They are just socks. Many people don’t pay much attention to socks, which is a shame because the right choice of stockings can make you more comfortable and look better.
Which socks to choose depends on what the weather is like, what shoes you’re wearing, and how you’re dressed. Cotton crew socks, black or white, are the most common. These socks can be worn in all weather and go with any footwear and outfit.
Let’s see which sock materials are best, how to choose the right length and color, and how to care for your socks to make them last longer. Finally, I will answer more specific questions, such as whether Nike socks can be worn with Adidas shoes and whether it is appropriate to wear socks with sandals.
Which sock material is best?
The choice of sock material depends on what you will be using the socks for. Natural materials are better for more extended wear at work or leisure, synthetic materials are better for sports socks, and different materials work well for other activities.
Let’s look at the table below to see which materials are suitable for socks for everyday wear, for sport, and work.
| Cotton | Bamboo | Merino wool | Polyester | Nylon | |
| Everyday socks | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ||
| Sports socks | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Dress socks | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Natural materials (cotton, bamboo, and merino wool) work well in all situations because they are breathable, absorbent, sweat-wicking, comfortable, and soft. These socks are more comfortable and healthier for your skin.
Cotton socks do not work well as sports socks because cotton dries slowly. When cotton gets wet, it becomes damp, which increases the friction of the foot against the shoe and increases the chances of blisters. More suitable natural materials for sports socks are bamboo and merino wool, which absorb a lot of sweat and dry quickly.
You can read more about how to choose good quality dress socks here.
Should I Wear Thick or Thin Socks?
Thick socks are better to wear in autumn and winter because it is colder, and thin socks are more suitable in spring and summer when it is hotter. Thick or lined socks are also ideal if you want to be more comfortable in your shoes.
When it’s a good idea to wear thick socks:
- Wear thick socks made of warm materials if you often get cold feet. I recommend wool socks because wool is an excellent conductor. So you won’t get cold in winter, and you won’t be so hot in summer.
- Wear thick, cushioned socks if you are often on your feet and want to be more comfortable. Read more about cushioned socks here.
- Thick socks are also suitable for longer sporting activities such as long-distance running, cycling, long walks, and hiking. During longer sports activities, we sweat more and are on our feet more. Thick and cushioned socks will absorb much sweat and make us more comfortable.
When it’s a good idea to wear thin socks:
- If you wear dress shoes, you should wear thin dress socks. The socks should be as thin as is comfortable. You can read more about why dress socks are so thin here.
- We like to wear thin socks in warm weather, so we don’t feel so hot. More than the thickness of the socks, it depends on what materials the socks are made of.
Are short socks or long socks better?
Short socks are worn when we want to hide our socks behind our shoes and expose our legs. Long socks are better when we want to cover and protect our skin from the cold (if we wear long trousers). And when we want to use socks as a fashion accessory (when we wear shorts).
It is difficult to give a quick answer on whether it is better to wear short or long socks. The fact is that this decision depends on the occasion for which the socks are worn.
When is it appropriate to wear long socks:
- Dress socks should be worn with a dress. Dress socks come in crew and knee-high lengths. In the latter, the calves serve as an anchor to prevent the socks from slipping down.
- Long socks are worn in cold weather to protect the legs from the cold and to keep us warm.
- Long socks can also be compression socks, which can be worn for sports or when doing jobs where you stand on your feet a lot. Compression socks speed up recovery and keep legs rested by pushing blood around the body so it doesn’t get trapped in the legs.
- Long socks are also worn when wearing high shoes or boots. This protects the back of the foot so that it does not rub against the shoe and cause blisters.
You can read more about how to style long socks for men and women here.
When is it appropriate to wear short socks:
- We mostly wear short socks in summer because we don’t want our socks to keep us warm in the already high temperatures.
- When we wear low shoes or loafers, we want to wear short socks, specifically no-show socks. Wearing ankle socks can spoil our look.
- The short socks are worn with long trousers that do not cover the ankles (capri pants). This creates a semi-elegant style.
