More lost socks

We're into our recycling, so how could we resist this idea on environmental site Treehugger?

At a Bernal Heights laundromat in San Francisco finding your lost sock is taken to its natural conclusion, photographed by Todd Lappin.

Socks & politics

Gordon Brown was recently photographed wearing this woeful shoe & sock combination on The Guardian blog.

One(!) of the problem with Gordon's socks is he likes to wear 100% cotton. It doesn't stay up and definitely should be reserved for a more casual look. Business socks are usually a finer gauge cotton or merino wool and contain some nylon so they stay put and give a more polished look.

Crocs with socks? For once we're lost for words. This article from the Washington Post....

The Socktorialist

It seems that we're not the only ones in the world concerned about sock wearing. I recently got an email from a blogger devoted to socks called The Socktorialist. Here's a picture from his blog that I thought looked quite cool and got me thinking about mismatched socks. The Socktorialist claims this was a dressing oversight but it's too good.



I started thinking about mismatched socks and soon discovered there's a whole world devoted to it. There are sites that sell mismatched socks - little miss matched, painted kiwi, united odd socks - discussion forums, gizmos that stop your socks getting lost when you do laundry from socks cop, it goes on and on!

Bewildering information overload on google.

A Sartorial point of view

They say a true gentleman never allows the gap between his socks and trousers to show when he sits. It also seems that the colour of men's socks can be dictated by geography - here's an international view of men's sock style from a very well know fashion blog, the sartorialist. The Sartorialist is a must have bookmark if you're interested in fashion snaps from the streets of NY, Paris, Milan, London.

In our experience American men are the most bold in their choice of sock colours. Should socks match shoes or trousers, or not at all? Check his blog and let us know what you think!

Sex & The City's fashion lead

Knee socks and over the knee socks in every variation have been touted as being 'in' this winter and leading the way in fine style is Sarah Jessica Parker wearing over the knee argyle socks as part of her new Sex & the City wardrobe.
Add to it the socks with sandals combo and you need a PhD in advanced sock styling - clearly not a look that can easily be carried off by mere mortals....
The official Sex & the City site even has a section devoted to all the fashion looks by character, by series!

BOOGALOO STU.......rocks!

PERFORMER, DESIGNER & DJ BOOGALOO STU LONDON
"enough about you...let's talk about me"
You have to admit it takes a very confident person to pull off this look. I've never seen a man wear knee high socks with such style. Boogaloo Stu not only designs his own outfits (complete with socks & tie) but has also just released his second single "Just want you to know". What a night at his relaunch of 'Shinky Shonky' in Soho. What else can I say!

It IS all in the detail!

It's amazing the kind of conversations you get into once people know you have a cool sock website. Granted it was at a pub at a friend's birthday party. Here's someone who had EXACTLY matching Calvin Klein underwear and Burlington argyle socks in the same shade of green. (Shame I didn't get a better picture as it was taken on my mobile.)

I have to admit I was very impressed.

How to wear them DILEMMA?

So fine, socks are in the magazines but people ask - how do I wear them? (If you're one of those million girls who wore UGG boots don't even try and tell me socks aren't flattering.) As a starter if you're feeling a bit insecure buy a few magazines and see how they're styled up to get the general idea.

Here are TEN tips for the gals:
1. Over the knee socks look good but THINK twice before wearing with a miniskirt (slightly too school girl rah rah)
2. It's nice to CONTRAST a thicker ribbed sock with a floaty dress.
3. It's fine to see a bit of SKIN between your sock & dress otherwise you may as well wear tights.
4. Saying that, over the knee socks aren't as warm as wearing tights so you can keep it a SECRET if you're so inclined.
5. If you're going for a more 'fashion' look you can SCRUNCH down your knee socks to resemble a slouchy boot and wear with court shoes (pumps). If you keep the colours similar it will even look like you're wearing a boot.
6. If you're a sock NOVICE best to stay away from patterned socks as it's a much harder look to pull off (and not as flattering on the leg if you're concerned about that).
7. Short ankle socks can look really good with HEELS in the evening - it makes your outfit look less boring and also resembles those 'shoe boots' that are in fashion - again keep the same colour as your shoe unless you're more daring.
8. Socks are an easier look to pull off with CHUNKY heels than stilettos.
9. Think of socks as you would an ACCESSORY. It needs to match with everything else you have on.
10. Finally, if you're going to wear socks with SANDALS (yes, you heard right - girls only though!) make sure it's not going to rain that day.

Socks are IN!!

If you haven't noticed the fashion mags recently socks are IN (and brightly coloured tights too) and everywhere! Not that they were ever OUT from our point of view but they have been 'blessed' with the fashion wand so if you were afraid to stick your leg out before, it's OK to wear them now.

Chunky socks with shoes & open sandals - you name it. And if you don't believe us socks even feature in ads from Miu Miu to Balenciaga (love those Balenciaga lego shoes).....

PAUL DAVIES........blog star DJ+

CONSULTANT, DJ, JOURNALIST, LONDON
"it's all in the details"
PAUL'S STYLE
I have never seen someone match their socks so perfectly to their shoes. The emerald green panel that runs down the middle of the sock is the exact shade of the green band on his K-Swiss trainers. Paul hadn't worn these Commes des Garcons socks for ages because he didn't want to spoil them. Even he admits that's a bit sad. But it deserves another picture.

