The best men's dress socks

Socks might seem like an unimportant style component, but they can play a big role in helping you create a unique and fashionable look.
Soft and breathable merino wool, fine English craftsmanship, great attention to detail, and a royal pedigree place the Turnbull and Asser over-the-calf dress socks among the best dress socks that money can buy.

When it comes to traditional menswear, dress socks aren’t exactly the most exciting topic to read about. But if you want to upgrade your style, then your sock game needs to be on point. The wrong socks can spoil an otherwise great outfit, and worse, poor socks can make your feet sweaty and uncomfortable, slide down your leg, and pool around your ankles, looking and feeling like a mess.

You likely already have some cheap dress socks in your closet, and if you’re like most guys, you probably defaulted to black ones. There’s a good chance that they’re not made of great materials, either. Attention to detail is one of the main principles of traditional menswear, as it’s little things like your choice of necktie or pocket square that can make or break an outfit.

Your dress socks are no exception to this rule. If it’s time to upgrade, then read on, keeping in mind these two basic rules for dress sock shopping: Avoid socks made from 100% synthetic fabrics and invest in well-crafted pairs that fit your feet and stay up properly. That pretty much rules out most of what you’re likely to find at your local department store.

But don’t despair: To give your sartorial flair a leg up, we’ve picked out five pairs of dress socks that we think every man should have in his drawer, from timeless solid-colored classics to some more colorful pairs to wear when you’re feeling bold.

Here are the best men’s dress socks you can buy:

Best overall: Turnbull and Asser merino wool dress socks
Best patterned: Brooks Brothers argyle crew dress socks
Best for spring and summer: Pantherella linen blend dress socks
Best for fall and winter: United By Blue Alpine Ultimate Bison Socks
Best fun and colorful: Happy Socks dress socks

Updated on 2/27/2020 by Amir Ismael: Updated formatting, links, and prices. Added United By Blue as the best fall and winter socks.

The best dress socks overall

Crafted in England of fine merino wool, the Turnbull and Asser over-the-calf dress socks are fit for a prince - literally - and they're worth every penny.

Whether you're buying your first nice suit or you're just starting to fill out your dress sock drawer, the basic rules of menswear always apply: Keep it simple, keep it solid, and invest in quality, as you're going to be wearing these staples a lot. Solid-colored basics are easily the most versatile clothes in your closet and will continue to get the most play well after you've built up a rotation that incorporates brighter colors and bolder patterns.

For most environments and occasions, you simply can't beat classic "workhorse" colors like navy blue and charcoal gray, because these two shades play nicely with almost everything in your closet. Our pick for the best solid dress socks money can buy comes from Turnbull and Asser, a historic English menswear brand that holds a royal warrant from the British crown.

The socks, available in navy and charcoal as well as a number of other colors, are made in England from a blend of fine merino wool and nylon. The merino is warm yet breathable, while both the wool and the nylon are better at wicking moisture away from your feet than other common fabrics like cotton. The nylon adds some durability to the merino, too, and the hand-finished toes are seamless, giving them a better shape and fit over your feet compared to cheaply made machine-stitched socks.

When it comes to dress socks, I recommend keeping it over the calf for your workhorse pairs, for the simple reason that they will stay up better as you wear them throughout your busy day. Another nice touch regarding fit is that Turnbull and Asser offers these socks in a number of different sizes.

They're fairly costly at $55, but if you want the best, then Turnbull and Asser's socks are it. Do yourself a favor and treat your feet to at least one pair. These dress socks are fit for a prince - rather literally, in fact, given that the brand's royal warrant was granted by Prince Charles.

Pros: Made in England, merino wool is warm yet breathable and wicks moisture away from your feet, over-the-calf length is great for all-day wear, available in a wide variety of colors, and the seamless toe provides a proper fit and extra comfort

Cons: Fairly expensive at $55 a pair

The best patterned dress socks

Foto: Source: J.Crew

These English-made argyle dress socks from Brooks Brothers are ones that grandpa himself would be proud to wear.

In the world of patterned dress socks, argyle remains king. Your grandfather wore it, your dad wore it, and you should wear it. Unlike some other old-school patterns like paisley (which guys seem to either love or hate), argyle has stubbornly stood the test of time - at least for dress socks, if not for larger clothing items like sweaters. These ones, from the historic American menswear brand Brooks Brothers, hit that old-school style nail right on the head.

Argyle is a subtle and conservative way to add some color and character to your dressier outfits, the diagonal pattern slightly breaks up the sleek vertical lines of your suit without being distracting, and it generally doesn't clash with vertically or horizontally oriented patterns like stripes or plaid.

The Brooks Brothers argyle dress socks are made in England of merino wool and nylon, which is a very popular blend for sock fabric owing to the breathability and moisture-wicking properties of the materials. This stands in contrast to textiles like cotton which tend to absorb sweat instead of move it away from your foot for evaporation.

Brooks Brothers offers these socks in a variety of different colors with enough choices to pair with just about any suits or pants you own. Matching argyle to your outfit is pretty straightforward: Keep the sock's primary shade in the same family as that of your trousers, and use the other colors in the sock to complement your shirt, tie, or pocket square if you want to.

Pros: Made in England, nice blend of merino wool and nylon, the argyle pattern is timeless and versatile, and the socks are available in a number of colors

Cons: Unavailable in over-the-calf length, and no individual sizing

The best lightweight dress socks for spring and summer

Foto: Source: Amazon

A unique cotton blend makes these Pantherella socks the perfect choice for staying cool while you're rocking your spring and summer suits.

One of the biggest challenges men who wear suits face is how to stay cool in the summer without sacrificing style. To solve this problem, many favor lighter fabrics, ditching heavier wools and all-cotton clothing in favor of more breathable weaves like linen and linen blends.

