A Modern Dad's Guide to Socks

September 15, 2010, By Elliot Feldman 1 comment

Do your kids laugh at you because you wear sandals with socks, or wear white socks with a suit? Whether you care about style or not, you should at least know the basics when buying socks.

Buying for Style

Let's start with the fact that many men prefer to wear no socks as a matter of fashion. The downside of this fashion statement is that going sockless can create blisters, sweaty discomfort, as well as smelly shoes. Above all, sweat accumulation on the inside of the shoe can cause the growth of bacteria.

Fashion critics for the likes of Esquire, GQ and Men's Health nearly unanimously frown upon wearing white socks with a suit, even if the likes of David Letterman and Jerry Lewis have ignored this fashion faux pas for years. Most dads won't be able to pull this off.

Critics also frown on matching your socks to your shoes, thus creating what's called a "bootee effect." They don't frown on matching your socks with any other article of clothing that you're wearing, including pants, tie, shirt, or even your handkerchief.

It is also recommend that you wear solid color socks as opposed to patterned socks to avoid looking cartoonish.

Socks are sold in a wide variety of styles, cuts and materials. These include:

• Crew socks
• Tube socks
• Cushioned socks
• Ankle socks
• Low-cut socks
• No-show socks
• Over-the-calf socks

Some styles, cuts and materials are more fashionable than others. No-show or low-cut socks can provide an alternative for men who wear no socks as a matter of fashion. Over-the-calf socks are for more formal fashion or business wear. Tube socks offer one-size-fits-all ease of use for men who don't like to shop or care about fashion.

To avoid wearing socks with holes, fashion critics recommend that you buy new socks at least every six months.

Buying for Personal Hygiene and Health

Buying the right socks for reasons of personal hygiene is especially important for more active people, such as athletes, hikers and dancers. Consider socks designed for specific sports, particularly running. Wearing the wrong type of sock for activities can create perspiration and continuous friction against your feet, causing blisters. Consider buying cushioned or double-thick socks to help avoid foot damage from daily activity, or for cold or wet weather.

Note that unpleasant foot odors are commonly caused by synthetic materials in socks. However, a small amount of synthetic material in a cotton sock can help it retain its shape and size after repeated laundering.

Change your socks regularly and use foot powder to keep your socks dry. This will also help you avoid blisters.

Buying for Comfort

As we age, the fat padding on the heels of our feet wears down, creating less cushion for daily activities. Full cushion sole support in socks can reduce heel stress.

When buying for comfort, consider the sock fabric's "wickability." This is a fabric industry term that reflects the ability of a fabric to allow perspiration to pass through to its surface. Also consider the fit. The fabric should fit close to the toes, arch and heel.

And note that one-size-fits-all socks aren't made for all feet. They can fit poorly and create foot discomfort. If you like the convenience of one-size-fits-all socks, buy a brand that offers at least four different "one-size-fits-all" sizes.

Sock should have flat seams. Bumpy seams can hurt your feet, particularly during activities such as hiking.

When buying for comfort, consider sock materials such as the following:

• Coolmax is a fabric technology for lightweight socks made for runners, helping prevent foot perspiration.
• Spandex is a synthetic fiber that's stretchable to accommodate different foot shapes, helping prevent friction.
• Acrylic is a soft, lightweight, and commonly sold synthetic sock material.
• Wool provides warmth in cold climates and provides wickability in warm ones. It also cushions and holds its shape better than most other sock materials.
• Cotton is more resistant to heat than wool, but doesn't hold its shape as well. Cotton also isn't as dressy as wool, even though there are some high quality cotton socks that can be worn for dress.