A coworker made fun of me on Friday for wearing “white shocks with dress shoes”. I claimed that since I was wearing jeans, I had to wear socks that matched the jeans, not the shoes. He, to my unending surprise, disagreed! :eek: He claims that I should have worn black dress socks. Or at least a thinner colored sock.
No, no, says I. Socks are fabric, so they have to match the other fabric- your pants. He claims that it goes on your foot, so it has to match the other footwear.
The shoes in question look slightly more casual than these.
Even though he mistook casual Friday for “look like a hobo” Friday, we’ll let that slide. What say y’all? Do socks get matched up or down?
The Esquire style guide says your socks should match your pants since it will make your legs look longer. It’s about color, not fabric. With jeans, though, there are usually exceptions. What kind of shoes were you wearing? I think white socks with hard soled shoes is a mistake, but in this case the mistake is probably more in the shoe choice than the sock choice.
It really depends. There are times when you want to match your shirt or tie, even.
White socks and dress shoes are an odd combination, and are usually used to stand out, no matter what the pants. However, jeans should be long enough that the socks don’t matter. The jeans should almost cover the shoe, hiding the socks even when you are sitting. And I’m big fan of: if they can’t see it, it doesn’t matter.
Finally, the specific shoes you showed are almost not dress shoes, so you might be able to get away with more. I’ve worn white socks and jeans with them before. But, again, my jeans are long enough that you can’t see my socks.
I think he’s using “match” more for “go with.” Jeans are a more casual look, and can take a more casual sock. White socks with jeans is very, very common. Just like tennis shoes/sneakers and jeans.
I think the standard footwear for jeans is sneakers. Hence, the white socks.
But with dress shoes, I’d wear navy blue socks, and the dress shoes would be brown. And when I say dress shoes, I don’t mean anything that would normally be worn with a suit or tuxedo. I just mean something made of brown leather that isn’t a sneaker.
I was hoping the question would be about brown slacks/brown shoes, what color socks. (I almost always go with black).
White sneakers with jeans looks really bad–it reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld. The only types of sneakers that I find acceptable with jeans are the brown leather kind, and one should wear navy socks with them.
Socks match pants and shoes, or at least don’t clash.
If I am wearing a blue shirt with black pants I don’t wear blue socks. I would wear black socks. In the summer my sandals cant clash with my shorts or skirt. I don’t wear socks with sandals.
I voted “match pants” figuring you were talking about a color match. Then I read the OP and realized you and he were both nuts, and the question doesn’t really count.
Socks are to match the pants in color for dress, business, and traditional casual attire. For sports, (blue collar) work, and hobo attire the main rule is it shouldn’t look stupid. Asking whether socks should match jeans or match dress shoes is nonsensical, as socks should never be put in such an awkward and embarrassing position.
In summer, with jeans and sneakers: low-profile (ie, invisible) socks that match the sneakers.
In winter, with jeans and boots: black, dark gray, or argyle socks.
Jeans and dress shoes should never happen, unless you’re out dancing or something. Jeans and those fake dress shoes that the khaki and polo shirt set are always sporting should probably be banned.
Here’s a third option: It doesn’t matter! If you thought it looked good, you were probably right. You seem like a bright, reasonable guy (i.e., not the kind of person who would end up on People of Walmart), so I’m sure it looked fine.
I hate junior fashionistas who make unsolicited comments about other people’s attire to the person in question. You think it looks terrible? Fine, keep it to yourself. I can never see myself making any kind of comment to someone on what they were wearing unless I was asked.
I would like to tell a coworker such as yours to take his fashion tips and shove them up his fucking ass.