It’s hard to find quality dress socks if you don’t know where and what to look for. Below I’ll show you what makes good quality dress socks, what material is best to choose, and much more.
Natural materials and good elasticity make quality dress socks. The best natural materials are cotton and wool, which wick away sweat and allow the foot to breathe. Good elasticity means that socks are compressed to your leg to prevent the socks from falling off when you are wearing them, and you still feel like you are wearing socks and that the socks don’t fall down when you are wearing them.
In the rest of this article, you can learn… About the best materials for dress socks, Prince Harry’s mistake while talking to Oprah, and why dress socks are so long.
What makes good quality dress socks?
You’ve chosen an outfit that makes you look good and confident, but choosing the wrong socks can instantly ruin your look. Dress socks are the underwear that should make you look flawless and sharp.
- Dress socks should match the color of your trousers. Many people think that dress socks have to match the color of their shoes or even their tie or belt, but this is a misconception. Dress socks are an extension of your trousers, so they should be a similar color to your trousers. It is not appropriate to wear light gray socks with a black suit and vice versa. Click on this link to see how many pairs of dress socks you really need.
- Dress socks must be long enough to cover the skin on the leg when sitting down. The length of the socks is significant to cover the skin on the legs when sitting. Dress socks are usually so long that they reach over the calves—more on why dress socks are so long later in this article. But don’t be embarrassed if you make that mistake; even Prince Harry fails sometimes.
- They must be elastic and comfortable so that you don’t feel like you are wearing them. If you wear a suit, you need to look as good as possible, which is difficult if you don’t wear comfortable clothes. Socks should be made of good quality and natural materials to ensure that you don’t get cold in winter and hot in summer. In summer, you can also wear no-show socks for a sockless look.
- They must stay on your feet all day and not come down to the shoes. Socks made of cotton and wool have enough elasticity to stay on all day and are very comfortable.
Read on to learn more about choosing the right material for your dress socks and how they need to be shaped to stay on all day.
What is the best material for dress socks?
Cotton, wool, and bamboo are the best natural materials for dress socks. Compared to synthetic materials such as nylon, they are more comfortable, sweat-absorbent, and breathable.
Other natural materials used to make socks are also silk and cashmere. Avoid socks made entirely of synthetic materials, as such materials are uncomfortable. They start to shrink over time and do not conduct heat.
Do your socks get holes fast? Find out the 9 most common reasons why socks get holes and how you can change it. Read the whole article here.
Note: Most dress socks made of cotton, wool, and bamboo usually also contain a proportion of nylon (<30%) to increase the elasticity of the sock. This helps the socks to stay on the leg for longer.
| Cotton | Wool | Bamboo | |
| Which is softer? | X | ||
| Which best manages moisture? | X | X | |
| Which manages odor best? | X | X | |
| Cooler for the hottest temperatures? | X | X | |
| Warmer for cold temperatures? | X | ||
| Which feels lighter? | X | X |
It is a good idea to have at least two sock materials in stock – cotton, and wool or bamboo and wool. Wool socks will keep you warm in the cold winter months. On the other hand, bamboo and cotton socks are more comfortable and conduct heat well in the hotter months.
How the material affects the price of dress socks
The price of dress socks made of natural materials is slightly higher than those made of synthetic materials. The price of natural materials depends on the agricultural harvest of cotton and wool.
Some wool is only harvested once or twice a year, as is the case with merino sheep. Due to mass production, synthetic materials are cheaper and consistently in good supply.
Cotton dress socks
Cotton socks are more comfortable than other materials. Especially those socks knitted from long cotton fibers, which allow the fibers to be more intertwined and the joints to be stronger.
When the staples are very long, the fabric is very:
- Durable because the cotton can be spun thinner and subsequently woven tighter; it is, therefore, more resistant to washing, wrinkling, and distortion.
- Softer because the fibers are interlaced over a longer distance, which also results in fewer fiber ends coming out of the yarn, making the yarn smoother;
- More breathable; if the weave is denser and tighter, there are fewer “air pockets” in the fabric.
Technical data is usually not given, so you have to rely on your gut feeling to judge cotton quality. Here are some tips on how to tell whether cotton is good quality or not:
- Good quality cotton is silky smooth to the touch
- The cotton should be smooth and not have any lint
- Expose the cotton to strong light. Good cotton, even very thin cotton, should not let light through.
These are three indicators that you are buying quality cotton, which you can also use when buying shirts, T-shirts, or undershirts.
Durability
Cotton dress socks are easy to maintain and therefore last longer. To find out how to take care of cotton dress socks, read this thorough article.
Pros and cons of cotton dress socks
| PROS | CONS | |
| Comfortable | X | |
| Good for warm weather | X | |
| Good for cold weather | X | |
| Color fades quickly | X | |
| Durability | X |
Is cotton or polyester better for socks?
Cotton is better for socks than polyester because it is more comfortable on the feet, it is a natural material, and it is more breathable. Polyester is a synthetic material added to the socks for greater stretch. When buying socks, always choose natural materials, as polyester wears out more quickly and is uncomfortable to wear.
What dress socks breathe the best? Wool dress socks
Breathability
Wool is the best breathable material, which is very important for the health of your feet. The breathable material will ensure your feet stay fresh for longer and won’t sweat as quickly.
If your feet are in wet and damp socks for a long time every day, this can lead to infection and the development of bacteria on your feet.
Moisture and odor management
Wool is an excellent conductor of moisture and odor when your feet sweat. Quality wool socks can absorb up to 30% of sweat by weight and still feel dry to the touch. This will not only prevent sweat from building up on your feet but will also prevent unpleasant odors.
Pros and cons of wool dress socks
| PROS | CONS | |
| Breathability | X | |
| Good for warm weather | X | |
| Good for cold weather | X | |
| Natural odor resistance | X | |
| More prone to attracting lint | X | |
| Requires extra care | X |
Read a detailed comparison between wool and cotton socks here to find out which is better to wear.
Bamboo dress socks
Bamboo is a versatile sock material because it offers you the comfort of cotton, wicks away sweat, and allows the foot to breathe like wool. Bamboo is a natural odor-preventing material that prevents your feet from smelling bad.
Bamboo dress socks are a great choice if you don’t want many different pairs of socks in your wardrobe, as they are suitable for both warm and cold days. It is not as warm as wool, but it is much easier to maintain.
| PROS | CONS | |
| Breathability | X | |
| Good for warm weather | X | |
| Good for cold weather | X | |
| Natural odor resistance | X | |
| Doesn’t require extra care | X |
Why are dress socks so long?
The primary purpose of dress socks is to stay on the leg at all times to cover the skin while sitting. And yet they are comfortable enough not to disturb you when you wear them.
Dress socks are so long because the calves serve as an anchor to stop the socks from sliding down. Dress socks also tend to be more elastic and have a ribbed pattern that helps the socks to squeeze better against your leg to prevent slipping. So you’ll look great all the time.