23 Best Men’s Dress Socks in 2023 For Every Budget, Style, and Situation

Shopping for the best men’s dress socks at a time like this—when you still might not have an office to go to everyday—probably isn’t high on your priority list. In 2023, though, the best men’s dress socks are actually simply the best men’s socks, period. They’re no longer made of skimpy, itchy fabrics that’ll fall down around your ankles and tear at the heels after a heavy day of walking. Instead, today’s dress socks are cut from materials with all the high-quality durability, exceptional breathability, and super-soft goodness of fresh hotel linens. They’re engineered to feel as cushion-y as your sport socks and stay up on your calves all day without suffocating them completely. They just plain feel good on your feet, whether you’re throwing on loafers on your way out the door or padding around the house in slippers.

And while they say you can judge a man by his shoes, the socks you wear let everyone (your boss, your Hinge date, your parents-in-law, the barista, everyone) know you didn’t just buy fancy oxfords—you have your shit together. The right dress socks will help you look proper, show your respects, nail the job interview, stay cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. 

But what makes them the best? We’re done with the whimsical ones that look like airport carpeting. Nothing cutesy, nothing argyle (with a few exceptions), nothing “novelty.” No, you need dress socks in solid colors and subtle patterns that work under a cuffed tweed trouser, a stiff pair of jeans, and wild patterned pants. And they should make you feet feel fantastic, even after 12 hours spent cooped up in heavy leather brogues. All 23 of these dress socks—from fancy French heritage hosiery to cheap and cheerful basics—check every box.

The Best Dress Socks Shopping Guide

The Best All-Around Dress Socks

Falke airport socks

So, you might not be visiting all that many airports at the moment. But the logic behind Falke’s signature Airport socks remains sound all the same. They’re built from a supremely versatile blend of wool, cotton, polymide, and elastane that’s engineered to keep your lower extremities temperate, cushioned, and comfortable—even through a harrowing day of air travel. When you don’t have a five-hour layover to suffer through, though, these densely knit numbers will treat your tired dogs right, and the buckets of available colors and very respectable sub-$30 price tag will ensure your fits and wallet are equally satisfied.

The Best Dress Socks Even Your Old Man Will Appreciate

Pantherella Waddington cashmere-blend socks

Man, you’ve probably thought to yourself at one point or another, spying a gnarly toe peeking out from a hole in socks you bought a month ago: they really don’t make ’em like they used to. Actually, they do—at Pantherella, at least. The UK-based hosiery specialists have been churning out quality dress socks for close to a century, leaning on top-shelf fabrics—like the cashmere-nylon blend they use here—to render exquisite accessories of the highest order. This trio of can’t-miss options probably won’t turn any heads at the office, but they will make your dad so proud he’ll buy a stack, too. And that’s way more important, right?

The Best Stench-Battling Dress Socks

Mack Weldon silver extended crew dress sock

Haunted by your end-of-day foot stink? Soured relationships with friends and family over your sour-scented hooves? It’s time to bring in the big guns. Mack Weldon’s extra breathable dress socks are laced with odor-assaulting silver threads that help to keep those unwanted aromas at bay. (And they’ll look pretty killer peeking out beneath a pair of new-age dress pants, too.)

The Best Workhorse Dress Socks

Gold Toe “Harrington” crew socks (6 pairs)

On your feet all day? Grab Gold Toe’s Harrington crew socks. No, they’re not as refined as the luxury brands above, but they deliver the all-business vibes of dressy ribbed socks with built-in cushioning reminiscent of your favorite athletic socks’. Plus, at less than $4 a pair, you can afford to buy your Gold Toes by the dozen.

The Best Get-Out-of-Your-Comfort-Zone Dress Socks

Uniqlo color socks

Want to experiment a little with your socks? Start with Uniqlo. Their ribbed dress socks are shockingly well made (tightly woven, comfortably padded, super-saturated in color) for a low, low price. Plus, they come in nearly every hue you can imagine. Get teal! And eggplant! Neon pink? They’ll look good against gray or navy pants! If a color isn’t working, you’re only out a few bucks.

