Socks thread

Dropbear

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I buy bulk dress socks from Costco, but I’m curious to know if I’m really missing out on anything special with all these high-end socks.

#sockdaddy
 

Great White Snark

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836
I buy bulk dress socks from Costco, but I’m curious to k Le if I’m really missing out on anything special with all these high-end socks.

#sockdaddy

Fair question and I’d bet a large sum of money that the law of diminishing returns sets in massively at a fairly low price. But don’t let that stop those with more money than sense spending large amounts on socks and then trying to convince themselves and the rest of us plebs that they really provide some kind of orgasmic experience to which we are excluded.
 

The Shooman

A Pretty Face
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I buy bulk dress socks from Costco, but I’m curious to know if I’m really missing out on anything special with all these high-end socks.
#sockdaddy

Let me just say....

it does not get any better than when a man wears the top sox. I used to be like you, l was a cheapy when it came to sox. Sox are the most important item of clothing bar none.

Are top sox worth the money? You bet your sweet backside they are. When they fit, look good and feel good there is nothing quite like it. Sock daddies know about these things. No-one likes the high prices, we hate it, but when we have the good sox we feel great. We sock daddies love going to our impeccably stocked sock draw and marvelling over our great collections.

I used to think Gallo tailoring line was the bees knees of sox. Well mate, l recently stepped it up to the highest level in the world, and l can tell you that my mind is blown. The sox l have now is beyond what you can even imagine. Yeah, the prices are totally puke worthy, but they are works of art that only the best handmade shoes are worthy of wearing with. Even Edward Green and John Lobb rtw aren't worthy of being worn with William Abraham sox. I have decided to bite the bullet and buy maybe 12 - 20 pairs of William Abraham to spread over the rest of my life....they can be my special occasion sox worn during Spring and Autumn. These sox are an event...they are extra long, spectacularly made, works of art and perfect. Sometimes a man wants to wear clothing with no compromise and enjoy the best of everything.

Here is my initial test order from William Abraham. I love this company's dedication to true luxury.
20230904_101902.jpg 20230904_102003.jpg

Stunning stingray sox
20230904_102032.jpg

20230904_141853.jpg 20230904_141922.jpg


The stingray sox are the bees knees. Check these out. I will be buying more of those in different stunning colours.


 
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The Shooman

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O.k...lets talk about prices.

Those 3 pair cost me about $435.00 ASD including exchange rate, credit card fee etc. Obviously l am not going to buy heaps of these, but spending maybe 2K total on a special selection of extra nice sox for special occasions can be justified. The thing is....these socks are solid and have a 30% silk 70% top notch sea island cotton combo, it should be a strong combination of the best longest fiber materials known. These should be great quality socks. The other thing is the cheaper postage to Oz, l can justify buying WA instead of Gallo tailoring line which charges $100 ASD for postage. Gallo top line socks are no longer worth the price, but for a bit more money l can justify William Abraham which is much much much better for much less postage. In fact, William Abraham's cheapest options cost the same as Gallo's top range.

There is also the New Zealand red deer socks which cost $2,000 ASD from William Abraham. They are said to last a long time and feel amazing. But even if they last 100 wearings, that is still $20 per wear. Far too high a price for a sock.

My regular socks are going to be Bresciani and Corgi from now on. Currently stocking up on boxes of Bresciani special orders from my local shop and Kabbaz Bresciani....they will be my main ones. Corgi thick welly boot socks will be my winter ones worn 4 months of the year. I have accumulated heaps of those thick corgi knee high socks, and they last ages. Yeah, the sox are pricey, but they are worth it.

Also bought a Corgi cashmere/cotton blend, thinking it would be a great sock. I was wrong, it was pure rubbish. The top of the socks stretched and fell down to my ankles after only a few steps. They also feel rough on the bottom of the foot sue to the weave. Won't be buying those again, a major disappointment.

I really do not like the Viccel socks. They are not traditional sock makers, and it shows. Far too many dogs in the batch.
 
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güero

Talk to me like a 5 year old daddy
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I still happily buy and wear Calze Sabas, just received an order a couple of days ago. 100% egyptian fil d'ecosse 90/2 with a 240 knit and handlinked toes. About 10-15€ per pair. I do think there is a huge difference between 100% cotton and cotton-plastic blends. I also think the handlinked toes feel nicer than regular socks. Would not wear plastic socks anymore.
 

The Shooman

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4,559
Here is a better photo of one of the socks l bought from William Abraham. 30% silk 70% sea island cotton. Imagine how striking that is going to look. Many of these socks will be reserved for white or cream trousers and tan shoes worn on nice sunny days, some will be worn with navy trousers and black shoos. Eye popping colour combinations.
William Abraham stripe sock.jpg


Some of the Corgi winter sox l bought recently.

