are knitted on old sock
machines that were repurposed to be used with silk and so you create these knit ties.
Over time, somebody had the idea to create a round knitting machine so socks wouldn't
have the seam that could be uncomfortable.
Initially, it only had 72 needles but over time, machines got more and more refined and
today, the finest machines have 280 needles, this results into an extremely fine sock and
when you use yarns like silk and cotton, you get this sheer look that is one of a kind
and simply the finest sock in the world.
If you're into this kind of stuff or if you want a nice black tie sock, you can check
it out in our shop here.
So, how do you know what a good dress sock is?
Basically, it comes down to five different hallmarks.
One, it's really important that your dress sock stays up at all times.
The number one reason for a sock to stay up is its length.
It simply needs to be over the calf.
If it's like mid-calf or a little shorter or ankle length or even shorter, it simply
won;t work and will slide down.
The other aspect you want to pay attention to is the elastic.
You want it to be long and not just slim because otherwise, it may constrict your blood flow
and wear uncomfortably.
So, always make sure to have a long elastic on over the calf sock.
It also helps to avoid all kinds of gimmicks such as sock suspenders or braces.
Some of them are actually connected to your shirt and to your socks and it's inside your
pants so when you sit, or simply when you walk and you feel it, it's uncomfortable and
you can see it through your pants.
At the end of the day, all these gimmicks are only necessary if you have sliding socks
that are not the right length and not made of the right materials therefore, solve the
problem at the source, get a quality pair of socks and never bother about all these
other gimmicks and tools again.
It's important to go with natural fibers, ideally, hundred percent natural fiber blends
such as cotton, wool, silk or cashmere, simply because these fibers absorb moisture more
than nylon or any other artificial fibers and they make you sweat less.
A high-quality material also feels very comfortable on your skin and it will last for a while.
In areas such as the elastic on top, you need artificial materials because there's just
no elastic natural material that would work well.
Also, in your heel, where socks wear the most, you want some elastic material as well as
in the toe area.
Other than that, stay clear of blended socks.
Sometimes, you will see that sock manufacturers only use 20%, 30%, 40% of natural materials
and all artificial materials because they try to cut down on sizes.
They may just offer medium and large or small, medium and large or maybe the one size fits
it all.
If you have a foot in size 6, you'll need a different sock than somebody who has size
13, that's simply unavoidable,therefore, when you buy over the calf socks, it is important
that you get the size that is made for your foot.
Most men aren't even aware that you can buy socks in several sizes but once you've worn
a pair that is actually the right size of your foot, you never go back.
That is why we offer 4 sizes at Fort Belvedere that cover 98% of all men.
To check out what size is right for you, please go to our website and look at the size chart.
A dress sock is meant to be worn with suits, combinations, tuxedos or white tie outfits
and as such, you want it to be elegant and thin.
You don't want a hand knit sock that's very thick and rough that may be great for casual
events or when you go hunting or in cold winters when you wear breaches but for a suit, you
want a thin, elegant material, that means, it was knitted in a machine with a high number
of needles such as 200 needles, 240 and 280.
When socks were knitted on a circular machine, they still had one issue which was the open
area around the toe that had to be closed either by machine or by hand.
The problem with machine kettling was that it actually left a thicker area and you could
feel it in your toe which was uncomfortable that's why hand kettling is really the best,
quality finish you can get and the most comfortable.
At the same time, it's the most expensive and because it requires hand labor and a skilled
workforce.
Lately, machines have come up that can also finish it in one knitting process and whenever
you have a sock, make sure you go over this area and just feel.
If it's flat, then it will be uncomfortable, if it's bulky like on your tennis socks, you'll
always feel it on your toe.
So once you know what a quality pair of dress socks looks like, you have to think about
how to combine them.
As a general rule, you'd always match them to your pants or your trousers.
Never to your shoe.
That's just the main, basic rule but beyond that, there are a lot more ways that you can
match your socks and a proper way, so stay tuned for other video about how to match dress
socks with pants and your outfit.
We'll discuss what colors of socks you have, what shoe colors you can use and how you make
it all work in your outfit so you look your best.
Next up, let's talk about sock etiquette.
So when in doubt, simply wear black socks that match your pants for formal and semi-formal
events.
Never wear athletic socks with business attire, they're usually short and even if they're
long, they have a high amount of polyester and they just don't go with the fineness and
the elegance of the suit that includes black, they just look awful with a suit.
Of course, you should always avoid wearing socks that have holes or loose threads in
them so check them every once in a while because otherwise, it looks quite sloppy.
Depending on where you live or who you visit, you never know when you have to take your
shoes off and it can be quite embarrassing to have worn dirty socks with holes in them.
Make sure to file your heels so you don't have any calluses and to clip and file your
toenails because that way, your socks will last longer.
Your left sock and your right sock should always be worn the same color, never mix and
match, it just looks like a clown.
Now that you know, everything you need to know about dress socks, stay tuned for our
video about how to match them with shoes and pants.
If you wonder where you can get a high quality pair of dress socks or even multiple ones,
in different colors such as burgundy with a shadow stripe, simply darker colors, please
check out our shop where we really focus on providing you with the highest quality material,
luxury dress socks that you can find in the market today.
Seriously, I mean that.
I was always unhappy with socks and they never stayed up and if they did in the beginning,
they slip down after a while, I've had mine for years and they're still in perfect shape.
Don't just take my word for it, please check out the reviews on our website.
Simply click here to get to our shop and check out or sock selection.