The Best Summerized Dress Socks

RoToTo cotton waffle crew socks

Now that it’s warm out, you’ve probably shelved the bulk of your heavy-duty footwear in favor of a slew of weather-friendly sandals, clogs, and mules—but some occasions still demand your toes (and heels) be covered. RoToTo’s waffle crew socks are exactly what you want to be wearing before slipping into a pair of well-heeled loafers on a balmy spring evening. Made from a soft cotton blend woven in Japan, they’re naturally cooling and reinforced with a ribbed cuff and hand-linked toe box to prevent untimely slippage (while still ensuring any visible ankle is framed accordingly). In other words, they’re the type of socks you’ll actually get excited about putting on—which, from a socks standpoint, is a big deal. 

The Best Dress Socks to Impress Your Achingly Hip Coworkers

Simone Rocha beaded socks

Ever since Simone Rocha launched her inaugural menswear line last fall, filled with ruffle tops and outerwear accented with tulle, stylish dudes can’t get enough. So, naturally, if you show up to the office (or after-office drinks) wearing these knee-high joints, your fashion-pilled colleagues are guaranteed to gasp. Mostly, that’s because Rocha absolutely nails the details: those delicate beaded daisies don’t scream ‘look at me!’ as much as they coquettishly revel in the limelight–and that’s exactly why we can’t get enough of ‘em. They’re crafted from nylon jersey in a shade that sits somewhere between eggshell and pale yellow, they’ve got stretch where it counts but won’t lose shape over time or with countless ankle flexes. They’re chic, romantic, and yet somehow still demure–how many other socks can lay claim to that triumvirate?

Plus 17 More Dress Socks We Love

Corgi x Todd Snyder socks

The pinstripe detailing adds some nice texture but is subtle enough to avoid any wayward glances.

Abercrombie & Fitch 3-pack camp socks

If your idea of dress shoes lies somewhere in the camp of clogs and mules, these midweight cotton-blend socks will keep your feet from sliding around all day.

Pantherella “Pembrey” dress socks

Soft, silky and breathable–unlike actual silk.

Ferragamo “Gancini” socks

Balance out your more conservative shoes with a funky print.

Everlane organic cotton ribbed crew sock 3-pack

When you can’t decide whether to keep it neutral or go for color, opt for a pack that gives you both.

Calvin Klein 3-pack dress socks

One way to break up a black, monochrome fit? Navy socks that reveal their true color when the light hits just right.

Bombas hybrid ribbed calf sock 4-pack

Thin enough for your dressiest oxfords yet extra cushy for sneakers, these socks can do it all.

Thunders Love flammé ribbed cotton-blend socks

If your office dress code strictly forbids bright colors, this will be our little secret.

Banana Republic “Breathe” trouser sock

These cozy, lightweight socks are made from a fine merino wool-tencel blend that will keep your feet cool and comfortable year-round.

Anonymous Ism color-blocked knitted socks

When you can’t choose which color to slip on, wear them all!

Philip Huang natural hand-dyed socks

If synthetic dyes irritate your skin, these are for you. Philip Huang uses natural, plant-based dyes (this pair was hand-dipped in rosewood tree bark) so you can keep your drawer bursting with color and keep your ankles from…bursting with color.

Kenzo embroidered cotton blend socks

The best alternative to a blindingly neon bubblegum pink? A softer, more mellow bubblegum pink—with a tiny lil’ flower on top. 

Polo Ralph Lauren dress socks (3-pack)

The only nudes we consider office appropriate.

Homme Plissé Issey Miyake two-way socks

The creamsicle of socks, in that no one will be able to stop your drip. 

COS space-dyed socks

When a work outfit feels too one-note, toss in a space-y pattern to kick your style to the stratosphere.

J.Crew striped microdot socks

Sometimes, less really is more—especially when it comes to a subtle, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it microdot pattern. 

Sunspel long staple cotton socks

Clean cream dress socks—especially ones as refined as these, knit from Italian-spun cotton—with a pair of shiny black Weejuns is still as strong a look as ever.