Article: Men's Style Tips: How to wear brown socks
Men's Style Tips: How to wear brown socks
Four ways to style your brown socks
Pantone has announced its always highly anticipated Colour of the Year for 2025: Mocha Mousse. A warming, brown hue imbued with richness, it is calm, classy and sophisticated. As a colour for socks, this is a versatile shade we can get firmly behind. Our Simply Sartorials in Peanut are the sock sibling to Pantone's mocha mousse – elegant and subtle.
When it comes to brown socks – rich, warm and subtly sophisticated – this colour can add strength and style to any wardrobe. It may come as a surprise, but far from being boring or folksy, brown is a versatile neutral worthy of your attention. A favourite of the style-savvy, a surefire way of making a subtle statement, and extremely easy to wear – here is why brown socks should be your new favourite.
1. Variations on a Theme
Play with different tones of brown. Swap your cream chinos for a slightly more sophisticated pair in latte or tan and wear with brown socks like these in Hazelnut Brown from our Simply Sartorial collection.
2. Brown and Blue
As a colour, brown is smart but not stiff. It can add subtle polish to off-duty outfits as well as nonchalance to more formal workwear. Lighter browns like Peanut – a lovely light mocha brown – or Cotswold Stone from our Simply Sartorial collection are really easy to wear. Try a pair with navy trousers or jeans and a shirt for grown-up dressing down, or wear with a navy suit for elegant informality.
David Gandy wears Peanut Simply Sartorial socks, photographed for The Rake magazine.
Brown socks and a sleek pair of trainers is also an easy way to achieve effortless cool. Partner with well-cut trousers rather than jeans for a sharp, classic silhouette.
3. A Hint of Hazelnut
Brown is the ultimate baseline alternative. This is an earthy neutral that works well with blues, black and other browns, as well as the equally earthy hues of warm reds, burnt orange and khaki.
Another option is instead of turning to the tried-and-tested realm of business greys when donning black, opt for a warm brown to break up the monochrome with understated confidence.
4. Dress down in brown
Brown is a great sock shade to be a bit playful with for off-duty looks. Wearing it with mustard helps add some real warmth and a pop of fun. Tailored slacks and more casual trainers are also a great way to play with the smart/casual dress code. Ayo here is wearing our Simply Sartorial Scottish Lisle Cotton socks in Peanut.
