Sock Expert, I'm back

[max b]

Would you recommend to buy, despite the outrageous prices?

honestly I see big brands prices higher than those ones, I think it is a personal choise. For sure they are quality socks produced using exclusive yarns.

 

[Testudo_Aubreii]

This is a great thread. We need to bring our discussions of sock fit, make, and care closer to par with those on jackets, trousers, and shirts. Thanks, @max b. What is the highest needle count you know of used for men's dress socks? You've mentioned 176 needle as the break point between durable but coarser socks and finer but less durable socks. And Dapper Classics markets theirs as 200 needle. But very few sellers list the socks' needle count. (For comparison, women's nylon stockings used to be made up to 474 needle if they were circular knit, like men's socks are. Fully-fashioned, which are knitted on a straight bar machine, sometimes had even finer gauges than that.)

 

[max b]

This is a great thread. We need to bring our discussions of sock fit, make, and care closer to par with those on jackets, trousers, and shirts. Thanks, @max b. What is the highest needle count you know of used for men's dress socks? You've mentioned 176 needle as the break point between durable but coarser socks and finer but less durable socks. And Dapper Classics markets theirs as 200 needle. But very few sellers list the socks' needle count. (For comparison, women's nylon stockings used to be made up to 474 needle if they were circular knit, like men's socks are. Fully-fashioned, which are knitted on a straight bar machine, sometimes had even finer gauges than that.)

talking about man's socks, I never found a machine with more than 264 needles. You have then woman's machines with higher number of needles, but I'm not familiar with them. Actually it is depending on the yarns used. The thread has to go trough the needle and since man's usually don't use spandex socks, the machines with 264 are enough for the finest yarn for man, which usually is silk. 200 needles is a good gauge. About indication of the needles count you have to think that sometime final consumer is getting confused if you give too much info. Needles count is an info only "socks fans" are able to understand, for the other people has no meaning, unless somebody explain it. About straight bar machines, I have in my archive some socks made for the label Avon Celli in the '50 made that way... they are just amazing

 

[mottykytu]

W

talking about man's socks, I never found a machine with more than 264 needles. You have then woman's machines with higher number of needles, but I'm not familiar with them. Actually it is depending on the yarns used. The thread has to go trough the needle and since man's usually don't use spandex socks, the machines with 264 are enough for the finest yarn for man, which usually is silk. 200 needles is a good gauge. About indication of the needles count you have to think that sometime final consumer is getting confused if you give too much info. Needles count is an info only "socks fans" are able to understand, for the other people has no meaning, unless somebody explain it. About straight bar machines, I have in my archive some socks made for the label Avon Celli in the '50 made that way... they are just amazing

Please recommend something durable and comfortable in 3 price range
Under 20$, under 50$ and under 100$, many thanks !

 

[max b]

W

Please recommend something durable and comfortable in 3 price range
Under 20$, under 50$ and under 100$, many thanks !

Very difficult ... too many friends in the business
I can just tell that between 20$ and 50$ the best brands are the names everybody knows : Pantherella, Falke, Gallo .. then you have the "group" of the smaller business (usually Family Companies) like Marcoliani, Bresciani, Palatino, Sozzi. Under 20$ I suppose you can find Companies with a very small distribution or with products produced outside Europe or US. Always talking about high quality dress socks. In Italy you can find some local business with good quality that sell local for 8 euro. As for all the business also distribution cost are involved. A product made in Europe, sold to US has at least 15% duties and 8% transport and insurance and local taxes, so more or less 30% more espansive than buy the same product in Europe.

 

[NadalRG]

anyone interested in having info about socks, please ask ! quality, yarns, production, technical questions..

Hi!

I am a total noob to CM and socks for that matter, what type of socks do you recommend for someone that lives in a city that's very hot and humid place 10 out of 12 months?

Thank you.

 

[Testudo_Aubreii]

Hi!

I am a total noob to CM and socks for that matter, what type of socks do you recommend for someone that lives in a city that's very hot and humid place 10 out of 12 months?

Thank you.

