Socks should also complement a day's ensemble. Consider the three sock drawers of three mythical (though I know each of them) men. The first is full of navy socks in wool and cotton (navy being a bit less of a black hole than black). A pair for each day is about right, plus a couple of spares (throw in a pair or two of black silk for evening wear). Easy to choose each morning and particularly awkward with light gray trousers. Comparable to a closet containing nothing but navy worsteds.
The well dressed man's sock drawer should at least mirror his suits and odd trousers. For example:
-dark gray
-2 navy
-3 mid-gray
-2 brown (tan in summer)
The third drawer, my personal preference, adds some less than obtrusive pattern:
-dark gray with a black clock pattern
-navy birdseye, navy with a gray clock pattern
-silver ribbed, mid-gray birdseye and mid-gray with dark gray pinstripes
-brown ribbed, beige heather mix
And into that same drawer might go an extra pair of prune.
In the photo, mid-gray flannel colored Bresciani socks worn with gray flannel trousers and black suede shoes (the combination of flannel and suede is every bit as good as that of flannel and a grenadine necktie). The combination is quite a bit better looking than navy would have been, in my opinion, though a birdseye might have been even better.
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9 comments:
Wow. Those black suede shoes are really nice. I'll have to reconsider my avoidance of black suede.
I know you're not so fond of gray shoes, but I wonder what you think about gray suede? It might be more versatile than black suede, even if not as broadly wearable as the various shades of brown suede.
I'd need a significantly bigger house to live like Will does. I'm lucky if I can have one whole drawer just for socks. However, it might hold more if I organized it better . . .
Maybe two boxes, one for cotton and one for wool? This deserves some thought.
Sarj, I was not clear. I was trying to write that a man needs only one drawer for his socks but they should be more interesting rather than less.
Ah! Thank-you for the clarification. In fact, I intend within a week to begin improving the aesthetics of my sock drawer. Right now there are entirely too many white athletic, tank cotton crew and black and white of the same cut. I have a week's supply of black OTC but really, really need some burgundy, marine blue and . . . something else. What, remains to be seen.
Will,
Where can I find bottle green socks at a reasonable price
I’ve just counted... I have ten sock drawers (moving from plain black, navy and greys, through browns / greens and argyles, on to burgundy / reds / purples / lilacs and on to sky blues, yellows and orange). Plus two more: winter socks and dirty socks..... What does that say about me?
That you need to do laundry more often? :-)
why do you think navy is awkward with light grey?
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