- Short socks are also often used for sports (running, fitness, etc.). It is important to wear socks that are high enough to protect the back of the foot from rubbing against the back of the shoe.
If you want to know more about running socks, you can find out whether long or short socks are better by clicking on this link.
How do you match your socks with your outfit?
The color of the socks must match the color of the trousers. White, black, or grey socks go with most trousers, so you can’t go wrong with socks like these. When wearing colored or patterned socks, you need to ensure that the colors on the socks are complementary to the colors of the clothes.
When wearing darker-colored trousers, the choice of socks is quite easy. Stick to the rule that the socks should be the same color, or at least a similar shade, or slightly darker. Below is a picture of the color combinations of dress socks, dress trousers, and dress shoes. However, this rule also applies to other types of shoes and socks.
If you want to wear more colored socks, you can opt for solid-colored socks or socks with patterns or stripes. Care should be taken to ensure that the colors match each other well. A color wheel can help. Colors that are opposite each other in the color circle match each other well.
You can read more about combining socks with patterns and stripes by clicking on this link.
How do you make socks last longer?
Socks will last longer if you don’t wash them in hot water, if you don’t tumble dry them, and if you turn them around before washing. Do not expose your socks to hard or uneven surfaces such as long nails, hard skin, and floors.
The 3 main reasons why socks get holes quickly are:
- Because they are washed in hot water and tumble-dried. In the heat, the elastic fibers of the socks are destroyed because it makes the socks less elastic and, therefore, less comfortable.
- The socks are exposed to hard and uneven surfaces. Walking inside in socks without shoes damages the fibers of the socks. Too-long nails, hard skin, and damaged shoes also reduce the durability of socks.
- Socks wear out more quickly if they are worn for all occasions. Socks will last longer if you have special socks for leisure, sport, and work.
There are more reasons why your socks get holes so quickly. Click on this link to find out.
To make your socks last longer, wash them by hand or in the washing machine in cold or warm water (20-30°C) or use the hand wash program. Hang washed socks on a clothes drying rack.
Storing socks is also key. Instead of folding them into a ball, fold them and put them in the wardrobe. This will also save you more space.
Find out how to care for your socks, so they last longer and are still comfortable. here.
Can you wear Nike socks with Adidas shoes?
You should not wear Nike socks with Adidas shoes because it is not appropriate to mix different brands. If possible, wear socks and shoes of the same brand. Unless the mark on the socks is not visible, in which case it does not matter.
To avoid being overwhelmed by choice of socks, I suggest you buy socks that are not branded. That way, you can wear any sneakers you want without thinking about which socks you need to wear first thing in the morning. Especially if you have a lot of sneakers of different brands.
What shoes can you wear with White socks?
White socks can be worn with white sneakers, but they also go well with sneakers in other colors. White socks are unsuitable for dress shoes because they are too bright and cannot be paired with classic dress colors.
White socks are most often seen on athletes and in special outfits such as the Scottish kilt. For more examples of when it’s a good idea to wear white socks, click here.
How To Pick The Right Socks – Conclusion
The best choice of sock materials are natural materials (cotton, bamboo, wool). Natural materials are more comfortable on the skin, they keep the skin healthy because they breathe well and absorb sweat.
Which length of socks to choose depends on the occasion.
When wearing long pants, it is almost always best to wear long socks (crew or knee-high length). Unless you are wearing Capri pants. With shorts, you can wear both long and short socks. If you don’t want to get hot, you can wear no-show socks. If you want to upgrade your look, crew socks are the right choice for you.
Be careful when choosing the colors of your socks, especially when you are dressed elegantly or semi-elegantly. The color of the socks should match the color of the pants. You can also choose colored socks or socks with patterns. However, these should match the color of the trousers.
White socks are suitable for sports and for wearing with sneakers. It is not recommended to wear them with dress shoes. It is also a kind of sin to wear socks and shoes of two different brands (e.g. Nike socks and Adidas shoes).
Take good care of your socks so that they last longer, and you don’t have to buy new socks every few months. You can wash them in the washing machine, but choose the hand wash program or wash them in the cold water program. Turn them around before washing, and do not tumble dry them.