When I wear long pants I wear black socks.
When I wear shorts, I wear white socks (with sneakers, of course).
I own no socks of any other color.
Never one to follow any kind of fashion rule, I try to match my socks to my shirt. For example: today I have on a dark blue shirt with khaki slacks. I picked dark blue socks to match the shirt.
With all this talk about socks matching the shoes or the slacks, where does the shirt fit in? I would think that something covering nearly 50% of you should play some part in your overall outfit.
I generally try to keep my shirt on the upper part of my body. YMMV.
Bah, my system is simpler.
Black slacks, black shoes: White socks
Black slacks, brown shoes: White socks
Black slacks, blue shoes: White socks
Black slacks, white shoes: White socks
Blue slacks, black shoes: White socks
Blue slacks, brown shoes: White socks
Blue slacks, blue shoes: White socks
Blue slacks, white shoes: White socks
Khaki slacks, black shoes: White socks
Khaki slacks, brown shoes: White socks
Khaki slacks, blue shoes: White socks
Khaki slacks, white shoes: White socks
Anything with sandals: No socks, are you kidding? Socks with sandals look idiotic.
Chronos,
White socks, are you kidding! You’re embarassing us Montanans you nerd.
The above use of the word “nerd” is meant with no malicious intent and in a decent and respectful Montanan to Montanan way!
Really. Why not? This is a staple of my business casual wardrobe. Of course, the black shoes must be shiny, and the socks must be black.
Yeah, I’ve seen other do it to good effect, but it just doesn’t feel right to me for some reason. Maybe it’s because a lot of the time the shirt I’ll wear with khaki pants is some form of blue (or has a pattern with blue in it), and I don’t like black shoes and a black belt with a blue shirt.
Plus, I just don’t wear a lot of black generally.
Very good rule for casual.
Brown shoes with black or grey pants tells me you don’t own a pair of black shoes. Black shoes with brown pants is iffy, as in if the pants are dark brown don’t do it.
Chronos, the only way to get by with those white socks is to be a celebrity or a member of the intelligentsia. 
Quietly raises hand
I’m currently wearing a pair of maroonish, low cut, Doc Marten dress shoes.
And how I choose the socks is more by smell than by sight.
Not maroon, oxblood. Every gentleman ought to have a pair of oxblood shoes in his wardrobe.
Jeebus you people are uptight. I work in a business professional environment and I actually match my socks to my tie. I’ve got orange, yellow, red, blue, purple, etc. It gives a balanced look, and isn’t too noticeable until I sit down. Fun conversation too. 
It’s kind of hard to find a lot of colors to socks, but Macy’s Men has some at a good price.
-k
I loved being in the Army: green shirt, green pants, green socks, black boots. No worrying about matching socks there.
Since we’re talking moderately conservative casual, I checked what L.L.Bean sells for men’s socks. Basic charcoal, navy, black, tan, white. One outdoor casual came in forest green, obviously to match the background while walking in the woods.
I agree with Kempis that this whole question is a bit uptight. Isn’t the idea of “casual day” not having to worry about your socks?
Just remember that the shoes should always match the belt, which shouldn’t be the same color of the pants…which shouldn’t be the same color as the shirt…which shouldn’t be the same color as the tie, which may or may not be the same color of the socks.
Ok, so:
Black slacks + black shoes = black socks?
Khaki slacks + brown shoes = khaki socks?
Khaki slacks + black shoes = black socks?
Grey slacks + black shoes = black socks?
Grey slacks + black shoes = grey socks questionable, black socks
preferred?
Grey slacks + brown shoes = instant screaming death?
I think I got it.
I think that used to be a faux-paux but it’s fine now. Black shoes and khakis and a solid shirt looks dressier.
Chronos - Unless you are going to the gym, no white socks…ever.
No. The idea of “casual day” is not to dress like a slob or a dork. You are still at work and supposed to look professional.
A new report is in from the BBC. Wearing socks with sandals is a time honored tradition in Briton.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3181443.stm
Where is Briton?
Actually, the article cited criticizes the dress sense of the Romans, not the Brits.
This is a matter of opinion, so I’ll move this thread to IMHO.
bibliophage
moderator GQ
(Black socks. No slacks, no shoes, no class, no matter.)
All my shoes are black. All my socks are black. My slacks are of all different colors, but the majority of them are khaki. Black shoes go with everything. Brown shoes don’t. Plus, I just think brown shoes look bad.
One guy I know wears highly polished burgundy wingtips with everything and it generally looks pretty horrid to me, but I’m a serious fashion assassin, which is why I stick to basics.
Tennis shoes get worn without socks, or with little white socks. The ones that just barely cover the ankle, whatever they are called.