The Best Socks Brands On Earth (According To Esquire Editors)
You want the best. And heck, you deserve the best. But there's a lot of choice out there, and sometimes the best is hard to find. Fortunately, we know where to find it. Every week, the Esquire editors reveal their favourite brands, from under-the-radar steals to luxury loves, so you can invest in the best clothes, watches and accessories that money can buy.
This week, the important thing you're giving no real importance: socks.
Nike
Charlie Teasdale, Style Director
"Really, I should be writing about Uniqlo socks, which are wonderful, and Arket socks, which place a close second (especially those grey marl ones, which are perfect with black shoes and blue denim).
"But I have to go with my heart, not my head. Nike’s Essential white sports socks are the ones I look forward to wearing the most. They are tough, comfortable, weirdly flattering (when worn with shorts), and they speak of a ‘me’ that’s more athletic, more relaxed and more like a professional footballer at leisure. And three pairs for £15!"
Gap
Tom Banham, Digital Editor
"I've always loathed a statement sock. I always think it feels so needy to have some coruscating pop of paisley or tartan yelling at everyone from down there, drowning out the rest of what you're wearing. They remind me of whacky uncles, and people who love penny farthing racing, or who have Instagram accounts for their moustaches.
"A sock, im(not so)ho, should be a rock-solid buffer between shoes and trousers, two places in your wardrobe that are actually ripe for self-expression. Which is why I love Gap's ribbed crew socks. They add a little bit of texture and are basically bombproof. They come in a bunch of colours, but you want black, navy, forest green or white. Those are the shades to stick to. That's my final statement on statement socks."
Uniqlo
Murray Clark, Digital Style Editor
"I never gave much thought to socks, and reader: I'm not proud of that. We're talking holes in the toes, threadbare heels, a grizzled survivor on The Road hiding pure sloth in a pair of Reebok Classics. If you can't see it, then it doesn't exist. Right? WRONG.
"Socks are so important. Ones without holes in, especially when you're in a stranger's home and they're the sort to get funny about shoes on the carpet. So enlist Uniqlo. They're absurdly affordable, keep their stretch for an ungodly amount of time and sit in a sweet spot between pure Federer sportswear and the brightest monogrammed shade of investment banker. I've bought loads, largely in a Hubba Bubba pink. And yes, without my big toe on show. "
Pantherella
Finlay Renwick, Deputy Style Editor
"A brand that really knows its stuff when it comes to socks, there are 12 unique steps that go into making a pair of Pantherellas, a time-honoured process that has taken place inside its Leicester factory since 1937. When the market was full of heavy wool hosiery, Pantherella focused on a more streamlined design in silk or sea island cotton, building a rep for the best of the best.
"Today they stitch and sell a little bit of everything. My personal favourite being the Danvers ribbed-knit in red. Cotton with a little bit of nylon blended in for some stretch and durability, they work particularly well with dark tailoring and combat boots. A little pop of Pantherella red sneaking out from the crop of the trouser."
Falke
Dan Choppen, Fashion Assistant
"Ever since my dad got the very first iPod in 2001, he's loyal to Apple. I can’t blame him: so have I. But can the same brand allegiance work with socks? Yes. Yes it can.
"Falke has been developing technically sound fabrics since being founded in 1895. To match their top notch activewear line, there's also an enormous range of socks for every occasion. So hiking, and tennis, and running, and suits, and even indoor go-nowhere house socks. Falke's got it, and these German go-tos are super comfortable, not too thick and keep their shape after a number of wears."
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