Men's Style Tip: How to wear red socks

Feeling unsure about how to wear brightly coloured socks for the first time? You are not alone. But adding some colour and confidence to your sock style couldn’t be easier. Red is a great shade to start experimenting with and we have curated several looks to show how striking and sharp red socks can be. From office formal to an evening out to weekend casual, LSC have you covered. And if you want to know more about the colour theory behind red, click here to learn all about it.

Take it as red for casual…

Red is widely seen as the colour of leadership, ambition and determination, making it great for feeling confident at work. But red also has a natural warmth that makes it appealing as a more playful, casual addition to an outfit. Your favourite denims – dark or light – will love red socks. For a polished off-duty cool, pair wit white or black leather trainers.

A picture of the bottom half of a man with tattooed arms sitting on some steps, wearing dark jeans with turned up cuffs, bright red socks from London Sock Company and white trainers. — Denim, red socks and white trainers. A winning casual combo.

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The perfect red socks for smart/casual

Smart / casual is the workwear norm these days, whether you are working from home or at your desk in the city. For this style, we suggest classic grey trousers or charcoal suit with open collar shirt, or even a roll neck for those colder days. Shoes, you could try a brown leather oxford shoe, or even a lovely tasseled black loafer. And most importantly, we love a Ruby Red sock. A rich jewelled red that looks sophisticated yet effortless. The perfect starter red.

If you fancy a bit of pattern, our Shaken & Stirred Red with its timeless houndstooth pattern is a playful pair that is sure to add personality.

Photo of a man sitting on a grey concrete block wearing a brown wool
blazer over a blue shirt, charcoal grey trousers, red socks, and brown leather loafers. — Ruby Red Simply Sartorials look at home with charcoal wool trousers and black loafers.

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Formal & Lounge Suits with Bold Red Socks

We’re often asked if wearing bright red socks will look good with a suit. Our answer? Yes. Red looks exceedingly smart with a formal suit at a wedding, black tie for a fancy bash or a classic suit at work.

For a professional pop, red socks will take your staple navy suit up a notch and get you noticed for the right reasons in the boardroom. LSC’s popular Routemaster Red socks are a showstopper with navy. Our tribute to an iconic symbol of London in the 20th century, the London Routemaster double-decker bus, these socks are a vivid orange-red. Simple sophistication that will catch the eye.

Photo of a man’s lower legs, wearing smart black trousers with bright red
socks and black leather monk strap shoes, pulling up the left sock with his left hand.

Dress code call for a more dressed-up vibe? Your best black or deep navy, a crisp open-collar white shirt and a black leather Oxford shoe with Simply Sartorials in Ruby Red.

Getting out the tux for a black tie affair? Go for something timeless and worthy of James Bond, with Simply Sartorial in Burgundy or the ever-slick Spot of Style in Burgundy.

Two gift boxes of luxury socks sit on a white bedspread next to various accessories for a formal black tie look – bow tie, black oxford shoes, aftershave, and tuxedo shirt. — For black tie, keep it striking and simple with Burgundy spots or Burgundy Simply Sartorial.

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Red socks for winter walks

Stepping outside for a stroll doesn’t mean you have to forgo style. Red boot socks are an effortless shade for pairing with seasonal fits. From brown chukka or derby boots, to khaki military jackets, navy wool pea coats, or black puffers, red is versatile and easy-to-wear. London Sock Company’s signature Boot Socks in ruby red are crafted from chunky knit organic cotton yarns and are rugged yet refined. Need something classy and comfy to go with wellies? Our merino wool Welly Socks in Ruby Red. For more on why our boot socks will keep you warm while looking cool this winter, check out our guide to winter socks for men.

boot socks red — Organic cotton luxury Boot Socks in Ruby Red are a stylish statement for winter walks.

Red socks are ideal for date night

Whether it’s the first date or the 100th, it’s still important to impress. Davide here has opted for a subtle statement suit in dusky blue corduroy and paired it with red patterned socks from our Ottaway Style collection. For a more relaxed date, try some smart chinos with a more casual shirt in khaki green with the sleeves rolled up, and Simply Sartorial socks in Ruby Red. Red socks also make the ideal Valentine’s Day gift for the dapper gent. It’s no secret that red is a colour that stands for passion after all …

A man and woman sitting at a table in front of a fireplace, the man is wearing London Sock Company's Ottaway Style Socks in a deep red colour. — Thankfully Davide finds his joke hilarious. Wearing Ottaway Style in Red.

Red sports socks

For most, the go-to natural choice for casual crew sports socks is white. But what if we told you that red sports socks are an easy way to step up your workout and weekend wear. Our Simply Active Crew socks in Real Red are crafted from organic cotton and feature breathable mesh, cushioning and arch support. This makes them great for going to the gym, yes. But these features also ensure complete comfort all day no matter what you are doing. They also look really cool. So, are you ready to trade up your whites?

A man in white sneakers and red socks from the London Sock Company leaning against a wall. — Simply Active Crew sports socks in Real Red

For those looking for more of a nod to sporting greats rather than great sporting themselves, stylishly step up in red socks from two collections that channel the power of great sportsmen. Grab a pair of Ruby Red socks emblazoned with the England FA‘s iconic crest from the Three Lions Collection, the official socks of the England FA. Or embody the swagger and style of the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali, with Routemaster Red socks from LSC’s official set in partnership with the G.O.A.T. Beautifully vibrant and a gold embroidered silhouette of Ali himself. Statement sock style.

Statement red socks from the Muhammad Ali Collection.

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Your questions answered: styling red socks

What do red socks symbolise? Red is associated with power, status and passion. Wearing it can inspire feelings of confidence and authority. It hints at extroversion, desire, and someone who likes to live life to the full.
How do you style red socks? Red socks are extremely versatile. For an easy-to-wear off-duty look, pair with dark denim, and a crewneck jumper in a block colour (a staple like black, navy or grey is safe, but go bold and stylishly clash with lavender, soft pink or light blue). Red socks are a simple way to make a statement with timeless tailoring – you can’t go wrong with a navy suit.
Who was famous for wearing red socks? As a colour of style and status, it is no wonder red socks are regularly spotted on celebrities. London Sock Company’s red socks have been worn by countless A-listers, including Ruby Red Simply Sartorials on Ronnie Woods from the Rolling Stones and Bryan Cranston, as well as Burgundy or The Rock and Pierce Brosnan.
What matches with red socks? Brighter red socks go well with navy or denim, as well as black and grey. Darker reds, like Burgundy, also look great with navy, but add depth to earthy tones like stone, brown, beige and khaki. Red goes beautifully with its colourwheel opposite, green. For something a little different, it also pairs well with purple, clashes in a cool way with pink, and complements lighter blues.