Geometric Dress Socks for a Modern Professional Look

Try this for me: the next time you walk into an office building, restaurant, theater or even an opera house, see if you can count the number of ties on more than just your fingers. Walk into a wedding that, unless a placard reading black tie requested has not-so-subtly been slipped in the invite, see how many guests complied.

The sad truth is, for us enthusiasts of the simplistic and elegant four-in-hand and the delightfully off-kilter Half Windsor, the tie is, much like William the Conqueror back in 1087, dying a slow death.

But, even without neckwear, men are still expressing their style. And, in many cases, it’s through their socks. We’ve got a few new geometric patterns to share, and these are the perfect way to tastefully express a little style.

Sock Patterns and Scale

Regular readers know my thoughts on proportion and scale in menswear. Smaller patterns, in general, complement outfits rather than competing with them. To quote the cliche, larger patterns often result in the outfit wearing you rather than you wearing the outfit.

That’s true when it comes to socks and other accessories. A smaller, repeating shape has a rhythm that’s easy to pair with a variety of outfits and different levels of formality. They’re interesting enough to brighten up a “boring” solid trouser, but restrained enough to work with bolder, patterned jackets.

We’re rolling out three patterns we think cover the spectrum and will work in most situations:

• Black with blue, purple, and green accents
• Navy with light blue, royal blue, and grey accents
• Tan with orange, yellow, burgundy, and navy accents

As with all of our socks, they’re locally crafted and available in both mid-calf and over-the-calf length. We’ve made these in a silky cotton blend, with enough cotton for breathability and durability and enough nylon to maintain shape and help them stay up all day. And, like any versatile accessory, these are easily styled in a range of outfits. Here are some of my favorites.

Black Geometrics for Dressing Up

Our black colorway is the easiest to incorporate into more formal clothing. While the geometrics introduce a variety of color into any outfit, they’re still understated against the darker, solid background. Indeed, from across the room, they could very much read as a solid, inky black. But, get a little closer, and you'll see the blues, purples, and even the greens coming through. This reinforces one of my favourite things about menswear-the details only get better when you get closer.

These are right at home in a classic navy jacket, charcoal trousers, and some black lace-ups or loafers. It’s proof positive that ‘classic’ isn’t ‘boring.’ But if you’d like to experiment, try it with a green and black tweed jacket. Trousers could be a lighter, stone grey. Or, on the opposite end, a black flannel.

Navy Geometrics for Versatility

Navy blue is a classic menswear color for a good reason- it works with just about everything. It’s equally at home in the office as on a weekend, and if I were to pick one pair to wear on most days, it would probably be this. The blues and greys in this pattern offer subtle variation on the menswear uniform. And, in some cases, this pattern might even be a good stand-in for a tie.

Shown above, these look great with casual combinations such as denim with leather sneakers. The sky’s the limit when it comes to shoe pairings here. A black cap toe is certainly classic, but also try it with dark brown wingtips or an oxblood loafer. And, much like in our first one, you’re building a harmonious outfit between both color and texture.

Tan Geometrics for Easy, Interesting Style

Customers frequently tell us that khaki dress socks are difficult to find. Brown and brown tones are somewhat unsung heroes in menswear. These are, in my opinion, the most interesting of the three. The tan is a warmer base color, which makes for a natural partnership with richer tones- brown leathers, burgundy, olive, and tobacco. It’s certainly a nice complement for a textured sports jacket, but can also work very well on its own.

As for shoes, smooth leather as we’ve styled it is never a bad choice. But, I’d also consider a pebble grain leather for something a little more fun and visually interesting. 

No matter which of these you choose, though, you’re going to be in good hands.

Wrapping Up: Details Matter

These two things may or may not have any relation, but one of things I’ve noticed with the decline of the tie is the rise of other accessories. A good watch. A pocket square. Polished shoes. And, yes, a good pair of comfortable socks.

But, one of the risks here is the tendency to let the accessory become the focus of the outfit rather than complementing everything else. That watch becomes bigger and flashier. The pocket square is a little too bright. And, the socks become funkier.

A geometric sock pattern isn’t just about making a statement. It’s adding a necessary layer to complete an outfit where everything works together. When done right, people will notice, yes. But they’ll notice everything just looks…right.

Thanks for reading.

Yours in Style,

Tony Gorga
Boardroom Socks