The 65% cashmere and 35% cotton. Don't think much of it. Doesn't quite go over the calf, so falls down.
Corgi 65% cashmere35% cotton.jpg

Love the extra long welly boot socks. Have bought many pairs over the years. 70% wool, 10% silk, 10% cotton and 10% cashmere. One of the heels is getting thin after 3 years of decent wear so l will be darning the area soon.
Corgi 70% wool 10% cotton 10% cashmere 10% silk.jpg


My Viccel 70% wool 30% silk socks have so many failures that they have been darned all over the place. Some have up to five repairs on a sock.I am so frugel when it comes to socks that l am reluctant to throw them away; shoes last a lifetime, but socks don't so l repair them over and over again to get good value from them. One day when the heels wear out l might have to consult with fxh fxh and learn how to install a new heel area. I will make a whole knew sock with replacement parts.

I even have my old school and scout over-the-calf socks from over 40 years ago in my collection that are still wearable, and I still have 100 pair of those old cheap navy socks boxed away along with hundreds of pairs of the aussie bamboo sox l bought from a local factory insider. I always buy lots of sox because they wear out and you never know when a new pair is needed; l like being well stocked.
 

Dropbear

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spending maybe 2K total on a special selection of extra nice sox for special occasions can be justified.

I just paid out some cash to take the whole family to a Carribean island paradise for a week, staying in a private villa right on the beach with a stunning coral reef a short swim away. And now you tell me I could have bought two pairs of big daddy socks instead?? 🤦‍♂️
 

Sammy Ambrose

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1,443
I just paid out some cash to take the whole family to a Carribean island paradise for a week, staying in a private villa right on the beach with a stunning coral reef a short swim away. And now you tell me I could have bought two pairs of big daddy socks instead?? 🤦‍♂️
Bur come on, Dropbear! With those Costco sox, the islanders will be sniggering and saying how few Big Sox Babas there are these days.
 

Dropbear

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Actual photos of Mrs DB and I, as I blow my big sock daddy budget on a frivolous and sockless experience:

IMG_0515.jpeg
IMG_0516.jpeg
IMG_0518.png


If only I had the good sense to stay home and buy a couple of fancy socks instead!
 

The Shooman

A Pretty Face
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4,559
^^^

I actually agree with that, a frivolous and sockless experience. You couldn't pay me to go to a Carribean island, l think that would be pure torture. $$$ spent on sox would be money much better spent imo.
 

Great White Snark

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836
^^^

I actually agree with that, a frivolous and sockless experience. You couldn't pay me to go to a Carribean island, l think that would be pure torture. $$$ spent on sox would be money much better spent imo.
This post makes me feel good on two counts.

On the one hand it demonstrates that variety is the spice of life, different strokes for different folks, life would be lacking if everyone was the same etc etc.

On the other it makes me feel good to know that the odds are slightly lengthened of me bumping into a relentlessly boring soul-less out-of-touch dullard the next time I’m relaxing on a tropical island paradise.
 

Sammy Ambrose

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1,443
This post makes me feel good on two counts.

On the one hand it demonstrates that variety is the spice of life, different strokes for different folks, life would be lacking if everyone was the same etc etc.

On the other it makes me feel good to know that the odds are slightly lengthened of me bumping into a relentlessly boring soul-less out-of-touch dullard the next time I’m relaxing on a tropical island paradise.
Careful, Snarkers! There are still unfilled places for snarky iGents in Shooey's Boocamp.
 

Dropbear

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I’m going to cancel the tropical vaccay so I can sign-up to get lectured to by Shooey about thousand dollar socks!

Clearly I’ve got my priorities all wrong. I used to spend a little on undies in my single days, just to make sure they looked ok if I got lucky. Turned out that I should be all about the socks.

Thank you Big Sock Daddy! 😁
 

QuandoDio

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1,372
People who deride quality socks have not really experienced it. Akin to Alice before she went through the looking glass and can't go back.

Socks are sartorially important- the look, the durability , the touch, seasonality and the elasticity ( aka proper sizing) of socks.

I grimace more when a gent is in a suit/OJ and trousers combo and when they sit, their unsightly hairs are peeking between the top of the sock and the hem of the trousers than say doghouse doghouse and other sockless rapscallions. In the case described, an OTC sock is the only solution.

Quality socks, IME, if treated properly and ofc if you have enough, simply last longer. I have socks that are well over a decade old that I still wear.

The one-size-fits-all/Made-in-insert country here- socks simply sucks. I am usually a UK size 12/12.5 and wearing socks that are close to my size is simply a daily revelation. I am an avid exerciser and very active and when I resort to sports socks for those daily but necessary pursuits, it sucks so much that I have resorted to doing a quarter to a half of workouts sans shoes. One day I won't have to travel and have my own state-of-the-art private gym and all exercises bar hiking will be sockless and shoeless.

Another not often heralded reason for quality socks is fabric choice. For most Suit/OJ it is OTC wool of some sort; during the warmer months, I am in linen socks (find me regularly available, individually sized linen or ramie socks); for Black tie or other formal occasions (which for me it is mostly NYE), it is OTC silk/silk-mix. For knocking about, OTC Lisle or some wool-mix. I haven't even got to patterns.

Now, go shopping!

PS

I depart with The Shooman The Shooman on travel though;)
 
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Sammy Ambrose

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1,443
I’m going to cancel the tropical vaccay so I can sign-up to get lectured to by Shooey about thousand dollar socks!