I wear linen/cotton/nylon blends like this one from Marcoliani. Wool blends with a lot of nylon can also be good. Cotton and Lyocell fibers wear cool but retain moisture--so I dislike 100% cotton socks when it's humid. Linen is a great fiber for humidity because it doesn't retain moisture--BUT linen lacks wool's stretch, so 100% linen socks have trouble staying up. Nylon fibers are even better than linen at shaking off moisture. Also, fine wool that's not densely knitted wears surprisingly cool, and doesn't retain much moisture. (Wool really is the wonder fiber.) Blends of these are where it's at, I think.

But the fiber types can only tell you so much. A lot depends on how the yarns are spun and the sock knitted. max b would know more.

 

[max b]

Hi!

I am a total noob to CM and socks for that matter, what type of socks do you recommend for someone that lives in a city that's very hot and humid place 10 out of 12 months?

Thank you.

you need something light and transpirant as 100% cotton or 100% linen. You can find different weight available, go for the lighter one you can buy

 

[max b]

I wear linen/cotton/nylon blends like this one from Marcoliani. Wool blends with a lot of nylon can also be good. Cotton and Lyocell fibers wear cool but retain moisture--so I dislike 100% cotton socks when it's humid. Linen is a great fiber for humidity because it doesn't retain moisture--BUT linen lacks wool's stretch, so 100% linen socks have trouble staying up. Nylon fibers are even better than linen at shaking off moisture. Also, fine wool that's not densely knitted wears surprisingly cool, and doesn't retain much moisture. (Wool really is the wonder fiber.) Blends of these are where it's at, I think.

But the fiber types can only tell you so much. A lot depends on how the yarns are spun and the sock knitted. max b would know more.

it is true that is quite difficult to go deeper in suggestion without becoming too much technical. The gauge and number of needles, the knitting, the count of the yarn.. a lot of details are involved. But as it is difficult to check those out if you are not a technic, I will go for 100% cotton or 100% linen. It is also true that this is a personal thing
linen is not that flexible, I agree, but I think it is the best yarn for humid weather.
also wool can be the best, but this is a really "psychological" matter. Wearing wool when it's hot is not that easy, notwisthstanding people living in the desert are wearing wool to keep cool.
said that, my personal preference is going to 100% linen.

 

[pwc008]

I like cotton socks in summer with a loose weave. My feet get way too hot in cotton socks that are tightly woven, like Marcoliani - as nice as those socks otherwise are.

If anyone has any recommendations, I would certainly appreciate them.

 

[SKS]

Glad I have found this thread. Dear expert @max b , which brands of formal summer socks could you recommend?

Ideally if they can be ordered online or found in Australia. And yes, it gets seriously hot here.

 

[Testudo_Aubreii]

I like cotton socks in summer with a loose weave. My feet get way too hot in cotton socks that are tightly woven, like Marcoliani - as nice as those socks otherwise are.

If anyone has any recommendations, I would certainly appreciate them.

If you don't mind some linen and nylon (linen for moisture-wicking and freshness, nylon for giving the sock some stretch), you could try those linen/cotton/nylon blend pique socks by Marcoliani that I linked to above. They're in an open mesh knit, so they breathe well.

Mazarin also has a linen/cotton/nylon in what looks like an open knit. Maybe not as open as the Marcoliani. I've not tried them.

 

[pwc008]

If you don't mind some linen and nylon (linen for moisture-wicking and freshness, nylon for giving the sock some stretch), you could try those linen/cotton/nylon blend pique socks by Marcoliani that I linked to above. They're in an open mesh knit, so they breathe well.

Mazarin also has a linen/cotton/nylon in what looks like an open knit. Maybe not as open as the Marcoliani. I've not tried them.

Thank you - I will.

 

[max b]

Glad I have found this thread. Dear expert @max b , which brands of formal summer socks could you recommend?

Ideally if they can be ordered online or found in Australia. And yes, it gets seriously hot here.

Palatino, Sozzi, Bresciani.. most of the Italian fine brands. German, French and UK are more "heavy". It is just a different concept, Italians are more focus on comfort, German, French and UK on durability. The problem is that you can increase durability only adding syntetic or go for an higher gauge, which lead to an heavier product

 

[DorianGreen]

Palatino, Sozzi, Bresciani.. most of the Italian fine brands. German, French and UK are more "heavy". It is just a different concept, Italians are more focus on comfort, German, French and UK on durability. The problem is that you can increase durability only adding syntetic or go for an higher gauge, which lead to an heavier product

As for durability, the best thing is having a good rotation: this way your socks will last much longer.