Men’s Style Tips: How to wear Black Socks 

Black socks for men – a stylish essential

Versatile. Dependable. Stylish. Flattering, even. Black is a shade that offers so much and yet is so, well, simple. A great black sock is an essential. Consider it the little black dress of your sock drawer. The LBS if you will. While we are champions of colour here at London Sock Company, we also believe that walking brighter is a state of mind that comes from stylish essentials, like beautifully-made black socks.

How to wear black socks

Be it a sleek block colour or an eye-catching monochrome print, black socks are as versatile as you would expect. Let’s face it, black goes with everything. At the height of formality, black socks and black tie/tuxedos are an obvious classic. But black socks are also a staple with a timeless grey suit … and they look great dressed down. In fact, far from looking dull, a black pair of socks can look unexpected and really sleek with a pair of jeans.

Can I wear all black?

Pondering all-black? Head-to-toe black is usually best-reserved for poets, fans of My Chemical Romance and Batman. That said, wearing a black shirt with your black tie For a more stylish twist on this noir aesthetic, try monochrome: black socks, with a mix of blacks, tones of grey and even dashes of white.

Looking after your black socks

The most important thing to remember with your black socks is upkeep. Striking noir requires care. There’s nothing more sad than the greyish look of an old black sock that has seen the inside of a tumble dryer too many times. London Sock Company styles are meticulously crafted to ensure they retain their brightness (or in this case, their darkness) and are best maintained by washing at 30 degrees with like colours and air drying. Want to avoid lint (or fluff from man’s best friend) taking away from the inky darkness of your socks? It is perfectly acceptable and encouraged to use a lint roller on them.

Can I wear black socks and trainers?

Absolutely. Black socks look really sharp paired with white sneakers. Whether you opt for classic canvas tennis shoes or stylish leather high-tops, black and white is a timeless combo that looks really modern. You can further elevate this shoe/sock combo by pairing a designer pattern sock style with your trusty kicks. Grab a pair of our Bond St. Herringbone in Grey socks or Spot of Style in Classic Black.

Black socks for formal occasions

There’s a reason why black socks are the go-to style for formal occasions. Plain black socks are the choice for more sombre events, such as funerals. Plain black socks should also be in your rotation for smart and black tie events – weddings, christenings or important meetings – anything that calls for a black suit. On these occasions, simplicity is key.

You can stick with black but add a hint of something different with a playful pattern. The Dash of Class Black, 6-Pair Box boasts three of our favourite black patterned styles along with three darker block colour socks. Another stylish option is Spot of Style in Classic Black, a sock that will quickly become a sock drawer favourite.

Black socks for warmer days

When the sun comes out and we switch to our summer style, black isn’t typically a natural colour choice. But the right black socks in the summer can be a great option. Simply Trainer socks in Ebony Black are a really sophisticated option option to elevate shorts and trainers. Tailored chino shorts in a lighter shade, a knit polo, black trainer socks and white trainers. Boom. Fancy something a bit more casual? Our cotton trainer socks in Black look great tucked into your trainers. When you want your shoes to do the talking, try our Simply Invisible socks in Black. Ideal for deck shoes, loafers and espadrilles.

Black socks for cooler days

When the weather gets colder, our wardrobes naturally gravitate towards darker shades. Our selection of warm, thick styles includes the Slate Grey Boot Socks, a chunky knit ribbed sock that will sit snugly under your Welly or Chukka boots. The dark grey-almost-black shade of these makes them an inspired choice for dark denim or autumnal cords – an easy way to elevate a humble, weekend look.

Smart black socks: a workwear essential

Casual attire now dominates the modern workwear wardrobe. However, for those of us who still don a suit throughout the week, a classic black sock is a choice you can make with your eyes closed. Our flagship Simply Sartorial cotton sock is a sleek style finely crafted to sit perfectly under smart shoes with our signature ‘rib’ fit. Try Simply Sartorial in Ebony Black (also available as a trio in our Simply Black, 3-Pair Box) for a luxury staple to wear for the 9-5. This signature sock is a cut above the rest.

Style tips for black socks in 2023

For some tips on styling black socks this year, we need only look at some of the looks that celebrity stylist Michael Fisher has put together. For a modern red carpet-worthy black tie look at Festival de Cannes, he put David Harbour in head-to-toe black. Entirely slick, contemporary, cool. Adding black socks to a more laid back cream tailored look is the perfect way to make it polished (just like Oscar Isaacs). Sophisticated street style like Kevin Harris Jr? Elevate with chunky black loafers and black socks. Fancy some more sock style tips from Michael Fisher? Check out his men’s style advice for spring.