The Top 5 Fabrics for Summer Socks
Hot feet? Not if you wear these...
In recent installments of What’s In a Fit, we’ve looked at the best shirts, fabrics, and footwear for summer. But so far, we’ve left out one crucial ingredient: summer socks.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to go barefoot in summer. You can easily wear socks, even knee-high ones, in the heat. The only problem, of course, is picking out the right fabric.
That’s why today, we look at the top five best materials to keep your feet cool and dry in the summer. This ranking is based on my own experience wearing knee-high socks with trousers in the humid summer heat (90F, ~65% humidity) of northern Italy.
Your mileage may vary, but odds are if they work for me, they’ll probably work for you, too.
#5) Silk
Silk is a surprising one to make the list because silk garments aren’t renowned for their breathability. But silk is actually quite interesting because its thermoregulatory properties help you stay warm in winter and cool and summer. Personal experience shows this to be true: my wife gifted me a pair of silk socks at Christmas, and I’ve been able to wear them every month since.
But that said, they’re not as purely breathable as some of the later entries on this list, and their texture might clash with less formal summer fabrics. So while they’re an excellent complement to high-twist wool trousers, they might look a bit out of place with linen.
#4) Cotton Lisle
Here in Italy, cotton lisle is the go-to for summer tailoring. It’s a light and delicate material that holds its shape well and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Because it can mesh with formal wear, it’s what most Milanese businessmen wear into the office during the summer.
That said, most cotton lisle socks are mercerized, which results in them being slightly less airy than some of the later entries on this list. Also, “cotton lisle” by itself doesn’t guarantee that they’re lightweight and breathable — you can immediately tell when you look at it, but be careful when buying online. Fortunately, many retailers now advertise “summer lisle”, which is what you want to get.
A fine-gauge cotton lisle sock will hardly ever let you down in the summertime, and there’s a reason it’s a staple in the Milanese wardrobe. But if you really want to beat the heat and stay cool no matter what, then you can’t afford to overlook this next one.
