Fashion advice: Is it okay for men to not wear socks in the office? And how can women nail the sock

May 22, 2023

Knock your colleagues’ socks off by nailing the sock-to-shoe combination with ease and flair.

Question | I’m confused about socks. It seems trivial, but I am at my wit's end: I see so many men now wearing loafers and dress shoes, without any socks to speak of. Am I crazy, or does this look dreadful? – Pull Up Your Socks

Dear Pull Up Your Socks

I hear you! First, these matters are not trivial. Just last month a debate erupted about footwear in the Oval Office, when fashion journalist Derek Guy called out politicians for not wearing dress shoes to visit President Joe Biden. These included Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York who wore Cole Haan Grand Crosscourt II sneakers. It was a display of disrespect, argued Guy. Never mind the debt ceiling – the real issue here is the lack of leather footwear worn to the White House. (I jest, of course. What we wear is a sign of respect. And for the record, I happen to agree with Guy.)

As for socks in the office, I understand your predicament.

Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, (foreground) conspicuous in his sneakers in the Oval Office of the White House in May.

The rules seem to have changed about a decade or so ago, when suddenly socks for men became optional. Please allow me to disabuse you of this notion: they are not. Socks are very much non-negotiable, and showing one's ankles at the office is, like wearing sneakers to meet the President, unprofessional. There is something unfinished about men wearing shoes without socks, as if you’re half-dressed. For me, it's like putting a shirt on without buttoning it up: you have not completed the task at hand.

Actor Andrew Reynolds, socks MIA. Getty

Opt for a thin-knit sock in merino wool for the most comfortable fit. Natural fibres like wool will naturally wick away moisture and keep your feet feeling fresh in a way that sockless feet never will. Socks are not, after all, simply about the look – they help to prevent blisters, athlete's foot and fungal infections, which are decidedly not stylish. So, a big yes to socks, thanks.

Socks done right. Getty

For women, whose footwear choices are wider, and who have long shown ankle at the office, I think it's fine to go sockless. That being said, if you’d like to keep your ankles warmer in winter, yes, women can wear socks, too. Socks and loafers work best when the socks are visible, so wear them with pants that are cropped at the ankle or with dresses and skirts that sit no lower than mid-calf. Wear socks with brogues and other dress shoes, but please, not ballet flats or sandals. Please.

Stick to a neutral colour palette – navy, camel, baby blue and white all look polished. Men, please leave "fun" socks for the weekend, and women, please opt for a sock that, when fully extended, hits the mid-calf area. If you’re wearing a dress or skirt, slouch the sock down for a look that's preppy, cool and very now.

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