These days, most fashion rules are breakable. Wearing dress shoes with dress socks is not one of them. So when we say that the best dress socks for men are the right choice for those once-in-a-while situations when your white crew socks won’t cut it—weddings, funerals, a Wednesday in the office—we mean it.
Where socks fall on the dressy-to-casual spectrum is contingent on a few different factors. For one, the hosiery you wear to the altar should be a lot thinner than the crew socks you wear to the tennis court. (Think of the weight of a pair of suit pants and you’re on the right track.) Because they’re often made from wool or very fine cotton knitted into thin-gauge yarns, dress socks can boast a telltale hint of sheen or luster. Most importantly, though: a proper pair of dress socks should hit the mid-calf at minimum, or slide over the calf to cover your skin when you’re sitting down.
Or forget all of that entirely, and simply buy your next pair right here, our guide to the absolute best dress socks for men. From high-quality merino-wool calf socks to moisture-wicking, stench-conquering half-calfs, these superlative pairs helped our dogs breathe easy—and they’ll do the same for yours, too.
The Best Men’s Dress Socks, According to GQ
In This Guide
Best Dress Socks Overall: Boardroom Merino Wool Over the Calf Dress Socks
-
Bowen Fernie
-
Bowen Fernie
Boardroom
Merino Wool Over the Calf Dress Socks
Pros
- Made in the USA
- Breathable, moisture-wicking merino wool
- Reinforced heels and flat-seam toes
Cons
- Very few, though over-the-calf style won’t be for everyone
These days, it seems as though most of the top-notch socks are made overseas in places like England with a rich sartorial history to back up the need for quality dress socks. But, to our surprise, some of our favorite dress socks are made right at home. Boardroom’s socks are made in the USA using merino wool that’s breathable and naturally moisture-wicking. They’re crafted with reinforced heels and toes. And, as any good pair of socks should be, they’re knit with a flat seam toe—which, in tandem with a high-reaching over-the-calf length, ensures you’ll never catch these wool socks bunching. “Given the quality, I would’ve expected these socks to be twice the price,” GQ style commerce writer Gerald Ortiz says. And the best part of it all is that they’ll only cost you about $18 per pair.
Best Cotton Dress Socks: Pantherella Pembrey Socks
-
Bowen Fernie
-
Bowen Fernie
Pros
- Silky smooth Sea Island cotton
- Totally seamless
- No wool means more breathability
Cons
Pantherella has long been a go-to of office-roving suits for decades. And while the high-quality English hosier makes some pretty spectacular wool socks, it’s Pantherella’s cotton socks that stand out to us. Specifically, the Pembrey socks which use ultra rare Sea Island cotton, prized for its exceptional length, hand, and durability. “Pantherella have made my go-to dress socks for years,” Ortiz says. “They’re silky smooth, highly breathable, and totally seamless which makes for a super comfortable wear.” And with a healthy dose of nylon, this cotton blend will outlast most other socks in your drawer.
Best Anti-Odor Dress Socks: Mack Weldon Silver Extended Crew Dress Socks
-
Bowen Fernie
-
Bowen Fernie
Mack Weldon
Silver Extended Crew Dress Socks
Pros
- Anti-stench Silver fabric
- Reinforced heel and toe
Cons
For the funkier feet among us, socks are a particular pain point. That goes double when you’ve got to jam your dogs into a pair of leather Oxfords instead of ultra-breathable mesh runners. So to prevent the funny looks and crinkled noses, the best anti-stench socks are from Mack Weldon. They’re made using the brand’s Silver fabric which incorporates silver ions into the sock which works to fend off the gross microbes that cause the stink in the first place.
