What if I told you about socks? Not the ones found just before leaving this morning to “help out”. Nor the white sports sock (and only for sports) which is getting old in the drawer. Socks are too often the taboo subject, the one that we put aside because ultimately “it’s not important” or “we never notice them”.
But why so much hatred?
Quite a daring color, right?
For those who follow BonneGueule (and new ones), you are now used to putting together an outfit. But do you think about your socks? Have you ever thought that they could be important in an outfit? For some, all this is distressingly banal and already seen. For others, I speak in another language. So let me simplify things so that we can start again on a good basis:
- No matter how good your outfit is, you lose all credibility if your socks are poorly chosen. Of course, black socks are enough to avoid any headaches, and the smartest people have understood that. It is also a way of not addressing the issue further.
- In a “tailoring” outfit (i.e. a suit), socks are just as important as the choice of tie or shirt collar! (note from Benoit: I won't go that far, but it's true that the ultimate level in this style is to add a burst of color with knee-highs).
- Does this make you want to know more? Perfect. Because after this article, you have a duty to look at your feet differently. They too have the right to be clothed, so why put fabric on them that you wouldn't put on your shoulders?
- You can have better comfort in your shoes other than with a Nike or Airness sock.
Note: What we call knee-highs are socks that stop mid-calf. This allows you to wear your socks with suit pants, without showing your calves when the pants stop a little high and you sit down.
Choosing a good sock
Assuming that we will discuss the subject of knee-highs only (since that is the idea), here is some important information to know.
First, the length of the fibers used is directly determining for the life of the sock since it determines the strength of the yarn. It is in this yarn selection process that the added value of the sock lies.
As for color, you have to be careful. The techniques are not the same, the most shameful is to dye the sock after having knitted it (with unbleached yarn). The thread is poorly impregnated and the color is not fixed correctly. So you'll end up with a pale color pretty quickly. Conversely, knitting the sock from already dyed yarn is a guarantee of quality and certainly allows you to have impeccable socks that will last.
As high socks are not reserved exclusively for footballers or rugby players, men must reconsider certain positions when they consider that wearing knee-highs brings them too close to women's practices. Gentlemen, consider instead the natural elegance that a quality pair of knee-highs carefully placed in an outfit confers. Women will not reproach you for this coquetry, on the contrary. Much more than coquetry, it is about avoiding the vulgarity of exposing your calf to everyone's eyes , which can be common with formal pants.
So don't hesitate to make your daily life a joy by putting on knee-highs in the morning and being on cloud nine all day long.
Please note, it is important to point out that it is really difficult to detect whether a (new) sock has been dyed after knitting or not . The idea is to move directly towards brands whose know-how is known to everyone . The rest of this article will therefore not teach you how to detect a quality sock but rather introduce you to traditional brands specializing in knee-highs and give you advice on how to subtly integrate them into your outfits.
What is “My Red Socks” doing here?
Mes Chaussettes Rouges is the only site that references and offers for sale socks made by Gammarelli, originally intended for the Pope and Cardinals. The selection is completed by other ancestral brands (Mazarin, Bresciani, etc.), worn by several men who no longer have to prove their elegance.
For this article, I tested a panel of samples of the knee-highs sold on the site to check, like other colleagues around the world, the quality of them. Here is my report.
Gammarelli
"Founded in 1798, the Gammarelli house has always had a good reputation in Roman elegance. The tiny boutique is particularly renowned for the outfits of cardinals and ecclesiastical clothing in general. When the pope appoints new cardinals, they must be adorned with head to toe the color purple, hence the cardinal red socks..." . Gammarelli socks are legendary within the Vatican, having worn popes for over 200 years!
Among the three colors offered: red, purple and black, I decided on black which remains very safe and reliable (but be careful of overusing too dark colors!).
Very intrigued by the famous papal quality socks, I wanted to check if their immense reputation was justified. While I'm not a big wearer of knee-highs, I finally made them a focus recently. And the finesse of the material surprised me more than pleasantly. This is clearly pure refinement. Light, discreet (but there is a red model guys, give it a try), they resist wear very well, and I find them to have exceptional longevity for a price equal to what we find in the "new brands " of socks.
The Pope's socks for less than 20 euros, unrivaled quality for this price. Sober and elegant in black: to try them is to adopt them.
Mazarin
Mazarin has nothing to do with the Pope, but counts among its clients some celebrities including Vladimir Putin , Bill Clinton , Jacques Chirac and Charles de Gaulle ! While Gammarelli offers a choice of only 3 colors, Mazarin offers a palette of more than 15 colors for a choice of around forty socks! Suffice it to say that it will take you a while if you start collecting 😉
Resulting from a high-flying collaboration between Alain Stark (Stark&Sons) and sock names (pardon the pun), Mazarin has made itself accessible at the prices charged. The range is rich and allows everyone to find their way around. Mazarin has diversified and offers varied materials and patterns. Made by hand, they are identical to Gammarelli in my opinion, but do not have the same know-how either.
Oscillating between 19 euros and 32 euros for the most convoluted, we find ourselves perfectly for a product which has its place among the higher offers.
Priced at 23 euros , these socks are decorated with a discreet navy blue on blue striped pattern. The effect is subtle and refined. This is really the kind of discreet detail I like to have. Stick to colors that are less striking but with a more elaborate overall appearance. Mazarin really does a very good job with this range of striped socks at 23 euros.
These green cashmere and silk socks are a joy when you have to wear a suit and have fine, tasteful socks that keep you warm. It is a major asset in your active fight against the cold. Why deprive yourself of elegance by protecting yourself from the cold with thick socks (incompatible with a suit)?
