I love socks.  In fact, I confess that I’m so inspired by the socks in my collection that choosing an outfit for the day is sometimes built around which socks I have selected.  Anyone who always wears plain socks will not see any inspiration from this idea.  But anyone daring enough to wear colorful socks will see the brilliance of it.

My love of socks goes way back to the days when I worked on Michigan Avenue in Chicago at Neiman Marcus.  I even had a terrific client who, for years, we nicknamed one another, “Socky,” because he knew I loved choosing the best ones for his personality and his clothing.

Typically the rule of dressing is to choose the suit, jacket, or topmost item, and then coordinate it with the right bottom item.  Then you’d logically accessorize those selections with a belt and shoes, and match the color of your socks to your slacks. This way, when you are seated and your socks are exposed it gives an elongating effect to your body.  There’s nothing wrong with this information, except to say that the world would be full of black, navy, gray, and khaki socks if everyone strictly followed that information.

Socks for many people are viewed as an afterthought, or as a frustrating necessity.  The more traditional your style, the less fashion-oriented and fun your socks might be.  For business, this may make sense.  But to me, and for the benefit of my clients, selecting socks is an art form that completes the visual statement of the total outfit.  I want my outfits to always convey a statement that says:  Fun!

Often, I’m a true non-conformist, and love to show how it’s entirely possible to do things in an alternative way.  I stand 5’4” and would seemingly love to be taller, but that’s not going to happen any time soon.  Wearing socks that match the color of my trousers surely isn’t going to help me.  So I want to wear socks that are FUN!  At least this way I might feel as though it’s possible to walk tall, exuding confidence and style.

When choosing FUN socks I consider the colors of everything in my entire outfit: the suit or sportcoat [if I’m wearing one], the trousers, the shirt, the shoes, and the patterns and textures of everything.  I cull through my collection and look for a pair that picks up on the color motifs that have something in common with the trousers and are further enhanced by the other colors in the outfit.

When shopping for new socks, the same logic is followed, and an attempt to consider other potential ways of wearing them is always made.  Shopping with a color palette of the colors that comprise all the colors of your wardrobe is always most helpful.  Sock selection can be a very fun project, but it can also take time to find just the right selections.  It’s possible that FUN socks won’t necessarily be as versatile as solid socks.  On the other hand, if you select socks that are well coordinated with your wardrobe, they may be even more versatile.

Knock your socks off and post a photo of your favorite pair from your collection.

Joseph Rosenfeld helps high-profile individuals revitalize, manage, and be secure in their personal visual brand. Visit JosephRosenfeld.com for details.

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