Unlike women, men can tend to be careless when it comes to their socks. They simply pick up a pair from their drawers, pull them up their toes, then sprint to the door not thinking whether those socks match their overall outfit or not. If the fashion police were to make an inspection, a lot of men would probably get cuffed because of a sock mismatch misdemeanor.

As men think of picking out matching socks as an unimportant and negligible part of his day to day grooming then we should be able to fix the problem from the source. And that is the moment these men pick up these stocks from the store's shelves. Yes we go back to the day they went shopping. But then this gives us another dilemma, how do we know which socks to buy? Don't fret just yet. Below are good old fashion tips for your socks matching 101.

* Consider the color of your shoes. The standard rule of thumb is for your socks to match the color of your shoes for that smooth visual of compatible shades from your toes to your ankles. Complementing colors are always pleasant to the eyes and would not draw unsolicited attention especially from fashion aficionados who may raise an eyebrow on color clashes. So if you have light brown pants and dark brown shoes on, your socks should take on the color brown, dark beige, light brown or if you are feeling a little adventurous, you may get patterned socks with the shades brown or beige. This matching tip is not only sound fashion advice, it is a cost-effective one as well. Think about it. When you know what socks to get, you do not waste money on socks you absentmindedly get from the rack only to discard after seeing how ridiculous they look when you wear them.

* Consider the seasons. Socks were made to keep your feet warm. This is an important thing to remember especially during the winter and rainy seasons. Pairs of socks made out of wool and cotton are good choices in the summer or in the winter. These natural fabrics make the socks more absorbent so you can bet that they will do the job in cozying up your feet. Other pairs may be made from acrylic, stretch fibers and the like. The choice on material is fundamentally a matter of preference. The thing to remember is that lighter and soft socks are best worn during the summer and of course, thick and compact ones would definitely give your feet TLC on winter days.

* Consider your look. Now that you know what color and what material works best, it is time for you to check whether the pair of socks would complement the look that you want to pull off. And no, you cannot match soft dressy socks with your running shoes. That is a definite fashion no-no. Here is your clue. Get socks that match the pattern of your shirt or your top. This works whether you are going for dressy, for casual or for a sporty look. Socks of wool or nylon that go up to your calves are a perfect complement for suits or tuxedos. When wearing blue jeans, you can choose black socks or those with blue patterns. White and gray are good matches for sports shoes.