Compromise has a certain price, but it exists. This is this model. Silk gives these cashmere socks lightness and softness. Sold for 49 euros on Mes Chaussettes Rouges , it’s an accessible luxury. It's even cheaper than a Hugo Boss perfume, without the smell of heat-sealed plastic that accompanies their costumes.
Bresciani
Italian manufacturer since 1970, not so old compared to Gamarelli, but still synonymous with seriousness, the Italian spirit is present in the creations and the search for innovation is visible. Sock lovers will turn more towards this brand which will challenge the discerning public with bold but no less elegant patterns.
Other than the patterns, Bresciani also offers innovations in materials. You will find socks in alpaca, linen, yak or cashmere . His know-how led him to work with several ready-to-wear houses who subcontracted the manufacturing of this accessory to Bresciani. In the end, Bresciani has thousands of patterns in the archives, more than a hundred different threads and some 200 new products each year, both in terms of design and models offered.
As you may have seen previously, I rarely opt for the most noticed (and remarkable) models. However, when I saw this chevron pattern , that's exactly what I wanted to express in this article. An ultra-effective twist, for those who wear the color of the sock (red, I'm still a little cautious about it).
The chevron pattern is, for me, characteristic of an elegance tinged with antiquity . The pattern should mean something to you, so you can easily put together an outfit around a pattern rather than a color . You therefore free yourself from what could be called the main obstacle and you think differently. The outfits thus created are more personal and more inspired. Socks offered at 21 euros.
Golden Golden
Even if the selection is more modest on the site, Doré Doré is the most prestigious French sock brand. The socks offered are focused on practicality and efficiency.
Curiosity overtook me when I saw what the socks were made of. Camel hair! Without knowing much about exotic pets, camel hair would have considerable strength. They have been mixed with silk and cotton to soften the sock, structure it and prevent it from being too rough in contact with the skin. 43.50 euros to wear a pair of formidable quality (and for the record in the office). Doré Doré offers a larger selection but not all of it is available on Mes Chaussettes Rouges.
Note from Benoit: If you are interested in this venerable French brand, go to Le Boulevard Doré . Those who are more cautious will opt for fleece socks , which are extremely effective. Note that the brand also offers anti-perspiration socks .
How to wear knee highs?
A good number of men have already given up on the idea of splurging on this accessory. This was my case. But why spend the rest of your life matching socks to pants, belts, or whatever? I'm not going to give you the main rules of sartorial art (roughly: everything related to tailoring). Everyone will have their own vision of what they want. But don't forget that socks are the accessory where you can afford to show off while remaining stylish.
When we've been telling you for years
how gray calms a bright color without any problem!
Hugo from Parisian Gentleman , who we regularly see with colorful knee-highs.
Photo credits: Andy Barnham.
The English like to break the formality of their gray suit with socks in striking colors: red, orange, yellow or mauve. Be careful, it's not about doing anything either. Be sure to remain clairvoyant about your ability to use this very interesting twist. Slight reminders of the patterns of your tie or pocket square will anchor the socks in the outfit and not make them a stain of color on a grayish suit. That's my advice.
However, socks give you a lot of leeway, and I will tell you to do as you wish as long as you don't have the impression of "trying hard" (doing too much, exaggerating a detail of the outfit ). You have noticed that my choices were relatively sober in this selection: the contrast advice and color reminders do not apply to the socks .
Conclusion on My Red Socks?
A magnificent discovery. I had not had the opportunity to touch such beautiful socks and wear them of this quality. I think it's an investment for a lot of people, at least it is for me . But compared to the price I can put on certain accessories or clothing, I figured it made more sense to have quality knee-highs to wear with them.
What's the point if not declaring yourself passionate about shoes only to wear socks that don't do them justice?
It is therefore worth the investment: two or three pairs cost around 40/60 euros and are more than enough to get started. Especially if the suit and shoes are not your daily life. It's also a gift that will greatly appeal to men who care about elegance, to those buying their first suit (or their fifth) or to a man who needs motivation to upgrade his outfits. Of course, nothing is indestructible or indestructible. Don't expect them to last for years. See them more as extra socks, if you don't have the finances to make them an expense like some "dandies" can do with their tailor-made suits.
Either way, I highly recommend gifting or owning a pair. If only to keep the elegance and craftsmanship of knee-highs alive, and to raise more awareness among men on the subject.
My summary on brands:
- Mazarin for the wide range of colors offered and the striking model of the cashmere collection.
- Bresciani for the infinite choice of patterns and models.
- Gamarelli remains a safe and very symbolic value (ideal for giving a gift).
- Doré Doré for the French cocorico and also because it is the one of the four which has diversified the most in the sock sector.
A little note for the disappointed : I met Jacques from the Mes Chaussettes Rouges store. He told me “you have to compare what is comparable”. Because, in fact, if you compare a pair in 100% cotton lisle with another pair with 15-20% nylon, the second is systematically more solid.
With the same composition, you will find that it is high-end socks such as Mazarin or Gamarelli that will satisfy you!
Mes Chaussettes Rouges offers shipping within 3 working days, take advantage of this for your Christmas gifts, and do not hesitate to contact them for special requests. There is even gift wrapping planned!
In addition, the store is also open this Saturday, December 21, 2013 (Mes Chaussettes Rouges, 9 rue César Franck, 75015 Paris). For those who have the opportunity (yes, always Parisians), I very strongly invite you to come in and discover the immensity of the choice. It's exhilarating to see that our horizon is not limited to black or gray (really!).
Rémi, new supporter of quality knee-highs
