Let’s begin with stating the (perhaps) obvious: fall is the best season for menswear. As declarative as that is and why “style” and “fall” are not mutually exclusive, humour me while I cook a little. Sure, summer has its merits. Days are longer. The golf is good. But, after a bit, I start to tire of shorts, linen trousers, and polos, and my creativity gets a little tapped out. I crave layers, texture, and richer tones. Flannel. Tweed. Corduroy. Inky denims. Playing with texture and fabric is a lot of fun.
Shouldn’t your sock drawer follow suit? Here at Boardroom, we’ve got three new styles to ring in the fall season: Light Brown, Forest Green and Burnt Orange.
Why Do Wool Socks Work So Well?
Wool is a classic for a reason: it works! See, wool is a natural temperature regulator. The finer fibers are woven close enough together to trap heat, but are still loose enough to remain breathable. That allows your body to retain heat, but also not to overheat. That’s especially important when a day’s temperature can be 45 Fahrenheit when dropping the kids off on the morning school run but pushing 70 by the time they get home.
Wool is also wonderfully elastic. While, of course, we weave some nylon into both our cotton and merino blends to help them stay up all day, wool retains its shape. This not only keeps the socks looking fresh from morning to night, but also contributes to their durability. I’ve had a number of Boardroom Socks for years without an issue.
Now, merino wool works in the fall from a stylistic standpoint for a couple of reasons. First, the textures speak the same language. Wool jacket, flannel trousers, wool socks, leather shoes. It seems pretty simple; boring, even. But, it’s one of those things where attention to detail matters. Second, the 6x2 texture we use adds enough visual interest and helps complete the additional layers we’re now adding up top.
Light Brown: The Easy Button
Of the three we’re releasing, the light brown is perhaps the least likely to jump out at you. But, it might just be the most-worn of the three.
I’ve written at length about the virtues of brown socks, and the same principles apply here. Brown is easy to style with other earth tones, but I generally prefer a lighter brown sock and a darker brown shoe. It extends the leg line and creates that elegant, seamless flow between shoe, sock, and trouser hem.
Light brown socks work well, of course, with tan, khaki, and beige trousers. They’re equally at home with olive green trousers, but they may be a little too much contrast for a navy trouser. The more rakish among us may even try them with cream or ecru trousers.
More advanced dressers may also consider an all-brown look with chocolate-brown flannel trousers, a lighter sock, and darker brown suede loafer. Sure, you’ve got three shades of brown stacked on top of one another, but that’s exactly why it works. The variation in the shades keeps the look from being truly monochrome or a solid wall, and the different textures-wool, flannel, and suede-contribute to a cozy, comfortable look.
Light brown isn’t especially flashy, nor is it meant to be. But, each component works with something else and makes for a cohesive look.
Styling Burnt Orange Dress Socks
As we move into the fall season, “orange dress socks” may understandably conjure up images of pumpkin spice lattes and jack o’ lanterns. But, there’s a distinction between orange and burnt orange. Traditional orange is bright and statement making. The latter is deeper, earthier, and considerably easier to style. Rather than jumping out from the outfit, it complements it and provides warmth and contrast.
Navy is probably the easiest pairing here. Blue and orange are classic, complementary colors on the color wheel. They naturally play off each other, but the shades of both keep the contrast from becoming overwhelming.
Grey, as a neutral tone, is also very easy to pair here. Try some suede loafers in either brown or black for a pretty traditional pairing. A green shade (known as loden) is a little more adventurous.
Burnt orange is the boldest of our three, but it’s certainly far from funky. It’s an easy way to spice (excuse the pun) up an otherwise familiar outfit.
Forest Green: An Unexpected Neutral
Blue, brown, and grey are the foundational colors of modern menswear. They play nicely with others and are easy to combine. Green, though, is an excellent bridge, particularly once you’ve got your bases nicely covered.
It’s deep enough to work well alongside navy and charcoal, but certainly interesting enough to keep an outfit from looking too predictable. Pair some of our forest green socks with flannel trousers and you’re in great shape.
The color is particularly good with a variety of the textures we typical break out in cooler weather. Tweed, brushed moleskin, corduroy, and heavier denims work well here.
If navy and grey already make up much of your wardrobe, forest green isn’t as out-of-the box as it first appears. In reality, it’s another neutral that’s relatively underappreciated.
Leaning into Fall Colors
While we’ve certainly waxed poetic about why fall is such a season for menswear, another part of what makes it so appealing is the ability to do more without wearing more. Texture and color go a long way in completing a wardrobe.
That’s what I like most about the colors we’re rolling out. None of them require a wardrobe refresh to make it more. Burnt Orange adds some warmth, Forest Green is a welcome addition to colors you likely already wear, and lighter brown is a nice foundation for the shades of the season.
Fall remains perhaps the most interesting season to have fun getting dressed. But, sometimes a pair of socks is all it takes.
Thanks for reading.
Yours in Style,
Tony Gorga
Boardroom Socks
