Fashion Today: How to express your style despite a conservative dress code

Socks

Formal attire generally requires dress socks (no ankle-baring allowed at most conservative workplaces). 

While there’s certainly nothing wrong with a high-quality dress sock in navy or black, socks are an excellent place to add some color to an otherwise conservative outfit. It’s a common rule that your socks should match your pants, but once you’re confident in your style and in your sense of color, feel free to get creative and break that rule.

When shopping for socks, pay attention to fibers: higher-grade cotton, extra-fine merino wool, and cashmere-silk blends are all good choices. If you’re just beginning to pay attention to your socks, start simple with traditional patterns. Some great examples are these pairs in herringbone, pin dots, stripes, and argyle. 

If you’re loath to draw too much attention to your ankles and calves, you can start out with patterns in navy, charcoal, brown, and burgundy, all shades that will look good with most suits. If you’re a little bit more daring, go for socks in bolder solids that complement the color of your pants. 

And if you really want to experiment, go for styles like these in bolder patterns or brighter colors that echo the colors of your tie, shirt, or pocket square.