When Paul's not flying around interviewing someone 'big' (he'd just got back from Australia where he was talking to Marc Newson about the new 1st Class lounge designed for Qantas) he's spinning tunes in Ibiza or working with Dover Street Market and Purple PR.
DREAM SOCKS
“OK, this is highly unethical –but a pair of fine gauge socks made out of Shahtoosh would have to be the ne ultra plus for sock perverts." Anyway, it's officially declared illegal (Wiki it) so this is pure fantasy......Hmmm.

Trainer blight

I know I went on before about the trench foot ballet slipper trend in London, but now that spring is almost here I have to ask:
Why do people wear trainers without socks?
a. your feet sweat,
b. your feet smell and
c. your shoes smell
not in any specific order.
Running shoes, trainers, sneakers, whatever you want to call them it's all the same.
Nuf said.

Ankle socks galore!

A lot of girls are wearing ankle socks this summer, which is good news!
All it takes is a couple of good weather days in London for people to start coming out with their fashion looks. Snapped this girl on Portobello road wearing striped leggings with checked sneakers and black ankle socks. Simple but nice!

We'll be on the lookout for more nice sock pics once the weather gets better......

JASON PARLETT..............Aussie style!

DIRECTOR, ELEPHANT PR, SYDNEY
"everyone can feel beautiful in socks"
JASON'S STYLE
Jason was caught out on a recent trip to London wearing white sport socks. Although he reassured me that this was due to his feet being so cold and he normally wears "much classier ones". Well, we believe him, as white sport socks aren't normally part of the look when you work in fashion PR. In fact, Jason's wardrobe for his European trip was all black, blue & grey. Now that's more like it! Even so, his white socks and Converse trainers work just fine.
DREAM SOCKS
"French navy with tiny silver constellation stars and a silver toe & heel...I'm obsessed with stars. I actually bought a pair of socks from H&M with black and cream stars and wore them in Paris to a cafe called 'Etoile'. Nobody noticed."

CHRISTIAN DIENG.............Euro style!

INTERNATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR LAMBERT HOWARTH, LONDON
"knee socks are the best"
CHRISTIAN'S STYLE
Christian knows a thing or two about socks as he was very recently Commercial Director for Falke UK. Not surprisingly, his look is coordinated from head to toe with Falke burgundy cashmere socks matching the windowpane check in his grey Burberry jacket and setting off brand new red leather Adidas sneakers perfectly. Now with his new job, people will be checking out his shoes instead of his socks.
DREAM SOCKS
"My dream socks would be made from Vicuna. It would be the most expensive sock in the world. Technically the fibre is too short to make socks, but at $800 a pair they would be amazing."

LILIANA SANGUINO.........fashion style!

FASHION FREELANCER, LONDON
"a pair of socks always changes an outfit"
LILIANA'S STYLE
What do you wear in that transition period between winter & spring? Liliana's got the look with cropped grey jeans, flat black patent pumps worn with semi-sheer silver and grey socks by Marjan Pejoski and short jacket by Eley Kishimoto.
DREAM SOCKS
"Very long socks. The other day I saw a pair in the window of a fetish shop - very black, tight & shiny in latex. Hmmm!"

sox-populi in HARPERS!

"the only truly fashion led sock site on the web"
Not that we're ones to blow our own horn but Harpers UK did a review of the top 17 online fashion sites and sox-populi.com was listed Number 5. Don't mind following Mr Tom Ford at number 1!

BARRY KAMEN....sock it to me

"Respect, just a little bit"
I'm running out to Waitrose to buy my groceries and I know the only people that are gonna see me are the girls at the till, that doesn't mean I'll chuck on any old crap. I don't possess any old crap anymore, I'll still have on a sharp pair of socks and shoes. If you get the socks and shoes right the rest of the outfit falls into place. if you don't, it falls apart.
Who cares? The girls at the till don't give a toss. I care. I know.
My default setting is basically a pair of jeans and a cashmere sweater. But the shoes and the socks are key. Black Loafers, orange sock. Brown brogues, pale blue sock. Black Patents and an off white silk sock and so on. It's quiet and its thorough.
Wearing a dirty or shitty pair of socks is like having a grimey little secret. Like hidden MSG in an expensive meal. "It doesn't matter cos' nobody's gonna see em" is not the fucking point. You know the only person you're kidding is yourself.

The blues accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins.....

foot race is on
look-a yonder
what do I see?
whole lotta somethin'
comin' at me.

The Man gives great sock!!

Comme-unity

I travel a lot and I clock people from all over the planet. There are always the one or two that give you a knowing nod, acknowledging a timeless, universal code. Not the 'up to the minute trendy middle class' but the ones that understand detail. Maybe an old Gaucho in Argentina or a suited and booted old black guy on the Holloway Road in London.

This guy owns a fabric stall in Nags head market, Holloway. I shot him in Comme des Garcons and his own clothes for a japanese magazine with photographer Sal Idriss.

Shoot from outside the box

A pair of shorts is the perfect opportunity for us guys to work a sock and a fine shoe.