UK-based clothing brand Pantherella has high-quality, well-priced socks made from linen, cotton, and nylon that will keep your feet cool even on hot days.

The linen imparts extra breathability to the cotton fabric, while the nylon brings moisture-wicking properties to the socks. The cotton is there to add body to the linen and the nylon also offers extra durability and "cling" to better hug your leg.

This unique fabric blend is what sets the Pantherella linen-blend dress socks apart from the sea of wool and all-cotton socks and makes them a superior alternative to these for warm-weather wear. The blue houndstooth color pairs well with blue, grey, and tan suits.

Pros: Made in the UK of Italian-blended yarn, the cotton and linen fabric is lightweight and breathable, and the lighter color is perfect for summer suiting

Cons: Limited color availability, no individual sizing

The best warm dress socks for fall and winter

Foto: Source: United By Blue

With a thick blend of bison down and merino wool, the United By Blue Alpine Ultimate Bison Socks go just as well with casual boots and jeans as they do with your favorite suit.

Boots tend to get a lot more play in the colder months and often call for thicker socks that provide both warmth and extra foot padding. A pair with a thicker yarn, like these socks from United By Blue, is a better choice than your average wool dress sock.

I'll just come right out and say it: These aren't explicitly "dress" socks, and, in fact, you could just as easily wear them casually with your favorite jeans or chinos. They'll still work with dress shoes, but the chunky, warm knit of United By Blue socks begs to be worn with boots, be they casual fall boots or a pair of sleek Chelseas. Of course, the socks won't be all that visible given that boots cover your ankles, but your feet will be nice and comfortable all the same.

United By Blue Apline Ultimate Bison Socks are crafted in the USA from a blend of merino wool, bison down, nylon, polyester, and spandex. The substantial yarn is chunky, and the outdoorsy pattern is fun. They're somewhat expensive at $38, but given their comfort, warmth, and durability, they're a good value and a great addition to your wardrobe.

Pros: Thick blend of bison down and merino wool is great for colder weather and for wear with dress boots, nice pattern with neutral colors that complement earth-toned fall suits and pants

Cons: No additional colors

The best fun and colorful dress socks

Foto: Source: Happy Socks

Happy Socks' fun colors, patterns, and collaborations are the perfect way to liven up your mundane work attire.

A put-together business suit should generally be conservative, especially when worn in the workplace, but conservative doesn't have to mean boring. Accessories like ties and pocket squares, as well as lesser-seen clothing items like dress socks, provide the perfect chance for you to have a little fun and liven up an otherwise fairly simple outfit.

Colorful socks, in particular, have become an increasingly popular way for men to get a little adventurous with their dressier clothing. Happy Socks is a booming Swedish brand with the mission to put smiles on the faces of people all around the world and give them unique senses of style through fun sock designs.

From polka dots and stripes to palm trees and strawberries, you'll find a plethora of unique designs for your feet at around $14 a pair. The brand is also big on limited-edition collaborations. To name a few, they've teamed up with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Andy Warhol on some fun sock designs.

The best part about Happy Socks is that you can wear them anywhere. You can use them to liven up your office attire or you can wear them casually with your favorite jeans and sneakers.

Pros: Plenty of colors and collaborations, affordable price

Cons: None to speak of

What to look for in a pair of dress socks

Foto: Source: Shutterstock

While hardly a comprehensive quality and style guide, here's a quick and handy run-down on what you should know when filling out your sock drawer:

Length: Dress socks today come in two lengths: mid-calf, which come roughly halfway up your lower leg, and over the calf (formerly called "hose"), which come up almost to the knee. In the past, dress socks were often held up with dedicated sock suspenders or garters which anchored the sock to the bottom of your dress shirt. Thankfully, modern materials and manufacturing methods now allow for socks that stay up much more reliably.

Whichever length you prefer, the important thing is that your socks must actually stay up. Over the calf socks will always be better at this, but almost all socks today feature some sort of elastic at the opening to keep them put on your leg. Nonetheless, if you find most mid-calf socks slouching and pooling around your ankles after extended wear, then consider springing for over the calf socks instead.

Material: As with other articles of men's clothing, a good rule for dress socks is to avoid ones that are made of 100% synthetic materials, as these don't breathe well and are generally favored for their low manufacturing cost rather than for their quality.

Natural fibers like cotton and wool are a better choice, although with dress socks, these fabrics are typically blended with synthetic components to increase durability and fit. Dress socks are usually fairly thin and light as well; even wool ones will not be nearly as thick as those you'd wear with hiking boots.

Cotton is common, but among natural fabrics, it's the least breathable and tends to absorb moisture, so all-cotton socks are not great for hot weather (although cotton is often blended with wool or linen to mitigate this problem). Wool is great year-round, as it keeps your feet warm in the colder seasons but breathes and wicks sweat in warm weather. Wool socks should generally be washed either by hand or with your machine's gentle cycle, and should usually not be washed or dried using heat.

Color: An enduring misconception that still gets repeated often is that your socks should match your shoes. Your solid-colored dress socks should actually match your trousers. They don't have to be the exact same color, and are best kept a shade darker or lighter - for example, charcoal grey socks with mid-grey suit trousers.

Patterned dress socks let you break up an otherwise basic outfit with some color and visual texture. When keeping it on the conservative side, go for patterns like stripes or argyle in muted tones with the primary color complementing your trousers.

In more casual settings, you can have some fun with brightly-colored socks that complement another part of your outfit like your shirt, tie, or pocket square; just don't match them up exactly.

Check out our other menswear buying guides

Foto: Source: Indochino

The best men’s dress socks