Stop buying bad socks
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Perhaps an afterthought for most, socks have recently been on the forefront of my mind. I wear a lot of shoes that require better socks such as one of my most recent pick-ups — my cowboy boots. The first day I wore them I thought I could get away with wearing “regular” mid calf socks. How naïve I was. While I was most worried about my heels and my toes, the friction of the tall boot shaft was constantly chafing the back of my leg. By the time I was home I had to sit in silence with my jeans rolled up and socks off.
Which brings me to my main point — there is no reason this should be a common experience. Buying quality socks should not be something that someone has to go out of their way to look for. Even if you know what you’re looking for it can still be difficult to get what you need. The undisputed best type of sock to wear with tailoring is a pair of over the calf socks (OTC). It just relieves you of the stress of your socks falling down or your leg hair showing. A while back when I was first getting into dressing better I bought a pair of Ralph Lauren OTC navy socks. I have a certain level of brand loyalty to Ralph Lauren so I expected something that would be at least passable. But whenever I wear them I’m disappointed and as I walk I regret my purchase with each step. They start the day off fine and superficially they look good. But pretty soon thereafter they begin to fall and stack above the shoe. It’s just embarrassing. I’d rather wear some old polyester socks honestly.
The only solution is to stop buying socks from places with no business designing socks. Ralph Lauren for the most part makes very solid clothes. But there is no reason for them to make socks other than the fact it generates revenue from lack of knowledge of people like me who already like their stuff. Ralph Lauren outsources their shoe production and I expected a pair of socks that would hold up.
I understand that not everyone wants to wear OTC socks but the principle still applies. Quite frequently, I see people doing something sporty and they wear socks with a repeating comedic graphic on them. Socks should serve a specific purpose and excel in that area. I have my very own assortment of athletic socks that I’m always happy to wear and not afraid to put through the wringer. Everyone deserves socks made with their best interest in mind.
There are plenty of brands doing it right. While I still lack experience there are two brands I can wholeheartedly recommend:
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- This is a relatively well known brand specializing in hiking, work, skiing, etc. socks that are going to keep up with the high demands of these activities. All of their socks are made out of primarily merino wool which makes them excellent performance socks. In addition, they offer a true lifetime warranty! It’s difficult to find brands that care like this. My only gripe is that it can be difficult to find socks with a minimal design. They tend to over design their products.
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- Less of a specific brand but rather an online retailer that sells an assortment of brands. Their website is extremely well designed. There are sections for each type of sock length and subcategories within those. They make it easy to find styles that speak to you. When I bought my first pair they had one of the best packaging experiences I’ve ever had for any piece of clothing. The socks themselves came in a small red drawstring bag with the company’s name on it. The best: they included a handwritten note welcoming me to their world. Truly remarkable service.
It is not my intention to have this essay be about what exactly you need to change. I want to give my experience and what I’ve learned from it. I give these recommendations to enable you to emulate my progression.
Not everyone will have the means to replace their entire sock drawer in a single day and that is perfectly fine. These socks are quality and their prices reflect that. However, they are entirely worth it. The best thing I can recommend is that this transition is going to take time. This can be seen as a blessing. For the period of time in which you don’t have a full wardrobe you will be so glad when your nice socks come back in your rotation. It makes each pair special and not simply a five pack of black socks.
I firmly believe that everything you put on every day should be considered. I dress with intention no matter the day, no matter the context, there is a purpose to what I am wearing. However small they may be, socks are literally foundational to one’s appearance and the way you feel. The final takeaway from this essay should be to stop buying bad socks!
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