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
Materials: 85% combed cotton,10% ionic+ silver, 4% nylon, 1% elastic | Length: Over the calf | Sizes: one size | Colors: black, charcoal, navy, plus a variety of patterns
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.
Best Budget Dress Socks: Uniqlo Color Socks
Materials: 58% Cotton, 27% Acrylic, 11% Nylon, 2% Spandex, 2% Polyester | Length: mid-calf | Sizes: one size | Colors: varies
When you’re caught in a bind and need some dress socks that won’t break the bank, the best budget dress socks are undoubtedly from Uniqlo. Not only do they come in every classic suit color you ever need, they come in a zillion different colors that would match all the suits you really don’t. They’re plain, simple, and cheap as hell. “In a pinch, they’re great socks that’ll blend into any dressy occasion,” Ortiz says, “even if they’re maybe better suited for situations that don’t require a suit.”
Best Cushioning Dress Socks: Gold Toe Harrington Crew Socks (6-Pack)
Materials: 78% Combed Cotton, 19% Polyester, 3% Spandex | Length: mid-calf | Sizes: large, extra-large | Colors: varies
Unless you spring for bespoke hard-bottoms that are perfectly molded to your feet, most dress shoes aren’t exactly a walk in the park when it comes to comfort, especially straight out of the box. So if you need a little extra cushion, we’d recommend a pair of Gold Toes. They come with a reinforced heel as well as plenty of cushioning at the arch so even if you’re still wincing through breaking in your brand new pair of dress shoes, at least your socks will make the gauntlet a little more bearable. They may not be the dressiest socks, but they come in all the colors you need and can pass muster for most formal situations. Plus, a pack of six pairs will cost you less than a large pepperoni pizza.
More Dress Socks We Love
Bombas Dress Calf Sock
Polo Ralph Lauren Assorted Supersoft Dress Socks (3-Pack)
Falke Lhasa Wool & Cashmere Dress Socks
Darn Tough Standard Mid-Calf Lightweight Sock
Bresciani Cotton Pin Dot Long Socks
What to Look For in a Pair of Dress Socks
Can you skate by—proverbially and literally—with a pair of men’s dress socks that doesn’t check every box detailed up top? Sure: you can nix the wool fabric, or eschew that signature luster. The main details you don’t want to futz with, though, are the ribbing, color, and length. Keep the first simple and streamlined, the second in roughly the same hue as your pants, and the third at at least mid-calf.
How We Tested
To kick off the process, we enlisted a who’s who of GQ staffers to wear-test our contenders. Some of our colleagues have worked in retail; others have toiled for small-batch labels; all spend objectively too much time thinking about getting dressed each morning. We leaned on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrowed down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Our testers owned some of the socks on this list already, but a whole bunch were totally new to us. So after wear-testing the entire crop, we recorded our deeply scientific observations and rejiggered our selections accordingly. Based on those evaluations, we ran the numbers, collated the anecdotal evidence, and emerged with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best dress socks for men right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there’s bound to be a pair here for you. (Read more about GQ‘s testing process here.)
