Of socks. Length matters.

Socks. Most of us would be happy wearing any pair of socks so long as it is black. But I would relegate black socks charcoal or black suits, or pants for the most formal of all functions and funerals. Add some colour by wearing some coloured socks if you chose to wear lighter tones or colours.



But today this isn't about coloured socks. It is about the length of socks we can purchase here in Malaysia. The maroon one (Uniqlo) to the left is the usual length of sock that we can purchase at most stores in Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding. Very affordable but quite short. It usually ends up somewhere at the lower part of your calf. Most men wear this length and it is quite suitable in our very humid climate. But it has a flaw. It usually rolls down a little at the top and even if it did not, you would be showing a lot more leg than what you are supposed to show when wearing socks. Note the slightly inelegant showing of calf between one's pair of pants and the sock if you sit crossing your legs. Or when  you put a foot up higher than usual showing off that gap between the sock top and the bottom of the pants...or trousers some say.

photo: berluti

The solution is to wear longer socks. Mid calf at the very least or full length over the calf, almost knee high socks. Or no socks at all - if you're into those footies..or invisible socks, make sure they're really hidden from view and do not wear socks which show a bit at the ankle. I believe that it's either proper length socks, hidden footies or totally sockless for that proper Italian ( or warm weather) look you're going after.

Two issues are usually brought up. The first being wouldn't the extra length make one's legs hotter in this climate? Well you do not actually sweat much at the calves or feet. And if the socks are properly made, and thin enough, they are pretty comfortable in some ways.

The other more pertinent issue is the fact that over the calf or knee high socks are ridiculously hard to find locally. Aside from ordering through the internet, your choices are limited to mid calf length socks by Brooks Brothers (the sock in the middle) which have stores in quite a few places (One Utama, Pavillion) or heading to Paul Smith (the socks to the right of the photo) in KLCC or Pavillion along Jalan Bukit Bintang to buy a pair of their proper above the calf socks (quite limited choice and stock usually). Most are Italian made which means that they actually cost in the region of RM100.00 per pair.

Speaking about the Paul Smith above the calf socks, they are cotton, comfortable and do not roll down at all. Of course the long socks do stick a little to one's pants, sometimes. But you get rid of the problem of the socks rolling down and showing an unsightly bit of rolled socks and leg too.

Of course, if you still aren't keen of ordering via the internet, you could go to Singapore. There are more choices there. One extremely decadent choice is a pair from Berluti, which costs a whopping SGD120.00 per pair. I seriously doubt they cost that much even in Paris. 20GBP does not equate to SGD120.

Whatever the case the Berluti socks are nice to have.If you can't buy their shoes first. You can buy their socks. No?