The Etiquette of the Sock.

You can surf endlessly and Google around to find articles or rules about socks and men.
But that would be a waste of time for gentlemen or dandies. I have it all here for you, in a condensed form.
You will find a beautiful sock shop in Paris.
The shop is called 'mes chaussettes rouges'.

As a distinguished Gentleman once said: "Socks are by far, in my opinion, one of the most understated fundamentals of a man's wardrobe! As I sit in crowds of highly dressed men, not necessarily over-the-top but classic men, their socks are the silent topic that separates the junior executives from the partners."

• White socks are only worn during sports.
• Dressy shoes naturally require dressy socks. There is one basic rule: The dressier the situation, the darker the stockings or socks.
• Match the colour with the trousers, not with the shoes. Black trousers with black socks, and we do the same with, for example, blue or grey. White trousers, white socks (no socks). When in doubt, always choose the darkest variant.

• Socks or stockings that are coordinated with the colour of the trousers will make your outfit look more flowing. But, on the other hand, if they contrast, they can break up an otherwise dull look.
• So a secondary colour is sometimes a good or nice alternative: matched with the colour of the tie, the pocket square or the shirt, for example. If you are wearing a green tie, a green accent in the socks can spice up your look. Anything above the waist, or belt is ok.
• Never roll up your socks, or beat them. It is typical of the 80s and a real example of bad taste. It even looks strange.
  If your socks or stockings are pulled up properly, as they should be, they will give you a sleek beautiful line, even with the tightest of trousers.

• Never wear socks or stockings with shorts or Bermuda shorts. There is not much more to be said about this. You don't want to look like a example of bad taste.
• Renew your socks and stockings regularly: Every 6 months is recommended. They have a hard life and need to be worn a lot. They should be and remain soft and supple.
• No socks in bed! You would not appreciate it if your partner did this either. We can safely say that it is quite repulsive.

• Basic rule: When wearing a suit and sitting down, possibly with your legs crossed, one should never see your bare leg between your stockings or socks and the trousers.
• The length of dress stockings: up to or over the calf.
• To make sure you buy good quality: Look for a flat hem at the end near the toes.

But who am I to say that you should follow the rules? After all, aren't rules there to be broken? Follow your own rules.
Create your own style. It can be fun to experiment and add some Sprezzatura to your appearance.
Remember, every sock, every stocking has its occasion!

Raphaël van den Poel, former fashion consultant of Scapa, Reinhard Frans and Atelier NA tailored suits,
writes our weekly blog on gentleman matters. He writes for MYX Magazine, a Flemish luxury lifestyle platform.
He also has his own blog which you can read here: http://belgiandandy.blogspot.com