Clearly I’ve got my priorities all wrong. I used to spend a little on undies in my single days, just to make sure they looked ok if I got lucky. Turned out that I should be all about the socks.

Thank you Big Sock Daddy! 😁
Don't get Shooey started on undies, DB!

But maybe FxH can advise on those regarding how to patch and repair when they become threadbare after a few decades.
 

doghouse

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I grimace more when a gent is in a suit/OJ and trousers combo and when they sit, their unsightly hairs are peeking between the top of the sock and the hem of the trousers than say doghouse doghouse and other sockless rapscallions. In the case described, an OTC sock is the only solution.

I don't always wear socks, but when I do they are OTC
 

The Shooman

A Pretty Face
Messages
4,559
People who deride quality socks have not really experienced it. Akin to Alice before she went through the looking glass and can't go back.

Socks are sartorially important- the look, the durability , the touch, seasonality and the elasticity ( aka proper sizing) of socks.

I grimace more when a gent is in a suit/OJ and trousers combo and when they sit, their unsightly hairs are peeking between the top of the sock and the hem of the trousers than say doghouse doghouse and other sockless rapscallions. In the case described, an OTC sock is the only solution.

Quality socks, IME, if treated properly and ofc if you have enough, simply last longer. I have socks that are well over a decade old that I still wear.

The one-size-fits-all/Made-in-insert country here- socks simply sucks. I am usually a UK size 12/12.5 and wearing socks that are close to my size is simply a daily revelation. I am an avid exerciser and very active and when I resort to sports socks for those daily but necessary pursuits, it sucks so much that I have resorted to doing a quarter to a half of workouts sans shoes. One day I won't have to travel and have my own state-of-the-art private gym and all exercises bar hiking will be sockless and shoeless.

Another not often heralded reason for quality socks is fabric choice. For most Suit/OJ it is OTC wool of some sort; during the warmer months, I am in linen socks (find me regularly available, individually sized linen or ramie socks); for Black tie or other formal occasions (which for me it is mostly NYE), it is OTC silk/silk-mix. For knocking about, OTC Lisle or some wool-mix. I haven't even got to patterns.

Now, go shopping!

PS

I depart with The Shooman The Shooman on travel though;)

It is so good to be in the company of men who appreciate a good sock. Like with neckties, it is the one thing that cannot be skimped on. A man cannot have a shabby sock, it must look amazing and feel amazing over its life. Due to your advice, l do wear linen sox over the summer. Soon l might be a bit naughty and do William Abraham 100% silk....apparently it is like drinking fine wine....doesn't last long, but it is a special experience; l will do it just once to see what all the fuss is about.

Yes, one size fits all is so dumb. It always perplexed my why Kabbaz offered so many great sox in one size fits all.

You know, I really understand William Abraham's vision. So few sock companies make really beautiful socks. Look at the sock combos done at S.F, so many sox are boring. Look at https://meschaussettesrouges.com so many boring old man socks that put me to sleep. I want amazing sox; l like Gallo top range (great patterns and workmanship), Kabbaz sized socks (great designs), some Bresciani one tones and William Abraham. Falke and Pantherella etc also look boring.

But QuandoDio QuandoDio , like you say...men wear the most awful socks. I watched a video of John Anderson the ex PM that other day. He has great suits and shoos, but l saw his terrible short socks showing off his legs. I was surprised, l never thought he'd be that type of guy to cut corners like that. It reminds me, l am going to contact him and recommend good sox to him. It is difficult to find good socks in Oz...over-the-calf is rare, and if they are otc they are usually in black or navy. So many cheap Chinese made sox everywhere; Kabbaz said that 99.9% of socks are made in China and massed produced, it is truly vomit worthy.

The sock market is lacking because men are nub/plebs when it comes to sox. Men don't understand about these things, but maybe we should start getting men on board, and fxh can start a repair service for when the sox wear out....he can install a new toe area, a new heel area, and a new leg area when needed so our socks last forever. Just imagine that, a $1,000 sock that lasts for 30 years, if we get fxh fxh on board we might be able to make it happen.
 

The Shooman

A Pretty Face
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4,559
Imagine having these for a nice winter night at home and an open fire. Yeah it's pricey, but just imagine the experience and satisfaction one can have wearing these, especially if red wine was also consumed. 😍

Making a new sock list for William Abraham in case l forget. Look at how stunning some of these socks are. Just imagine how good it would be to have 20 pair of the best William Abraham socks, and being able to pull them out on occasions when you really want to step up your sock game to the highest level. Knowing you have them there...and knowing you can do it, that is what life is about. Will have to wait until the aussie dollar gets better before l buy those fancy buggers.

Btw, those 100% WA silks are 2 ply made with double robustness.

 

Elote

Active Member
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40
Shooey, for relaxing on a cold winter night, nothing beats Purdey 4 needles hand knit 100% over the calf shooting hose. Those babies are worth every cent.
Thick over the calf cashmere, pure perfection!
 

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