Italian men and their socks
November 10th, 2008
I do not know if you agree with me but I find that a man’s socks tell a lot about his style. I tend to be quite conservative on that front, but that is beside the point. Italian men are taught, from a very early age, that socks should match their trousers and they should be long, up to their knee. The idea, I guess, is that if they go up beyond the calf muscle it’s more difficult for the socks to slide down so that when a man crosses his legs no white hairy leg portion is on show.
While nowadays short socks are deemed acceptable with casual wear it would still definitely be a big faux pas if someone was caught with short socks while dressed up in a suit.
I remember how my poor husband, who worked in an investment bank in London, came home one day quite puzzled by all the comments that his colleagues on the trading floor made when they discovered he was wearing long socks. I think the most amusing ones were, “Do you come from Bermuda?” and “Are those hold-ups?”.
So next time you see a man in a suit with long socks, be kind to him. He is most likely just an Italian behaving like his mama told him to and not a cross-dresser in disguise!
-Michela
Entry Filed under: Cultural, Fashion, For Ourselves
7 Comments Add your own
1. Kristin | November 10th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
hilarious! I will tell you I make it a point of purchasing all of my husband’s socks, otherwise…disaster!
2. Courtney | November 10th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
And I thought my husband DID wear ‘long’ socks. But his only come up to the calf muscle!
Well… you can’t blame the man. While he has an Italian father, his mother is as American as they come…
3. Kelli | November 10th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
This is great! I think my hubby would love super long socks! I always try to find him a couple pair, but some how they end up “holy” rather quickly and then my search continues.
4. Sophie | November 10th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I guess the worth thing I’ve ever seen Paris is guys wearing socks with cartoon characters print.
5. Esther | November 10th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I see the point of the long socks (we call them ‘knee socks’ in the Netherlands).
I mean, it’s sort of gross to see bare skin when a man crosses his legs! (Even if it’s a sexy Italian leg)
6. Katelijne | November 11th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Thanks, I have been looking for ‘normal’ short socks since we have been living here in Milan. Offcourse I could not find them. Once I bought kneesocks for Marco in Esselunga and he refuses to wear them. I will show him your story (and the comments), maybe he changes his mind!
7. Rachael | November 11th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
My Italian husband is so obsessed with his High socks! He buys 5- 6 pair every 2 months or so! I can really relate to this!
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