Yes? No?
Khaki socks with khaki pants?
Allthingstrad
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Yes? No?
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Never! This is one combo I can't abide. If I'm wearing Khakis (meaning Bill's, and not a pair of tan dress trousers), assuming I even have socks on, they will be either solid blue, argyle, or a random color unrelated to anything else I'm wearing (a rusty almost pinkish red looks nice with Cordovan loafers).
Well, khaki-colored socks would be "correct" to wear with khakis, but there's so much more opportunity out there.... Khakis are inherently casual to varying degrees, so they are perfect IMO for wearing socks in all different shades -- perhaps somewhat matching the shirt one is wearing and sometimes not at all. Blue or gray is always appropriate, but I like to add in green or burgundy in the winter months (whether solid or argyle, etc.) and sometimes throw in light blue, coral, pink or yellow in warmer months, when I'm wearing socks at all.
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Kabert is right about socks.
I am not wearing khakis, per se, but 110s wool/cashmere blend twill khaki colored dress trousers from Ralph Lauren. With germanius' assent, I decided to wear a pair of khaki colored wool socks and my new brown grain burnished calf leather Loake shoes (plain toe).
In related news, I am wearing a MTM white dress shirt (spread collar and red and blue micro checks) and a charcoal merino wool collared pullover from Brooks Brothers. A pair of Polo horn glasses is on my face, and my Jordache watchface w/ a sky/colbalt/white grossgrain band is on my wrist.
What are you wearing?
"Since it's a traditional, preppy look it's best if balanced by a relatively small four-in-hand knot." He sips his martini, recrossing his legs. "Next question?"
I am not wearing khakis, per se, but 110s wool/cashmere blend twill khaki colored dress trousers from Ralph Lauren. With germanius' assent, I decided to wear a pair of khaki colored wool socks and my new brown grain burnished calf leather Loake shoes (plain toe).
In related news, I am wearing a MTM white dress shirt (spread collar and red and blue micro checks) and a charcoal merino wool collared pullover from Brooks Brothers. A pair of Polo horn glasses is on my face, and my Jordache watchface w/ a sky/colbalt/white grossgrain band is on my wrist.
What are you wearing?
"Since it's a traditional, preppy look it's best if balanced by a relatively small four-in-hand knot." He sips his martini, recrossing his legs. "Next question?"
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Khaki-colored gabs, flat front, blue/white gigham J. Press button down, Cordovan belt with BB/Alden tassel loafers, blazer from Andover.
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I agree completely with kabert. The normal "rule' is that socks should match trousers, but the rule is clearly more relaxed for casual wear such as khakis. So, wearing khaki socks with khakis is absolutely ok, it is not remotely required. Moreover, it is actually somewhat problematic since shades of khaki can actually be quite difficult to "match" (I use that word loosely since one need not actually match the color, but many shades of khaki just don't go with other shades of khaki). So, experimenting as kabert suggests is outstanding advice, I think.
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I don't own khaki colored socks, and have no plans to. For some reason, it strikes me as really geeky. Almost always wear some sort of predominantly navy sock. I also sometimes wear colored socks with other ensembles. Is that so wrong?
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I agree with you. I think socks should match something else you are wearing other than your pants, though incidently complementing some color in your pants may be a nice bonus.
Navy socks with navy pants or khaki socks with khaki pants literally match, but do not match in the sense that they do not complement each other as optimally as possible. There are two reasons in chief I can come up for this point-of-view: (1) the lack of contrast between sock and pants confuses where one ends and the other begins, and makes your shoes look anamolous, as the leather will certain be very different in color from either, and (2) socks are an opportunity to highlight your outfit and draw it to a coherent conclusion--why waste it?
Analogously, you probably wouldn't want to wear a tie and shirt that are the same color.
Navy socks with navy pants or khaki socks with khaki pants literally match, but do not match in the sense that they do not complement each other as optimally as possible. There are two reasons in chief I can come up for this point-of-view: (1) the lack of contrast between sock and pants confuses where one ends and the other begins, and makes your shoes look anamolous, as the leather will certain be very different in color from either, and (2) socks are an opportunity to highlight your outfit and draw it to a coherent conclusion--why waste it?
Analogously, you probably wouldn't want to wear a tie and shirt that are the same color.
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Garfield,
I think that is basically right subject to some explanation regarding dress trousers in khaki color. First, I would caution that the khaki socks must coordinate well with the trousers. This can be more easily accomplished if the sock is not a solid, but is dominant khaki but argyle or another multi-color design. Also, it is best to err on the side of the socks being darker (rather than lighter) in shade than the pants -- kind of between the shoe and the trousers (and incidentally I would normally stay away from black shoes with dress khakis). The multi-color socks should compliment the khaki color but should also compliment the shoe tone. Te possiblities are easier to appreicate if you wear tan, brown, chili or cordovan tone shoes.
My two cents. Others are sure to disagree.
I think that is basically right subject to some explanation regarding dress trousers in khaki color. First, I would caution that the khaki socks must coordinate well with the trousers. This can be more easily accomplished if the sock is not a solid, but is dominant khaki but argyle or another multi-color design. Also, it is best to err on the side of the socks being darker (rather than lighter) in shade than the pants -- kind of between the shoe and the trousers (and incidentally I would normally stay away from black shoes with dress khakis). The multi-color socks should compliment the khaki color but should also compliment the shoe tone. Te possiblities are easier to appreicate if you wear tan, brown, chili or cordovan tone shoes.
My two cents. Others are sure to disagree.
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I wouldn't say that. I'm wearing Khaki colored gabs today, and I have on blue socks. I'll do this purely on principle, but I'm also wearing a blue gigham shirt and a blazer, so it's doubly OK IMHO.
I think that regardless of where a pair of khaki pants lies on the casual to dress spectrum, a different color pair of socks is appropriate when wearing an odd coat. I agree with mafoofan that it is the uniformity that knocks an ensemble out of balance; the coat, tie, shirt, and pants contrast in varying degrees, so to have socks the same color of your pants does is somewhat of a visual anomoly.
For a suit, on the other hand, I would say that a rule of thumb is to match socks to pants, even with a khaki suit, but of course this is not a strict rule.
For a suit, on the other hand, I would say that a rule of thumb is to match socks to pants, even with a khaki suit, but of course this is not a strict rule.
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Biafra,
Does your advice obtain with any color trousers worn with a sport coat, or is it special to khaki. While of course fashion "rules" are hardly "rules" as such, it strikes me as dangerously fashion foreward to depart from the match the trousers rule when wearing a suit. I have always understood that this "rule" was also generally applicable when wearing dress trousers with a sport coat or blazer. I like the idea of relaxing this rule, an idea you obviously endorse, but wonder if your more relaxed "rule" is limited to khakis or would have more general application.
Thanks.
Does your advice obtain with any color trousers worn with a sport coat, or is it special to khaki. While of course fashion "rules" are hardly "rules" as such, it strikes me as dangerously fashion foreward to depart from the match the trousers rule when wearing a suit. I have always understood that this "rule" was also generally applicable when wearing dress trousers with a sport coat or blazer. I like the idea of relaxing this rule, an idea you obviously endorse, but wonder if your more relaxed "rule" is limited to khakis or would have more general application.
Thanks.
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My last post was referring to khaki colored dress trousers, of course.
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